CommercialAir New Zealand expects smooth EIS for 787-9With the 10 July departure of Air New Zealand’s first Boeing 787-9 on its delivery flight to Auckland, the airline is anticipating a smooth entry-Into-service (EIS) for the first “stretch” Dreamliner. The 787 will flight plan with 180min extended operations (ETOPS) certification, according to Capt Dave Morgan, Air New Zealand’s chief pilot. The airline expects to eventually obtain 240min ETOPS for the 787-9, or 90min fewer than allowed by regulations. Air New Zealand legally accepted the aircraft on 30 June, about three weeks after Boeing completed a nine-month flight test programme to obtain airworthiness certification. One of the airline’s pilots has been working for Boeing, assisting with pilot training for other airlines.
LinkWiJet joins forces wth Air France to boost first class offeringFrench business-aircraft operator Wijet has teamed up with Air France to offer private jet services to the flag carrier’s first-class passengers. The collaboration is designed to enhance Air France’s premium offering in what has become a competitive and lucrative niche. Lufthansa blazed a trail nine years ago with the introduction of its Lufthansa Private Jets (LPJ) service, which the German flag carrier offers in partnership with the world’s largest business-aircraft operator, NetJets. “LPJ has grown year-on-year since services began,” Lufthansa says, although it remains tight-lipped on passenger, revenue, and flight numbers. LPJ offers Lufthansa passengers onward travel via the NetJets fleet throughout Europe and North America. It also offers ad-hoc point-to-point business jet travel. “LPJ is a business that continues to add value to our customers and ourselves and helps to promote our premium service,” Lufthansa says.
LinkAvianca's return to HeathrowFriday 4 July marked the return of Avianca to London Heathrow. The carrier last operated the Bogota-London route in 2001, using a Boeing 767-200. British Airways, which also operated the route as a tag-on via Caracas, suspended services in 2005. The 4 July flight is the latest addition to Avianca’s network. The carrier’s management lobbied hard to acquire the necessary slots for the operation, and a deal was five years in the making. Avianca secured slots for four flights per week on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
LinkAirbus faces up to its widebody conundrumsThe rivalry in the widebody sector is intense not because Airbus and Boeing have directly competing products, but because they do not. Each has a different vision for the long-haul market, and the Farnborough air show will see them continue their tussle over which is right. It is a campaign that is as much about disparaging the shortcomings in their rival’s line-up as promoting the benefits of their own product philosophy. At Farnborough Airbus will show off its latest widebody, the A350 XWB – the -900 variant of which is due to enter service with Qatar Airways in the fourth quarter. Airbus insists its 21stcentury products – three versions of its latest-generation twinjet, plus its A380 – cover all the sweet spots in the market from 275 to 600 seats. Chief operating officer, customers John Leahy famously dismissed the alternative from Seattle – three variants of the 787, two each of the 777 and the larger 777X, and the 747-8 – as a “dog’s breakfast”.
LinkWizz Air Denies Talks With Potential BuyersCentral European airline Wizz Air is not in talks with potential buyers, a company spokesman was quoted as saying by business website Portfolio, denying media reports that Air France-KLM was in advanced talks to buy the budget carrier. "Wizz Air, thanks to its successes, is often approached by possible investors," the spokesman, Daniel de Carvalho said. "... Wizz Air is not in such talks at the moment."
LinkLufthansa Considering No-Frills Long HaulLufthansa may launch low-cost long haul flights under a new brand as part of a plan to battle competition from Middle East carriers and low cost airlines, according to its new chief executive. Carsten Spohr, who took up the position in May, needs to win back investors after a profit warning last month wiped USD$2 billion off the airline's market value in a single day. On Wednesday, he unveiled his plans for the airline, saying Lufthansa would focus more on attracting leisure travelers with lower cost tickets and no-frills services.
