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A350 slot constraints pose challenge for Airbus in China
The lack of early available delivery slots for the Airbus A350 is a major challenge for the manufacturer as it pitches the type to Chinese customers. “Our industrial constraint is that you need to place the order well in advance to ensure delivery at a given period… so with 800 A350s being ordered, of course it’s a mathematical exercise,” says Airbus China president and chief executive Eric Chen to reporters in Beijing.
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Airbus touts its ‘Make In India’ credentials
The Airbus Group produced over $500 million worth of aero-structures, components, materials, and services in India during 2015. In the five years up to 2020, the company hopes to achieve a cumulative $2 billion in procurement from India, says Airbus Group in a statement.
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Air Freight Demand Solid In January
Demand for global air freight rose in January at its fastest pace since April 2015, but with capacity rising, yields and load factors remain under pressure, IATA said. Demand for air freight rose 2.7 percent in January, IATA said in its monthly traffic data.
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Bombardier begins CSeries European route-proving tour
Bombardier has started route-proving flights with its CSeries CS100 regional jet in Europe as the aircraft nears service entry with Swiss International Air Lines. SWISS is due to take delivery of its first CS100 in 2Q. The month-long route-proving program is being operated by Bombardier from SWISS’s Zurich hub. The exercise will include flights to several major European cities including Brussels, Vienna and Warsaw.
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Mitsubishi Aircraft reshuffles organisation pending MRJ testing
Mitsubishi Aircraft has announced organisational and personnel changes as it readies for flight testing of its MRJ regional jet in the United States. The company’s Quality Assurance Division will be divided between two new entities: the Flight Safety Management Office and Quality Assurance Office, says Mitsubishi in a statement.
LinkAirlines
Aegean Airlines reports passenger growth up 15% in 2015
Greece-based Aegean Airlines has reported strong passenger growth in 2015, but faces challenges as the country’s debt crisis continues. It has also been adversely affected by the emigration of high number of Middle Eastern refugees, especially to several Greek islands. Aegean carried 11.65 billion passengers in 2015, up 15% compared to 2014.
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Alaska Air Group carried more passengers in Feb.
Alaska Air Group posted a 13.8% increase in revenue passenger miles for February on a year-over-year basis. The parent company of Horizon Air and Alaska Airlines also reported a boost in capacity of 18% for the month.
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Allegiant Reports February 2016 Traffic
Allegiant Travel Company (ALGT) today reported preliminary passenger traffic results for February 2016.
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American Airlines expands service to Cancun, Mexico
American Airlines expanded nonstop service from the US to Cancun, Mexico. The carrier added flights to Cancun from Pittsburgh; Kansas City, Mo.; Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; and Nashville, Tenn.. American will operate the new flights on a weekly basis.
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Cargojet Declares Quarterly Dividend
The Board of Directors of Cargojet Inc. has declared a cash dividend of $0.1491 per common voting share and variable voting share for the period from January 1, 2016 to March 31 , 2016. The dividends will be paid to all shareholders of record as at the close of business on March 21, 2016 and will be payable on or before April 5 , 2016. These dividends will be eligible dividends within the meaning of the Income Tax Act ( Canada ).
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Ethiopian Airlines, RwandAir eye strategic partnership
Ethiopian Airlines is negotiating with Rwanda’s national carrier RwandAir for a 49% stake in the African airline, CEO Tewolde Gebremariam confirmed. “Ethiopian Airlines and RwandAir are discussing expanding their cooperation. The discussion is still at an early stage and we have not yet progressed to the equity discussion level,” Gebremariam said.
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Fastjet Warns Of More Turbulence
African budget carrier Fastjet warned that its results for the year would be well below market expectations, adding further turbulence as its second-largest investor seeks to oust chief executive Ed Winter. The Tanzania-based airline said it no longer expected to be cash flow positive in 2016, citing challenging conditions in the domestic aviation market.
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JetBlue Launches ‘Gateway Select’ Pilot Training Program
JetBlue today announced the launch of its seventh pilot recruiting pathway, Gateway Select, the airline’s new competency-based training program for aspiring pilots. Applications for Gateway Select can be submitted starting today at http://pilots.jetblue.com. JetBlue also announced it will partner with CAE to help deliver Gateway Select’s training curriculum, leveraging CAE’s experience in delivering competency-based training programs to airlines throughout the world.
LinkAirports
Hong Kong traffic sees 13% growth in January
Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) reported a 13.3% growth in passenger numbers for January 2016, along with a 5.4% growth in aircraft movements compared to January 2015. Total passenger numbers for the month hit 5.9 million, and aircraft movements reached just over 35,000 in the same period.
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Military
UAE seeks Northrop LAIRCM upgrade for C-17As
The United Arab Emirates Air Force could protect its eight Boeing C-17A strategic transports with Northrop Grumman’s missile-dazzling large aircraft infrared countermeasures (LAIRCM) system under a $225 million deal recently approved by the US government. Northrop would be a subcontractor to Boeing if the deal closes. Abu Dhabi is seeking eight Northrop AAQ-24 LAIRCM suites, each comprised of three Guardian laser transmitter assemblies, six ultraviolet missile warning sensors and other major components.
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