An Iberia Airbus A340-600, registration EC-JOH performing flight IB-6463 from Madrid, SP (Spain) to Quito (Ecuador) with 345 passengers and 14 crew, overran runway 35 while landing in Quito in rain and reduced visibility at 17:05L (22:05Z). The airplane received substantial damage and was subsequently written off, the passengers were evacuated. Two passengers received minor injuries.

Regional carrier Windward Islands Airline (Winair) has announced that it will be terminating the route from St Maarten to Anguilla with effect from December 1, 2009. According to Vice President of Marketing, Claudio Buncamper, this is as a result of the airline suffering significant losses for the past several months, which he said has resulted in the airline being unable to continue suffering such losses.

Air Canada has begun trials to offer its customers Gogo Inflight Internet service on board select flights on the carrier’s Toronto-Los Angeles and Montreal-Los Angeles routes. Following the test period which runs until January 29, 2010, Air Canada will analyze usage and customer feedback before it proceeds with introduction of the service on other routes.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood plans to form a special panel that will put together a plan to fix the airline industry. The secretary says the panel, the Federal Advisory Committee on the Future of Aviation, should produce a roadmap for the aviation industry’s future within a year.

Starting April 1, 2010, Air France is offering a new service on its medium-haul network, aimed at better meeting the changing expectations of travelers seeking greater simplicity and clarity, and more affordable fares.

Mexicana becomes part of Oneworld –adding Mexico and Central America’s leading airline to the world’s leading quality airline alliance. Its subsidiaries MexicanaClick and MexicanaLink join Oneworld at the same time, as affiliate members. All three airlines will offer the alliance’s full range of services and benefits.