NewsAir France, most unions reach long-awaited pay agreement Air France has reached a pay deal with unions, paving the way for the Air France-KLM group to move on from a months-long labor conflict and focus on its long-term strategy. The deal includes a general pay increase of 2%, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2018, and a general pay increase of 2% on Jan. 1, 2019 and was signed by the CFDT, CFE-CGC/UNAC, FO/SNPNC, SPAF and UNSAAérien Air France ground staff and cabin crew unions.
LinkRyanair, Portuguese pilots reach labor deal Irish LCC Ryanair has signed an agreement with the Portuguese pilot union SPAC covering seniority and base transfer agreements for its directly employed pilots in Portugal, and paving the way for negotiations on a full collective labor agreement to begin before the end of October. The LCC has been making slow progress in getting agreements in place with unions which it agreed to recognize in December 2017, after a flight cancellations crisis forced its hand by bringing long-running tensions with its workforce to the fore.
LinkGatwick proposes using standby runway for additional capacity London Gatwick Airport’s new draft master includes a controversial plan to use the standby runway to provide additional capacity. The airport, the second busiest in the UK and one of the busiest single-runway facilities in the world, handled more than 45 million passengers between 2017 and 2018, shelved plans to build a second runway to the south of the airfield.
LinkIridium targets Dec. 30 launch date for ‘Next’ constellation Iridium Communications is targeting Dec. 30 for the eighth and final Iridium Next launch, which would complete the new constellation of satellites supporting space-based tracking of aircraft and flight deck broadband connectivity. Iridium and rocket manufacturer SpaceX completed the seventh launch of 10 satellites on July 25, bringing to 65 the number of Iridium Next operational and spare satellites in low-Earth orbit. The last set of 10 satellites will complete the $3 billion constellation of 66 operational and nine spare spacecraft.
LinkNew Pluna owners to challenge Uruguay over airline’s demise A Panamanian investment company has purchased the outstanding shares of former Uruguayan flag carrier Pluna Lineas Aereas Uruguayas and, through arbitration, plans to seek financial compensation for Uruguay’s alleged role in wiping the airline out, ATW’s sister publication Aviation Week has learned. A source with knowledge of the proceedings confirmed Caballero Verde S. de R.L. (Caballero) recently took control of the Latin American Regional Aviation Holding Corp. (Larah), the Panama-based company that owned 75% of Pluna.
LinkDelta to add Ontario-Atlanta double-daily service by next summerDelta Air Lines will launch new daily nonstops between Ontario International Airport (ONT) and its Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International (ATL) hub next April and move to double-dailies in June, further illustrating the growing California airport’s resurgence as a gateway to the Los Angeles area. The Atlanta-based carrier plans to operate 180-seat Boeing 737-900ERs on the route. Service starts April 22 with morning departures in each direction. On June 9, an evening frequency will be added each way, meaning the eastbound route will be a red-eye.
LinkHow US aviation legislation could hurt, not help airline passengers US legislators seem intent of late on meddling in how airlines are run. Not how airlines operate safely, but how they deliver their basic product offerings. But their meddling could backfire. Lawmakers want to determine minimum seat size and pitch, the square footage of lavatory space, and the amount that can be charged to change a non-refundable ticket. Various efforts were made to tag these regulatory interferences to the new FAA reauthorization bill. Some failed, but others succeeded. On seat size, for instance, FAA is now tasked with defining a safe minimum. But “safe” is not necessarily the same as “comfortable”.
LinkCho: Korean Air deciding on new widebody ordersKorean Air is in the process of deciding whether to place more orders for widebody aircraft, according to the airline’s president Walter Cho. While no conclusions have been reached about aircraft numbers or order timing, the South Korea flag carrier is holding internal discussions and is “looking at its options now,” Cho said at a briefing during the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines annual assembly in Jeju, South Korea Oct. 19. “We have a lot of need for widebodies,” he said.
LinkA350 and 777X in contention for Korean widebody orderKorean Air is considering both the Boeing 777X and Airbus A350 family for what could be a major widebody order, as well as leaning toward additions to its 787 fleet. Speaking with reporters at the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) Assembly of Presidents in Jeju, the SkyTeam carrier's chief executive Walter Cho notes that the carrier's market has grown, particularly on transpacific routes.
LinkThawing diplomatic relations a ‘good sign’ for Korean AirWhile political tension has been affecting Korean Air’s traffic in some markets, the airline could eventually see benefits from improving international relations, Korean Air president Walter Cho says. Earlier this year, escalating tension between North Korea and both South Korea and the US harmed traffic and financial results, Cho said at a briefing during the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines annual assembly in Jeju, South Korea on Oct. 19. When the political standoff was at its height, many travelers were avoiding coming to South Korea, he said.
