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Looks into Eastern European airlines' phaseout of their Russian-built fleets in favor of Western aircraft. Slow progress in the aerospace manufacturing business; Participation of Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); Focus of initial target force goals on key areas of air defense, communications and infrastructure.

Reports that fiscal difficulties may temper expected air traffic increases in the Middle East. Middle East as the fifth busiest air transport market in the world; Focus of Boeing's Middle East marketing plans; Business plans of Airbus Industrie.

Reports on the pending decision by Italy's Finmeccanica SpA between rival offerings of BAE Systems and European Aeronautic Defense & Space Co. partners to form a joint venture with its Alenia Aerospazio subsidiary. Differing consolidation paths offered by the two major industrial groupings; Desire by Alenia to strengthen business links with Airbus Industrie.

Reports on Scandinavian Airlines System's (SAS) agreement to acquire a majority stake in its Norwegian competitor Braathens from KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and the Braathens family. Offer of SAS to buy the shares of remaining shareholders; Major motive behind the purchase.

Focuses on developments related to Israel-based airline El Al Israel Airlines as of May 7, 2001. Airline's plan to reduce its fleet and operations; Impact of Israeli-Palestinian violence on the airline's business operations.

Reports the planned introduction of reduced vertical separation minima (RVSM) as an airspace capacity-boosting scheme by the Great Britain National Air Traffic Services. Compliance of aircraft with the RVSM standards; Support of airlines for the RVSM; Issues on the delay of European introduction of RVSM.

Reports on Great Britain-based airline Virgin Atlantic's plan to purchase several A380 jet transports from Airbus Industrie as of January 1, 2001. Virgin Atlantic's configuration plans for the jet transport.

Reports the sale of low-cost subsidiary Go by British Airways in Great Britain. Strategy of the airline to cut capacity and focus on high yield premium passengers; Increase of company revenue; Plans of overhaul for the short haul operations of the carrier.

Reports on the airline British Airways' revamping of its fleet with a package of products that include the introduction of an economy-plus fourth class of service in Great Britain. Overall strategy to downsize the airline's fleet and focus on higher paying premium-class passengers; Financial performance of the company.

Provides an overview on partnership trend among airlines in Poland, Hungary and Bulgaria. British Airways' code-sharing agreements with Poland's LOT; Companies with code-sharing deals with Hungarian carrier, Malev; Bulgaria's Privatization Agency's plan to sell equity in state-owned flag carrier, Balkan Airlines.

Focuses on the expansion of low-cost carriers in Europe, highlighting a report on deregulation by the United Kingdom's Civil Aviation Authority. Information on the report; Where the majority of the independent low-cost operators are based; Details on Dublin-based Ryanair, which was considered one of the most successful of these low-cost carriers.

Reports that talks between the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) regarding regulatory conditions for alliance plans, were stalled by British Airways (BA) company. How the efforts of the European Commission were affected by this action; Views of Robert Ayling, Chief Executive of BA: What instigated BA to seek a phased approach to the alliance; How Heathrow, UK would benefit from the alliance; Details on the companies involved.

Looks at the aviation market in the Middle East, as of November 1997. Efforts to create a regional market in an embryonic stage; Major airlines struggling; Plans of Royal Wings; Projected airline traffic in the region; Developments at several airlines.

Reports on Qatar Airways' opening of additional routes in 2001. Scheduled delivery of Airbus A330-200 aircraft in spring 2002; Inauguration of service to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from its hub in Doha, Qatar.

Reports on the financial performance of British Airways for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2001. Pre-tax profits; Operating profit; Increase in passenger yields.

Focuses on a consortium of seven British airlines' plan to take over the management of Great Britain's air traffic control system. Controversy over a partial-privatization plan; Airline Group's successful bid for a minority stake in Great Britain's National Air Traffic Services.

Reports on the plans of British Airways chief executive Rod Eddington for the airline. Focus on opportunities in Europe; Push for antitrust immunity for its alliance with American Airlines; Continuation of main business strategy set by predecessor Robert Ayling.

