NewsCommercial
FAA review of Thailand safety finds 26 defects
Thailand’s aviation authorities must address more oversight concerns before the FAA will agree to restore the country’s safety rating.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) said the FAA has identified 26 defects that must be resolved for the US agency to upgrade Thailand’s safety rating to Category 1.
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Basic UK-EU air connectivity retained under tentative deal
Council of the European Union representatives have reached a provisional agreement with the European Parliament on maintaining UK-EU air services, should the UK leave the EU without a post-withdrawal deal.
The Council, currently under a Romanian presidency, is the institution which represents EU member states’ governments.
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Analysts call attention to cracks in widebody demand
Aerospace analysts are calling attention to indications of easing demand for widebody aircraft, with some suggesting that manufacturers could eventually respond by trimming some production rates.
"We are in the correction decade" for widebody aircraft, Richard Aboulafia, vice-president of consultancy Teal Group, said last week. He notes that the market value of twin-aisle aircraft deliveries doubled between 2010 and 2017, but has since flattened.
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PICTURE: First BBJ Max 8 arrives for cabin outfitting
The first Boeing BBJ Max 8 has arrived at Comlux Completions' Indianapolis facility for cabin outfitting, with the finished aircraft scheduled for delivery to its unnamed US owner before the end of the year.
The green, VIP narrowbody was originally delivered to Comlux in late November 2018 – 14 months after the company was named as the interior outfitter for the re-engined aircraft. It was then transported to another firm for exterior painting.
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Airbus Helicopters rules out short-term civil product launch
Airbus Helicopters has ruled out the launch of any new civil rotorcraft in the short-term thanks to continued market weakness.
"We do not see a need for a new helicopter in the next two to three years," said chief executive Bruno Even, speaking in Marginane on 18 January.
LinkAirlines
Lufthansa revealed as 2019 ATW Airline of the Year
Lufthansa was today named the ATW 2019 Airline of the Year. It is the first time in 14 years that the Award has been bestowed on a European carrier.
Lufthansa was selected for its across-the-board achievements that set it apart from its legacy airline peers and maintain its competitive edge against increasing low-cost carrier competition.
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Collapsed flybmi announces staff redundancies, appoints administrator
Most of the 376 employees at flybmi—the UK regional carrier that abruptly suspended operations and filed for bankruptcy protection over the weekend—have been made redundant, and stranded passengers are being offered “rescue fares” by other airlines to help them return home.
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Air France pilots approve pay deal, ending 12-month impasse
Air France pilots have voted overwhelmingly in favor of a new pay deal with the French flag carrier, ending a year-long deadlock that resulted in a series of strikes in 2018. The SNPL pilots union said 85% of voting members approved the draft agreement announced by Air France Jan. 23.
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Chinese carriers plan London, Paris routes from Daxing
China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines are planning to start Beijing services to London and Paris late this year from the Chinese capital’s new airport, according to sources.
The planned services indicate the degree of new competition for Air China that Beijing Daxing International Airport will introduce when it opens Sept. 30.
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Air Mauritius posts 9-month net loss as competition, costs increase
Air Mauritius reported a €25.4 million ($28.6 million) net loss for the nine-month period ending Dec. 31, 2018, down from a €10 million net profit for the year-ago period.
The Indian Ocean-based carrier cited growing competition and increasing costs for the results.
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Norwegian to launch seasonal transatlantic services in route shuffle
LCC Norwegian will open two new seasonal routes this year as it continues to modify transatlantic services.
The company will serve two new summer routes over the Atlantic, with Barcelona-Chicago starting in June and Athens-New York JFK operating from July. Both will continue until the end of the summer season timetable in late October.
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China’s Juneyao Airlines to begin Cairo-Shanghai services
Private Chinese carrier Juneyao Airlines will begin flying to Cairo late this year as part of its move into long-haul operations, according to an application submitted to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).
The airline plans to fly 4X-weekly between Cairo and its hometown, Shanghai, and twice-weekly between Cairo and Xi’an with an extension to Shanghai.
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Bahamasair takes ninth 737-700, looks to add more partnerships
Bahamasair, working to leverage steady demand for tourism in its home region, has taken delivery of its ninth aircraft and is eyeing additional partnerships with airlines, the airline’s top executive said.
“We’re seeing robust growth in tourism," CEO Tracy Cooper told delegates at the recent Aviation Week Routes Americas conference. “We’re just trying to keep up with the growth.”
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Ryanair’s Belgian pilot union endorses new labor agreement
Ryanair’s Belgian pilots have endorsed a four-year collective labor agreement (CLA) covering remuneration and rostering, following the Irish LCC’s October decision to apply local labor law to cockpit and cabin crew based in Belgium.