LinkEU Says Gov't Aid To SAS In 2012 Was LegalA EUR€400 million credit facility given to Scandinavian airline SAS by the governments of Sweden, Denmark and Norway in 2012 was not illegal under European Union state aid rules. The European Commission opened its investigation into the revolving credit facility (RCF) last year, saying it "doubted" it had been carried out under market conditions because the exposures of the governments and the banks involved were different. EU rules ban state aid which distorts competition and says that support for companies has to be made on the same terms as a private player operating under market conditions would offer. On Wednesday, the Commission said while the exposure of the states and banks were different, the facility was accompanied by a robust business plan to save the ailing airline which was under considerable pressure from low-cost competitors.
LinkAmerican CEO: Demand strong for international flightsAmerican Airlines said the carrier has strong demand for international flights. "We're happy with the demand we are seeing for the product throughout the world," said CEO Doug Parker. American Airlines reported $480 million in earnings for the first quarter.
LinkColumn: Airlines use social media to enhance customer serviceAirlines are taking to Twitter to communicate with customers, writes columnist Benet Wilson. U.S. carriers such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways and Southwest Airlines are using tweets to communicate fun and useful information. "Folks in the aviation and travel industry have flocked to Twitter to discuss everything from fare sales to airline policy," Wilson writes.
LinkSouthwest reports increase in June trafficSouthwest Airlines posted a 2.2% increase in traffic for June on a year-over-year basis. The carrier also estimates its passenger revenue per available seat mile rose by 7% to 8% for the month, when compared to June 2013.
LinkAA: As of June 30, we have no any outstanding fuel hedging contracts US Airways management operated under the philosophy that the cost of fuel hedges were worse than the protections they might provide. So they did not invest in hedges. Now that those executives are running American Airlines, they’ve keeping the same philosophy. In an investor update Wednesday, American Airlines Group disclosed that it had “sold its portfolio of fuel hedging contracts that were scheduled to settle on or after June 30, 2014.” As a result, it will take a non-cash charge of about $330 million, the company said. (We’ve included their further explanation down below.) With the sale, the company now has no outstanding fuel hedges, it said.
LinkBoeing said to be near sales for 747-8Boeing is close to sealing deals with as many as four airlines for its 747-8, sources say, a move that would give a needed boost to the plane's production rate. Boeing is working to make the production process on the 747-8 faster and more efficient while keeping costs down. That effort is paying off, says 747 Vice President and General Manager Eric Lindblad.
LinkBoeing: Emirates Airline orders 150 777X aircraft Boeing said it had finalised an order for 150 777X planes from Emirates Airline in a deal valued at $56 billion at list prices.
LinkFAA comments on rulemaking process for model airplanesThe Federal Aviation Administration's recent efforts to clarify and define its role in regulating the use of model aircraft has some hobbyists upset about what they see as the agency's overreaction to a couple of unusual incidents. "We want people who fly model aircraft for recreation to enjoy their hobby -- but to enjoy it safely," said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.
LinkTravel group comments on TSA security measures The U.S. Travel Association is urging the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to provide “as much information” about to airline passengers about its crack down on security of international flights. "The U.S. travel community's default position is that safety and security need to be the top priorities in air travel policy,” U.S. Travel Association President Roger Dow said in a statement. “If our national security apparatus has actionable intelligence on potential threats, we support near-term measures to mitigate any problems and ensure the uninterrupted functioning of our air travel infrastructure.
LinkSFO ahead of schedule with runway upgradesSan Francisco International Airport is ahead of schedule with safety upgrades for two of its four runways. Doug Yakel, airport spokesman, said the project should be completed in late August.
LinkMeet John Wagner, the "driving force" for Global Entry American travelers flying back to the United States from overseas can avoid long lines and lengthy wait times if they are enrolled in the government’s Global Entry program, an initiative led by John Wagner, a senior manager with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Wagner was the driving force behind the development and implementation of the hugely successful program, which allows enrolled travelers to bypass the regular immigration control lines and proceed directly to a kiosk that scans their passports and fingerprints, issues a transaction receipt and directs them to baggage claim and the exit.
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