NewsCopa will not offer third-party MRO businessCopa Airlines does not plan to use its soon-to-be-expanded maintenance capabilities to branch out into third-party work, a top executive at the Panama flag carrier said. “For now, I think that we’re comfortable with [serving] our own needs,” Copa CFO Jose Montero told analysts on a recent earnings call. “I think the plan in the immediate future is just simply to cater to our own requirements in terms of maintenance.”
LinkRelaunched Air Italy takes to the skiesItalian leisure carrier Meridiana has relaunched as Air Italy, less than two weeks after the new name was announced. The name Air Italy was already in the airline’s brand portfolio as the title of a charter operator that Sardinia-based Meridiana acquired in 2011. The former Air Italy was incorporated into Meridiana and acted as a capacity provider for the latter company.
LinkEmbraer wins E190-E2 certification; First delivery to Widerøe set for AprilThe Embraer E190-E2, the first aircraft in the Brazilian manufacturer’s E-Jet E2 program, has received its type certificate from Brazilian regulator ANAC, the FAA and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), clearing the way for first delivery to Norwegian regional airline Widerøe. Embraer noted the E190-E2’s certification comes just 4 years and 8 months after the E2 program was launched at the 2013 Paris Air Show. Embraer had originally set a conservative mid-2018 target for certification.
LinkSpirit pilots ratify long-term contract, ending 3-year labor struggleSpirit Airlines’ pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), have voted to ratify a new five-year working agreement, concluding an often-contentious three-year effort to secure a new labor contract. According to ALPA and Fort Lauderdale-based ultra-LCC Spirit, the contract includes an average 43% pay increase effective on the date of signing, along with increased contributions to pilots’ retirement plans and $75 million in ratification compensation.
LinkAirbus rolls out first A350-900ULR Airbus has rolled out the first A350-900 ultra-long range version from the final assembly line (FAL) in Toulouse. The latest A350 XWB family variant will be able to fly farther than any other commercial airliner and will enter service with launch operator Singapore Airlines (SIA) later this year. According to Airbus, the A350-900ULR includes a modified fuel system to increase fuel-carrying capacity, an increased maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) and aerodynamic improvements.
LinkVirgin Australia returns to profit as restructuring plan yields resultsVirgin Australia reported a net profit of A$4.4 million ($3.4 million) for its fiscal first-half ended Dec. 31, 2017, signaling its multi-year transformation plan is gaining traction.
LinkAirAsia Group to launch China, Vietnam operations as affiliates see profitsAirAsia Group plans to launch its latest franchises in China and Vietnam later this year, as its current overseas affiliates demonstrate stronger financial performance. AirAsia has taken steps to establish joint venture (JV) frameworks in China and Vietnam, and during its latest earnings presentation the group said it wants the new carriers to begin operating in the second half of 2018 “after obtaining the necessary approvals.”
LinkAustria’s Laudamotion receives AOCLaudamotion, the rebranded bankrupt airberlin subsidiary NIKI, has received an air operator’s certificate (AOC) from Austrian aviation authority Austro Control. Niki Lauda—ex-Formula 1 champion and founder of Austria-based NIKI—retook ownership of the bankrupt carrier in January and rebranded it as Laudamotion.
LinkJoon to begin Paris-Mumbai service in JuneAir France’s Joon will take over the carrier’s daily flight from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Mumbai, India, beginning in June.
LinkRyanair boosts German operations Irish LCC Ryanair is expanding its German network by adding four new routes from Palma de Mallorca, Spain, but will transfer some flights from Frankfurt Hahn Airport (HHN) to Frankfurt Airport (FRA) because of weak economic performance. Ryanair said it will operate for the first time from Berlin Tegel and Dusseldorf this summer. With two additional based Boeing 737-800s at Palma de Mallorca, four new German peak summer routes (June to August) will be launched. These include 6X-weekly services to Berlin Tegel; daily to Dusseldorf; 4X-weekly to Nuremberg; and 3X-weekly to Stuttgart. The number of flights from Palma to Cologne will rise to 13X-weekly and up to 5X-weekly between Palma and Dortmund.
