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Airbus Chief Says A350 Delivery Goal A Challenge
Airbus faces a challenge to meet delivery targets for the A350 this year due to problems with suppliers, CEO Fabrice Bregier said in an interview. Airbus still has to deliver at least 41 A350s to reach its target of more than 50 for the whole year, after a slow start blamed partly on shortages of seats and toilets. "The target remains a challenge because some of our industrial partners are experiencing difficulties," Fabrice Bregier told France's La Tribune daily.
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Bombardier CSeries 100 secures EASA and FAA type validation
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and FAA have granted type validation to the Bombardier CSeries 100 (CS100), paving the way for delivery to launch customer Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) at the end of June. The European and US approvals build on the CS100’s original type certification which was awarded by Transport Canada in December 2015.
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Europe relaxes safety restrictions on Zambia and five airlines
The European Commission has allowed all Zambian airlines, African carrier Air Madagascar, three Indonesian airlines (Citilink, Lion Air and Batik Air), and most of Iran Air’s aircraft to fly to Europe in its latest European Union (EU) air safety list update. EU commissioner for transport Violeta Bulc said the Zambian clearance followed “seven years of work and extensive European technical assistance.” The Iranian relaxation came after Bulc’s visit in April and a technical assessment in May, which has resulted in “most aircraft from Iran Air” being allowed to return to Europe.
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EU Allows IranAir, Lion Air To Resume Flights
The European Commission said Iranian state carrier IranAir can resume flights in the EU, along with Indonesian budget carrier Lion Air, which has been removed from a safety blacklist. Following a visit to Iran by the EU executive in April, most of IranAir's aircraft have been allowed to resume operations in the European Union, the Commission said in a statement.
LinkAirlines
Alaska Airlines believes in the "power of the Virgin America brand"
Alaska Airlines is mulling the possibility of retaining the Virgin America brand and becoming a two-product airline. "We are looking at that because we do believe in the power of the Virgin America brand and we don't want to lose all that loyalty and revenue that exists today," said Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden.
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Search teams recover EgyptAir cockpit voice recorder
Search teams have recovered the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) from the EgyptAir Airbus A320 that crashed into the Mediterranean Sea in May. “The cockpit voice recorder was retrieved in several stages, as it was damaged, but the vessel equipment managed to pick up the memory unit, which is considered as the most important part,” the Egyptian Civil Aviation Ministry said in a statement issued June 16.
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SIA resumes US nonstop service with SFO
Singapore Airlines (SIA) will launch nonstop service to San Francisco later this year, resuming nonstop service to the USA after a three year hiatus. The Star Alliance carrier will also suspend flights to Sao Paulo citing weak demand on the route, joining other foreign carriers that are dropping service to Brazil.
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Swiss International Air Lines announces new board chairman
Lufthansa subsidiary Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has appointed Reto Francioni as its new board chairman, succeeding Bruno Gehrig, who has retired after nearly six years as chairman. Former SWISS CEO Christoph Franz has also stepped down from the board, and is being replaced by Doris Russi Schurter. Franz was elected to the board in October 2009 as deputy chairman and served as SWISS CEO between 2004 and 2009.
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TAAG Angola Airlines plans European routes after EASA approval
TAAG Angola Airlines, the national airline of Angola, is evaluating new routes to Europe after receiving authorization to fly to all European Union (EU) countries. “With full clearance from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), we have the freedom that allows us to fly to European cities,” chairman and CEO Peter Hill said.
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WestJet To Consider 737 MAX 7 Stretch
WestJet Airlines said it will consider a slightly larger version of the Boeing 737 MAX 7, as the carrier prepares to take delivery of 65 737s by 2027. "We're still working with Boeing on the 737 and the MAX," WestJet chief financial officer Harry Taylor said. "If it (a larger MAX 7) looks like that's a good alternative, or a better alternative, we'll take advantage of it for sure."
LinkAirports
Russian authorities approve Moscow Sheremetyevo development
The Moscow Region Urban Council has approved the Northern Terminal Complex development project for Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO), which is scheduled to be completed by 2018. The project includes a new Terminal B, an underground tunnel connecting the northern and southern parts of the airport, as well as additional infrastructure such as parking, a new railroad line and station.
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Airports of Thailand To Spend USD$5.5 Bln On Expansion
Airports of Thailand, the country's main airport operator, plans to spend THB194 billion baht (USD$5.5 billion) over the next 15 years to expand its six airports to handle a boom in visitor numbers. AOT's budget was higher than a previous plan of THB140 billion, mainly due to a revision to the expansion at Bangkok's Don Muang airport following a surge in passenger numbers and budget airline flights, President Nitinai Sirismatthakarn said.
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Military
Air Force forms vision for A-10 replacement
The Air Force is wrestling with how to replace the A-10 close-air support aircraft, and funding remains a major hurdle, but this has not stopped force leaders from thinking about what comes next. "Let's find something that's $4,000 to $5,000 a flying hour that brings more firepower, that is more responsive," said outgoing Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh.
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RAF cancels Red Arrows aerobatic display at Farnborough
The Royal Air Force’s BAE Systems Hawk T1-equipped Red Arrows team will not carry out its aerobatic display during July’s Farnborough air show, amid concerns surrounding the safety of high-speed displays over populated areas following the fatal crash of a Hawker Hunter at the Shoreham air show last August. Addressing media in Whitehall on 15 June, Air Vice-Marshal Andy Turner, the RAF’s air officer commanding and chief of staff for training, said that while the maneuvered display will not go ahead, the aircraft will still be appearing at the show.
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Aviation Quote
"Thousands of volumes have been written about aviation, but we do not automatically have thousands of true and special friends in their authors. That rare writer who comes alive on a page does it by giving of himself, by writing of meanings, and not just of fact or of things that have happened to him. The writers of flight who have done this are usually found together in a special section on private bookshelves."
— Richard Bach, 'The Pleasure of Their Company,' in Flying magazine, April 1968.
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