NewsTSA Scraps Plan To Allow Small Knives On PlanesTSA head John Pistole said on Wednesday that he had decided not to permit passengers to carry small knives on planes, after receiving criticism from flight attendants and the public that easing restrictions would increase flight dangers. Pistole, who had proposed to loosen rules put in place in the wake of the September 11 hijackings, told Reuters he had decided to scrap the changes. "After extensive engagement with the Aviation Security Advisory Committee, law enforcement officials, passenger advocates, and other important stakeholders, TSA will continue to enforce the current prohibited items list," Pistole said.
LinkBombardier Reaches 177 Firm CSeries OrdersBombardier's much anticipated CSeries plane has reached 177 firm orders after the Canadian manufacturer said that a previously announced deal with Ilyushin Finance won backing from the Russian company's investors. IFC's shareholders approved the order for 32 CS300 with an option for an additional 10, Bombardier said on Tuesday. The Russian aircraft leasing company's conditional order was first announced in February. Bombardier's new family of narrow-body, twin-engine, medium-range jets is the company's challenge to industry leaders Boeing and Airbus. Industry anticipation has been building ahead of its first flight, expected at the end of June.
LinkVueling To Pass Iberia In Five YearsSpanish airline Vueling will be bigger than loss-making flag carrier Iberia within three to five years, IAG chief executive Willie Walsh was quoted on Wednesday as saying. International Airlines Group, the parent company of British Airways and Iberia, took control of the latter's low cost domestic competitor Vueling in April. It is in the process of laying off thousands of workers at Iberia, which has suffered because of a recession in Spain that has left 27 percent of the workforce out of work.
LinkShun Tak Buys Into Jetstar Hong Kong JVQantas and China Eastern Airlines have sold a USD$66 million stake in their budget airline joint venture to a Hong Kong-listed company, a move expected to pave the way for an operating license. Property-to-transport conglomerate Shun Tak, founded by Macau casino tycoon Stanley Ho, will take 33.3 percent of Jetstar Hong Kong, which was launched in 2012 but is still awaiting approval for its air operator's certificate. Partnering with a well-connected Hong Kong investor could help Qantas and China Eastern, which had targeted a launch date of mid-2013, allay regulatory concerns over whether Jetstar Hong Kong fits the criteria of being a local business, according to local media reports.
LinkJetstar prepares to receive first 787 in SeptemberLow-cost carrier, Jetstar, is gearing up for the arrival of the Boeing 787 that will join its fleet in September. It will start commercial services with the aircraft type in November. The aircraft will initially be operated domestically, likely on Gold Coast and Cairns services, before it is used on international routes. The carrier's first 787 is in the final stages of assembly at Boeing's facility in Seattle, ahead of its scheduled delivery in late September. It is scheduled to receive three 787s by the end of the year. As the first operator of the aircraft type in Australia, Jetstar will have to work with Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority to certify the jet locally before it can be put into commercial service.
LinkBoeing committed to 747-8 after 777X arrival in 2020 Boeing sees a future for the 747-8 after the new 777X family arrives in 2020 but is unclear how its large widebody product line-up will evolve from later in that decade. Firm orders for the 747-8 family stand at 105, and the 50th has just been delivered. Boeing has 40 orders for the -8I passenger model, including several for VIP customers. "We're committed to both the 747-8I and F for the foreseeable future, certainly well into the next decade, and you'll see more success in the coming months for both versions," says John Wojick, Boeing's senior vice-president global sales. But he concedes that the larger version of the new 777X family will offer very competitive economics with its larger, four-engined stablemate.
