NewsAlaska Airlines, Finnair link loyalty programsAlaska Airlines announced a new frequent flyer partnership with Finnair. Under the new agreement, members of the Finnair Plus loyalty program can earn and redeem miles and points on Alaska Airlines flights.
LinkAmerican Airlines leads massive investment in PhiladelphiaAmerican Airlines is leading a group of carriers that has committed a combined $900 million to pay for new restaurants, retail shops and infrastructure improvements at Philadelphia International Airport. "In my 15 years at the airport, this is the largest investment that the airlines have made at one time," said Rhett Workman of American.
LinkAlaska Airlines hosts students in Seattle for Aviation DayAlaska Airlines recently gave about 1,200 students a look inside its maintenance facility at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, guided by 350 volunteers from the airline. The students had the opportunity to fly a 737 simulator and tour secure areas of the hangar while watching commercial air traffic come and go.
LinkUnited event raises money for charity in GuamRegistration is now open for United Airlines' 12th annual Plane Pull event in Guam. Funds raised from entry fees will benefit the American Cancer Society and Guam Cancer Care.
LinkRockwell Collins touts latest IFE optionRockwell Collins' latest in-flight entertainment solution for airlines features more than 800 TV shows, movies and news feeds available for streaming.
LinkTAP A330neo deliveries at least a year away: PintoTAP Portugal is expecting delivery of the Airbus A330neo at the end of the first half of 2018, but indicates it could slip to the third quarter. Chief executive Fernando Pinto told FlightGlobal during a Star Alliance event in Frankfurt that the aircraft were set to arrive "about June, July, that's our expectation".
LinkAllegiant welcomes first new A320 in OrlandoAllegiant Air will place its first new Airbus A320 into service as soon as tomorrow, as the airline says it does not rule out buying additional new aircraft in the future. The Las Vegas-based carrier welcomed employees and guests on board its new A320, registration N246NV, at an event at Orlando Sanford airport earlier today. The aircraft, which is the first to wear an updated livery, could enter into service tomorrow. Allegiant officials were not immediately able to say which route it would operate on.
LinkAlaska dismisses suggestion of all-Airbus fleetAlaska Air Group is likely chose the Boeing 737s over Airbus A320 family narrowbodies should it transition back to a single-type fleet, says chief financial officer Brandon Pedersen. "I think it's highly unlikely that we would migrate to all-Airbus… I doubt it," he says in response to a question during Wolfe Research's Transportation Conference in New York City today. "I think that's less likely, just because of the predominance of Boeing in the fleet."
LinkMalaysia Airlines scraps premium economy on A350sMalaysia Airlines will not fit premium economy seats to its incoming fleet of Airbus A350-900s, but maintain a small first class cabin. The carrier's chief executive Peter Bellew tells FlightGlobal that the decision to scrap the premium economy seats was made as they "would erode our business product and revenues."
LinkEmbraer wows visitors with two-person Lineage 1000E showerGot a spare $55 million and a desire to take an in-flight shower with a friend? If so, Embraer is seeking a second customer for the Lineage 1000E to which it has added the extra luxury of a queen-size bed and two-person shower.
LinkATP to ease burden on maintenance departmentsAircraft Technical Publishers (ATP) promises to increase productivity in business aviation maintenance departments by 70% with the launch of its Aircraft Centricity service.
LinkTrump administration calls for ATC to be spun off from FAA by 2021The Trump administration has given its full backing to the creation of a “non-profit, independent corporation” separate from FAA to manage US air traffic control (ATC), proposing that the new entity be operational by 2021 after a “multi-year” transfer.
LinkAAPA chief: Laptop ban brings ‘no tangible security benefits’As airlines and airports steel themselves for a possible widening of the US ban on laptops and similar-sized personal electronics in the cabin, the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) has warned against falling into “the trap of knee-jerk reactions.”
LinkNorwegian to offer US preclearanceLow-cost carrier (LCC) Norwegian is to offer US preclearance on its new Irish transatlantic routes from Dublin and Shannon, which are set to launch in July. From Dublin, Norwegian will fly daily to Stewart International (New York State) and 5X-weekly to Providence (greater Boston). From Shannon, it will serve Stewart International 2X-weekly and Providence 2X-weekly.
LinkRyanair to sell Air Europa flightsIrish low-cost carrier Ryanair has struck an agreement to sell Spanish leisure airline Air Europa’s flights on Ryanair.com, paving the way for a connecting flight tie-up between the two airlines. From May 23, passengers will be able to book 20 Air Europa long-haul routes from Madrid via Ryanair’s website. Ryanair already has a network of over 50 short-haul routes to and from the Spanish airport.
LinkJuneyao Airlines becomes first Star Alliance connecting partnerChina’s Juneyao Airlines has become the first Star Alliance connecting partner in an effort to facilitate its international expansion. Star’s Connecting Partner Model allows regional, low-cost or hybrid airlines to link to the alliance’s network without having to become a full member.
LinkSouth African LCC Mango mulls future fleetSouth African low-cost carrier (LCC) Mango Airlines is starting to consider the future shape of its fleet, as aircraft leases approach an end. Mango flies 10 Boeing 737-800s in a single-class, 186-seat configuration. These are deployed almost exclusively on domestic services, on a network of major South African cities, including Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth.
LinkThales: Future IFE includes personalization, revenue opportunities The future of IFE will involve seatback monitors that interface with passengers, customize content and generate ancillary revenue, according to Thales executives at the company’s new IFE final integration and test facility in Irvine, California, May 22.
LinkKLM and TUI Netherlands to expand cooperation Dutch flag carrier KLM and package holiday operator TUI Netherlands will intensify their existing cooperation agreement. TUI Netherlands has its own carrier, TUI fly Netherlands, which operates a small fleet of Boeing 737-800s, 767-300s and 787-8s.
LinkGermania opens Palma de Mallorca baseBerlin-based Germania opened a base in Palma de Mallorca, Spain May 19, and will operate daily flights between Palma de Mallorca and Friedrichshafen, Muenster/Osnabruck, Dresden, Bremen and Nuremberg for the summer season. In addition, the German carrier will launch several weekly flights to Erfurt-Weimar, Rostock-Laage and Dortmund. From the fall, Germania will offer flights to and from Cuxhaven-Nordholz.
LinkEmirates to fly A380 on Beijing, Shanghai & Birmingham servicesDubai-based Emirates Airlines will begin a second daily Airbus A380 service to Beijing and Shanghai Pudong from July 1, replacing the Boeing 777-300ER on both routes. Emirates operates 519-seat A380s in a three-class configuration on its Chinese routes.
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