NewsSpohr: Lufthansa ‘in contact’ with Norwegian Norwegian’s shares rose as much as 12% after Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr said his airline was “in contact” with the LCC. Spohr cautioned that any deal would depend on price, strategic merits and approvals by competition authorities, but investors clearly hoped the comments could revitalize the idea of a takeover of Norwegian by a larger airline group.
LinkAmerican Airlines offers $45 million to settle fare-collusion caseAmerican Airlines has offered to pay $45 million to end its role in a long-running class-action lawsuit against several carriers, making the move to avoid what it feared could be costly litigation, not in an admission of guilt. “Despite our firm conviction in the appropriateness of our actions, costs to defend against antitrust litigation often run into the tens of millions of dollars,” American said. “While it is difficult to agree to a settlement when we believe we’re right on the law and the facts, settling this case is a prudent decision for American.” The carrier added that it has “dramatically increased domestic capacity during the period covered by the complaint.”
LinkJAL eyes turboprop replacement for Hokkaido regional subsidiary Japan Airlines (JAL) Group is considering options to replace three Saab A340B turboprops at its Hokkaido Air System regional subsidiary. JAL Group director Masaru Onishi told ATW’s sister publication Aviation Daily the company intends to replace the Saab fleet by 2020 and ATR turboprops are one of the candidates for the order.
LinkVancouver airport begins international terminal expansion Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has started the next phase of a multi-year capital improvement program that includes a much-needed expansion of its Pier D international terminal. The terminal expansion—the airport’s largest in more than two decades—will add four new gates and four remote stands configured to support aircraft up through the Airbus A380. YVR executives and regional officials held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the new work June 14. The new Pier D gates are expected to open in mid-2020, with minor finishing work continuing until 2021, a YVR spokesperson said.
LinkShanghai Pudong Airport to open fifth runway this year Shanghai Pudong Airport is expected to open a fifth runway this year, becoming the only Chinese airport to have five runways, according to Shanghai Airport Group VP Wang Jijie.
LinkChina’s Chengdu Airlines applies for international flightsChinese narrowbody and regional jet operator Chengdu Airlines has applied for permission to fly internationally, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The carrier, currently limited to mainland China, proposes that it be allowed to fly to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan and to countries adjacent to China, said the CAAC, which counts Taiwan as a Chinese province.
LinkTurkey’s Pegasus Airlines, Egypt’s Nile Air to codeshareTurkish LCC Pegasus Airlines signed a codeshare agreement with Nile Air, Egypt’s largest private airline. Through the partnership, Pegasus passengers will be able to purchase flights through Pegasus channels for Nile Air flights between its home hub at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport and Cairo as of June 15. Nile Air operates a 4X-weekly schedule to Cairo.
LinkSAS switches Hong Kong service to improve profitsScandinavian Airlines (SAS) will switch its current Stockholm Arlanda-Hong Kong route to Copenhagen from Oct 28. SAS admitted June 14 that the route from the Swedish capital to Hong Kong had faced profitability problems since its launch three years ago.
LinkTyumen’s Roshchino airport to build new terminalRussia’s Novaport Holding will build a new 17,000 sq m (182,986 sq. ft.) terminal at Roshchino International Airport (TJM) in Tyumen Oblast, the Tyumen region government said in a statement. The new terminal will allow for an annual increase of up to 5 million passengers per year at the airport, which handled 1.8 million in 2017, up 19.7% year-over-year.
LinkWizz Air to begin four winter routes from Luton Fast-growing LCC Wizz Air is planning to launch four routes this winter from London’s Luton Airport, where it has eight aircraft based. The routes comprise: Eilat’s Ovda Airport, Israel; Grenoble, France; Verona, Italy; and Tromsø, Norway. The Budapest, Hungary-based LCC recently obtained its UK air operator’s certificate (AOC) and subsidiary Wizz Air UK—which it launched to protect its flying rights amid continuing uncertainty over Brexit—began flying in May.
LinkNolinor 737-200s get second life with cockpit updatesAs the worldwide fleet of Boeing 737-200s continues to dwindle, one Canadian operator sees a bright future in the aging twinjet. Canada's Nolinor Aviation, which operates one of the world's largest 737-200 fleets, is investing C$10 million ($7.6 million) to equip 10 of the 40-year-old aircraft with modern avionics and glass displays.
LinkCracking checks ordered on winglet-equipped 767sUS regulators are ordering operators of winglet-equipped Boeing 767-300s to conduct checks on the wing structure following occurrences of fatigue cracking. Aviation Partners Boeing formally launched its winglet for the 767-300ER in 2007 and, two years later, American Airlines put the modification into service.
LinkVistara completes initial aircraft deliveriesIndia's Vistara has taken delivery its its 21st aircraft, an Airbus A320neo, completing the first phase of its fleet program. Flight Fleets Analyzer shows that the Tata Sons - Singapore Airlines joint venture now operates eight A320neos and 13 A320ceos. They are leased from six lessors, including BOC Aviation, SKY Leasing and Ping An Leasing.
LinkIberia to take first A350-900 with wing twistAirbus will begin delivery of A350-900s incorporating a "wing-twist" aerodynamic improvement in July when it hands over Iberia's first aircraft of the type. The wing twist was originally introduced on the A350-1000 and will become standard on all A350s.
LinkAirbus prepares to take on Qantas 'Sunrise' challenge with A350Airbus is working to extract even more range from the A350 family as it prepares to respond to the Qantas "Project Sunrise" request for an ultra-long-range aircraft. "We went on board the [Qantas] 'Sunrise' challenge and are working on it," says A350 marketing director says Francois Obe. "The A350 family of airplanes is really full of potential – more potential."
Link Thai F-5s to fight on with IRIS-T missilesThe Royal Thai Air Force is to arm its Northrop F-5 fighters with IRIS-T short-range air-to-air missiles, following the signature of a repeat order with German manufacturer Diehl Defence. Noting that Bangkok has previously acquired the infrared-guided weapon for its Saab Gripen fighters and also subsequently its Lockheed Martin F-16 fleet, Diehl Defence notes: "The new procurement plans to integrate the missile onto the F-5, making IRIS-T a standard armament of the Royal Thai Air Force."
LinkKazakhstan regional
Qazaq Air and Chinese regional
China Express signed a strategic cooperation for cross-border passenger traffic. China Express is also considering making a financial investment into Qazaq Air.
Ethiopian Airlines began Addis Ababa-Chicago, Illinois Boeing 787 service. Ethiopian will also launch 4X-weekly Addis Ababa-Barcelona Boeing 787-8 services from July 1.
Hainan Airlines began 4X-weekly Beijing-Edinburgh Airbus A330-300 service.
Emirates Airline will launch 5X-weekly Dubai-Luanda Boeing 777-300ER service from July 1, increasing to daily from the winter schedule.
French airline
Aigle Azur will begin 3X-weekly Paris Orly-Sao Paulo Campinas Airbus A330 service from July 5, increasing to 4X-weekly from September. Aigle Azur will also launch 3X-weekly Paris Orly-Beijing service in August.
