NewsUndisclosed Americas carrier signs LOI for up to 30 CSeries aircraftAn undisclosed airline based in the Americas has signed a letter of intent to purchase 12 Bombardier CS100 aircraft, with options for another 18. The firm orders are valued at about $870 million at list prices, says Bombardier, adding that the order could increase to $2.08 billion if the options are converted. The customer had requested to remain undisclosed, it adds.
LinkAir Baltic firms order for 10 CSeries Latvia's Air Baltic has firmed its tentative agreement for 10 Bombardier CS300s, which the carrier had unveiled earlier this year. Air Baltic will receive its first aircraft in the fourth quarter of 2015. The order includes purchase rights on another 10 of the twinjets. Based on the list price of the CS300, the firm part of the contract is worth some $764 million, says the airline.
LinkAir Berlin A330 makes emergency landing in Phuket after engine fireAn Air Berlin Airbus A330-200 was forced to return to Phuket International Airport when a fire broke out in one of its engines shortly after take-off. According to media reports, the A330, with registration D-AXBA, took off from Phuket at approximately 21:30 local time on 20 December and was bound for Abu Dhabi. However, it made an emergency landing an hour later after the crew reported that one of the aircraft's engines was on fire.
LinkThird Voyager arrives at RAF Brize NortonThe UK's Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft fleet modernisation program has taken another step forward with the delivery of the third modified Airbus A330 to RAF Brize Norton on 19 December. The AirTanker consortium responsible for delivering 14 of the Airbus multi-role tanker transports has supplied three aircraft this year and says it is on track to provide a core capability of nine aircraft by mid-2014. Three more of the Voyager aircraft are to be delivered during the first half of 2013.
LinkGermanwings receives first A319 in new coloursGermanwings has received the first aircraft, an Airbus A319, in the airline's new livery. The low-cost subsidiary of Lufthansa revealed the rebrand on 6 December when it detailed next year's takeover of large parts of its parent company's European network.
LinkUnited to concentrate 747s at San Francisco United Airlines will base the majority of its Boeing 747-400 fleet at its San Francisco hub from April 2013, as it focuses on improving the reliability of the fleet. The Chicago-based Star Alliance member says that the concentration of spare parts and tooling at the airport will allow it to reduce maintenance issues ahead of the summer 2013 travel season, in an employee newsletter on 19 December.
LinkAfriqiyah Airways unveils new liveryLibyan flag carrier Afriqiyah Airways unveiled its new livery at an event in the Rixos Al Nasr Hotel, Tripoli on 19 December. The new design features a white fuselage and black tailfin adorned with three blue stripes, representing the neck markings of the Turtle Dove.
LinkFlights Cancelled As Storm Hits US MidwestThe first major winter storm of the year hit the US Midwest on Thursday, causing cancelations at Chicago airports. Due to low visibility, airlines at Chicago's O'Hare Airport were reporting delays of up to 90 minutes and cancelled more than 200 flights. At Midway Airport airlines cancelled 150 flights, with Southwest Airlines canceling all flights after 4:30 pm.
LinkAirlines scramble to manage interruptions from stormA storm with blizzard conditions in the Midwest delayed flights at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago and surrounding travel hubs this morning. Many airlines jumped into action to offer flexible rebooking offers and manage flight delays.
LinkPortugal Postpones TAP Airline SalePortugal said on Thursday it would postpone its long-awaited sale of debt-laden airline TAP after rejecting the sole bid by Colombian-Brazilian entrepreneur German Efromovich, but it still plans to beat its asset disposal target. The TAP sale formed part of a privatization plan required by Portugal's EUR€78 billion (USD$103 billion) European Union and International Monetary Fund bailout.
LinkKingfisher Applies For License RenewalA bid by grounded Indian carrier Kingfisher Airlines to renew its operating license, which expires at the end of the year, will not succeed until it submits a turnaround plan, a senior aviation regulatory source said on Thursday. Kingfisher, which has not flown since October, has estimated debts of USD$2.5 billion and owes money to banks, airports, tax authorities, plane leasing companies and its staff.
LinkAustralian regulator conditionally clears Qantas, Emirates partnership The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has given its conditional approval of the proposed Qantas Airways and Emirates alliance. The antitrust regulator said in a statement that the two airlines will be allowed to “cooperate on passenger and freight operations across their networks.” However, it wants to restrict cooperation between the airlines on flights between Australia and New Zealand to ensure that an acceptable level of service is maintained.
