News
Air France-KLM In Talks For Alitalia: Report
Air France-KLM is in "advanced" talks to take control of Italy's Alitalia by the summer, Rome's Messaggero newspaper reported on Sunday without citing its sources. Alitalia is owned by CAI, a consortium of investors that bought the then-bankrupt airline in 2008. CAI is already partly owned by Air France-KLM. Alitalia's shareholders can exercise options to trade their shares when a lock-up period ends on January 12.
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American Entering Key Period In Restructuring
As American Airlines' board meets next week, expectations are high that it will give more concrete shape to the airline's plans to either merge with US Airways or stay independent. The directors of parent AMR plan to review a tie-up with its smaller rival against an alternative plan to exit bankruptcy as a standalone company, several people familiar with the matter said.
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American CEO: US Airways merger decision just weeks away
American Airlines chairman, president and CEO Tom Horton said a decision on whether to merge with US Airways is expected “within a matter of weeks.” In a letter to employees, Horton said he has been “personally involved in all deliberations” regarding whether Dallas/Fort Worth-based American should emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as a stand-alone entity or as part of a merged company with Phoenix-based US Airways. He noted this included working on the proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) on a merger framework approved last week by Allied Pilots Association (APA) leadership representing American’s 10,000 flight deck crew.
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US Airways Pilots Board Backs Deal With AMR Pilots
The board of the union representing US Airways pilots has unanimously backed a key proposal made by American Airlines pilots, a move that helps advance a potential merger of the two carriers. The US Airline Pilots Association said its board voted to recommend that its 5,000 members back the measure, which governs how the two unions would be integrated if the airlines were to combine.
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Pilot Arrested After Failing Alcohol Breath Test
An American Eagle pilot preparing for a flight to New York on Friday morning was arrested on board an aircraft at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport on suspicion of being under the influence of alcohol, an airport spokesman said. "The pilot was in the process of doing the pre-flight check and a witness had smelled alcohol on the pilot's breath," airport spokesman Patrick Hogan said.
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European Airlines Focus On Both Ends Of Market
Europe's major airlines are investing in first-class cabins, outdoing each other to create ambiance akin to five-star hotels and boosting their image as premium carriers while expanding their cheap fare units to combat no-frills rivals. While most US airlines have already dumped First Class, those in Europe are navigating through the economic slump by adopting a dual brand strategy - one appealing to the frugal mood and another that screams glamour and luxury.
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AeroSvit files for bankruptcy
Ukraine’s AeroSvit has filed for bankruptcy, but is continuing to operate, according to an airline statement. “AeroSvit Airlines has filed a petition with the to initiate bankruptcy proceedings for the purpose of commencing reorganization procedure, restoring solvency and ensuring fulfillment [sic] of commitments to its creditors in full,” the airline said. The petition was filed Dec. 29, but Aerosvit said “as of today the airline is not bankrupt.” It added that it will fulfill its current contractor commitments.
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Jet Airways in investment talks with Etihad
Jet Airways has confirmed it is in discussions with Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways to take a stake in the Indian carrier. In a regulatory filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange, Jet said talks “regarding a potential investment” by Etihad had begun following a recent ruling allowing foreign airlines to buy up to 49% equity in Indian carriers.
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Iberia pilots open negotiations
Iberia pilots have entered discussions with the company over radical cost-cutting and productivity proposals. The pilots are the last employee group to negotiate with the airline to rescue it from its dire financial state. Parent company International Airlines Group (IAG) reported in November that Iberia made a €262 million ($342 million) operating loss for the first nine months of the year and the carrier was still losing around €1million a day, Iberia spokesman Santiago de Juan said.
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Other News
JATAirways is planning a fleet renewal. According to several Serbian media reports, the Serbian government announced a memorandum of understanding to lease four Airbus A319s from International Lease Finance Corp. It is also looking to lease four ATR 72-600s. It is expected to order four A320s in February for deliveries beginning in 2015. JAT operates 10 Boeing 737-300s. It also operates four ATR 72-201s.
United Airlines has debuted the Boeing 787 on its Los Angeles-Tokyo Narita route. The 219-seat 787 will replace a three-class, 269-seat 777-200. The Chicago-based carrier took delivery of its first 787 in September and launched its first domestic 787 service in November between Houston and Chicago. It has ordered 50 Dreamliners.
Felix Airways has taken delivery of two MA600 freighters, making the Yemeni carrier the launch customer for the cargo variant of the MA60 60-seat turboprop. The aircraft will be used to export seafood and agricultural products from Yemen. The MA600F, manufactured by China’s Xi’an Aircraft Industrial Corp., launched its first flight in October. The two MA600Fs are part of a deal for six of the type that are being acquired by Yemen’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications and will be the carrier’s first dedicated freighters. The destination of the other four aircraft is not yet known. Felix Airways is part-owned by the Yemeni government.
