What began as a slow-simmering disagreement over the use of government subsidies - one that has lasted for years - has recently mushroomed into a thunderhead of angry rhetoric, threats of lawsuits and proposed legislative action to roll back open skies agreements. The major U.S.-based carriers continue to accuse Middle Eastern airlines of exploiting the American market with an unfair advantage.

IAG Cargo is boosting its Latin America service network with the launching of a new route into Colombia, and the reopening of its route into Cuba.

TNT has launched a five-time-weekly air service between Tel Aviv, Israel and its hub in Liège, Belgium.

Saudia Cargo is temporarily boosting its freighter capacity by 25 percent from Nairobi, Kenya to Amsterdam.

UTi Worldwide Inc. has expanded its freight-forwarding operations in Malaysia with the opening of new facilities in Port Klang and Kuantan.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration has unveiled proposed rules for drone flights. The plan maintains aviation safety standards, but may make it difficult for companies - such as Amazon - hoping to use drones for delivery service.

The tiny African nation of Djibouti measures 23,200 square kilometers and is home to about 800,000 people, but within a few years - and with a little help from the Chinese - it expects to have two brand-new airport hubs large enough to handle 100,000 tonnes of cargo and 2 million passengers annually.