Aviation Week - Even before the eurozone debt crisis ensued, 2012 was expected to be a difficult year for the global airline industry. But if things spiral out of control in Europe, the sector could be devastated.  Read More>

[Since the sale of BMI may have consequencies on alliances, I'm making an exception to the non-airline specific news only]

Aviation Week - Virgin Atlantic appears to be back in the race to buy BMI British Midland. Lufthansa confirmed on Monday that Virgin has made a bid for the loss making carrier and that it now has the same chances as International Airlines Group (IAG).  Read More>

Bloomberg - United Continental Holdings Inc. will join Delta Air Lines Inc. and AMR Corp.’s American Airlines next year in being able to speed some of its most frequent fliers through security at some airports, U.S. Transportation Security Administrator John Pistole said.  Read More>

Politico - Negotiations over a new FAA bill took a turn south this week when a top House Republican made it clear he doesn’t want to make concessions on other issues without resolving a controversial labor fight.  Read More>

Sun-Sentinel - Imagine a behemoth Boeing 747 gliding for about 200 miles before landing, conserving hundreds of gallons of fuel along the way.  Read More>

Aviation Week - Airlines are cutting flights into London’s largest airport on Wednesday because of fears of long delays and overcrowding when border staff join a mass strike over public sector pensions.  Read More>

Financial Times - Foreign airlines on Friday started taking steps to try and prevent “gridlock” at Heathrow next Wednesday during the planned strike by immigration officers.  Read More>

Aviation Week - When manufacturers set out to define a new aircraft, they always say their product decisions are driven by long discussions with airlines. But do the airframers really listen?  Read More>

Washington Post - House Transportation Committee Chairman John L. Mica says he is optimistic that Congress will break a stalemate over critical aviation funding before the current spending plan expires at year’s end.  Read More>

AIN Online - With demonstrated benefits of reducing track miles, mitigating noise and lowering fuel burn and emissions, performance-based navigation (PBN) procedures are being adopted on a worldwide basis.  Read More>

Duluth News Tribune - As lawmakers in Washington struggle to slash federal spending, a transportation program called Essential Air Service has received close scrutiny.  Read More>

Star-Tribune - Testing for a new program aimed at getting certain travelers through airport security with less hassle is expanding to airports in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Minneapolis and St. Paul over the next few months, the government said Wednesday.  Read More>

New Scientist - THE world could be on the brink of a trade war over European Union efforts to impose carbon charges on the emissions of all planes landing or taking off within the EU. The scheme, if implemented, would be the first global financial sanction on greenhouse gas emitters.  Read More>

Aviation Week - With the more than 400 wide-body aircraft on firm order by the three largest Middle Eastern carriers, one question is being asked frequently: Is there a market for all of these aircraft?  Read More>

[Although about one airline group, this could affect multiple major carriers - JimG]

IndyStar.com - Just weeks before the peak of the annual holiday travel season, Teamsters union pilots at Indianapolis-based Republic Airways Holdings could strike if they don't get a better contract.  Read More>