NewsCommercial
Boeing predicts strong demand for 777
Experts say Boeing could face a drop in demand for its 777 aircraft as the manufacturer prepares to release the 777X in 2020. However, Boeing predicts strong demand for the 777. "We expect demand for the 777 to remain healthy through the end of this decade," Boeing CEO Jim McNerney said.
LinkAirlines
Brazil's Azul now selling flights to Florida
Brazilian carrier Azul is now selling seats for its first flights to the United States. That comes after the airline, launched by JetBlue founder David Neeleman, received approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation and from the Federal Aviation Administration to commence sales for its upcoming routes to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. Azul's Florida flights will operate out of Sao Paulo's Campinas International Airport. Daily service to Fort Lauderdale is set to begin Dec. 2 while daily flights to Orlando will launch Dec. 15. Azul will fly the routes with Airbus A330-200 wide-body aircraft.
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Delta to reshuffle routes from Memphis in 2015
Delta Air Lines announced that it will cease operating four of its non-stop routes from Memphis International Airport next year, although it will begin serving several new cities from its former hub. Beginning January 5, 2015, the airline will no longer offer non-stop service from Memphis to Pittsburgh International Airport, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. In addition, the carrier will discontinue its Memphis-Washington Reagan route next April.
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Envoy Air to transfer 50 regional aircraft
American Airlines Group Inc subsidiary Envoy Air plans to transfer at least 50 Embraer 145 aircraft to other regional carriers beginning in early 2015 in a move that will lead to job cuts, according to an internal letter reviewed by Reuters. American said it decided to transfer the aircraft because the number of pilots at Envoy has dwindled in recent months. The move is the latest setback for the regional carrier since it announced about 50 other job cuts last month. "Given the number of Envoy pilots flowing through to American each month or leaving due to normal attrition, Envoy will not have the pilots we need to fly our 2015 schedule," Kenji Hashimoto, American's senior vice president of regional carriers, said in the letter. "Without a cost-effective pilot agreement in place, Envoy will not secure new jets and faces challenges in recruiting new pilots without the promise of a renewed fleet," he added.
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Frontier orders first A321s
US carrier Frontier Airlines is ordering nine Airbus A321s, its first agreement for the largest member of the single-aisle family. Frontier's decision takes to 89 the number of aircraft on its Airbus order backlog. The other 80 comprise re-engined A320neo jets.
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Southwest campaign highlights traveler benefits
Southwest Airlines has debuted a new ad campaign titled "Swagger" designed to highlight the many amenities available to customers while traveling with the carrier. "Convenience, new planes, routes, nonstop options and frequent flyer programs do matter," said Ted Marzilli, CEO of YouGov BrandIndex. "Marketers have a lot to work with."
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SpiceJet In Talks To Raise Capital
India's SpiceJet is in "exploratory and preliminary stage" talks with investors about raising fresh capital that it needs to return to profitability, the budget airline said in a regulatory filing. SpiceJet, which this month reported its fifth consecutive quarter of losses, has been trying to raise fresh capital for much of this year. It said in May it was in "advanced" talks for capital infusion but no deal materialized. "We wish to clarify that a few parties have approached us and evinced interest in making investments into SpiceJet... as the Company has been exploring various options for raising fresh capital," the airline said.
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United Airlines' video streaming extended to Android devices
United Airlines has expanded its free wireless video streaming service to include Android devices. Previously, the in-flight service could only be accessed by passengers with laptops or Apple devices.
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Analysts praise United CEO after 2 strong quarters
Analysts are crediting United Continental CEO Jeff Smisek with turning around the carrier after delivering solid results for two quarters in a row. "We expect record 4Q14 results," wrote analyst Helane Becker of Cowen & Co. Shares of United Continental have soared 40% in the past six months.
LinkAirports
American moves ticket counters next to US Airways at N.C. airport
American Airlines and US Airways have completed another step in the integration process by combining ticket counters at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. American Airlines moved its counters next to US Airways for a more "seamless" travel experience.
