NewsAirbus’ UK sites could remain competitive post-Brexit Airbus’ UK factories “could well remain competitive” even after Brexit, outgoing CEO Tom Enders said March 29. British manufacturing sites enjoy lower cost levels than they do in France and Germany, Enders said.
LinkTUI Group lowers FY2019 guidance on 737 MAX 8 grounding costs Hanover, Germany-based TUI Group expects the Boeing 737 MAX 8 grounding will cost the company €200 million ($225 million) if flights can be resumed by mid-July at the latest. As a result, TUI has lowered the company’s FY2019 guidance 17%, down from the €1.2 billion achieved in 2018.
LinkAmazon to lease 737s from GECAS, Atlas Air Amazon Air is adding at least five Boeing 737-800Fs to its network through a revamped deal with Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings. The agreement, announced March 29, will see Atlas subsidiary Southern Air Transport put the first five 737NGs into service this year.
LinkBamboo Airways nears deal with Airbus to buy A321neos Vietnam startup airline Bamboo Airways is preparing to sign a deal with Airbus to purchase A321neos, a key step in its ambitions to develop a fleet of Airbus narrowbodies and Boeing widebodies. It is unclear how many aircraft Bamboo will order, with numbers of orders and options varying in different wire reports. Bamboo currently has no orders with Airbus, although in March 2018 it signed an MOU covering up to 24 A321neos.
LinkEuropean regional carriers voice concerns on EU261 regulationCompensation claims by passengers on delayed flights in the European Union (EU) are escalating sharply and harming smaller airlines, the head of the body representing them said March 27. Speaking on the sidelines of the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) conference in Prague, Czechia, ERA director general Montserrat Barriga said that firms of “claims farmers” were encouraging passengers to pursue compensation for delays that had occurred as much as three years previously.
LinkLoganair boosts fleet, network after flybmi demise Scottish airline Loganair is gearing up for a huge expansion of operations in the aftermath of the collapse last month of sister company flybmi. Both companies have the same parent, Airline Investments Ltd. (AIL), but operated separately. Loganair, which traditionally has served the Scottish Highlands and Islands, has until recently operated turboprops almost exclusively, although it took its first Embraer ERJ145 on strength in 2018.
LinkAegean Airlines 2018 net profit up 13% on traffic growth Greek carrier Aegean Airlines reported a net profit of €67.9 million ($76.3 million) for 2018, up 13% from €60.4 million in the previous year. Consolidated revenue was up 5% year-over-year (YOY) to €1.19 billion, compared to €1.13 billion in 2017. Pre-tax earnings rose 15% YOY to €98.6 million.
LinkLuxair awaits fleet renewal planLuxembourg’s national carrier Luxair is still deciding on the future shape of its fleet, but in the interim has gone ahead with the purchase of two further Boeing 737-700s. A fleet development study looking at replacements for its Boeing 737s was expected to be concluded in 2018, but is continuing, Luxair Group EVP-Airline Martin Isler told ATW March 28 on the sidelines of the European Regions Airline Association annual conference in Prague, Czechia.
LinkEgyptAir takes first 787-9 for new Cairo, North American servicesEgyptAir received its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on March 28. The Star Alliance member will lease a total of six of the type. The new aircraft will initially be put in service on the Cairo-Kuwait route in early April, and in June to Washington Dulles—a new destination—and Toronto. The second 787-9 is scheduled for delivery in April.
LinkEuropean, African carriers accept new aircraftSpanish leisure airline Evelop Airlines has taken delivery of its first of two Airbus A350 XWBs, while African flag carrier Mauritania Airlines has accepted its first Embraer E175. Evelop, which is part of the Spanish Barceló Group’s Ávoris travel division, is taking the new aircraft on lease from Air Lease Corp. and will base it at Madrid Barajas airport.
LinkAirbus aims to deliver first Delta A330-900 by MayAirbus expects to deliver the first A330-900 to Delta Air Lines within the next two months as it works to stabilize production of the Rolls-Royce Trent 7000-powered twinjet during 2019.
LinkUnited's new premium economy cabin takes flightUnited Airlines begins offering its new premium-economy cabin on some long-haul routes tomorrow, its latest step in offering a broader array of products to passengers. The Chicago-based Star Alliance carrier will offer Premium Plus cabins and service, an offering slotted between economy and business classes, on 15 routes from its Newark, San Francisco and Washington Dulles hubs from 30 March. The product will be available on 21 routes by end-May.
LinkMauritania Airlines receives first E175 Mauritania Airlines has become the first airline in Africa to take delivery of an Embraer 175. The Brazilian manufacturer says that in a ceremony held on 28 March the Mauritanian flag carrier was presented with the first of two 175s it ordered last year. Both will be long-range variants.
LinkJet Airways again defaults on loan repaymentJet Airways has disclosed that it has again delayed repayment of a working capital facility that was due on 28 March, citing “temporary liquidity constraints.” It adds that it is “engaged with the lender”, but provided no other details on the lender, nor the amount now in arrears.
LinkMaiden flight of Ilyushin Il-112V transportThe Ilyushin Il-112V military turboprop completed its maiden flight on 30 March from the VASO manufacturing plant in Voronezh. The aircraft, which is part of the United Aircraft (UAC) stable, took off with chief pilot Nikolai Kuimov at the controls. The maiden test flight was flown in normal mode, says UAC.
Link USAF grounds entire B-1B Lancer bomber fleet againFor the second time in 12 months, the US Air Force has grounded its Rockwell B-1B Lancer bomber fleet over safety concerns with its ejection seat. Air Force Global Strike Command ordered a safety stand-down of the B-1B Lancer fleet March 28. The service says that during a routine inspection potentially fleet-wide issues were identified with the rigging of the ejection seat drogue chute system. As a precautionary measure, the USAF directed an all-inclusive inspection of the entire egress system.
LinkJapan declares F-35A squadron initial-operation capableJapan’s air force stood up its first operational F-35A fighter squadron, the 302nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, on 29 March. The stealth fighter replaces the squadron’s aging, third-generation Mitsubishi F-4EJ Kai fighters, which are Japanese-licensed variants of the Vietnam-era McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. The squadron is stationed at Misawa Air Base, which is near the northernmost point of Japan’s main island.
LinkUSAF selects first air base to host B-21 Raider stealth bomberThe US Air Force selected Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota on 27 March as the preferred location to base the first operational Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider bomber and the stealth aircraft’s formal training unit. After that, Whiteman AFB in Missouri and Dyess AFB in Texas will receive B-21s as they become available, says the service. The USAF says it selected bases using criteria meant to minimize mission impact while transitioning from older bombers, maximize facility reuse, minimize cost and reduce overhead.
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