NewsAlaska Airlines preparing for summer travel seasonAlaska Airlines is adding summer service connecting Philadelphia and Portland, Ore., aboard Boeing 737 aircraft. Airlines for America has predicted that 2017 will be the busiest summer on record for air travel.
LinkSouthwest takes care of passenger after personal tragedyCrew members on a Southwest Airlines flight went into "full Southwest people caring mode" when passenger Veronica Walker received news that her mother had passed away. The crew arranged for an immediate return flight for Walker, prompting CEO Gary Kelly to say that while he was not surprised by the crew's actions he "could not be more proud."
LinkDelta's first A350 takes flightDelta Air Lines' first Airbus A350-900 made its maiden sortie today, flying for 5h 37min off the coast of France. The aircraft (MSN 115 and registration N501DN) took off from Toulouse at 10:24 local time and returned to the airport at 16:01 local time, FlightRadar24 data shows.
LinkTurkish Airlines to add new Middle Eastern servicesTurkish Airlines has disclosed plans to boost its Middle Eastern network with nine new seasonal routes this summer. From Antalya, the Star Alliance carrier will serve Iraqi cities Erbil and Sulaymaniyah twice weekly from 15 June, Iraqi capital Baghdad and Jordanian capital Amman at the same frequncy from 16 June, and Suadi Arabian capital Riyadh weekly from 20 June.
LinkFirst Air Mauritius A350 in final assembly Air Mauritius is set to take delivery of its first Airbus A350-900 in the fourth quarter of this year, as the jet undergoes final assembly in Toulouse. Airbus has detailed progress on the aircraft which has been fitted with wing-tips painted in the carrier's signature red scheme.
Link9 Air seeks approval to go internationalGuangzhou-based low-cost carrier 9 Air has applied to expand its operations beyond the country. Speaking to FlightGlobal in Shanghai, Juneyao Airlines chairman Wang Junjin says that its 9 Air subsidiary is in the midst of seeking regulatory approval for international operations, and will seek traffic rights on international routes once it receives the necessary approvals.
LinkChina Eastern plans Chengdu-Irkutsk launch in JulyChina Eastern Airlines has applied for traffic rights on the Chengdu-Irkutsk route. The carrier plans to launch daily services using Airbus A320 family jets from July.
LinkChina Eastern A321 skids off runway at HKIAA China Eastern Airlines Airbus A321 aircraft skidded off the runway at Hong Kong International airport on 24 May, after landing in heavy rain. In a short statement, China Eastern confirmed the incident and said that the aircraft was operated by its Jiangsu branch. It added that all passengers and crew on the aircraft are safe, and apologised for the convenience to its passengers. The aircraft was operating flight MU765 from Nanjing to Hong Kong.
LinkParis airports operator in talks to divest security armParis airports operator Groupe ADP is holding exclusive talks with business services company Groupe Samsic to divest its majority holding in a specialised airport security subsidiary. Groupe ADP aims to dispose of its 80% shareholding in the subsidiary, Hub Safe.
LinkUnited 757 evacuates via slides after apparent engine fireThe crew of a United Airlines Boeing 757-200 evacuated passengers via emergency slides at Newark airport on 23 May, after it was alerted to flames on one of its engines. The aircraft was operating flight 1579 from Newark to San Francisco when the incident happened.
LinkAllegiant predicts unit cost 'surprise' in 2018Allegiant Air expects cost per available seat mile (CASM) improvement in 2018 thanks to lower pilot training expenses and the introduction of more Airbus A319 aircraft, says the company's chief operating officer Jude Bricker.
LinkLongeron upgrade would keep F-15Cs flyingThe release of president Donald Trump’s fiscal year 2018 budget, which continues millions of dollars in funding for ongoing upgrades to the Boeing F-15C – as well as a new service life-extension programme (SLEP) for the aircraft’s longerons – has allowed the US Air Force to officially quash rumours of a near-term retirement for the fighter.