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D.C. airports to receive NextGen upgrades, FAA says
The Federal Aviation Administration announced that three airports in the Washington, D.C., metro area will receive NextGen upgrades. Airlines will be able to reduce annual fuel consumption by 2.5 million gallons through the optimized profile descents, according to the FAA
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DFW predicts Thanksgiving holiday travelers to hit 2.25M
Officials at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport predict 2.25 million passengers will travel through the airport during the Thanksgiving holiday. "Millions of customers will be traveling through D/FW Airport this holiday season, and it is our mission to make the journey as easy and cheerful as possible," said Sean Donohue, airport CEO, in a statement. The airport defines the holiday as starting on Thursday and going through Dec. 2.
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Three In Final Stage Of Greek Airport Tender
The three groups bidding to lease and operate 14 of Greece's 39 regional airports have met the necessary technical requirements and their offers will be opened on Tuesday. The tender to operate airport terminals at some of Greece's most popular tourist islands such as Rhodes, Corfu, Mykonos and Santorini is part of the country's privatization program, following a EUR€240 billion (USD$303 billion) EU/IMF bailout. Privatizations to raise funds to pay down public debt have been a key part of the bailout, but the program has consistently fallen short of targets.
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Vienna Airport Investor Looking For Higher Bid
Vienna Airport minority investor Petrus Advisers said it is rallying support from other shareholders for a higher bid from Australia's IFM Investors for a stake in the airport. IFM Investors is offering to buy between 20 and 29.9 percent in Vienna Airport for EUR€80 a share. The subscription period runs to December 12. "There is no one who is happy that someone wants to take the Airport away from us for EUR€80," said Klaus Umek, managing partner at London-based investment firm Petrus Advisers which he said holds a 3.5 percent stake in Vienna Airport.
LinkMilitary
Japan will purchase 17 V-22 Osprey tiltrotors
Japan has announced plans to purchase a fleet of Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotors and has included funding for the aircraft in its 2015 defense budget. The budget document, recently posted on the Japanese Ministry of Defence’s website, says “source selection is underway” for acquisition of a tiltrotor but does not specify the Osprey. Included in the document are generic renderings of an aircraft that resembles the V-22, which can takeoff and land like a helicopter and fly like a plane. Boeing spokeswoman Caroline Hutcheson confirmed that Japan is buying the V-22, which it builds the aircraft in partnership with Bell Helicopter.
LinkRegulatory
Limits lifted on flying between U.S., Mexico
The U.S. and Mexico have agreed to remove current limits on the number of airlines that can provide passenger service between the two countries. "Travelers, shippers, airlines, and the economies of both countries will benefit from competitive pricing and more convenient air service," U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said.
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Aviation Quote
Nothing said I had to crash.
— R.A. Bob Hoover, after hitting a telephone wire and losing two feet of wing in his P-51.
On This Date
---In 1940…First flight of the de Havilland Mosquito prototype W4050.
---In 1956... U.S. Air Force Sergeant Richard Patton makes the 1st successful parachute jump in Antarctica. He jumps from 1,500 feet as a test to determine the cause of parachute malfunction in sub-zero weather conditions.
---In 1968…FAA Certifies DC-9-20.
---In 2009…First flight of the Gulfstream G650.
Daily Video
Editor’s Choice
Humor
No Frills Airlines
You'll Know It's a No-Frills Airline If:
1. They don't sell tickets, they sell chances.
2. All the insurance machines in the terminal are sold out.
3. Before the flight, the passengers get together and elect a pilot.
4. If you kiss the wing for luck before boarding, it kisses you back.
5. You cannot board the plane unless you have the exact change.
6. Before you took off, the stewardess tells you to fasten your Velcro.
7. The Captain asks all the passengers to chip in a little for gas.
8. When they pull the steps away, the plane starts rocking.
9. The Captain yells at the ground crew to get the cows off the runway.
10. You ask the Captain how often their planes crash and he sez, "Just once."
11. No movie. Don't need one.
12. Your life keeps flashing before your eyes.
13. You see a man with a gun, but he's demanding to be let off the plane.
14. All the planes have both a bathroom and a chapel.
Trivia
Airport Jumble
1. OATREHWH
2. LHISPHCO
3. DKNNEYE
4. AILAUDAGR
5. OERODLAD
6. KGTCIWA
7. RASAJAB
8. RENRGADEMO
9. SRPAUKT
10. NOTMUEC
