AirlinesAmerican Airlines expands AAdvantage program down underAustralian travelers can now take advantage of American Airlines AAdvantage awards program. Miles can be earned and spent across the Oneworld flight alliance.
LinkDelta receives first A350Delta has taken shipment of its first A350, an extra-wide body plane that the airline plans to use to replace its existing 747s and 767s on international flights. The first Delta A350 flight is expected to launch next year.
Link2Q profits for Delta beat expectationsSecond quarter profits for Delta Air Lines beat expectations by increasing 85%, according to company officials. The airline earned $1.49 billion in the last quarter compared to $801 million it earned a year ago.
LinkDelta adds more upgrade options, enhances SkyMiles programDelta Air Lines has announced a number of enhancements to its SkyMiles program. These include new transcontinental upgrade options for Platinum and Diamond members, as well as more ways to earn Medallion Qualification Dollars.
LinkGulf Carriers' Impact Minimal From US Ex-Im ShutdownGulf carriers' backlog of Boeing aircraft orders will be largely unaffected by the shutdown of the United States Export-Import Bank, which provides the region's airlines with billions of dollars in guarantees, industry observers said. Combined orders from carriers in the United Arab Emirates, home to Emirates and Etihad Airways, is around 380 aircraft, according to Boeing figures. Emirates alone has 198 aircraft on order, worth USD$166 billion.
LinkHawaiian Airlines features new Honolulu loungeHawaiian Airlines has completed a multi-million dollar revitalization of its Hawaii lounges with a new lounge in Honolulu. The lounge features local beer and a curated wine selection, fresh food, and self-serve snacks.
LinkRyanair To Bid For IAG Slots At London GatwickRyanair said it will bid for the slots IAG has agreed to release at London's Gatwick airport as a condition of its takeover of Aer Lingus. IAG gained EU approval for its EUR€1.3 billion (USD$1.4 billion) bid for Ireland's Aer Lingus on Tuesday after agreeing to improve concessions to ease competition concerns, including giving up five slots at Gatwick.
LinkNew software promotes smooth travel experienceAmerican and Alaska Airlines are testing new software from WSI designed to help pilots avoid turbulence. The software monitors a sensor package and then communicates that information to other aircraft in the area, thereby minimizing the risks of turbulent air.
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AirportsDes Moines International rolls out incentives for air service The Des Moines International Airport is rolling out a new incentive program aimed at enticing airlines to launch new flights to and from the city. The program offers up to $250,000 -- $200,000 in refunded landing fees and $50,000 in matching funds for advertising a new flight -- to airlines that add a new route here. The flights must run at least twice a week and go to a destination not already served by the Des Moines airport.
LinkMunich Airport Gets Clearance For Third RunwayMunich airport, Germany's second largest and a key Lufthansa base, has won approval for plans to build a third runway when a federal court rejected the remaining appeals against it. Airport expansion is a hot topic in Europe, pitting local residents and environmentalists against airlines and airports facing increased global competition. Protesters this week disrupted flights at London's Heathrow Airport after a commission recommended the government build a third runway there to end decades of wrangling and indecision.
LinkPhoenix Sky Harbor sees 3.7 million passengers in MayPhoenix Sky Harbor International Airport embarked 3.7 million passengers in May, a 4.2% increase from last year.
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MilitaryTop USAF official warns of "blowback" if Congress saves A-10Proposals in the US Congress to protect the Fairchild Republic A-10 and Lockheed Martin EC-130 from retirement and restrict further fleet reductions could force the US Air Force to “delay or eliminate” modernization programs, Secretary of the Air Force Deborah James warned on 15 July. The House of Representatives and the Senate are meeting to reconcile differences in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 2016, but both versions so far agree on keeping the A-10 close air support fighter and the EC-130 Compass Call fleet flying.
LinkUSAF still hoping for 18 KC-46A tankers by 2017 despite slipThe US Air Force’s program executive officer for tankers is cautiously optimistic that Boeing can deliver its first 18 operational KC-46A Pegasus aircraft by August 2017 as required, but says he doesn’t have his “head in the sand” either. The $50 billion tanker program encountered significant delays late in the development phase due to wiring issues, software troubles and parts delivery delays, and the first KC-46 flight is expected to occur seven to nine months late, somewhere between now and September.
