NewsSIA A350-900ULR ferry shows off long-haul capabilitiesSingapore Airlines’ first Airbus A350-900ULR demonstrated its long-haul capabilities during an unusual delivery flight during which the aircraft routed over the Arctic. The aircraft (9V-SGA) departed Toulouse for Singapore on 22 September. But rather than following the great circle route – around 5,900nm overflying Italy, the Black Sea, Caspian Sea and India – the aircraft took a flightpath north to Norway and Spitsbergen.
LinkAeromexico eyes Barcelona after Emirates cancels Mexico plansAeromexico intends to launch flights to Barcelona now that Emirates Airline has cancelled its plan to operate to Mexico via Barcelona, says Aeromexico chief executive Andres Conesa. Conesa does not say when Aeromexico will begin Barcelona flights. He also distances himself and his airline from Emirates' decision.
LinkJetBlue debuts special livery for Puerto RicoJetBlue Airways has unveiled Bluericua, a special livery dedicated to Puerto Rico on an Airbus A320. The bright blue livery on the aircraft, registered N779JB, was designed with the help of JetBlue employees based in Puerto Rico. JetBlue operates a focus city at San Juan, and is Puerto Rico's largest airline.
LinkAer Lingus to roll out new brand in early 2019Aer Lingus in early 2019 will roll out a refreshed brand and begin a three-year process of repainting its fleet, changes that align with the carrier's acquisition of new Airbus narrowbodies, says Aer Lingus chief executive Stephen Kavanagh. As part of the rebranding, the airline will also outfit crew with new uniforms, Kavanagh says on 24 September.
LinkLHT develops automated steam cleaner for engine heat exchangersLufthansa Technik has started using an automated steam cleaning system for engine heat exchangers, which avoids use of chemical detergents and reduces process time. The MRO group says the system was developed in-house and is the first of its kind to go into operation across the industry.
LinkItaly investigates Ryanair’s new hand-baggage policy Ryanair said it would cooperate with Italy’s competition authority, which is investigating the Irish LCC’s new hand baggage policy on the grounds that, as hand-baggage is usually considered an essential part of travel, it could make it harder for consumers to transparently compare prices. Ryanair said in August it was introducing a new baggage policy from Nov. 1, under which non-priority customers can only bring one free small carry-on bag, compared with the one small carry-on bag and one bigger bag or wheeled suitcase they were previously allowed. Priority customers can still bring two free bags.
LinkAmerican CEO defends 737 MAX seat, lavatory sizes American Airlines chairman and CEO Doug Parker defended seat and lavatory sizes on the carrier’s new fleet of Boeing 737 MAX airliners during an opening presentation Sept. 24 at the Airline Passenger Experience (APEX) Expo in Boston, Massachusetts. The Dallas/Fort Worth-based carrier was criticized last year for its plan to install seats with 29 in. of pitch on the 100 new Boeing 787-8s it started receiving last September. The reaction caused the airline to change course and install economy seats with 30-in. seat pitch, still less than the 31-in. seat pitch on its 737-800s.
LinkAir Austral, Air Madagascar eye fleet renewal La Réunion-based Air Austral and Air Madagascar are looking at updating their respective fleets, 10 months into a partnership aimed at making the two small airlines more resistant to competition that they say has been “positive overall” so far.
LinkSpiceJet takes Bombardier’s first 90-seat Q400Indian LCC SpiceJet has taken delivery of the first 90-seat version of Bombardier’s Q400 turboprop, the manufacturer said Sept. 21. The entry of the extra-capacity aircraft into commercial service is a milestone for Bombardier’s Q400 program and gives the Canadian manufacturer a needed boost since the July turnover of the CSeries jet program to Airbus. The 90-seat version of the Q400 was certified by Transport Canada in early August.
LinkWork begins on new passenger terminal at Thessaloniki AirportGerman airport management company Fraport Greece has broken ground on the site of its new passenger terminal at Thessaloniki Airport in northern Greece. The new 34,000 sq m terminal is planned to be operational in two years. Fraport Greece, a subsidiary of Germany’s Fraport AG, is investing some €100 million ($118 million) in a wide range of improvements at the airport that serves Greece’s second-largest city. It served 6.4 million passengers in 2017.
