Taiwan thaw, Heathrow hell, ailing Alitalia, and more

• In one of the first signs of the slightly warming relationship of China and Taiwan under new Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou, Beijing and Taipei have reached a bilateral aviation agreement to take effect July 4. Passengers who take one of the newly offered flights will be able to save up to five hours in travel time, as travelers formerly had to transfer through Hong Kong. [ATW Daily News]
• Jim Manzi asks why Air Force One had to stop at Heathrow during President Bush’s trip to Europe last week, snarling traffic at Europe’s busiest airport. Wasn’t there a military airfield available? [The American Scene]
• The European Union is investigating Italy’s $465 million “bridging loan” to Alitalia as illegal state aid. [ATW Daily News]
• Two FAA aircraft inspectors who reported on lapses in safety inspections at Southwest Airlines (see here) have been given the Public Servant Award by the Office of Special Counsel, the federal agency that protects whistleblowers. [OSC via Get the Flick]
• The Department of Homeland Security is modifying its visa waiver program and photo-ID rules to make it more inconvenient to travel. [The Cranky Flier]