NewsICAO drops red flag for ThailandICAO has removed Thailand's red flag status on its website, in an important boost for the local airlines. ICAO's website has shown Thailand under a red flag since early 2015, when an an audit by the international body raised a number significant safety concerns about the country's oversight of carriers, particularly around its processes around awarding new air operator certificates. That led to the disbanding of the Department of Civil Aviation, and its replacement with the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT).
LinkTravel Service to acquire almost all of Czech AirlinesCzech Airlines is to be taken over by rival operator Travel Service, following an agreement by Korean Air and asset-management firm Prisko to dispose of their stakes in the flag-carrier. Travel Service, which already had a 34% share of Czech Airlines, will become the majority shareholder by increasing this stake to 97.74%.
LinkRyanair operations chief resigns after rostering woesRyanair disclosed late on 6 October the resignation of its chief operations officer Michael Hickey, who will leave the Irish carrier at the end of the month. The airline has faced significant adverse publicity in recent weeks after cancelling hundreds of flights and rowing back on expansion plans amid rostering issues relating to pilots.
LinkEmbraer primes factory for hybrid E-Jet production systemWedged on a small plateau in Sao Jose dos Campos between the state-run Institute of Aeronautical Technology (ITA) and Brigadier Faria Lima Avenue, Embraer’s oldest manufacturing complex has adapted over nearly five decades to support the development and production of a diverse crop of aircraft, ranging from regional turboprops to small business jets to large regional jets.
LinkGlobal 7000 debut pushes Bombardier against Airbus and BoeingBombardier’s largest purpose-built business jet is not scheduled to enter service until next year, but the Global 7000 is already making waves among potential competitors as the first flight test vehicle makes its debut at the show. The 33.9m-long Global 7000 pushes Bombardier into a size class normally reserved for derivatives of commercial aircraft, such as the 33.9m-long Airbus ACJ319neo and the 33.7m-long Boeing Business Jet (BBJ).
LinkCanada cements interest in Australian HornetsCanada has formally expressed interest in Australia’s used Boeing F/A-18A/B Hornets, marking a significant development in the Royal Canadian Air Force’s search for a fighter that could temporarily fill the CF-18’s mission. Last month, Canadian defence minister Harjit Sajjan expressed interest in Australia’s Hornet fleet. On 29 September, Canada submitted a formal declaration known as an expression of interest to Australia. Canada expects a response by the end of 2017 with details on the aircraft’s cost and availability, according to a 9 October release from the Canadian government.
LinkDassault discloses new delay for Falcon 5X Safran has just informed Dassault Aviation of a new issue with the high-pressure compressor of the Silvercrest engine that will cause a new delay for the Falcon 5X program, Dassault chairman and chief executive Eric Trappier announced today. The scope of the new delay for the Falcon 5X are still being analysed by Dassault, Trappier says.
LinkPilatus PC-24 returns to NBAA as certification loomsPilatus’ PC-24 has returned to NBAA, as the superlight business jet programme reaches the final throes of its certification campaign. The clean-sheet business jet was launched in May 2013 and flight testing began two years later. To date the three PC-24 prototypes have flown 2,000h across 2,000 flights, the Swiss airframer announced this morning. The seven-seat twin is scheduled to receive European and US type certification in December.
LinkBiggin's big in LondonBosses at London's Biggin Hill airport say a new 5,600m2 (60,300ft2) hangar – due to open by the end of the year – extended hours, and an increasingly popular helicopter link to the city centre will give it the edge over the capital's half dozen or so rival business aviation gateways. It is at the show keen to sign up more US-based customers.
LinkIATA says passenger demand up 7.2% in AugustThe International Air Transport Association reported that airline passenger demand was up 7.2% in August, while capacity was up 6.3%. Airline load factor rose 0.7 points to 84.5% for the month.
LinkUPS to deploy Boeing 747-8 freighter jetUPS will soon begin using its Boeing 747-8 freighter, the largest jumbo jet made in the US. UPS has ordered 14 of the aircraft.
LinkAirberlin to cease operations end of OctoberBankrupt German carrier airberlin will cease operations Oct. 28 and employees are not guaranteed jobs under any future owner, the airline warned Monday. In an Oct. 9 letter to employees, airberlin chief representative Frank Kebekus said a social plan had been launched, but not every airberlin employee would be able to get a job with those companies bidding to take over parts of the airline. There could be at least 1,400 job losses, mostly among ground and administration staff, he said.
LinkIridium launches 10 flight-tracking satellitesMobile satellite company Iridium Communications has launched 10 next-generation satellites that will be used for real-time flight tracking, giving air traffic controllers radar-like position data across 100% of their airspace. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 0537PDT on Oct. 9 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, carrying 10 Iridium NEXT satellites, designed and managed by Thales Alenia Space. The satellites entered low-Earth orbit approximately one hour later.
LinkQatar & Vietjet form interline partnershipQatar Airways and LCC Vietjet Air have entered an interline agreement that will extend Qatar’s network to eight more cities in Vietnam. Doha-based Qatar, a oneworld global alliance airline, said the agreement would extend services from its gateways in Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to the cities of Da Nang , Ban Me Thuot, Dalat, Hai Phong, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Pleiku, Vinh City, plus the Taiwan capital, Taipei.
LinkAmerican & China Southern identify 39 codeshare routesGuangzhou-based China Southern and American Airlines are deepening their relationship with plans to codeshare on 39 routes. American, a oneworld global alliance carrier, announced in March it was taking a 2.7%, $200 million stake in China Southern, a SkyTeam alliance member.
LinkBOC Aviation gains 26 lease commitments, delivers nine aircraft in 3QSingapore-based lessor BOC Aviation delivered nine aircraft and added 26 lease commitments in the 2017 third quarter, the company said Oct. 9. In addition, the lessor boosted its owned and managed fleet by eight aircraft (three Airbus A320neos, three Boeing 737NG family aircraft and two A320ceos).
LinkSAS board seeks financial room to maneuverScandinavian Airlines (SAS) is seeking permission from its shareholders to have the option of a new share issue to raise additional funding “In previously published interim reports, SAS has announced that various alternative financing methods actively are being evaluated in order to reduce SAS’s financing costs,” the airline said Oct. 6.
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