AirlinesAeroflot to begin SSJ100 Moscow-Saratov serviceRussia’s Aeroflot will launch daily Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) Moscow-Saratov service from Dec. 1, which will encroach on regional Saratov Airlines’ dominance on the route. Previously, Saratov Airport could only handle Yakovlev Yak-40s, Yak-42s, Embraer E195s, DHC-8-400s and several other aircraft types in the same weight class due to its proximity to the city and the aerodrome infrastructure condition. However, in September the airport was granted permission to handle the SSJ100, opening up the route for larger competitors such as Aeroflot.
LinkAeromexico Reports September 2015 Traffic ResultsGrupo Aeromexico S.A.B. de C.V. today reported September 2015 operational results. Grupo Aeromexico transported 1 million 417 thousand passengers in September; a 6.0% year-on-year increase. International passenger numbers increased by 16.0%, while domestic passenger numbers increased by 1.8%.
LinkAirAsia Sounding Out Investors To Take Company PrivateThe founders of AirAsia are reported to be sounding out investors to take the company private in a management-led buyout, after its shares took a beating this year following a critical research report. AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes and his long-time business partner Kamarudin Meranun are working with banks to secure financing for the transaction, which could be launched over the next few months, according to Reuters news agency.
LinkAir Astana to lease four Airbus A320neos from AerCapKazakhstan flag carrier Air Astana will take three Airbus A321neos and a single A320neo on lease from AerCap. “We have no doubt that the neo will prove an ideal intermediate range aircraft for us,” said Air Astana president and CEO Peter Foster, announcing the lease agreement on Oct. 5. AerCap CEO Aengus Kelly said the aircraft would primarily be deployed on Air Astana’s longer-range routes to Asia and Europe.
LinkAir France to renegotiate Boeing 787-9 commitmentsAir France is to open talks over its Boeing 787-9 commitments after announcing plans to scale back its long-haul fleet by 14 aircraft on Oct. 5. “Air France confirms considering changing its Boeing 787-9 order as part of its restructuring plan. The company says it will contact the manufacturer and contractors as soon as possible to agree on the terms of this modification,” an Air France spokeswoman told ATW in an e-mailed statement.
LinkAlaska Air Group posted higher traffic for Sept.Alaska Air Group, the parent company of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, posted a 10% traffic increase for September on a year-over-year basis. Alaska Airlines reported a 9.8% increase in traffic for the month, while Horizon Air reported a 2.7% increase.
LinkAllegiant Reports September 2015 TrafficAllegiant Travel Company today reported preliminary passenger traffic results for September, 2015.
LinkAmerican makes a splash with front-page ad on L.A. TimesAmerican Airlines took out a color border ad on the front page of the Los Angeles Times on Monday. "The team was really looking for something bold to share with Los Angeles," spokeswoman Laura Nedbal said. American also plans to advertise in Chicago and New York.
LinkNTSB pinpoints BA 777 engine failure to GE90’s HPCThe British Airways Boeing 777 GE90 uncontained engine failure on a Las Vegas runway Sept. 8 occurred in the high-pressure compressor (HPC), investigators reported. The US National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) second update on the engine failure, released Oct. 6, pinpointed the specific location of the failure, which sparked a fire that forced the 777’s pilots to abort a takeoff. NTSB investigators disassembled the GE90 engine at GE Aviation’s facility in Evandale, Ohio.
LinkDelta expects strong Q3 marginsAnalysts said investors should take note of the strong margins expected to be posted by Delta Air Lines. Delta predicted operating margin for the third quarter to be between 20% and 21% in an update for investors.
LinkDelta to dedicate Boeing 757 to New York MetsThe New York Mets, who won the National League East championship this season, are being honored by Delta Air Lines. The carrier has emblazoned "Let's Go Mets" on the fuselage of a Boeing 757, which will be dedicated to the team today at John F. Kennedy Airport.
LinkFinnair readies for first A350 delivery; eyes Asia market expansion Finnair will take delivery Oct. 7 of the first of 19 Airbus A350 XWBs it has on order, becoming the third airline to receive an A350 and the first European operator. The oneworld airline will receive the seventh A350 off the production line in Toulouse Oct. 7, following deliveries earlier this year to launch customer Qatar Airways and Vietnam Airlines.
LinkJetBlue to expand service from NashvilleJetBlue Airways announced plans to fly to two new cities from Nashville, Tenn., starting May 5. JetBlue will offer direct flights from Nashville to Boston and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
LinkMesa Airlines Announces Agreement to Expand its United Express Fleet with 15 New E175 AircraftMesa Airlines, Inc. today announced an agreement with United Airlines to add 15 Embraer 175 aircraft to Mesa’s United Express fleet. Mesa currently operates 30 Embraer aircraft for United Airlines. In addition to the E175s, Mesa operates 20 Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft under the United Express brand.
LinkCrew of crashed Trigana ATR received no GPWS alertsA preliminary report into to the fatal crash of a Trigana Air Service ATR 42-300 on 16 August indicates that the crew received no ground proximity warning system (GPWS) alerts before crashing into an 8,300ft ridge. The National Transportation Safety Committee’s (NTSC) initial report into the crash, which killed 49 passengers and five crew, is based on data from the aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder (CVR), which Indonesian authorities successfully downloaded.
Link 
