NAS Daily 04 NOV 19

airtrainer 04 Nov 19, 05:50

News

Commercial

Spirit AeroSystems sees Bombardier deal as path to new markets
Spirit AeroSystems views its pending purchase of Bombardier's aerospace businesses as a means to acquire more Airbus work, expand its footprint into lower-cost regions and acquire high-tech, composite manufacturing assets.
The deal, announced 31 October, will also see Wichita-based Spirit reenter the business jet manufacturing sector – a segment in which Spirit has a history of struggle.
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Ameco obtains EASA approval for 747-8 D-checks
Chinese MRO firm Ameco will conduct the world’s first D-check on a passenger Boeing 747-8, after clinching approval from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
The company states it received the EASA approval in August this year, and will perform the first heavy maintenance checks on a Lufthansa 747-8.
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Airlines

Vietjet signs for 20 Airbus A321XLRs for international expansion
Vietnamese LCC Vietjet Air has inked a contract with Airbus for 20 A321XLRs, with the first aircraft expected to be delivered in 2023.
The deal comprises 15 firm orders for A321XLRs and conversion of five A321neos from its current orders. It also confirms a September report that the LCC placed an order for 15 A321XLRs as an undisclosed customer.
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AirAsia to deploy A330 on Singapore-Kuala Lumpur route
Seeing increased demand between Singapore-Kuala Lumpur (KUL), AirAsia Group plans to add two more daily flights, this time using the Airbus A330-300.
The widebody aircraft belongs to the LCC’s long-haul subsidiary AirAsia X, which will add 377 more seats per sector, an increase of 197 seats. Currently, all 9X-daily Singapore-KUL services are flown with the group’s A320, which seats 180 passengers.
Link

South African Airways takes first A350 for long-haul routes
South African Airways (SAA) has taken delivery of the first of four new Airbus A350-900s, which is expected to improve both its customer offering and commercial prospects.
The A350s will make up the new long-haul component of SAA’s fleet. They will replace services operated by the company’s increasingly uneconomic A340s.
Link

Austrian Airlines to cut costs, jobs as LCC competition intensifies
In the face of stiff competition from LCCs in Vienna, Austrian Airlines will undertake an aggressive cost-cutting effort in 2020 and could eliminate hundreds of jobs.
A source close to the airline’s management told ATW the carrier will aim to slash expenses by at least €60 million ($67 million). Vienna-based newspaper Die Presse reported the number could reach €100 million and include the loss of up to 500 jobs. The Lufthansa subsidiary has around 7,000 employees.
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Airbus 321neo delays force IAG to rethink network plans
International Airlines Group (IAG) has been forced to reconsider its network plans, potentially through to early 2021, because of delivery delays impacting the Airbus A321neo.
Airbus recently cut its 2019 delivery target by up to 30 aircraft, because of problems with the A320neo-family production ramp-up at its Hamburg final assembly lines. The problems largely relate to increased demand for the complex Airbus Cabin Flex layout on the A321neo and A321LR.
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Qantas grounds three 737NGs after cracks discovered
Qantas grounded three of its Boeing 737NGs after discovering hairline structural cracks in the aircraft during inspections. The US FAA issued an airworthiness directive Oct. 3 requiring inspections by 737NG operators. The directive came after cracks were found in left- and right-side outboard chords and failsafe straps on three 737-800s being converted to freighters.
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Icelandair secures additional 737 Max compensation
Icelandair Group has reached a second agreement with Boeing regarding partial compensation for the 737 Max suspension.
The company disclosed the agreement during a third-quarter financial results briefing.
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Airports

Hyderabad International Airport begins body scanner trials
In order to comply with a directive provided by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Hyderabad International Airport has begun body scanner trials. The three-month long trial will work on a voluntary basis for passengers at the Domestic Departures Terminal, ending in early January 2020.
The trial currently consists of only one scanner, placed at the Express Security Check Lane, located near Departure Gate 3 at the airport. Once the trials have been successfully completed in January 2020 and subsequent regulations have been approved, more body scanners will be fitted across the terminal for security checks.
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Manchester Airport to develop on-site education centre
Manchester Airport has announced plans to develop a new education centre on-site, offering schoolchildren the chance to discover more about their local airport, which is intended to launch in 2020.
The education centre, named AeroZone, is part of the airport’s £1 billion transformation project, and is an initiative of Manchester Airports Group’s ‘MAG Connect’ programme that aims to connect local communities with jobs within the aviation industry – children will learn about the range of work opportunities that aviation offers.
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Military

USA approves possible Croatian Black Hawk sale
Croatia is closer to the acquisition of a pair of Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters after the US State Department gave its blessing to the possible deal.
Still to be finalised, the purchase also includes nine GE Aviation T700 engines, communications and navigation equipment, and logistical support.
Link

Indonesia plans to buy two squadrons of F-16s, but also Su-35s
The Indonesian air force plans to buy two squadrons of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 72 Viper fighters, while also following through on its plan to purchase a squadron of Russian’s Sukhoi Su-35s.
Jakarta plans to make the formal request for the aircraft on 1 January 2020, Marshal Yuyu Sutisna, air force chief of staff, said to local news agency Antara on 28 October.
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Aviation Quote

As we got further and further away, it [the Earth] diminished in size. Finally it shrank to the size of a marble, the most beautiful you can imagine. That beautiful, warm, living object looked so fragile, so delicate, that if you touched it with a finger it would crumble and fall apart. Seeing this has to change a man.

- James B. Irwin, Apollo 15.