LinkIndia to buy four additional P-8IsThe Indian Defence Acquisition Council has cleared the acquisition of four additional Boeing P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft for the Indian navy. Exercising the option for four more P-8s in addition to the eight that were purchased under a 2009 $2.1 billion deal, the DAC approval came on 14 July and was accorded following the completion of deliberations by the Cost Negotiating Committee (CNC).
LinkJapan becomes first V-22 export customerJapan is now officially set to become the first foreign operator of the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey after signing a $332 million contract for five of the tiltrotor aircraft. The foreign military sale – announced on 14 July by the US Department of Defense – is likely to lead to follow-on orders. The US State Department notified Congress in May that Japan had requested a purchase of up to 17 V-22B Block C aircraft worth $3 billion, which agrees with Tokyo’s latest five-year budget plan.
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Briefs
9 Air (China) took delivery of its fifth aircraft, a brand new B737-800, serial 38041, on lease from GECAS (US).
AerCap (Netherlands) reports in 2Q 2015 it signed lease agreements for 103 aircraft; purchased 11 aircraft; executed sale and part-out transactions for 18 aircraft; ordered 100 B737 MAX 8 with deliveries starting in 2019; signed purchase/leaseback deals for four B737 MAX 8s; and signed financing transactions for US$2.3 billion. Lessor ended quarter with portfolio of approximately 1,730 aircraft.
Air China Cargo took delivery of B777-200F, serial 44684, marking delivery of its seventh B777-200F ordered from Boeing. Another B777-200F on order will delivered within 2015.
Air Serbia and Alitalia to expand codeshare partnership on 26 October 2015, as Air Serbia’s JU code to be placed on a number of domestic Italy routes via Rome.
Air Serbia to suspend service from Belgrade to Budapest and Larnaca, previously scheduled for on/after 25 October 2015.
AirBaltic receives foreign air carrier permit from US to conduct scheduled flights between Riga and New York, starting under codeshare with Uzbekistan Airways.
ALAFCO (Kuwait) announced net profit of US$44.3 million for first nine months of its current fiscal year that began on 01 October 2014. Assets amounted to $2.3 billion, and the shareholders equity stood at $715.5 million.
ALAFCO (Kuwait) identified as buyer of three B737-800s sold by FLY Leasing (Ireland) in early March 2015 — two are leased to Malaysia Airlines and one is leased to Nok Air (Thailand). ALAFCO also acquired a new A320 via sale/leaseback with Aegean Airlines (Greece).
Alitalia to issue a senior unsecured bond for a total nominal amount of US$415.5 million. The bond, not subject to rating, will be fully underwritten by Morgan Stanley (US) in its role as Sole Underwriter.??
Carib-South Airways plans to launch cargo operations to the Caribbean in August 2015 with a leased B737F or B727F based at Stewart Airport. Passenger operations will follow in December 2015 with either an A320 or B767.
China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings announced subsidiary CALC Tianjin is the first ever leasing company in China which is allowed to form a cross-border foreign currency fund pool.
China Eastern to launch a new scheduled service from Shanghai Pudong to Tokyo Haneda on 05 August 2015 with B737-800 operated by Shanghai Airlines.
China Southern agreed to purchase 4% equity interest in Xiamen Airlines (China) from Xiamen C&D (China) at a consideration of US$96.2 million. CSA increased its total stake in Xiamen to 55%.
CIT Aerospace delivered a B737-800, serial 33019, to Eastar Jet (South Korea).
Condor to add Frankfurt – Austin service on 27 June 2016, with B767.
Embraer reports firm order backlog reached US$22.9 billion at end of 2Q 2105, with 27 jets delivered to the commercial aviation market and 33 jets to the business aviation market.
Emirates to restart service from Dubai to Erbil on 15 August 2015, with A330-200.
FAA is in Thailand this week to examine all aspects of its CAA which include documentation and the granting of aviation licenses to new airliners.