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has established new rules to help speed the deployment of Internet services onboard aircraft. Since 2001, FCC has authorized companies—on an ad hoc basis—to operate earth stations aboard aircraft (ESAA) communicating with fixed-satellite service (FSS) geostationary-orbit space stations by means of antennas mounted on the exterior of aircraft. Theauthorized companies are Panasonic Avionics Corp., Row 44, ViaSat, ARINC Inc. and Boeing. Gogo filed an application June 19. With the rulemaking, FCC has now adopted a “report and order,” which it said formalizes ESAA as a licensed application in the fixed satellite service and establishes a regulatory framework for processing applications. It also ensures other radio service operations are protected from interference.
EasyJet will launch 3X-weekly London Southend-Newquay service June 20.
Vueling will launch Copenhagen service to Florence (4X-weekly, March 23, Airbus A319) and Alicante (3X-weekly, June 18, Airbus A320).
City Airways will launch 12X-weekly Brighton City-Paris Pontoise service March 6. Flights will be operated by Czech charter carrier Van Air Europe using LET-410 UVP-E 19-seater aircraft.
South African Airways signed a codeshare agreement with Air Canada. South African Airways will place its code on Air Canada-operated flights to London from Vancouver and Toronto and from Toronto to New York JFK (including flights operated by Air Canada Express). Air Canada will place its code on South African Airways-operated services to Johannesburg from London, New York and Cape Town.
Aviation Quote
Regards engine power: Lots is good, more is better, and too much is just enough.
Anonymous
On This Date
---In 1642...Galileo Galilei, Italian physicist/astronomer, dies at age 77.
---In 1760…Comet C/1760 A1 (Great comet) approaches within 0.0682 AUs of Earth.
---In 1785... The English Channel is crossed for the first time by air as Jean-Pierre Blanchard and John Jeffries fly their hydrogen balloon from Dover, England to a forest near Calais, France.
---In 1910…French aviator Hubert Latham becomes the first to fly above 1,000 meters.
---In 1931…Australian aviator Guy Menzies made the first solo nonstop flight from Australia to New Zealand in 11 hours and 45 minutes. His flight ended in a crash landing, however, from which he survived.
---In 1963… Aeroflot launches its service from Moscow to Havana (Cuba), using Tu-114 turboprop aircraft.
---In 1963…First flight of the Short Skyvan.
---In 1966…The SR-71 Blackbird enters operational service with the US Air Force.
---In 1972…An Iberia Sud Aviation SE210 Caravelle (registered EC-ATV) crashed while on approach in Sierra de Atalayasa, Spain, killing all 104 aboard. The air crew was blamed for the crashed, since they did not abort landing after entering clouds on a visual approach to Ibiza Airport.
---In 1973... Cameron Balloons Ltd. of Bristol, England, flies for the first time the world’s only hot-air airship (G-BAMK) from Wantage, Berkshire.
---In 1973…Launch of Luna 21 carrying the Lunokhod 2 rover, the second robotic lunar rover. Made lunar landing with an automated Lunokhod 2 rover.
---In 1980... In San Francisco, a single-engined Mooney 231 sets a nonstop coast-to coast record in 8 hours 4 minutes using only 105 gallons of fuel.
---In 1981... A Boeing 747 of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), China’s state airline, arrives at JFK Airport, N.Y., from Beijing via Shanghai and San Francisco; this is the first scheduled flight between these two countries since 1949 and inaugurates a weekly CAAC service.
---In 1987… French Air Force jets attack the Libyan Air Force base in Ouadi Doum to avenge a raid by Libya against the French military three days before.
---In 1994…Russian manned space craft TM-18, launches into orbit.
Daily Video
Editor’s Choice
Humor
Tower Conversation
Pilot: "Ground, XY-line 195, requesting start-up."
Tower: "Sorry, XY-line 195, we don't have your flight plan. What is your destination ?"
Pilot: "To Leipzig, like every Monday."
Tower: "But today is Tuesday!"
Pilot: "WHAT? But Tuesday we are off !"
Trivia
American Airlines South American Destinations
1. OGIASTAN
2. SRCAAAC
3. BTOAGO
4. OEETVDNOIM
5. AYIUUQGAL
6. ILAM
7. UQOTI
8. IDEMLLNE
9. NIUOCSNA
10. FECRIE
miamiair wrote:[United Airlines has debuted the Boeing 787 on its Los Angeles-Tokyo Narita route. The 219-seat 787 will replace a three-class, 269-seat 777-200. The Chicago-based carrier took delivery of its first 787 in September and launched its first domestic 787 service in November between Houston and Chicago. It has ordered 50 Dreamliners.
