This time it was supposed to be different for the Franco-German aerospace giant—a smooth transition of power, with a new management team building on the foundation put in place by its predecessor.

Looking purely at facts, the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 can likely be explained as a pilot-fatigue-induced loss-of-control accident. But as a bitter dispute over the findings shows, the case is imbued with political overtones—in itself a strong reason for concerns over safety cultures.

SkyTeam may be adding five new members this year, but CEO Michael Wisbrun says he still favors integration over network expansion.

The global airline industry returned to profitability in 2010 after two years of financial losses. Driving this turnaround was the growth of passenger and cargo traffic, which had flat-lined over the previous two-year period. As a direct result, large turbine engine manufacturers have seen rebounding sales and full order books for new and existing engines.

Some larger operators are confident in their ability to return a profit during another year of belt-tightening, but mixed results are more likely.

After a remarkable recovery in 2010, global demand for airfreight stagnated in 2011, and the outlook for 2012 is for a continuation of sluggish growth conditions. Year-over-year cargo traffic volumes showed increases through the first four months of 2011, but turned negative in May, and as a result—when the full-year 2011 results are tallied—they are expected to show a slight decline versus the 2010 level.

When the FAA finally issued a new crew rest rule for U.S. pilots in December—one that has been decades in the making and could become a model for the rest of the world—something was very different from the proposed rule the agency published in September 2010: The cost.

Air France