NewsAeroflot transfers domestic flights to Sheremetyevo Terminal BRussia’s Aeroflot Airline will begin transferring domestic flights to the newly built Terminal B at Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) on May 3. The first transfer stage will be complete June 1, according to the carrier. This month, the Sheremetyevo-based airline will launch flights from Terminal B to destinations including Saratov, Voronezh, Belgorod, Stavropol and Perm. The official launch of the new terminal is planned for June 7.
LinkAustrian Airlines agrees to new collective wage contractLufthansa subsidiary Austrian Airlines has agreed to a new collective wage accord for flight attendants and pilots that spells out salary increases and flexible flight duty regulations through 2021. “This long-term decree opens up new perspectives for our employees,” Austrian HR manager Nathalie Rough and accountable manager Jens Ritter said in a statement. They added the agreement is expected to bring peace to the company.
LinkEmirates temporarily grounds aircraft to optimize operationsEmirates Airline has temporarily grounded some aircraft to optimize operations as demand slows and fewer flight crew are available. The Dubai-based carrier, responding to ATW on reports that six Airbus A380s and 14 Boeing 777s are in storage for the month of May at Dubai World Central, confirmed it has “some aircraft units on the ground over slower periods, which is common industry practice.”
LinkUS DOT advances authorization of UAV delivery operationsThe US Department of Transportation will use its exemption authority to issue certificates to operators of small unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAVs) seeking to transport goods for compensation, a procedural step toward allowing delivery drones.
LinkFAA expands CFM56-7 engine inspectionsFAA has mandated inspections for the CFM56-7B fan blade population not covered by the agency’s April 20 emergency airworthiness directive (AD), following CFM International’s latest recommendations. The new AD, set for publication May 2 and effective May 12, orders operators to conduct ultrasonic or eddy current inspections on CFM56-7B fan blades before they reach 20,000 cycles.
LinkAustralian regulators may deny Qantas-Air Niugini codeshareAustralian regulators intend to reject an application by Qantas to renew and extend its codeshare partnership with New Guinea’s largest carrier Air Niugini. The Australian International Air Services Commission (IASC) said that service changes by Qantas in the Australia-New Guinea market have had the effect of shifting more market share to Qantas. The airlines’ proposed codeshare renewal would reduce competition and increase barriers to entry, and could result in other carriers such as Virgin Australia withdrawing service, the IASC said.
LinkLoftleidir Icelandic prequalifies for 49% of SATA lnternacional Icelandair Group company Loftleidir Icelandic is in the running to acquire 49% of Portuguese carrier SATA Internacional. Earlier this year, aviation firm SATA Group announced plans to divest 49% of its mid- and long-haul arm, SATA Internacional, for a minimum of €3.7 million ($4.5 million). The first phase of that process, where would-be buyers had to express their interest, has now closed.
LinkBoeing to acquire aerospace parts firm KLX for $4.25 billionBoeing has struck a $4.25 billion deal to acquire Miami-headquartered aircraft parts distribution, composites and aftermarket supplier KLX Inc.’s Aerospace Solutions Group, marking a further move into the value chain. “This acquisition is the next step in our services growth strategy, with a clear opportunity to profitably grow our business and better serve our customers in a $2.6 trillion, 10-year services market,” Boeing Global Services president and CEO Stan Deal said.
LinkHeathrow Airport boosts 1Q net profit 60% on record passenger numbersLondon Heathrow Airport reported substantially improved financial results for 1Q 2018, as passengers and trade at the west London hub hit record numbers. The airport posted a net profit of £24 million ($32.7 million) for the quarter, up 60% from £15 million for the same period a year ago.
LinkPanasonic to pay US government $280 million on bribery, fraud violationsThe Panasonic Corp. of Japan and its US subsidiary Panasonic Avionics Corp. (PAC) will pay $280 million to resolve Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and accounting fraud violations, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced separately April 30.
LinkTigerair faces service disruption as pilots plan industrial actionAustralian LCC Tigerair is facing the prospect of schedule disruption as its pilots plan limited industrial action over a long-running contract dispute. Tigerair pilots, mainly represented by the Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP), said their work-to-rule action will begin at 6 a.m. May 4 and conclude at midnight May 6. The union said pilots will not stop work completely, but will refuse to work outside the scheduled roster and will not fly any aircraft until all “allowable defects” have been resolved.
LinkAir Canada delays delivery of 11 737 Max aircraftAir Canada has shifted its Boeing 737 Max delivery schedule, delaying some deliveries up to three years as it evaluates other aspects of its fleet, including performance of the Bombardier CSeries. But while it will delay 11 737 deliveries, the Montreal-based carrier has shifted five 737 Max deliveries forward one year, to 2020, executives said during Air Canada's earnings call on 30 April.
LinkAir Canada rolls out lie-flat seats on North American routesThough Air Canada lost money in the first quarter, executives insist the company remains on an upward swing thanks largely to efforts to boost revenue from business travellers. And key to those efforts is expansion onto domestic and US flights of the company's formerly international-only business class product called "signature class".
LinkMH370 hunt to make final push as weather window closesSearch teams hunting for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 are facing a closing weather window, with still no sign of the Boeing 777's wreckage. Specialist organisation Ocean Infinity's chief, Oliver Plunkett, says that the lack of positive results is "disappointing" – although the company has been pleased by the performance of its technological systems.
LinkEmbraer Executive Jets 'coming out of the woods' after soft first quarterEmbraer Executive Jets recorded a 27% fall in revenues in the first quarter of 2018 as aircraft output fell, but the airframer is confident it will reach its delivery guidance for the year as sales activity gathers pace. For the three months ended 31 March, the Brazilian airframer shipped 11 aircraft. This comprised eight light jets: five Phenom 300s – including the first example of the upgraded E variant – and three Phenom 100s. A pair of Legacy 450s and a single Legacy 500 made up the large-jet deliveries.
Link US plans to order up to 1,600 GBU-49 bombs for foreign F-35The US military plans to order 1,400 to 1,600 Raytheon GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway bombs in the fourth quarter to distribute to certain foreign customers of the Lockheed Martin F-35, according to an acquisition notice released on 30 April. The notice from the Air Force Material Command (AFLCMC) appears only two months after Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) revealed plans to acquire 400 more GBU-49 precision guided munitions for the US military’s own fleet of F-35s.
LinkUS approves AH-1Z attack helicopter sale to BahrainThe US Department of State has approved the possible sale of 12 Bell AH-1Z attack helicopters to Bahrain. Worth an estimated $911 million, including training and support services, the deal is being concluded under the Foreign Military Sales process.
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