LinkBudget spares U-2 and A-10 from retirementThe US Air Force has no near-term plans to retire two of its most iconic aircraft: the Fairchild Republic A-10 and Lockheed Martin U-2. President Donald Trump’s fiscal year 2018 budget request ensures that both the close-air support specialist and high-flying surveillance aircraft will remain in the USAF’s inventory – although it is unclear for how long, given the Department of Defense’s shaky overview of its future years' programme budget.
LinkIsraeli air force to receive unique test F-35Israel's air force will take delivery of an additional Lockheed Martin F-35 in 2020 with a special suite of test instrumentation. "This unique aircraft, which was not part of any other F-35 contract, will enable us to begin the work of upgrading the capabilities of this aircraft so that it answers our special operational requirements," says the commander of the air force's test centre, identified only as Lt Col Shlomy.
LinkIsrael to boost M-346 capabilitiesThe Israeli air force is upgrading the capabilities of its Leonardo M-346 advanced jet trainers, to equip the "Lavi" with inert training bombs and external fuel tanks. "We work closely with the manufacturer, and this may lead to offering the same upgrades to other customers," says the commander of the air force's flight test centre, identified only as Lt Col Shlomy. The unit is tasked with overseeing the modifications, as well as opening the trainer's full flight envelope, to match the service's operational requirements.
LinkSwedish air force returns to Cold War footingSweden is changing. After a lengthy period of shrinking investment in its armed forces and a tactical shift from national defence to developing expeditionary capabilities, Stockholm's focus has reverted to protecting its population against invasion.
LinkTrump defence budget offers few surprisesPresident Donald Trump unveiled his $639.1 billion fiscal year 2018 defence budget request this week, one that underwhelmed Washington and may not survive Congress. Trump’s budget proposes $52 billion above congressionally mandated budget caps and his overall budget would gut social safety programs.
LinkAlitalia prepares for ATC, unions strikes May 28Alitalia said it has rebooked 80% of passengers that would be affected by industrial actions called for Sunday, May 28, by unions representing air traffic controllers (ATCs) and various trade unions representing Alitalia staff. The ATC strike is scheduled from 1-5 p.m. that day and the Alitalia unions (CUB Trasporti, USB, Confael and Assovolo) strike is planned from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
LinkQazaq Air to add two more aircraftKazakhstan-based regional carrier Qazaq Air is aiming to grow its fleet to five aircraft within two years. Qazaq Air launched operations in July 2015 and today serves 11 scheduled destinations: Almaty, Aktau, Aktobe, Astana, Atyrau, Kostanay, Pavlodar, Semey, Shymkent, Taraz and Uralsk.
LinkAirAsia X net profit down 94% in 1QLong-haul, low-cost carrier (LCC) AirAsia X reported a first-quarter net profit of MYR10.3 million ($2.3 million), down 94% compared to net profit of MYR179.5 million in the year-ago quarter. First-quarter operating revenue was up 22% to MYR1.2 million and operating profit fell 43% year-over-year (YOY) to MYR60.3 million.
LinkAir Serbia reports strong operational performance in 1QAir Serbia has announced what it describes as its strongest ever first-quarter operational results. The Belgrade-based airline carried 453,859 passengers in the first three months of 2017, a year-on-year (YOY) increase of 8% compared to 1Q 2016.
LinkHorizon Air pilots ratify amended labor contractAlaska Air Group regional subsidiary Horizon Air and its pilots, represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, have agreed to amend their existing eight-year contract, which was tentatively approved in April. According to an Alaska statement, the amended contract contains a “significant increase to pilot compensation, offered to both new and existing pilots, with Horizon’s starting pay now at the top end of the regional airline industry pay scale at all steps.
LinkRussia’s Red Wings takes first A321Russia’s Red Wings Airlines took delivery of its first Airbus A321 with 220 economy seats May 19. The aircraft is leased from Aviation Capital Group. Before the end of the year, the carrier will receive six more Airbus aircraft, according to a company statement.
LinkWizz Air enhances A320 operations in BelgradeCentral and Eastern European low-cost carrier (LCC) Wizz Air has based a second Airbus A320 in Belgrade, Serbia. The additional 180-seat aircraft is used on new services from Belgrade to Friedrichshafen, Nuremberg, Hanover (Germany) and Malta. All new flights are on a 2X-weekly basis.
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