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United Aircraft Corp. needs $4.8 billion capital injection
Russia’s United Aircraft Corp. (UAC) will need a RUB300 billion ($4.8 billion) capital injection “to complete the financial restructuring,” Rostec Corp. CEO Sergey Chemezov said in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin July 22.
“First of all, this sum is needed to implement the MC-21 programs and other civilian projects … We have inherited numerous loans from the 1990s and the early 2000s.
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P&W's Q2 profit jumps even as large jet engine shipments slow
Pratt & Whitney's second quarter operating profit jumped 7% year-on-year to $424 million amid continued cost reduction and an increase in engine shipments.
The engine maker shipped 824 aircraft engines in the period, up from 745 engines the same period of 2018, says P&W parent United Technologies (UTC).
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ANALYSIS: Max focuses minds on safety regime
In an otherwise unremarkable first six months, concerns prompted by the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 fatal crash in early March 2019 have dominated the airline safety debate. That accident has generated industry-wide soul searching, with calls for a re-examination of the way in which today's new aircraft designs are approved.
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PICTURE: First MA700 starts coming together
AVIC has joined three major sections the the first MA700 turboprop aircraft.
Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation, which is part of AVIC, had joined up the nose, forward, and main fuselage sections, with work completed on 18 July.
LinkAirlines
Icelandair Group sells 75% of hotel operations to strengthen business
Icelandair Group has sold a 75% stake in Icelandair Hotels and related real estate to Berjaya Property Ireland, a subsidiary of Malaysia-based Berjaya Land Berhad.
The acquisition included a put and call option on the remaining 25% for three years.
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Vietnam’s Vietstar Airlines receives AOC
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has granted an air operator’s certificate (AOC) for startup Vietstar Airlines.
Vietstar Airlines was incorporated in 2011 by state-owned companies and the Vietnamese air force, with a registered capital of VND400 billion ($17.6 million); the carrier has been providing ground-handling services, aircraft maintenance and pilot training ever since.
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Lion Air takes Asia Pacific’s first A330neo
Indonesia’s Lion Air Group took delivery of its first Airbus A330-900 on July 20, becoming the first carrier in Asia-Pacific to operate the type.
The aircraft is one of 10 A330-900s Lion Air will operate on lease from BOC Aviation, from an order made in August 2018.
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ANALYSIS: JetBlue lowers capacity forecast amid slower Airbus deliveries
JetBlue Airways is lowering its expectations for capacity growth because Airbus has said it will deliver no more than six A321neo aircraft to the airline during 2019 instead of the 13 aircraft the carrier originally expected.
JetBlue chief executive Robin Hayes says during an earnings call on 23 July that the airline is "very disappointed with the continued delays to our A321neo program" owing to customisation complexity around the Airbus Cabin Flex concept.
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Air NZ extends run of seasonal Denpasar services in 2020
Air New Zealand will start its seasonal Auckland-Denpasar flights in 2020 from 11 April, representing more than two additional months of operations compared to this year.
The Star Alliance carrier will fly up to six-times weekly on the route between 11 April and 24 October 2020 using Boeing 787-9s.
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ANALYSIS: NokScoot boss tweaks plans amid tough market
NokScoot has shelved plans to add narrowbodies to its fleet, as it eyes the imminent arrival of its sixth and seventh Boeing 777-200ERs.
The plan to acquire 737-800s was put on hold because doing so would have added to the complexity of operating a mixed fleet, says chief executive Yodchai Sudhidhanakul in an interview with FlightGlobal.
LinkAirports
Abu Dhabi’s new Midfield Terminal undergoes operational trials
Abu Dhabi International Airport’s AED10 billion ($2.7 billion) Midfield Terminal project is scheduled to open in the 2019 fourth quarter after several delays.
Abu Dhabi Airports conducted a full operational trial of the Midfield Terminal Complex (MTC) June 30 as a part of the ongoing operational readiness and airport transfer (ORAT) process.
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Heathrow calls for air passenger duty to be invested in biofuels
Heathrow Airport has recommended that targets be set for the use of sustainable biofuels and is urging the UK government to use air passenger duty for investment in such fuels.
The call came as the airport operator reported results for the first six months of the year. Revenue was up 4% at £1.46 billion ($1.79 billion), while EBITDA rose 1.5% to £900 million.
LinkMilitary
Bulgarian president vetoes F-16V purchase
Bulgaria's president has vetoed the country's planned $1.26 billion acquisition of eight Lockheed Martin F-16V fighters, citing a lack of agreement and clarity over the deal.
Issuing the veto on 23 July, President Rumen Radev said that for a purchase of this size it was necessary not only for it to be affordable, but also "to have a broad consensus and support".
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Jakarta still seeking concessions on K-FX/I-FX costs
Jakarta continues to press for concessions on the price of involvement in the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) K-FX/I-FX fighter programme.
A recent report by Indonesia's official Antara news portal quotes government minister Wiranto as suggesting that the next payments be not in cash, but potentially a contra deal involving Indonesia-produced defence equipment.
Link
Strained Russia, Ukraine ties slow Indian An-32 upgrades
The upgrade of Indian air force Antonov An−32 tactical transports is well behind schedule and is only likely to be completed by 2025 - an eight year delay from the original plan.
Indian defence minister Shripad Nayak has informed parliament that 55 aircraft have so far been upgraded to the An-32RE (re-equipped) standard.
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