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AerCap removes Boeing 757s and 767s from Russia
Operating lessor AerCap terminated leases on nine aircraft – six Boeing 757s and three 767s – on lease to Russian carriers in December 2014. "In total, the number of aircraft in Russia has been reduced by 17," said Aengus Kelly, speaking on a fourth-quarter earnings call, adding: "Russian exposure does not represent unusual risk: significant collateral is held, cost basis of aircraft is low, and aircraft can be removed as needed." The lessor says the nine aircraft were "accessed and removed within 72 hours with minimal loss, and are all now under letters of intent to be leased or sold".
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Airbus Considering A320 Output Increase
Airbus is talking to suppliers about the possibility of raising production of the A320 family to 50 a month in 2017, a senior industry figure said. Airbus has asked suppliers to be ready to adjust to production of 48 aircraft a month during 2016, rising to 50 a month in 2017, the person said, asking not to be named.
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Viking sells Twin Otter Series 400 to Walker
Sydney-based Walker Corporation has ordered a DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft from Viking Air of Canada via Australasia sales representative Utility Air for operation on guest transport services at a new resort in Fiji.
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Marion C. Blakey Appointed President and CEO of Rolls-Royce North America
Rolls-Royce announced today that Marion C. Blakey has been appointed to become President and Chief Executive Officer of Rolls-Royce North America and chair of the Rolls-Royce North America Board of Directors, replacing James M. Guyette who will be retiring in May.
LinkAirlines
Irish state presses IAG for better Aer Lingus terms
Ireland’s government is seeking better terms from IAG before surrendering its shareholding in flag-carrier Aer Lingus. Irish transport minister Paschale Donohoe says that IAG’s proposals “do not at present provide a basis” on which the government could give an “irrevocable commitment” to dispose of its 25% stake. He acknowledges IAG’s proposal for legally-binding guarantees on the airline’s London Heathrow slots, but indicates that the five-year commitment from IAG is too short.
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Air Canada to offer business-class service on transcontinental flights
Air Canada has announced the rollout of Business Class – Transcontinental, which will be available on flights between Toronto and San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver and Calgary, in addition to Montreal and Vancouver flights. The new service will be available beginning March 1.
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Allegiant expands in Myrtle Beach with Five New Routes
Allegiant today announced new, nonstop jet service from five cities to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. A total of 13 cities in the Allegiant network will now have access to the Myrtle Beach Area as a seasonal vacation destination. The company, known for its exceptional travel deals, will celebrate the new services with up to $500 off* vacation packages and one-way fares to Myrtle Beach as low as $29.
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American Airlines relocates to different terminal at Calif. airport
American Airlines will move from Terminal B to Terminal A at Sacramento International Airport effective Tuesday. Airport officials said American Airlines and US Airways have gradually consolidated since their merger in December 2013. The move at Sacramento International allows American to be next to the US Airways ticket counter in Terminal A.
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American intensifies its marketing push for L.A. market
If you live in Los Angeles and spend a fortune each year on air travel - preferably in first or business class - American Airlines wants earn your business.
American had a big weekend in L.A. on the marketing front, announcing Friday it reached a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers to become the team's official airline. Saturday was entertainment day, with American cozying up to celebrities, including Kristen Bell and Fred Armisen, pictured in the tweet above.
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Healthy profit supports growth for Fiji Airways
Fiji Airways, bolstered by record profits in 2014, is preparing to expand its fleet and network this year, adding a fourth Airbus A330 and a fourth Boeing 737-800. Fiji said it is analyzing an Asian route, will add a Nadi-Wellington service in June, and will boost frequencies on existing routes with the added capacity, the carrier said in a recent 2014 earnings presentation.
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JetBlue announces promotion for Marty St. George
JetBlue Airways announced the promotion on Monday of Marty St. George. He will serve as vice president of commercial and planning for the carrier. St. George has worked for JetBlue since 2006, after stints with United Airlines and US Airways.
