The autopilot of a Jetstar A330 disconnected in flight on Oct. 29 because of icing in a pitot tube that is believed to have lasted for a few seconds. The fault in the Australian aircraft caused airspeed readings to drop briefly. The crew, flying from Tokyo, landed safely at their destination in the Gold Coast, which is on Australia’s East Coast. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating.

All Nippon Airways aims to double its planned cost cuts by finding another ¥100 billion (US$1.1 billion) in annual savings that will be achieved by reducing employee numbers and consolidating group airlines. The airline, Japan’s second largest, also will shift 20% of its 6,000 administrative workers to roles closer to the front line, such as sales. Along with the new cost cuts, that step is to be made by the end of its fiscal year to March 31, 2011.

All Nippon Airways reported a net loss of ¥25.4 billion (US$280 million) in the six months ended in September, and says it will cut 1,000 jobs. A year earlier the company made a profit of ¥25.4 billion. It now predicts a loss for the year to March 31 of ¥28 billion, compared with its previous outlook of a profit of ¥3 billion. Since that projected full-year loss is greater than the deficit for the first six months, the company implicitly expects to lose money in the second half.