LinkBio-LNG airliner concept 'has near-term potential' A jury of Airbus and independent technology experts will choose a winner on 12 June in the airframer's 2013 Fly Your Ideas challenge, a biennial UNESCO-sponsored design competition dating to 2008 that is principally aimed at encouraging students to pursue careers in aerospace engineering. It has also fed some good ideas into the Airbus innovation pipeline. Of the five finalists - from Malaysia, Australia, Italy, Brazil and India, whittled down from upwards of 600 proposals from 82 countries - competing for the €30,000 ($39,000) top prize, one that stands out as a near-term possibility is a concept for an airliner fuelled by a cryogenic blend of sustainably produced liquefied biomethane and liquefied natural gas (bio-LNG). Depending on the biomethane-to-LNG blend ratio, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology team behind the Cryogenic Liquid Methane Aircraft (CLiMA) reckons its approach could result in a 20-97% net reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
LinkAriane 5 launches European supply capsuleAn Ariane 5 ES has successfully launched Automated Transfer Vehicle 4 (ATV 4) to resupply the International Space Station (ISS). The 5 June launch from Kourou, French Guiana, marks Ariane 5's 69th launch in total - which includes all four ATV flights to date - and the second of 2013.
LinkRafale's starring role over Mali When France ended its combat involvement in Afghanistan at the end of 2012, few could have expected its armed forces to be almost immediately required to launch a major intervention in northern Africa. Dubbed operation Serval and initiated in Mali on 11 January, the campaign was intended to halt and reverse the territorial advances being made by al-Qaeda and other Islamic militant groups towards the capital city, Bamako.
LinkDelta Air Lines to trim operations in MemphisDelta Air Lines plans to reduce positions for 230 non-union employees at its hub in Memphis, Tenn., through voluntary-retirement packages, job transfers to other locations or furloughs with severance pay. According to a Delta spokesman, the carrier is phasing out its 50-seat regional jets that serve Memphis.
LinkAirline taxes are "crushing and burdensome," CEO saysIn a speech at the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Jeff Smisek, the president and CEO of United Continental Holdings, said federal regulations are "crushing and burdensome." He also called for the air-traffic control system to be updated, and for the government to lower airline taxes, which now make up 20% of fares. "You've actually got better technology in your Hondas than our government uses," he said. Smisek also thanked Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel for contacting the Obama administration on behalf of United regarding Federal Aviation Administration controller furloughs due to sequestration. "We asked the mayor if he could help us, and he did," he said.
LinkBankruptcy court approves AMR plan for vote by creditorsAMR Corp., the parent company of American Airlines, received permission from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York City to send its restructuring plan to creditors for a vote. Judge Sean Lane approved the plan to merge with US Airways.
LinkCarriers report traffic results for MaySeveral carriers reported an increase in traffic for May on a year-over-year basis. Hawaiian Airlines said traffic rose 17.7% for May, while Alaska Air Group reported a 6.6% increase in traffic for the month. US Airways Group also reported a 5.7% jump in consolidated traffic for May.
LinkMore than 100M hours of productivity lost due to FAA ban, study showsA recent study calculated 105 million hours of productivity were lost due to the Federal Aviation Administration's ban on personal electronic devices during take-offs and landings. The study was conducted by the DePaul University Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development.
LinkReport questions cost-effectiveness of TSA behavioral screeningThe Transportation Security Administration's behavioral screening program cannot be proven to rely on objective criteria, said a report by the inspector general for the Homeland Security Department. The agency cannot "show that the program is cost-effective, or reasonably justify the program's expansion," the report said.
LinkAlaska Airlines could waive baggage fees for wine countryAlaska Airlines may waive its baggage fees for flights to wine country in Monterey County, Calif. The carrier is negotiating with the Monterey Regional Airport to allow up to 12 bottles of wine on board without charge.
LinkHobby Airport unveils plans for international terminalHobby Airport in Houston, Texas, put up drawings on its website of what the airport will look like in 2015. The airport plans to begin construction on a new international terminal in September. Airport officials said the construction of the terminal will create around 10,000 jobs.
LinkFoie Gras Now Served in Coach Class as Airlines Spice Up ProfitThe days of bland economy-class food are numbered, with Europe’s full-service carriers dishing up gourmet menus reminiscent of the golden age of air travel as they look for ways to squeeze more revenue out of passengers. Air France is tempting economy-class customers with paid-for meal upgrades featuring foie gras terrine, and Austrian Airlines has Wiener schnitzel and sushi among its 15-euro ($19.60) in-flight nourishments. They’re part of a growing trend of carriers charging for auxiliary services, including lounge access or individual aircraft seat choice.
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