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JetBlue asks Calif. airport to add customs facility
JetBlue Airways has formally requested that Long Beach Airport in California add a federal customs facility. "We look forward to working closely with the city to immediately proceed with the application process and begin the work required to secure an international flight designation for the city of Long Beach," wrote Robert Land, JetBlue senior vice president for government affairs.
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Southwest sets example of how to use office humor
The head honchos in the C-suite aren’t exactly pounding on the boardroom table demanding that their employees be funny. Yet research reveals the many ways humor helps business. Some companies, notably Southwest Airlines, project funniness in all areas of their business, from wisecracking flight attendants to the stock ticker, LUV. But even the most serious companies could benefit from some levity. Though it might not matter much if the finance folks are a barrel of laughs, the advantages of a sense of humor — smoother interactions, improved creativity, and enhanced well-being — are often overlooked.
LinkMilitary
F-35 program chief cites slow, steady progress
The executive officer of the Lockheed Martin F-35 joint program office is cautiously optimistic that the aircraft is on track to achieve key objectives, and that unit costs will continue to fall for the platform. Speaking to journalists at the biennial Avalon air show, USAF Lt Gen Chris Bogdan said that memories of severe delays and problems prior to the F-35's "re-baselining" exercise in 2010-11 continue to overshadow the program, but much progress has been made in finding ways to drive down costs. Crucially, the relationship between the US government and key contractors, Lockheed and Pratt & Whitney, has improved.
LinkRotary Wing
Australia grounds some R44s on rotor blade concerns
Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has issued an airworthiness directive grounding Robinson R44 helicopters fitted with C016-7 main rotor blades. The grounding follows a fatal accident on 19 February in New Zealand, where it is suggested the aircraft suffered an in-flight rotor blade failure as a result of cracking. “To prevent the possibility of main rotor blade separation and consequent loss of the helicopter, further flight is prohibited,” the AD reads.
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Aviation Quote
He did it alone. We had a cast of a million.
— Neil Armstrong, regards Charles Lindbergh.
On This Date
---In 1784... The first balloon flight made in Italy takes place from the grounds of a villa owned by Chevalier Paul Andreani near Milan and uses a modified Montgolfière hot air design built by the brothers Charles and Augustin Gerli.
---In 1929... The world’s first major air evacuation comes to an end when Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF) flies out the last of 586 civilians from Kabul to the safety to India. The airlift involves nationals of about 20 countries.
---In 1930... Ralph O’Neil lands in Miami on the first mail service of America airline New York, Rio and Buenos Aires Line (NYRBA) between Buenos Aires and New York after a difficult 6-day flight from Argentina.
---In 1932…Russia’s civil airline changes its name to “Aeroflot” as we know it today.
---In 1933…USS Ranger (CV-4) is launched as the first American ship actually designed to be an aircraft carrier. (Earlier conventional ships had been converted to carriers).
---In 1963…First flight of the Transall C.160.
---In 1964…Eastern Air Lines Flight 304, a Douglas DC-8 (N8607), crashes into Lake Pontchartrain after departing New Orleans. All 58 aboard perish due to an abnormal trim component which led to instability when experiencing turbulence while climbing through 16,000ft.
---In 1965…The Douglas DC-9 makes its first test flight.
--- In 1970... TWA becomes the first airline to fly a “Jumbo Jet” within the US, when it inaugurates a Boeing 747 service between Los Angeles and New York.
---In 1975…Brig. General Chuck Yeager, the first pilot to break the sound barrier, flies his final US Air Force sortie.
---In 1979…Soyuz 32 carries 2 cosmonauts to Salyut 6 space station is launched.
---In 1982…American Airlines cancels 15 Boeing 757-200 orders.
---In 1990... Smoke-free flights become mandatory throughout North America for all US airlines.
---In 2008…Turkish Airlines Flight 1951 crashes short of the runway while on approach to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. A faulty altimeter on the Boeing 737-800 (TC-JGE) led to a decrease in the autothrottle to idle. Noticing too late, the crew was unable to recover, and the aircraft broke apart while landing in the mud. Among the 135 people on-board, 9 die, including the two pilots.
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