NewsOfficial: Previous unreliable airspeed readings on Lion Air 737 MAX 8 An Indonesian safety official has confirmed the Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX 8 that crashed Oct. 29 had unreliable airspeed readings on its previous flight. Flight JT610 took off from Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at around 6:20 a.m. local time Oct. 29, and was scheduled to arrive at Depati Amir Airport in Pangkal Pinang City, Indonesia, at 7:20 a.m.
LinkLufthansa seeks alliance with Alitalia, cuts capacity plans Lufthansa is considering a commercial partnership with Alitalia, but has ruled out a financial investment. “Investing is out of the question for us alongside a state-owned entity,” Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr said Oct. 30. “A commercial partnership is on the agenda for the next few months; we know the management team at Alitalia very well.”
LinkWestJet 3Q net profit down 66% as fuel costs, labor issues rise Canada’s WestJet overcame rising fuel prices and other headwinds to post a third-quarter (3Q) net profit of C$45.9 million ($35 million), down 66.3% from the C$135.9 million reported in the year-ago quarter. The Calgary-based LCC has faced “downward pressure from the dramatic increases in fuel price and competitive capacity, along with the lingering impact of the threat of industrial action,” CEO Ed Sims said.
LinkUnchanged AIP funds, PFC cap disappoints US airports US airports are disappointed Congress opted not to increase funds they receive for infrastructure construction in the FAA reauthorization bill, putting pressure on them to generate funds to shore up facilities during record passenger demand. “When you look at the final bill, we ended up with a status quo approach,” American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) EVP-government and public affairs Joel Bacon said. “This bill does not represent significant progress in solving the fundamental issues we have with serially underinvesting in airport facilities.”
LinkEmbraer works to replenish backlog, expects to deliver 90 aircraft in 2018 Embraer is still working to firm up many of the commitments received at this year’s Farnborough Air Show, but executives are confident that 2019’s production will be at or possibly above this year’s projected total of about 90 deliveries.
LinkFinnair secures competition clearance for regional sale Finnair has completed the sale of 60% of its regional operation—Nordic Regional Airlines (Norra)—to Danish Air Transport (DAT), after securing competition clearance for the deal that was announced in late August. On Aug. 30, Finnair named DAT as Norra’s new majority shareholder. DAT is a privately owned company that operates scheduled, charter and cargo flights.
LinkRussia suspends Yakutia’s international flights from Nov. 5Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency said it has suspended Yakutia Airlines’ international flights starting Nov. 5, until the Yakutsk-based carrier corrects flaws discovered during inspections. The agency found the airline provided “inaccurate information on the implementation of airworthiness directives on the Boeing 737-800.” “Airworthiness problems led to frequent and long departure delays on domestic and international flights,” the agency added. “In September, the delays reached 20% [of flights actually departing].”
LinkChina’s SF Airlines takes first Boeing 747-400ERFChina’s SF Airlines has taken delivery its first Boeing 747-400ERF freighter on Oct. 26, following an eight-month long refurbishment. The aircraft is one of two ex-Jade Cargo International aircraft, which was bought online by SF Airline for CNY160.8 million ($23 million) and CNY162 million, respectively, in November 2017. The 11-year old 747 was stored in Shanghai Pudong airport when Jade Cargo International ceased operations in 2011.
LinkAmerican faces debt concerns from Wall StreetAmerican Airlines debt load is raising eyebrows on Wall Street, with analysts worrying about its ability to pay its bills if the economy slows down. The Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier had $22.3 billion in long-term debt and capital leases, net current maturities, at the end of September, a quarterly financial filing shows. That was up 1.8% in the third quarter, and up less than 1% year-over-year.
LinkAvianca's entire 787 fleet back in serviceAvianca's entire Boeing 787 fleet is back in service, although the aircraft are operating with some restrictions after a "very painful" period of grounding, says Avianca chief executive Hernan Rincon. The Star Alliance's 12-aircraft 787 fleet was back to operating flights as of about a month or so ago, Rincon tells FlightGlobal at the ALTA Airline Leaders Forum in Panama City. It also received a 13th 787 a few weeks ago.
LinkBoeing Defense grows revenue despite another KC-46A delay and higher costsBoeing Defense, Space & Security’s third quarter revenue grew 13.5% to $5.7 billion year-over-year, despite its KC-46A Pegasus tanker program struggling with another delay and highest costs. Boeing had anticipated delivering its first KC-46A aerial refueling tanker to the US Air Force on 27 October, but now says five unresolved category-1 deficiencies, including two related to sunlight glare on the camera that guides the aircraft’s refueling boom, mean it will not be delivered until sometime in November or December. The Chicago-based aerospace manufacturer was contracted to deliver the first batch of 18 KC-46s by August 2017, but missed that deadline after production issues.
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