LinkAmerican wants three more gates in Chicago O'Hare rebuildAmerican Airlines' objection to an $8.5 billion capital programme at Chicago O'Hare International airport hinges on three gates that it says the city will not include in the plans. "We know there's the ability to add three more [gates] and we'd like three more," says Doug Parker, chairman and chief executive of the Fort Worth-based carrier, speaking with reporters on the sidelines of the US Chamber of Commerce Aviation Summit in Washington DC.
LinkCopa interested in Boeing's proposed NMA: CEOCopa Airlines is considering Boeing's planned New Mid-market Airplane (NMA), which it says could potentially provide additional capacity on its longest routes, chief executive Pedro Heilbron tells FlightGlobal. The Panamanian carrier's interest in the NMA is significant, given that it has steadfastly stuck to a narrowbody fleet all this while. However, Heilbron says a more cost-efficient widebody could convince Copa to change its mind.
LinkUnited sees economics boost with Max 10United Airlines anticipates significantly better economics from the Boeing 737 Max 10 than other models, prompting its launch order for the variant last June. The aircraft will "achieve superior economics" compared to the Max 9 due to the addition of roughly 10 seats at the expense of only about 300nm (556km) in range, a presentation by United senior vice-president of finance, procurement and treasurer Gerry Laderman on 27 February shows.
LinkMTU bids to support engines for Germany's heavy-lift helicoptersSikorsky has selected MTU to be its engine maintenance partner as part of a bid to supply the US manufacturer’s CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter to the German air force. MTU says it signed an agreement with Sikorsky to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul services for the aircraft’s GE Aviation T408-GE-400 engines should Germany order the developmental CH-53K to replace its ageing fleet of CH-53G/GA/GS helicopters.
Link Embraer studies smaller sibling for E2 familyEmbraer has signalled its interest in developing a commercial aircraft smaller than its current E-Jet E2 family, which spans the range from 80 to 146 seats. Rodrigo Silva e Souza, marketing vice-president at Embraer Commercial Aviation, confirmed during a briefing at the Brazilian company's Sao Jose dos Campos base on 22 February that the manufacturer would "not in the near future" develop any aircraft larger than the E195-E2, which can accommodate up to 146 passengers in a high-density configuration.
LinkAmerican Airlines adds red-eye Dallas-Palm Springs, Calif., flightsAmerican Airlines is expanding its service between Dallas and Palm Springs, Calif., with four nightly flights from June through August. "We are pleased to add the PSP red-eye flight this summer due to a historically strong performance on the existing daily summer flight," said airline spokeswoman Nichelle Tait.
LinkAmerican Airlines standardizing plane cabinsAmerican Airlines is retrofitting its Boeing 777-200 jets by replacing 40 economy seats with 24 premium economy seats, which are wider and offer passengers more legroom.
LinkVirgin Atlantic unveils pop-up bedroom at London airport ClubhouseVirgin Atlantic has unveiled a pop-up bedroom at its Clubhouse lounge in London's Heathrow Airport. The room is available for one-night stays until March 4 and includes free breakfast, spa treatments, afternoon tea, dinner and a De Mamiel aromatherapy treatment before bed.
LinkWhy Super Hercules is a strong performerWith Lockheed Martin having marked the latest milestone in its C-130J “Super Hercules” programme on 9 February – the delivery of its 400th example – we use Flight Fleets Analyzer data to detail the type’s sales performance so far. First flown from Lockheed’s Marietta final assembly site in Georgia in April 2006, the C-130J commenced deliveries to the UK Royal Air Force in September 1998. This followed a significant development delay, including with the integration of its new Rolls-Royce AE2100D3 turboprop engines.
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