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PICTURE: First 777-9 for Lufthansa comes together in Everett
Lufthansa revealed today that the body sections of its first Boeing 777-9 have been joined on the assembly line in Everett, Washington.
Boeing is currently completing assembly of the first -9 derivative of the new GE Aviation GE9X-powered 777X family, with roll-out expected in mid-March. The first aircraft is due for delivery in 2020 to launch customer Emirates.
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Malindo Air to start first service to Japan
Malindo Air will start its first service to Japan with a Kuala Lumpur-Taipei Taoyuan-Sapporo route on 23 March.
The carrier will deploy Boeing 737-800s on the thrice-weekly service.
LinkAirports
Amsterdam Schiphol launches facial recognition project
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport has begun a facial recognition pilot project for boarding passengers.
The program—a partnership of the airport, the Dutch government, Cathay Pacific Airways, KLM and Vision-Box, the company responsible for the Seamless Flow facial recognition system—aims to eventually make it unnecessary for passengers to display documents.
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New Mydutyfree brand outlet opens in Munich's Airport T2
After a six-month makeover, the duty free shop on Level 5 in Munich Airport's Terminal 2 has re-opened with the new MyDutyFree branding.
The concept, idea and renovations were carried out by Munich Airport’s retail subsidiary in co-operation with the Gruschwitz design office.
To provide a sense of local colour, the decor and signage in the new MyDutyFree shops reflect the character of some of Munich’s best-known neighboyrhoods.
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Vancouver Airport sees record-breaking passenger numbers in 2018
With a 7.3 per cent increase on 2017, 2018 saw nearly 26 million passengers pass through Vancouver International Airport, a new record for the airport.
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has released final passenger numbers for 2018, confirming another year of record-breaking growth. YVR welcomed more than 25.9 million passengers, a 7.3 per cent increase over 2017, reaching its 25 million passenger milestone two years ahead of forecast.
LinkMilitary
ATEC protests US Army decision on new helicopter engines
Advanced Turbine Engine Company (ATEC) filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office against the US Army’s decision to award General Electric Aviation a contract to develop a new turbine engine for the service’s helicopters.
The US Army awarded a $517 million contract to General Electric on 1 February to complete engineering and manufacturing development work on its T901-GE-900 turbine engine for the service’s Improved Turbine Engine Programme (ITEP).
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US Coast Guard begins testing MH-65E helicopters
The US Coast Guard commenced low-rate initial production of its service life extension and avionics upgrade programme for its Eurocopter HH-65 Dolphin short range recovery helicopters.
Three aircraft have been converted into the upgraded MH-65E “Echo” variant, with the first helicopter rolling off the production line on 18 December 2018, the US Coast Guard says. On 7 January, the programme began initial operational and test evaluation (IOT&E) activities on two of those three aircraft, the service says.
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PICTURES: Canada’s first F/A-18 Hornets arrive from Australia
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) received its first pair of interim F/A-18A Hornets on 17 February at 4 Wing Cold Lake air base in Alberta.
The aircraft are part of a larger purchase from the Royal Australian Air Force of 18 used fighters. The F/A-18 Hornets are meant to help the air force maintain an inventory of flyable fighters until 2031 or 2032, at which time Ottawa aims to replace older aircraft with a new fourth- or fifth-generation fighter.
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AERO INDIA: Display team loses Hawks in mid-air collision
A day before the opening of the biennial Aero India show, the Indian air force's Surya Kiran display team has lost two BAE Hawk 132 advanced jet trainers during a practice session, with one pilot killed in the accident.
Footage on social media shows that the two aircraft were performing a mirror-image manoeuvre, where one jet flies inverted, but in a slightly offset position, to create the impression of the two aircraft “mirroring” each other.
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PICTURE: Pilatus delivers PC-24 to Swiss government
Pilatus has delivered a PC-24 to the Swiss government. The superlight business jet – serial number 121 and carrying the registration T-786 – was handed over during a dedicated ceremony in Berne on 18 February, and will replace a similarly sized Cessna Citation XLS in service.
The eight-seat PC-24 will be used for government transportation “primarily around Europe, and operated by the Swiss air force".
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Finland approved to be offered EA-18G Growler
Boeing and the US Navy have received approval from the US Department of Defense to offer the EA-18G Growler electronic attack jet to Finland.
The approval came after Finland’s defence ministry issued a query about the potential to acquire Growlers as part of its HX fighter procurement programme that is aimed at replacing its 62 Boeing F/A-18C/Ds.
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Aviation Quote
A modern, autonomous, and thoroughly trained Air Force in being at all times will not alone be sufficient, but without it there can be no national security.
- General H. H. 'Hap' Arnold, USAAF.
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