NewsFinnair to open service to second Tokyo airportOneworld alliance carrier Finnair is to open services to Tokyo Haneda, complementing operations to the Japanese capital's Narita airport. Finnair says the new operation will be daily, subject to slot availability, and will commence at the beginning of the summer 2020 season.
LinkXL Airways France liquidated after turbulent historyLast-ditch attempts to save XL Airways France have failed, after a commercial court declared the airline would be liquidated, ending a turbulent history for an airline which had undergone multiple ownership changes over the past 15 years. All flights by the Paris-based carrier, which had previously been suspended until 7 October, have been permanently cancelled.
LinkUkraine Air Alliance grounded after fatal An-12 crashUkrainian authorities have revoked the operating certificate of Ukraine Air Alliance, following a fatal landing accident involving an Antonov An-12 in Lviv. The state aviation administration says the order to "terminate" the certificate was effective from 5 October.
LinkDurian stink causes Rouge 767 emergency landingA peculiar odour permeating the cabin of an Air Canada Rouge Boeing 767-300ER forced the crew to make an emergency landing on the Montreal-Vancouver route. After takeoff, as the aircraft climbed to 7,000ft the crew detected a "strong odour," according to Canada's Transport Safety Board.
LinkFinal flights wrap up Thomas Cook repatriation programFinal flights for the Thomas Cook Group repatriation programme are due to land on 7 October, 14 days after the leisure firm collapsed. The last day of the program involved 24 flights transporting 4,800 passengers.
LinkJetsmart receives first A320neoChilean ultra-low-cost carrier JetSmart took delivery of its first Airbus A320neo, leased through SMBC Aviation Capital. The aircraft is powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1000G engines, which also has a long-term service agreement for engine maintenance.
LinkDelta calls for trade deal between the US and European UnionDelta Air Lines is calling on the US government and the European Union to negotiate a trade settlement to avoid tariffs that could raise the cost of its Airbus aircraft by 10%. The Atlanta-based airline is responding to tariffs on new aircraft from Europe, which the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced earlier this week. The USTR said on Wednesday it would impose billions of dollars of tariffs following a World Trade Organization (WTO) landmark decision.
LinkPeruvian Airlines suspends all flights and closes officesPeruvian Airlines has suspended all flights and closed offices until further notice due to a “lack of liquidity”, it says in a statement on its website on 4 October. Peru’s second-largest carrier posted a notice on Friday announcing the cancellation of all flights from Lima until further notice. The move comes after government authorities impounded the airline’s bank accounts earlier in the week.
LinkVienna airport expects LCC consolidationVienna International airport has seen a boom in low-cost carriers after the collapse of Air Berlin and its local unit Niki in 2017, but its chief operating officer expects that some form of consolidation will occur soon. The Austrian capital has become a hotbed of LCC competition, with the emergence of Ryanair's Lauda and IAG's Level. Wizz Air, meanwhile, has signalled that it intends to grow its Vienna base to15-20 aircraft within the next five years.
LinkAirAsia and AirAsia X proceed with claim against MAHBAirAsia and AirAsia X have filed a MYR480 million ($158 million) claim against a subsidiary of Malaysia Airports (MAHB) in the Kuala Lumpur High Court on 2 October, nine months after the sister carriers expressed their intention to pursue a claim. The airlines are claiming for losses and damages, caused by the subsidiary's "negligence in the management, operation, maintenance, and provision of airport services and facilities at KLIA2" terminal building.
LinkAlaska works to make flying accessible for everyoneAlaska employees are inspired by personal experiences to make air travel accessible and inclusive to all guests. The airline also partners with programs such as Wings for Autism and Ability to Fly, which allows travelers with cognitive and developmental disabilities and their families to simulate the experience of flying without leaving the airport. During October which is Disability Employment Awareness Month, events will be offered in Washington and Oregon. Alaska will also launch an app called Fly for All, designed to assist with the anxiety of air travel for first-time flyers, unaccompanied minors and individuals with disabilities.
LinkUnited launches recruitment perks for regional pilotsUnited Airlines is launching Aviate, a pilot recruitment program that provides financial perks and enables pilots at its regional airline partners to advance more quickly to United cockpits. The airline is also considering other measures that would help new pilots pay for training, such as loan forgiveness or guarantees, United's Bryan Quigley said.
LinkUS Navy F/A-18C Hornet makes final flightThe US Navy’s (USN) last F/A-18C Hornet made its final active-duty flight at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia on 2 October. The fighter aircraft, number 300, had been flying for decades, completing its first USN acceptance check flight 14 October, 1988, says the service. The service noted that Lieutenant Andrew Jalali, who piloted the Hornet for its final 1.5h flight, was also born in 1988.
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