NewsCommercial
Boeing 737 pickle fork inspections expanded after finding new issue
Ongoing inspections of older Boeing 737 Next Generation (NG) structural parts have turned up cracks outside the original area targeted, prompting Boeing and the FAA to expand the checks. Checks of frame fittings and failsafe straps, or pickle forks, turned up cracks in four aircraft near fasteners that were not covered in the original inspection order issued Oct 3.
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Airbus secures BelugaXL certification from EASA
Airbus's BelugaXL outsize freighter has secured certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, 16 months after the aircraft's maiden flight.
The aircraft, formally known as the A330-743L, is set to replace the A300-600ST fleet used by the airframer's logistics operation to transport sections for assembly.
LinkAirlines
Alitalia still faces uncertain future; Delta reaffirms 10% stake plan
Delta Air Lines has reiterated that it is considering taking a 10% stake in Alitalia as part of its relaunch, as the latest deadline for a business plan for the Italian airline approaches amidst ongoing uncertainty about the makeup of its rescue consortium.
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Volotea predicts continued growth in 2020
Volotea—the Barcelona-based carrier that specializes in linking secondary and tertiary European cities—expects to carry between 8.5 to 9 million passengers in 2020, up from the estimated 7.7 million anticipated this year, the company said Nov. 12.
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Wizz Air net profit up 26% for 1H FY2020 as revenue grows
LCC Wizz Air continues to build on its position in Central and Eastern Europe, reporting record first-half profit for FY2020.
The Budapest-based airline posted a net profit of €371.5 million ($408.8 million) for the period ended Sept. 30, up 26.2% from €294.3 million in the year-ago timeframe. Revenue rose 21.7% to €1.67 billion.
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Finnair sets sustainability targets; to decide on narrowbody fleet
Finnair said sustainability will be a key driver for its 2020-2025 strategy period. This includes a long-awaited decision for a new narrowbody fleet, which will be the most significant contributor to the airline’s sustainability agenda.
Finnair, which made the announcement Nov. 12 at its Capital Markets Day, will unveil a detailed sustainability plan during the 2020 first quarter, addressing economic, social and environmental responsibility.
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Greece’s Astra Airlines cancels flights
Greek regional Astra Airlines has not operated any flights since Nov. 9, as a result of financial problems.
“The company would like to inform the public that with regards to the recently canceled flights, requests for compensation for passengers will be examined and answered by Nov. 15.
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Hawaiian-JAL JV expands scope to include Russia and India
Hawaiian Airlines and Japan Air Lines have expanded the geographic scope of their proposed joint venture to include numerous additional connections across Asia and the Pacific, as well as current and future service to India and Russia, in an attempt to show additional public benefits from a project they say deserves US antitrust immunity (ATI).
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Wizz fleet plan shows impact of A321neo delays
Wizz Air is set to receive only half the Airbus A321neos it had planned to introduce in its 2020-21 financial year, the budget carrier has revealed in its latest fleet plan.
The airline had been due to take 19 A321neos over the period, according to the figures given at its first-quarter briefing in July.
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Austrian to start Boston flights
Austrian Airlines will launch flights to Boston on 29 March.
The Lufthansa Group and Star Alliance carrier says it will initially serve the city four times a week from its Vienna base, but the weekly frequency will rise by two from mid-April.
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Qatar seals Leap deal for A321neos after dropping P&W
Qatar Airways has dropped Pratt & Whitney from its order for Airbus A320neo-family jets, switching instead to the rival CFM International Leap-1A.
The Middle Eastern carrier had originally been scheduled as the launch operator for the A320neo family, having ordered 50.
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Armenia's Taron-Avia ceases operations
Armenia's civil aviation regulator has cancelled the air operator's certificate of local carrier Taron-Avia.
The country's civil aviation committee says it carried out inspections on the operator and "identified defects".
LinkAirports
Washington D.C. airports to benefit from navigation technology
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has approved a bid to provide wayfinding technology to Washington Dulles International (IAD) and Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA). London-based indoor navigation company, Pointr, have been awarded the six-figure contract to provide indoor location GPS for the two airports.
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Aruba Airport awards Gateway 2030 expansion contract
Aruba Airport Authority (AAA) have announced that the contract management and technical supervision services for the Aruba Airport Gateway 2030 project have been awarded to Arcadis, the Amsterdam-based design and consultancy organisation.
The Queen Beatrix International Airport’s (Aruba Airport) Gateway 2030 project plans to redevelop and expand the airport. It is one of the leading airports in the Caribbean, home to 29 different airlines and welcoming over 2.5 millions passengers yearly.
LinkMilitary
Airbus to advance automatic tanker trial for customer
Further flight testing of a developmental automatic boom refuelling capability for the A330 multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) will be performed for an undisclosed customer next year, Airbus Defence & Space has disclosed.
Trials work on the company’s A3R automatic air-to-air refuelling technology conducted since 2017 has included its A310 testbed making automatic in-flight contacts with Lockheed Martin F-16s and an A330 MRTT (pictured).
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Leonardo Helicopters upbeat on AW159 sales prospects
Leonardo Helicopters is maintaining its belief in the AW159 Wildcat, despite a barren sales period that has seen its backlog for the platform dwindle to zero.
This week, the manufacturer celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Wildcat’s 12 November 2009 first flight. However, with deliveries to the UK and export customers exhausted, there are no new examples of the medium-class helicopter in production.
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Tokyo orders additional JSMs for F-35s
Tokyo has placed a follow-on order with Norwegian firm Kongsberg for Joint Strike Missiles to equip its Lockheed Martin F-35s.
The follow-on contract is valued at NKr450 million ($49 million), according to Kongsberg. It does not disclose the number of weapons involved, or the delivery timeframe.
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Aviation Quote
Short of committing murder, negative publicity sells more seats than positive publicity.
- Michael O’Leary, Ryanair CEO, speaking to Marketing Magazine, 2 August 2013
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Editor's Choice
Trivia
WORLD AIRLINES
1. What is the oldest airline still operating under its original name?
KLM
Northwest Airlines
Deutsche Lufthansa
Qantas
2. What airline carried the most passengers in 2005?
British Airways
American Airlines
United Airlines
Japan Airlines
3. Which of these low-cost airlines is not based in India?
Air Blue
Go Air
SpiceJet
Paramount Airways
4. What colour is associated with EasyJet?
Dark Blue
Purple
Orange
Maroon
5. Which of these is not an international airline?
Continental Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines
Delta Air Lines
6. Which of these European Airlines is not operating?
SABENA
Air Dolomiti
Eurowings
Luxair
7. Which of these is a French airline?
GB Airways
Air Scotland
Brit Air
Aurigny Air Services
8. MALEV was the flag-carrier of what country?
Czech Republic
Lithuania
Iceland
Hungary
9. Which of these is not a Japanese Airline?
Skymark Airlines
All Nippon Airways
Asiana Airlines
Hokkaido International Airlines
10. Which of these is a Mexican Airline?
Aero California
Mesaba Airlines
Frontier Airlines
Chautauqua Airlines
