Gregory Polek has spent his entire career in aviation journalism with AIN, starting as a proofreader and assistant to then-managing editor Mary Mahoney in 1995 after serving an internship with&nbsp;New Jersey Monthly&nbsp;magazine and completing his B.A. degree in English/Writing at New Jersey’s William Paterson College. By 1997 Polek accepted a position as an associate editor, covering the regional airline beat for&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;in place of retiring industry veteran Don Anderson. The assignment took Polek across North America and Europe to profile regional airlines varying in size and mission from the likes of floatplane operators Kenmore Air and Chalk’s Ocean Airways to regional jet operators such as SkyWest and American Eagle. Today, in his dual role as Air Transport Editor and International Airshow Editor, Polek writes, edits, and manages AIN’s commercial aviation content while overseeing each of the company’s daily international air show publications in Paris, Farnborough, Singapore, and Dubai. Most recently Polek has assumed oversight of daily coverage of the Helicopter Association International’s annual Heli-Expo convention.

Senior Editor

Gregory Polek

Pilots employed by TAP Air Portugal began a planned 10-day strike on Friday, severely disrupting the airline’s operations and threatening to devalue the company as the Portuguese government institute plans to privatize it. The walkout, which stems from the pilots' demands for as much as a 20-percent employee share of the company’s capital upon privatization, would last until five days before a May 15 deadline for investors to submit binding offers for the company. The airline has offered employees a 5 percent capital share in the sale, and other TAP employee unions have demonstrated against the strike. TAP Air Portugal estimates the strike could cost it €70 million if the sides don’t reach a settlement by May 10.

 


TAP said it had scheduled an average of 296 daily flights to operate within the next few days. However, it added, the actual number of services will depend on the number of pilots that join the strike. On May 1 it posted on its web site a list of 35 flights that will “almost certainly” not operate during the first three days of the strike, as well as a list of flights guaranteed to operate as part of a minimum service established by an arbitration panel.

 


The government’s first attempt at privatization failed in 2012, when the only potential investor not to pull out of the bidding—the Synergy Group--failed to offer what Lisbon considered sufficient financial guarantees.

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

TAP Air Portugal Pilots Start 10-Day Strike 

Dispute surrounding privatization terms leads to walkout 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Archer plans demo flight at 2025 World Expo in Osaka

JAL/Sumitomo Subsidiary Soracle To Operate Archer’s eVTOL in Japan

Charles Alcock

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

Britain's new government is under pressure to invest in public infrastructure

How Regional Air Mobility Could Boost the UK's Strained Transport Network

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

Danish charter and scheduled operator could buy up to 15 of the electric seaplanes

Nordic Seaplanes Signs for Elfly's Noemi Electric Amphibious Aircraft

Odys' blown-wing design is being developed for both uncrewed freighter and piloted airliner roles

Fiji Airways Plans To Connect Pacific Islands with Laila VTOL

Scotland-based regional airline aims to achieve zero carbon emissions

Loganair and Heart Team To Decarbonize UK Domestic Flights

UK green start-up airline wants to operate domestic services with zero carbon emissions

Ecojet Plans To Operate Arc Aerosystems' Linx P9 Hybrid Helicopter

Cathy Buyck

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

The Boeing electronic flight bag solution will support the low-cost carrier’s 737NG and Max fleet

Ryanair to Use Jeppesen FliteDeck Pro 5.0 EFB 

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

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