Reports on the decision of Netherlands-based KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to pull out of its alliance with Italy-based Alitalia airlines. Plans of both airlines to seek alternative alliances; Reasons cited by KLM for its decision to pull out; Restructuring plan of KLM to improve its profitability.

Reports on the expansion of Star Alliance's presence at London Healthrow Airport in England, following British Midland's decision to join the group. Terms of the deal; British Midland as the second largest British scheduled airline; Increased competition facing British Airways.

Reports that Great Britain-based low-cost airline Debonair ceased operations on October 1, 1999. Background on the airline's financial difficulties; Failure of Europe-based low-cost airlines Color Air and AB Airlines.

Reports on Great Britain-based British Airways' plan to reduce its capacity as of August 12, 1999. Background on the airline's financial performance for the period ending June 30, 1999.

Reports on the expansion plans of Paris, France-based airline operation Virgin Express. Setting up of a hub for scheduled services at the Charles de Gaulle in Paris; Start of long-haul carrier Virgin Atlantic Airways' services to Shanghai, China; Virgin Group Chairman Richard Branson's interest in around the world service with stops in Shanghai, Los Angeles, California and London, England.

Reports on the modernization and expansion plans for Morocco-based Royal Air Maroc's long-haul fleet from 2000-12. Comments by Mohamed Hassad, chairman and chief executive officer; Jet transports included in the fleet; Financial performance over the past four years; Focus of the airlines' strategy on improved quality of services and customer relations.

States that two Rolls-Royce-powered Tupolev Tu-204-120 aircraft ordered by Sirocco Aerospace International have been delivered to Egyptian carrier Air Cairo. Design of the aircraft; Engines; Sirocco as holding exclusive rights to develop and market Westernized versions of the Tu-204; Both versions of the aircraft having received Russian and Egyptian airworthiness certificates; Regional carriers in Russia having abandoned planes to lease Tu-204-120s from Sirocco due to the economic crisis.

Reports that Lufthansa CityLine expects to complete a memorandum of understanding with Fairchild Dornier and other carriers in November, 1998. Negotiations to finalize the basic performance and operating cost details for the new 728JET; Comments of Karl-Heinz Koepfle, managing director of Lufthansa CityLine; Swissair's regional subsidiary Crossair a potential launch customer for the 728JET; CityLine's inauguration of its new headquarters at Cologne/Bonn's Konrad Adenauer airport.

Reports the European Commission competition authorities' criticism of a recommendation by the United Kingdom's Office of Fair Trading (OFT), that would allow British Airways and American Airlines to sell takeoff and landing slots. How the airlines must relinquish the spots as a condition of their alliance; Ramifications; OFT Director-General John S. Bridgeman's agreement with the conditions; Monetary value of the slots; Whether the sales could be deemed illegal under existing regulation.

Notes that the dominance of national carriers has declined in the past five years since the creation of a single air market in Europe. How airport congestion has worsened; A report of the United Kingdom's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA); Effects of deregulation; The potential for greater competition; Strategies of major carriers.

Reports on plans for aircraft purchases at Ireland's Ryanair, Europe's largest low-fare airline. Details of the new aircraft and their engines; What the purchase will secure for the company among its competitors; How the purchase will be financed; Forecasts; Comments from Chief Executive Michael O'Leary.

Reports that Continental, United TWA, Delta, and USAir criticized the United Kingdom Office of Fair Trading's (OFT) recommended conditions for approving the alliance between British Airways and American Airlines. Reasons for the criticism; Details of the OFT proposal; Comments of Delta Chairman Ronald Allen and Continental's Barry Simon.

Report on the possible granting of a repeal of a tax on jet fuel scheduled to take effect in the United States in October 1995. Opposition by airlines to tax; Cost to industry if tax is imposed; President Bill Clinton's willingness to defer the tax.

Reports on the House Public Works and Department of Transportation Aviation Subcommitee's plan to expand the ban on smoking on board airline aircraft to include international flights originating from and terminating in the United States. Comments from Representative James L. Oberstar.