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China's ARJ21 Makes First Passenger Flight
China's first locally built regional jet made its maiden commercial flight on Tuesday, carrying 70 passengers from Chengdu to Shanghai in what COMAC hailed as a milestone. Chengdu Airlines flight EU6679 took two hours and 12 minutes and was "an important milestone in the development of civil aviation in China", COMAC said in a statement.
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Original A320 test airframe emerges as flight laboratory
Airbus has found a new role for its veteran A320 prototype, having converted the airframe into an airborne laboratory. The aircraft, MSN1, had been used during the A320neo development program – notably for testing the ‘sharklet’ wing-tips.
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Embraer cuts first metal on E175-E2
Embraer has cut metal for its first E175-E2 prototype at its Evora plant in Portugal, producing a wing stud for the third and smallest member of its second generation E-Jet family. “This is the heart of the airplane; it’s the structure that connects the wings to the fuselage,” Embraer Commercial Aviation COO Luis Carlos Affonso said, speaking at the Evora metal cutting on June 28.
LinkAirlines
Air Canada Confirms USD$3.8 Bln CSeries Order
Air Canada has confirmed an order to buy 45 Bombardier CSeries aircraft with an option to purchase another 30, in a deal valued at about USD$3.8 billion. The order, first announced in February, would increase to USD$6.3 billion if the airline exercises its option to buy the 30 additional aircraft.
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Crashed EgyptAir A320 flight-data recorder repaired
French investigators have repaired the flight-data recorder of the EgyptAir Airbus A320 which crashed in the Mediterranean Sea in May. Both the flight-data and cockpit-voice recorders had been transferred to French authorities in Paris on 27 June after damage was discovered following their retrieval from the crash site.
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Fastjet Investors Block Attempt To Remove Chairman
Fastjet investors voted to retain chairman Colin Child, defeating a move by the African budget carrier's second-largest shareholder to force out a second senior executive within three months. About 33 million votes were cast against the removal of Child as executive chairman, while roughly 9.6 million were cast for, Fastjet said in a statement. The company did not disclose corresponding percentage figures.
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Hainan Airlines eyes Dublin route
China’s Hainan Airlines is in talks to open a new Dublin link and its parent company, HNA Group, is considering opening a regional headquarters in Ireland. Hainan Airlines just opened a new route between Beijing and Manchester. “We are working on whether it is possible to open Beijing-Dublin,” HNA COO William Zhang said during a media briefing in Dublin.
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JetBlue's Mint service impresses passengers, skyrockets to success
JetBlue's Mint domestic business class service has proven to be a hit with travelers after its launch two years ago. Mint paved the way for JetBlue to expand its service to new cities, including Los Angeles and San Francisco.
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United Airlines adds flights from London to L.A., San Francisco
United Airlines has announced a second daily flight connecting London and San Francisco, beginning Oct. 30. The airline also plans to add a second flight to Los Angeles from London next spring.
LinkAirports
Istanbul airport explosions: 28 dead, 60 injured, Turkish official says
At least 28 people have been killed and 60 others wounded in a terror attack on Istanbul Ataturk Airport in Turkey, Istanbul Gov. Vasip Sahin told Turkey's state-run news agency TRT. Three bombers were also killed, the governor said. Another report, from semi-official news agency Anadolu, said six of the wounded are in critical condition. A total of 49 ambulances were sent to the site. -- There has been no immediate claim of responsibility. -- Traveler Joe Durand told CNN from the airport that "Police are not letting anyone in ... Hundreds of people are flooding away from airport... People are trying to get away. They're not saying much -- just the look on their face is enough, shock, some of them bleeding..."
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IST attack: Isil 'thought to be behind' suicide attacks in Turkey that left at least 28 dead
Three suicide bombers strike Istanbul Ataturk airport --- 28 killed and 60 wounded, Istanbul governor says --- Police reportedly believe Isil was behind attack --- Officers shot at suspects in international arrivals hall --- Fourth suicide bombing in Turkey this year ---Third busiest airport in Europe, high security location
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Kona airport on track to receive international flights by year's end
Hawaii's Kona International Airport is on track to accept international flights by the end of the year. "I can tell you there is a lot of interest by other carriers to fly direct to Kona," said Gov. David Ige.
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Airlines partner with airports, TSA to improve holiday travel times
Airlines, airports and the Transportation Safety Administration have all added extra staff to make flying go more smoothly during the expected spike in travelers over the July 4th holiday weekend. Officials say the extra staffing has already improved wait times for passengers.
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Military
India considers additional 30-unit Hawk buy
India’s defense ministry is considering the acquisition of an additional batch of BAE Systems Hawk advanced jet trainers. New Delhi indicates it could purchase as many as 30 examples of the Mk132 variant, which would be license-built by Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL).
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Aviation Quote
Aeronautics confers beauty and grandeur, combining art and science for those who devote themselves to it… . The aeronaut, free in space, sailing in the infinite, loses himself in the immense undulations of nature. He climbs, he rises, he soars, he reigns, he hurtles the proud vault of the azure sky …
— Georges Besançon, founder of the first successful aviation journal L'Aérophile, February 1902.
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