NewsSIA set to receive first 787-10 in MarchSingapore Airlines expects to take delivery of its first Boeing 787-10 in March, the carrier confirms. The Star Alliance airline is launch operator for the largest Dreamliner variant, and also the biggest customer for the variant with 49 Rolls-Royce Trent 1000-powered 787-10s on order.
LinkAmerican Airlines reports cargo traffic grew 15% in 2017American Airlines reported significant growth in 2017 and noted its introduction of new flights, aircraft and booking technology. The carrier's cargo traffic grew 15%, beating the overall industry's 9.3% growth for 2017.
LinkJetBlue partners with CruisingStore, uses AI to ease bookingsJetBlue Airways, in a partnership with CruisingStore, is using a new booking platform that helps travelers more easily plan their trips. The platform uses artificial intelligence to help users find cruises that match their budget and destination preferences.
LinkAlaska Airlines accounts for 50% of capacity leaving Seattle airportAlaska Airlines in 2017 accounted for half of the departing seat capacity at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The airline's top three destinations from Seattle are Portland, Ore.; Los Angeles; and Spokane, Wash.
LinkAmerican Airlines to add nonstop El Paso, Texas-Chicago flightOn April 4, American Airlines will add a second daily nonstop flight from El Paso, Texas, to Chicago.
LinkTripIt app will tell travelers when to drive to the airportTripIt is developing an app that will incorporate security line data collected by analytics company Iinside with information about traffic flow and other data to tell travelers what time they should leave for the airport. Once at the airport, travelers can check the app to find the shortest security lanes.
LinkUnited pauses fleet upgauging with 50-seater additionsUnited Airlines is hitting pause on its fleet upgauging programme in 2018, as it plans the "temporary" addition of 40 Bombardier CRJ200s to support growth. The Chicago-based carrier will add 40 CRJ200s operated by Air Wisconsin and one Embraer ERJ-145 to its feeder fleet this year, a fleet plan released on 23 January shows. The net increase in small regional jets is 38, after it removes its final three Embraer ERJ-135s.
LinkPIA reaffirms commitment to turnaroundPakistan International Airlines (PIA) says the carrier's turnaround is underway and has reaffirmed its commitment to the task. In a series of videos to staff on its Twitter page, PIA and chief executive Rasool Cyan reveal that in the last quarter ended 31 December 2017, the carrier reduced operational losses to PRs 6 billion ($54.5 million).
LinkTaiwan's Starlux Airlines plans 2020 launchStarlux Airlines, a new Taiwanese carrier planned by former EVA Air chairman Chang Kuo-wei, is targeting to launch operations in 2020. In its newly launched website, the carrier says it started hiring its first batch of employees last August and has since set up an office in Taipei.
LinkGaruda optimistic on 2018Garuda Indonesia is targeting to increase revenue to $4.9 billion this year, and will continue to cut costs and optimise efficiency. At a press conference in Jakarta, the airline says this is an increase from an estimated revenue of $4 billion in 2017. It also disclosed that it is renegotiating aircraft contracts with manufacturers and lessors, in a bid to reduce rates by up to 25%.
LinkQantas names new heads for loyalty, customer rolesQantas has named a new head for its loyalty unit, as well as a new chief customer officer. Olivia Wirth has been tapped to head the company's loyalty business, replacing Jayne Hrdlicka who announced her departure from the Qantas Group in December 2017.
LinkTrent blade issues impact all RR-powered 787-9s, Boeing saysBoeing officials say they are working with Rolls-Royce on pervasive durability problems with a large subset of the Trent 1000 fleet that has grounded multiple 787-9s for long periods. Concerns about the durability of the blades in the Trent 1000 Package C’s intermediate pressure turbine and intermediate pressure compressor extend well beyond the well-publicised flight disruptions suffered by Air New Zealand, says Boeing 787 chief engineer Bob Whittington.
LinkATR has time to decide about future aircraft: chiefATR chief executive Christian Scherer sees “no urgency” to decide about the turboprop family’s future development, despite Embraer’s evaluations about a potential return to the turboprop segment. Speaking at a results briefing in Toulouse on 21 January, Scherer said: “We will do a new airplane programme. But I can’t tell you what it is yet.”
LinkATR to decide about STOL version this yearATR intends to decide later this year whether to realise a proposed new short take-off and landing (STOL) version of its smallest family member. Chief executive Christian Scherer said during a results briefing on 22 January that the Toulouse-based manufacturer – which is jointly owned by Airbus and Italian aerospace group Leonardo – has yet to determine what requirements the STOL variant, dubbed the ATR 42-600S, needs to fulfil.