GOL approved an increase in the capital stock in the amount of US$147.3 million.
Greenland Express sold a 35% stake to the Wurban Group (UK), as needed funds will allow carrier to resume operations on 28 July 2015 with leased A319.
Hawaiian Airlines to lease A330-200 from Air Lease (US) for six years beginning summer 2016, as carrier to accelerate retirements of its B767-300ERs.
Intrepid Aviation selects Delta Air Lines as the sponsor airline candidate for Skymark Airlines (Japan), under the Creditors’ Rehabilitation Plan.
Juneyao Airlines) announced a private share placement plan to raise US$58.0 million to repay bank loans and fund expansion, less than two months after its IPO in Shanghai. Funds to also help buy four A320s, three auxiliary engines, two flight simulators and a tourism platform.
Juneyao Airlines says net profit attributable to shareholders to grow up to 170% in 1H 2015 from a year earlier to US$31.3 million, due to low jet fuel prices, a strong market and its own operating efficiency.
Korean Air to add B747-400 service from Seoul Incheon to Singapore from 10 August to 05 September 2015.
Malaysia Airlines to cancel service from Kota Kinabalu to Hong Kong on 01 September; to reduce service from Kota Kinabalu to Perth on 09 August, as well as to Tokyo Narita on 02 October 2015.
Myanmar National Airlines to launch B737-800 service from Yangon to Singapore on 17 August 2015, subject to government approval.
Oppland (China) to host the “Aircraft Remarketing and Record Management Forum” in Beijing on 08 September 2015.
Qatar Airways Cargo to introduce the first B747-400BCF to its expanding fleet on 01 August 2015 to further enhance its global on-demand charter services.
Qatar Airways to start service from Doha to Dubai on 02 August 2015, with A350-900.
Rolls-Royce is to work with ITP (Spain) to support a US$47.3 million research program to test Intermediate Pressure turbine technologies that will go into its future engine design, UltraFan.
Ryanair to bid for five slots IAG agreed to release at London Gatwick airport as a condition of its takeover of Aer Lingus (Ireland).
SAS Scandinavian Airlines extended planned B717 operations out of Stockholm til 06 November 2015.
Sichuan Airlines to launch service from Haikou to Bangkok on 16 July 2015 with A321.
SpiceJet got back one B737-900ER from BBAM (US) that carrier was forced to return in early 2015 and is in talks for return of two more aircraft on lease.
State Transport Leasing Company (Russia) to purchase 32 SSJ100s with US$529.8 million in funds from federal loan bonds advanced by United Aircraft (Russia).
Stobart Air (Ireland) recorded a 4.0 point growth in passenger load factor to 74% in June 2015 for Aer Lingus Regional. For 1H 2015, passenger load factor rose 3.4 points, with over 562,000 passengers.
Sukhoi Civil Aircraft delivered the 10th SSJ100, serial 95092, to Gazpromavia (Russia).
Turkish Airlines extended the wet lease with Malaysia Airlines of a A330-200F to 2017 after initial one-year lease ended in June 2015.
Turkish Airlines plans to raise up to US$3 billion in loans for financing the purchase of 10 A321-200s, five A330-300s, two A330-200Fs, 20 B737-800s, and six B777-300ERs to be delivered in 2016. Financing will be 85% guaranteed by ECAs.
Vietnam Airlines rescheduled planned B787-9 operation from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh for 31 July, as well as from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh to London Heathrow on 01 and 02 September 2015, respectively. A one-off B787-9 service from Ho Chi Minh to Frankfurt is set for 04 October 2015.
Viva Airline Group (Panama) plans to launch LCC, VivaCam (Costa Rica), from San Jose to Central America destinations by end of 2015 with two A320s. Carrier to expand operations to include as many as six planes within three years, potentially to North America, South America and the Caribbean. AOC is still pending.
Werner Aero Services (US) acquired a B737NG last operated by Eastar Jet (South Korea). Aircraft to enter its disassembly process.
Xiamen Airlines took delivery of brand new B737-800, serial 39913, expanding its fleet to 119 aircraft.