LinkEVA Air launches new 787 business classTaiwan’s EVA Air has launched its new business class in line with the delivery of its new Boeing 787-9/10 Dreamliner. Known as the Royal Laurel Class, EVA Air opted for new cabin configuration, designers and suppliers from the previous Boeing 777-300ER product. The Star Alliance member engaged BMW’s Designworks to design and style the seats and cabin, moving away from the 1-2-1 reverse herringbone configuration to the forward facing 1-2-1 arrangement.
LinkUral Airlines will start 2X-weekly Anapa-Yerevan (Armenia) and weekly Anapa-Osh (Kyrgyzstan) Airbus A320 family service Oct. 29. The Yekaterinburg-based carrier will begin 2X-weekly Vladivostok-Sapporo (Japan) A320/321 service Dec. 4.
Aeroflot Airline will launch 5X-weekly Moscow Sheremetyevo-Colombo (Sri Lanka) A330 service; daily Moscow Sheremetyevo-Gothenburg (Sweden) Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) service; and daily Moscow Sheremetyevo -Ljubljana (Slovenia) SSJ100 service on Oct. 29.
NordStar Airline starts 2X-weekly Norilsk-Abakan Boeing 737-800 domestic service Sept. 26.
Russia’s
IrAero Airline launches 2X-weekly Khabarovsk-Blagovshchensk Bombardier CRJ200 service on Oct. 29.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will begin 3X-weekly Amsterdam-Las Vegas, Nevada Boeing 787-9 service from summer 2019.
Air Italy boosts frequencies after strong summer Revitalized Air Italy has reported strong summer season passenger loads on its new flights to the US and has announced frequency increases on several of its international routes. The Sardinia-based carrier, which rebranded from its former identity of Meridiana in March following Qatar Airways’ decision to take a 49% stake in its parent company, AQA Holdings, is in the middle of a major fleet expansion program.
LinkDubai airport 45-day runway closure to cause 43% capacity reduction The 45-day runway closure in 2019 at Dubai International Airport’s (DXB) of southern runway (12R-30L) will significantly disrupt operations for Emirates Airline and flydubai, Emirates president Tim Clark told ATW on the sidelines of this week’s IATA Aviation Day in Mauritius. DXB handles more than 1,100 aircraft movements per day and the 45-day runway closure is estimated to cause a 43% reduction in capacity.
LinkWOW Air issues bonds ahead of IPO Icelandic LCC WOW Air has closed a €60 million ($70.4 million) bonds issue and started preparing for an initial public offering (IPO) within the next 12 to 18 months.
LinkDelta to open biometric terminal at ATL for international passengers Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines plans to offer a full biometric airport throughput to travelers on direct international flights from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport’s (ATL) Terminal F, beginning late 2018. The biometric facial recognition method, which will be offered to travelers on an opt-in basis, will utilize technology developed for the ATL launch by Japan’s NEC Corp. Delta has tested biometric technology in cooperation with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at several US airports (ATL, Detroit Metropolitan Airport, New York-JFK and Washington National Airport) in recent years.
LinkLufthansa to take charge of LCC Eurowings’ long-haul network Lufthansa is preparing to take over planning and control of LCC Eurowings’ long-haul network, as the subsidiary’s role in the segment evolves, company sources say. Lufthansa said, “We absolutely cannot confirm this.
LinkIs US Air Force really too small?Size matters, as the old adage goes. But how big is big enough, when it comes to the world’s most powerful air force maintaining its status? On stage at the US Air Force’s main gathering, the AFA conference, Heather Wilson – its highest-ranking civilian – said its current strength of 312 operational squadrons is “too small” once weighed against likely future operational demands. Setting a vision to boost this by 24% no later than 2030, she described it as the service’s “obligation” to put in place a structure to meet demands anywhere in the world, and against any foe.
LinkUSAF to take gradual approach in hypersonic acquisitionsThe US Air Force is unlikely to purchase initial hypersonic weapons in large quantities, but instead will wait for improvements in follow-on versions. The service expects an initial operational capability of 2020 for its Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon (HCSW), though there may be some delays due to testing, said Will Roper, USAF assistant secretary for acquisition and technology.
LinkEx-Lufthansa A321 joins LuftwaffeGermany's air force has taken delivery of a former Lufthansa Airbus A321 that has been converted by the airline's maintenance division for government flights and other missions. Lufthansa Technik says the 18-year-old twinjet was acquired, overhauled and converted under a contract with Berlin's BAAINBw military procurement and support body, with a total value of around €90 million ($106 million).
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