LinkLHT wins 777F component support deal from EVA AirEVA Air has extended its co-operation with Lufthansa Technik (LHT) to cover component maintenance on its Boeing 777 Freighter fleet. LHT says it signed an exclusive contract with the Taiwanese carrier to supply, repair and overhaul line replaceable units. Equipment will be supplied from warehouses in Hong Kong and Singapore, the German maintenance specialist adds.
Link Bombardier asks trade panel to reopen record ahead of voteBombardier has asked the US International Trade Commission (ITC) – the body that in two days will rule on the Boeing-Bombardier trade dispute – to accept new information about the range of Embraer's E190-E2 jet. The ITC's record is currently closed.
LinkBombardier, Embraer debate E190-E2 range in trade disputeBombardier has made a last-ditch attempt to reopen the US investigation into pricing of the CSeries, but may have been misled by reporting on the increased range Embraer is now quoting for the E190-E2.
LinkWizz Air CFO: Booming market keeps struggling carriers alive Wizz Air’s Central and Eastern European backyard will continue to provide strong growth for the LCC, but market strength is providing a lifeline for some airlines that should no longer still be in business, CFO Iain Wetherall said Jan. 24.
LinkArgentine startup Flybondi to launch operations Jan. 26New Argentine startup Flybondi plans to grow its fleet to around 30 aircraft by the end of 2021 as the ultra-LCC prepares for its first commercial flight. Flybondi will start scheduled services Jan. 26 with a Cordoba-Iguacu route.
LinkJapan Airlines appoints new presidentJapan Airlines (JAL) has announced a transition in its senior leadership, which sees Yuji Akasaka appointed as the carrier’s next president. Akasaka, whose current role is managing executive officer for engineering and maintenance, will take over as president on April 1. He will also become a board member in June subject to shareholder and board approval at the carrier’s general meeting.
LinkAnalysis: Elwell takes over at FAA as reauthorization fight heats upDan Elwell, who flew Boeing 757s, 767s, DC-10s and MD-80s over a 16-year commercial pilot career with American Airlines, heads into an uncertain flight path as he takes the captain’s seat at FAA. Elwell, who was named FAA’s deputy administrator last June, became acting FAA administrator Jan. 7 following the end of Michael Huerta’s five-year term leading the agency. A seasoned hand in Washington DC aviation circles as a lobbyist and consultant—he has held high-level positions with the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and Airlines for America (A4A)—Elwell will not have to learn the ropes in the nation’s capital.
LinkQatar Airways to receive first Airbus A350-1000 in FebruaryQatar Airways will transfer its first Airbus A350-1000 in February after a delay of several weeks. The delay was caused by the “complex seat configuration,” Qatar CEO Akbar Al Baker said. The Doha-based airline is installing a new business-class seat, Qsuite onto its A350-1000s.
LinkChina Express Airlines wins IPO approval for fleet expansionChina Express Airlines has secured approval for an initial public offering (IPO) to expand its fleet, becoming the first regional carrier in China to launch an IPO. The Guiyang-based carrier plans to collect CNY1.4 billion ($215 million) to buy six Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft, three engines and build a flight training center.
LinkAir Seychelles to axe key Paris route, aircraft & jobsFierce competition has forced Air Seychelles to cut its Paris route, which generates 30% of revenue, as well as two Airbus A330s and an undisclosed number of staff under a wide-ranging restructuring plan. “It is important that we take these tough, but necessary steps at this time to safeguard the future of Air Seychelles,” tourism and civil aviation minister Maurice Loustau-Lalanne said.
LinkMaiden sortie for second Epic Aircraft E1000 prototypeEpic Aircraft flew the second and final E1000 flight-test aircraft on 23 January, and is preparing the high-performance single-engined turboprop for certification and service entry in the third quarter of 2018. The production-conforming example – known as FT2, and carrying the registration N332FT – will be used to assess interior and cabin functionality as well as the fuel, hydraulic, avionics, navigational and environmental systems, the company says. It joins the first prototype, which kicked off the certification campaign in December 2015 and has since notched up around 500 flying hours at Epic’s Bend, Oregon base.
LinkStobart opens new London Southend private aviation terminalStobart Group’s ambitions to become a leading provider of business aircraft and passenger handling services in Europe took major leap forward on 18 January with the inauguration of its first fixed-base operation.
LinkIsraeli air force targets Lieberman's rocket planIsraeli defence minister Avigdor Lieberman has expressed his full support for the development of a capability to attack targets at ranges of up to 270nm (500km) using surface-to-surface missiles, instead of combat aircraft. During a recent meeting with senior officers from the nation's defence forces, Lieberman said modern missile technology will allow Israel to strike high-value targets in neighbouring countries without using its air force's resources.
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