Caribbean Digital News has learned that BonairExpress will undergo another facelift and that both BonairExpress and CuracaoExpress will be renamed soon. No decision has yet been taken on what name will be used, but sources close to the companies believe the Express flights can be reserved under the name of EcoAir.

In a short release the EC underlines that “open markets will offer greater economic opportunities to the European Union air industry”, following on its own experience with country members. Jacques Barrot, European Transport Commissar said that the “EU only air market with free market access and high level rulings, has enormously benefited the EC aviation industry and consumers. I believe we can repeat our domestic success in our international relations”.

Low-cost carrier Ryanair has taken the top spot as Europe´s most popular airline for the first time from British Airways after the Dublin-based airline carried 3.3 million passengers last month. The statistics for August published by both Ryanair and BA show that Ryanair carried 156,000 more passengers than BA´s entire network figure.

Air France-KLM had recently reported a 6.5 percent increase in passenger traffic, driving a 5.5 percent boost in group sales for the first quarter. Unveiling first-quarter results, the airline said it had also been helped by hedging against higher fuel prices. For the three months to 30 June, Air France KLM made a net profit of €112 million. Operating profit for 2005-06 should be “significantly" above last year´s, the company said, upgrading its earlier estimate that the full-year earnings would be unchanged.

The European Commission has opted to speed up the introduction of an EU-wide blacklist of unsafe airlines. The move could see companies on the bloc´s list banned from its entire airspace, starting from next year. A common European blacklist will be based on the criteria put forward by the commission, while it will remain possible to add in new companies after its publication. The new rules are part of the pending EU law on passenger information, proposed last February, and currently in the parliamentary pipelines.

Delta filed plans at the Transportation Department for launching six new nonstop U.S.-Mexico routes, including New York-Acapulco. Subject to government approvals, all the new routes would operate on a weekend-only basis, using 737 aircraft configured for 16 premium and 134 coach seats.