NewsAtlas Air Worldwide profits soar in second quarterAtlas Air Worldwide reported $38.9 million in second-quarter net profits, up 89% over the $20.6 million in net profits the company reported in the same period in 2016. The company is focused on expanding its presence in Asia and ramping up freight services for Amazon.
LinkJetBlue, Miami Beach venue partner on branded loungeJetBlue Airways is joining with the Fillmore Theater in Miami Beach, Fla., to provide a JetBlue-branded concourse lounge. The lounge is open to everyone and the airline plans to offer promotions including ticket giveaways.
LinkCommentary: FAA should prioritize passenger concernsMarc Scribner of the Competitive Enterprise Institute writes in this commentary that the FAA has proven it isn't capable of delivering the 21st century ATC technology and innovation American travelers deserve. Scribner expresses his disappointment that the interests of wealthy corporate jet owners are given priority over families and businesses whose taxes fund the system.
LinkMilwaukee Brewers players pitch in for SouthwestSouthwest Airlines got a little help from the Milwaukee Brewers, with pitcher Zach Davies and catcher Stephen Vogt handling ticket counter duties and welcoming guests at Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport.
LinkHas ATR finally ended its two-decade US drought?The news that US regional carrier Silver Airways has signed a letter of intent (LOI) for up to 50 ATR 42-600 turboprops will be welcome news in Toulouse. The European airframer, one of the few remaining manufacturers of commercial turboprops in the world, has not signed an order for new aircraft from a continental US carrier since 1997, when American Airlines converted 12 ATR 72-500 options to firm orders, Flight Fleets Analyzer shows.
LinkLion 737 and Wings ATR 72 clip wings in MedanIndonesian regulators are investigating an incident in which a Lion Air Boeing 737-900ER and a Wings Air ATR 72-500 clipped wings at Medan's Kualanamu airport. The incident occurred on 3 August, after the Lion aircraft, registered PK-LJZ, landed from Banda Aceh. The Wings turboprop, registered PK-WFF, was awaiting clearance for take-off to Meulaboh.
LinkAir India boss says carrier 'not financially viable'Air India believes it is an "operationally viable" airline as compared to two years ago, but is still concerned about its financial situation. In a televised interview, airline chairman and managing director Ashwani Lohani says that despite making an operating profit of Rs1.05 billion ($15.7 million) for the 2016 financial year and forecasting that it operating profit will grow threefold in its next financial year, the carrier's financial situation "has not stabilised at all".
LinkBOC Aviation firms up 737 Max 10 orderSingapore-based lessor BOC Aviation has firmed up its commitment to order 10 Boeing 737 Max 10s made at the Paris air show in June. The deal is valued at $1.25 billion at list prices, with deliveries commencing in 2021.
LinkMalaysia Airlines to capitalise on China demand Malaysia Airlines (MAB) believes that traffic from China could further drive its business and will launch more new routes to capitalise on that demand. "It is quite remarkable the number of people travelling from China to all over Southeast Asia and that looks set to grow massively over the next 10 years," says the airline's chief executive Peter Bellew in a televised interview. "Many are first or second-time travellers."
LinkUS Navy searching for new supersonic aerial targetThe US Navy is planning to develop a new supersonic aerial target to replace its dwindling inventory of AQM-37s, the latest supersonic target effort following the service’s cancellation of the Multi-Stage Supersonic Target (MSST) GQM-173.
LinkIsrael weighing interest in STOVL-variant F-35New threats faced by Israel have placed the potential purchase of short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) variant Lockheed Martin F-35Bs as a high priority. Discussions are under way, with Israel's defence ministry hoping to reach a decision before a new 10-year Foreign Military Financing agreement with the USA comes into effect in 2019.
LinkIndian report slams Il-76 availability rateA report by India’s comptroller and auditor general (CAG) has highlighted the poor serviceability of 14 Ilyushin Il-76MD heavy transports and six Il-78 tankers operated by the nation's air force. According to a CAG report, average serviceability of the Il-76 and Il-78 fleet in the period from 2010-2016 was 38% and 49%, respectively. The required average figure for both types is set at 70%.
LinkHow Leonardo's UK transformation will pay dividendsLittle more than six months after implementing a "one company" structure in the UK, Leonardo MW is seeing clear benefits from the new way of working, says chief executive Norman Bone. Previously, the numerous operations working beneath holding company Finmeccanica meant there would be "multiple opinions on the same subject", Bone says.
LinkThree Philippine C-130s to get avionics upgradeManila plans to upgrade the avionics of three Lockheed Martin C-130 transport aircraft. The upgrade will involve converting the cockpit from analogue to digital, and integrating a glass cockpit that includes touch screen displays, says the country's air force in a statement.
LinkS-97 damaged in hard landing A Sikorsky S-97 Raider crashed at 07:30 on 2 August at the company’s flight test center in West Palm Beach, Florida, the Lockheed Martin company says. Few details of the incident were immediately available. Local news photographs taken from a distance appear to show the compound helicopter prototype sitting on a runway with landing gear retracted.
LinkPekoske confirmed by US Senate to be new TSA headDavid Pekoske, US President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), has been unanimously confirmed by the US Senate. Pekoske retired in 2010 from the US Coast Guard, in which he served as vice commandant.
LinkUnited regional carrier CommutAir to add 21 more ERJ145sCommutAir, the Ohio-based regional airline that last year became 40%-owned by United Airlines, has reached agreement with United to accelerate the retirement of its turboprop fleet and add more regional jets.
LinkTAAG widens net losses in 1H; eyes full-year improvementTAAG Angola Airlines posted a net loss of $12 million for the 2017 first half, significantly widened from a net loss of $5 million in the year-ago half. However, the South Africa-based carrier said the latest results were considerably better than typical historical losses for the first half, which had exceeded $150 million in some years.
LinkAerCap posts $283 million 2Q net profitAerCap Holdings reported $282.9 million net income for the 2017 second quarter, up 21.3% from $233.3 million in 2Q 2016. The Dublin-based lessor earned $1.3 billion in revenue for the quarter, up 2% from $1.2 billion revenue a year ago. Diluted earnings per share was $1.67, compared with $1.22 for 2Q 2016.
LinkOkay Airways to open base at Beijing’s new airport China’s Okay Airways is expected to establish a new base at Beijing’s new airport, which is scheduled to open in 2019. The Tianjin-based airline plans to keep Tianjin as its main operating base, but will open a new base at the new yet-to-be-named airport, where the carrier will allocate mainly widebody aircraft to open domestic and international routes to neighboring countries, Europe and the US.
LinkAllegiant to open 14th base at Indianapolis International AirportLas Vegas-based low-cost carrier (LCC) Allegiant Air will establish its 14th aircraft base at Indianapolis International Airport (IND), executives from the airline and airport said Aug. 2, with operations to begin February 2018. Allegiant plans to base two Airbus aircraft at IND, and is investing $40 million in the project. Allegiant began operations at Indianapolis in February 2015 and has grown its nonstop flights from the airport to 14 destinations.
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