NEWSChina Halts 10 More Airbus Orders - SourcesChina has suspended the purchase of 10 more Airbus jets, two people familiar with the matter said on Thursday, raising the stakes in a potentially damaging trade row over European Union airline emissions charges.
LinkKingfisher Recovery Plan "In 2-3 Days"
India's cash-strapped Kingfisher Airlines will have a full recovery plan in place in 2-3 days that will address its financial issues and restore dozens of flights, its chairman said on Thursday.
LinkAir Canada Pilots To Challenge Anti-Strike Bill
The union representing 3,000 pilots at Air Canada said on Thursday it will launch a legal challenge to Canadian government legislation preventing a strike or lockout at the airline.
LinkCourt Sets High Bar For Frankfurt Night FlightsA German court due to make a landmark ruling on a night flight ban at Frankfurt Airport said residents' need of a few hours of quiet during the night near Germany's busiest hub deserved "special consideration".
LinkBahrain Ministers Want Aid For Gulf Air
Two Bahraini government ministers have called on the kingdom's government to inject BHD664 million dinar (USD$1.76 billion) into struggling national carrier Gulf Air to help it overcome challenges.
LinkFinnish Govt Forces Overhaul Of Finnair Board
Finland's government is forcing the country's flag carrier Finnair to overhaul its board after a scandal over executives' benefits, a minister said on Thursday.
LinkLufthansa Group: Taxes, high fuel prices burden 2011 results
Lufthansa’s (LH) operating profit dropped by almost 20% to €820 million ($1.07 billion) in 2011 and the airline expects to see profit shrink to a mid-three-digit million-euro figure this year. The group blamed aviation taxes and high fuel prices for the profit decline.
LinkUTC announces spin-off plan for Pratt & Whitney RocketdyneUnited Technologies will spin-off Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and the non-aerospace businesses of Hamilton Sundstrand to partly finance a $16.5 billion acquisition of Goodrich Corp. The spin-offs, including the targeted sale of Clipper Windpower, are expected to generate $3 billion, the Hartford, Connecticut-based parent of Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky and Hamilton Sundstrand says.
"We are taking the opportunity re-evaluate our porfolio as we enter a transformational stage," says Louis Chenevert, United Technologies chairman and chief executive.
LinkJetBlue Airways has "no interest" in Irish carrier, it says
JetBlue Airways rebuts the report that it may buy the stake that the Irish government holds in Aer Lingus. "We have no interest or intention in purchasing the Irish government's stake in Aer Lingus," JetBlue said in a statement. The Irish Times reported that JetBlue had been in talks with Aer Lingus.
LinkSpirit urges Venezuela to end delay on flights to country
Spirit Airlines is urging Venezuela to allow flights by the low-cost carrier to Caracas. U.S. authorities granted Spirit the right to fly to Caracas in 2006, but Venezuela has not allowed the carrier to enter the country. Venezuelan carrier Sundance Air Venezuela has applied to begin service to the U.S.
LinkAMR will submit American Eagle plans to unions next week
AMR Corp., the parent company of American Airlines, says it will submit plans to American Eagle unions for the regional carrier next week. AMR filed for bankruptcy on Nov. 29, and this year stopped flying some ATR turboprops for American Eagle.
LinkFAA will require retraining for air-traffic controllersThe Federal Aviation Administration says that all air-traffic controllers will be required to undergo retraining periodically. Agency officials said the change in policy represents a "cultural change in air-traffic safety." Separately, the FAA reported a slight rise in controller errors. The number of errors reported may rise again this year as a result of a new FAA data-collection process that expands "the area in which traffic is being monitored."
LinkAustrian, crew union battle over cost-cutting plan
Loss-making Austrian Airlines (OS) and its crew union have failed to reach an agreement on plans to reduce labor costs as part of its $220 million restructuring program announced in January.
“Despite intense but fair negotiations, it has proved impossible as yet to reach an agreement over the Modernization of Collective Agreements work package,” Austrian CEO Jaan Albrecht said during a press conference in Vienna.
LinkGlobal cargo industry could face turbulence, experts sayAir cargo operators may need to brace for tough times ahead, experts say. "The global cargo industry is under pressure as volumes, load factor and net yield are all in decline," said Gert-Jan Jansen, executive director of Cargo Advisory for Seabury Aviation and Aerospace.
LinkBoeing Disputes India Report of $500 Million 787 PaymentA Boeing Co. (BA) executive disputed the Indian government’s statement that the planemaker agreed to pay state-owned Air India Ltd. $500 million in compensation because of delays delivering 27 composite-plastic Dreamliners. “I think if we settled for $500 million, somebody would have told me,” Jim Albaugh, president of Boeing’s commercial aircraft unit, said today at the JPMorgan Chase & Co. aviation, transportation and defense conference in New York. “We don’t comment on deals that we’ve done, but I can tell you that we’re not writing anybody a check for $500 million.”
LinkAircraft Makers Point To Concerns At India Air ShowSome of the world's biggest aircraft makers gathering at an air show in India Wednesday expressed concern about the near-term outlook for India's aviation market, citing mounting losses and stiff competition. Airbus Executive Vice President for Global Sales and Marketing Kiran Rao told Dow Jones Newswires that things look pretty grim at the moment.
LinkICAO is studying "market-based measures" for aviation emissionsThe International Civil Aviation Organization, a United Nations body, is studying "market-based measures" for carbon emissions in aviation. The ICAO plans to meet again in June and will present alternatives to the European Union's emissions-trading scheme by the end of 2012.
LinkAlaska Air hedged 50% of jet fuel needs for 2012, filing shows
Alaska Air Group Inc. hedged 50 percent of its jet fuel needs for this year, according to a company filing. The parent company of Alaska Airlines has cover at the equivalent of $100 a barrel of crude for this year, according to a March 13 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission posted on its website. Hedging allows airlines to agree on prices for future fuel needs and is intended to help guard against cost fluctuations.
LinkColumn: Some travelers are pleased with PreCheckMany travelers enrolled in the Transportation Security Administration's PreCheck program are pleased with the program, writes Scott McCartney. "It's a completely different experience than what you're used to," said frequent flier Matt Stegmeir. "It's really a jarring contrast. It reminds you just how much of a hassle the security procedures in place really are," he said. McCartney also notes that travelers who participate in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Global Entry program can enroll in PreCheck, which has resulted in a sharp increase in Global Entry applications.
LinkSunExpress to lease 737-800 fleet
SunExpress, the Antalya-based joint venture between Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines, will lease its fleet of 28 Boeing 737-800s to make better use of over-capacity during the low-demand European winter season, it said in an statement. Several aircraft could be wet- or dry-leased for traffic outside Europe, especially to the Southern Hemisphere, to cover the carrier’s strong seasonal difference.
LinkTSA tries letting older fliers keep shoes on at airportsAirline passengers who are at least 75 years old will be able to keep their shoes and light jackets on at security checkpoints at four airports starting Monday, the Transportation Security Administration said Wednesday.
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