LinkBasking in a good year, Boeing keeps its cool on NMABoeing continues its cautious talk on whether it will launch a new mid-market aircraft (NMA), reiterating that it must still establish a business case. Boeing VP-commercial marketing Randy Tinseth, speaking on the sidelines of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines annual assembly in Jeju, South Korea, Oct. 19, said talks with potential customers continued, but the focus remained on production, establishing a business case and ensuring the ability to deliver NMA by 2025.
LinkCebu Pacific readies Boracay return after 6-month closurePhilippines carrier Cebu Pacific is preparing for the return of flights Boracay after six months of no operations to the resort island. The Philippine government closed off the island to tourists in April under a “rehabilitation” effort to clean out the island and curb overcrowding. The island is served by Kalibo airport and the nearer, but smaller Caticlan airport. The Boracay market comprised between 6% and 7% of Cebu Pacific’s total passenger traffic and 6% of total revenue.
LinkAir France-KLM to add 44 new winter routesAir France-KLM said it would increase winter capacity across its network by 2.5% compared with the previous winter season, with 44 new winter routes across long-, medium- and short-haul destinations. The carrier said better use of its fleet would help it grow, with objectives of 2.8% growth for long-haul, 1.1% for medium- and short-haul, and 11.5% for Transavia low-cost operations.
LinkJuneyao takes first 787Chinese carrier Juneyao Airlines has received its first Boeing 787, a milestone that also marks the end of Juneyao's status as an all-Airbus operator. The company will use the aircraft, a 787-9 with registration B-1115, to expand its primarily-domestic Chinese network to include new international destinations in Southeast Asia, Japan and Korea, says a Boeing media release.
LinkNTSB calls for 25h cockpit voice recorder durationFollowing several recent aviation safety incidents, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is urging regulators to extend significantly the required recording duration of cockpit voice recorders (CVRs). Existing federal standards call for the devices to record 2h of flight audio before being overwritten, but the NTSB wants that duration extended to 25h, according to a 2 October NTSB safety recommendation report.
LinkAstana A320 excursion probe supported by German authorityGerman investigators are supporting a probe into a runway excursion at Astana earlier this year which damaged an Air Astana Airbus A320. The aircraft – arriving from Shymkent – had conducted an approach to runway 22, in poor weather conditions, on 22 May. Meteorological data for Astana airport at the time indicates local thunderstorm activity, rain and crosswinds from the right, with gusts exceeding 48kt.
LinkKAI's MRO unit set conduct first heavy check on 737Korea Aerospace Industries’ (KAI) MRO unit, Korean Aviation Engineering & Maintenance Service (KAEMS), will induct its first aircraft for heavy maintenance in December. Responding to queries by FlightGlobal, KAI adds that this will start with a Boeing 737 NG operated by a local low-cost carrier. In 2019, KAEMS will look to service Airbus A320s, as well as 787s.
LinkSAS contracts Aero Norway for CFM56 supportEngine maintenance provider Aero Norway has been selected to service CFM International CFM56-7Bs powering Scandinavian Airlines' 67 Boeing 737NGs. SAS has signed a rolling agreement covering scheduled and unscheduled shop visits and on-wing support, says Stavanger-based Aero Norway.
LinkAG600 conducts first sortie from waterThe AVIC AG600 has conducted its first water takeoff and landing, in a major milestone for the world’s largest amphibian aircraft. Airborne video on Chinese state television shows the four-engined type taxi down a ramp into Zhanghe Reservoir, take off from the water, fly a sortie of unspecified duration, and landing again in water. As the aircraft climbs the ramp out of the reservoir, it is greeted by two water arcs.
LinkCash-strapped Jakarta to renegotiate K-FX/I-FX involvementJakarta hopes to renegotiate its partnership with Seoul in the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) K-FX/I-FX fighter program. A team lead by Indonesia’s coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs Wiranto will head to Seoul to discuss the issue, according the ministry’s website.
LinkPortugal picks AW119Kx for light helicopter requirementPortugal has ordered five Leonardo Helicopters AW119Kx light-singles for multirole missions in a deal worth over €20 million ($23 million). To be operated by the nation's air force, deliveries of the helicopters are due to begin from Leonardo's Philadelphia, Pennsylvania production facility in late 2018, running until 2020.
LinkManila eyes Gripen for future fighter forceThe Philippines has identified the Saab Gripen as the best candidate for the nation’s fighter requirement. The government-owned Philippine News Agency recently quoted defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana as saying that the Swedish fighter is the best option in terms of price and capability.
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