LinkBankruptcy court approves American Airlines’ new contract with pilots A US bankruptcy judge has approved American Airlines’ parent AMR Corp.’s new labor contract with the carrier’s 10,000 flight deck crew. The ruling formally ends the contentious process in which AMR management negotiated concessionary work agreements with its unionized employees as part of Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring.
LinkIberia agrees to negotiate terms of controversial restructuring plan Spanish carrier Iberia said it is prepared to discuss the terms of its controversial Transformation Plan after returning to the negotiating table with its unions. The unions representing ground staff and cabin crews, comprising 93% of staff, agreed to negotiate terms for a five-year period, through 2017. The airline stands by its plans to cut 4,500 jobs, but hopes that about two-thirds of those redundancies would be achieved through early retirement. The company is ready to negotiate formulas such as payoff for voluntary resignations, and transfers of employees to different positions and/or different locations.
LinkDecision on an AMR-US Airways merger is expected in JanuarySources say that a decision on a merger between AMR Corp. and US Airways could be made in early January. The board of AMR, which is the parent company of American Airlines, is expected to meet next month to make a decision.
LinkNew routes boost United's service to Latin America and CanadaUnited Airlines has announced plans to add 10 domestic and international routes, increasing service to Latin America and Canada, as well as Fairbanks, Alaska; Wichita, Kan.; and Grand Rapids, Mich. United is also introducing new service from Denver to Santa Fe, N.M., and to Fort McMurray in Alberta, Canada.
LinkFedEx delays two 777s, bumps 767 order to 50FedEx has added four 767 jets to its firm order with Boeing, making its total order 50 767s. The cargo carrier also pushed back delivery of two 777s that were previously slated for 2015 but are now scheduled for 2016.
LinkAviation coalition proposes pilot-shortage studyAn informal coalition of aviation industry leaders, including representatives of airlines, businesses and academics as well as the Federal Aviation Administration's flight standards director, John Allen, is urging the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on future pilot workforce levels. "The aviation industry is entering an era of unprecedented pilot staffing challenges as a result of a struggling economy, bankruptcies, mergers, increasing flight training costs, manufacturing declines and numerous new public laws and regulations," the group wrote in its study proposal.
LinkDowngraded fliers have rights, tooFliers who are involuntary downgraded from a premium to an economy seat on a U.S. carrier can often receive money back or miles credited, but sometimes compensation doesn't happen right away. In Europe, tighter regulations mandate that fliers receive 30% to 75% back within seven days. "Airlines handle those issues individually, according to their own practices," said a spokeswoman for Airlines for America.
LinkSocial media, new technology enhance customer experienceAirlines are increasingly using social media to engage their customers and enhance the overall positive experience of flying. Twitter, smartphones and more give airlines more opportunities to provide positive experiences, increasing customer loyalty and giving a range of value-adding amenities beyond the accumulation of mileage points.
LinkBAE-Saudi Typhoon talks ‘stuck on price’ Price continues to be the key hurdle in BAE Systems' bid to sell 72 Eurofighter Typhoons to Saudi Arabia, according to a negotiations update from the UK defence contractor. The so-called Salam deal, contracted in 2007, has so far delivered 24 aircraft. BAE today said that further aircraft are being built at its facility in Warton in the UK for delivery in 2013, and that outstanding issues relate to price rather than timing. The original contract prices were based on 2005 economic conditions, but a re-pricing of the 12-year contract for aircraft, support, maintenance, upgrades and training has been under discussion for two years.
LinkPolish air force retires last An-2 transportPoland's air force on 14 December withdrew the last of its Antonov An-2 utility aircraft from use, almost 60 years after fielding the biplane type. A retirement ceremony was held at the service's 42nd Air Base in Radom-Sadkow, in the presence of air force commander Lt Gen Lech Majewski. Manufactured in the Soviet Union, Poland's first An-2 was delivered to Warsaw-Okecie air base on 31 December 1951, with four more having followed in October 1954 for use by an aerial photography squadron. However, an official presentation of the An-2T in Polish air force camouflage was not held until September 1956; the date at which the "Colt" is formally reported as having entered military service in the country.
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