AirlinesDOT clears carriers for US-Havana routes, slots at Tokyo-HanedaAlaska, American, JetBlue, Southwest and United have all received Department of Transportation approval to operate flights between the US and Havana, Cuba. The department also awarded Tokyo-Haneda slots to American, Hawaiian and United.
LinkAir Arabia to take six A321neos from Air Lease Corp.Air Arabia is to take six Airbus A321neos from US lessor Air Lease Corp. (ALC). In a statement issued Sept. 26, ALC said it had placed the aircraft with Air Arabia on long-term lease. The A321neos will come from ALC’s backlog and will be delivered between January and October 2019.
LinkAir Tanzania receives two Bombardier Q400sBombardier Commercial Aircraft has delivered two Q400 turboprops to the Tanzanian Government Flight Agency. The aircraft, which were newly delivered with a 76-seat, dual-lavatory configuration, will be operated by Air Tanzania, the national airline of the United Republic of Tanzania. The delivery of the two aircraft increases the fleet of Q Series turboprops in Africa to approximately 125 aircraft including 40 Q400 aircraft.
LinkIncorrect landing calculation cited in Batik Air accidentThe crew of a Batik Air Boeing 737-900ER did not recalculate the aircraft’s landing distance shortly before a runway overrun accident at Yogyakarta’s Adisuciptio International airport on 6 November 2015. Indonesia’s National Transport Safety Committee (NTSC) says in its final report on the accident that the aircraft involved was registered PK-LBO and was operating a flight from Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International airport with 168 passengers and crew on board.
LinkDelta, Air France-KLM and Jet Airways to expand codeshare from CDGAtlanta-based Delta Air Lines and joint venture partner Air France-KLM have announced an expansion of the airlines’ existing cooperation agreement with India’s Jet Airways. Beginning Oct. 30, Delta passengers flying from the US and Europe into Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) will be able to make connecting flights to Mumbai on Jet Airways.
LinkIndiGo converts 20 A320neos on order to A321neosIndian low-cost carrier IndiGo has converted 20 of its Airbus A320neos on order to the larger A321neo. The airline confirmed in a brief statement that deliveries of the A321neos will take place from 2019 onwards, but did not provide any further details.
LinkJetBlue adds service for Los Angeles-Orlando passengersJetBlue has announced it will launch daily service connecting Los Angeles and Orlando, Fla. The airline also announced that its Mint cabin will be available aboard flights between San Francisco and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., beginning in March.
LinkJetBlue, Virgin deal would boost competition, customer serviceAlaska Air Group remains confident its merger with Virgin America will receive necessary approval and will provide consumers with more choices and lower fares. "Given the airlines' largely complementary networks ... and both Virgin America and Alaska's emphasis on customer service, the airlines are also confident the [Department of Justice] will agree this merger will provide consumers more choices and lower fares while allowing for more robust competition," the airlines said in a statement.
LinkJetBlue adding European destinations makes senseThe addition of the Airbus A321neo to its fleet and partnerships with international carriers make adding European destinations a natural next step for JetBlue, writes blogger Cranky Flier. The airline plans to add 60 daily flights from its Boston hub, and European destinations could make the list.
LinkUPS aims to show feasibility of drone deliveriesUPS is leading industry efforts to gather data on drone deliveries to convince US authorities to loosen restrictions. UPS is working with CyPhy Works to demonstrate that drone deliveries of emergency medical supplies is safe and viable.
LinkXiamen Airlines launches first direct US routeChina’s Xiamen Airlines began 3X-weekly Xiamen-Shenzhen-Seattle service Sept. 26. It is the first long-haul route between Xiamen and the US as well as the first nonstop direct international service between Shenzhen and the US, the airline said. Xiamen is located in Fujian province on China’s southeast coast along the Taiwan Strait. Shenzhen is located just north of Hong Kong, in Guangdong province.
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