NewsBoeing Completes 787 Battery RetrofitsBoeing has finished replacing the problematic lithium-ion batteries in its 787 Dreamliner jets, according to a report. The 787s that had already been built had to be retrofitted with the new design of battery which involved spacing out battery parts and encasing them in stainless steel so little oxygen can get to them, the Los Angeles Times reported. Randy Tinseth, Boeing’s vice president of marketing for commercial planes, revealed that the retrofits had been completed on a company blog post on Wednesday.
LinkNew UK Hub Should Mean Closing Heathrow - Report
London Heathrow Airport would need to close if the UK government decides to build a new estuary airport or to make Gatwick the UK's major hub, according to a transport think tank. The Independent Transport Commission (ITC) said that the UK needs a major capacity airport to compete with European continental rivals and that the closure of Heathrow would be needed to convince investors that carriers would move to the new hub. The Commission’s report, to which a number of bodies contributed, is to be submitted to the government’s Airport Commission, which is looking at the future of UK airports.
LinkRyanair must cut 'influential' Aer Lingus stake: inquiry UK regulators have provisionally concluded that budget carrier Ryanair must cut its stake in Aer Lingus owing to avoid adverse effects on competition. The Competition Commission says Ryanair's shareholding gives it the ability to "influence" the Irish flag-carrier's commercial policies and strategy. It is proposing various potential remedies, including the sale of "all or part" of Ryanair's 29.8% stake. Full sale would probably be an "effective" measure, the regulator says, but it is seeking views as to whether a partial sale - accompanied by other behavioural changes, depending on the size of the disposal - would be equally acceptable. But it is not proposing any solution which relies solely on behavioural measures.
LinkAeroflot receives Soviet-retro A320 
Aeroflot is taking delivery of a new Airbus A320 which features a retro livery, based on a former Soviet-era colour scheme. The aircraft, MSN5614, is being leased from Irish-based lessor AWAS. It is fitted with CFM International CFM56 powerplants and is the fifth of six A320s which the leasing company is delivering to the Russian flag-carrier during 2013-14.
LinkUS relaxes satellite export restrictionsThe US government will greatly relax export restrictions on satellites and most components, according to a Federal document published on 24 May. The change to what is known as the International Trafficking in Arms Regulations (ITAR) has long been sought by the US satellite industry, which has been largely restricted from selling satellites and components abroad, leading to a near-total loss of market share. The change moves satellites from the US Munitions List (USML), meant to restrict the sale of weapons and dual-use items, to the Commerce Controlled List for economically sensitive but non-militarised goods. Effectively, the move declares that satellites are not necessarily for military use.
LinkEADS Ups Airbus Orders Goal, Readies A350Airbus is on course to sell more than 800 aircraft in 2013, beating its initial order target by more than 100 units, the chief executive of parent EADS said on Wednesday. The comments point to potentially robust sales at the Paris Air Show next month, where Airbus will battle Boeing for a slice of demand driven by new fuel-saving models. "I am comfortably forecasting that Airbus gross orders will be well above 800 units in 2013," EADS chief executive Tom Enders told a shareholders' meeting in Amsterdam.
LinkAirbus lifts 2013 order forecast above 800 Airbus is set to secure gross orders for more than 800 aircraft this year, a revised forecast from parent company EADS shows. EADS had previously put the forecast at 700. But it says that, based on the current order intake of 514 by the end of April and "strong" commercial activity, it expects the gross figure to be "comfortably above" the 800 mark.
LinkAirbus Military readies winglet-equipped C295W for market Airbus Military has detailed a schedule to bring a winglet-equipped enhancement of its C295 medium transport into operational use from the fourth quarter of 2014. Dubbed the C295W, the future build standard will incorporate a strengthened wing to allow the installation of the metallic winglets, with the entire modification package to add 90kg (198lb) to the transport's weight, the company says.
LinkAA: Employees will make decision on union representationAs the International Brotherhood of Teamsters filed an application for election to represent mechanics at American Airlines, the carrier says the decision over union representation should be left to the mechanics. "Our people have the right to union representation and to choose which union represents them," said AA spokesman Paul Flaningan. He also said he hopes the mechanics "will examine the options and take the time to vote on the path they believe is best for them, their families, and the company."
LinkUnited Airlines opens dog kennel at Chicago O'HareUnited Airlines opened a dog kennel at Chicago O'Hare International Airport to care for traveling pets. The kennel features 28 enclosures, and dogs can be walked, groomed or bathed at the facility. The carrier also has kennels at its hubs in Newark, N.J., and Houston.
LinkPratt & Whitney engine designed for quiet powerPratt & Whitney is developing a jet engine that is 20 decibels quieter than previous engines. "This is the first time in commercial aviation that you can't blame the engine guys anymore," said Alan Epstein, Pratt's head of technology. Airlines have ordered around 3,500 of Pratt's PurePower geared turbofan engines.
LinkAvionics adapt to advances in consumer electronicsAvionics are being influenced by advances in consumer electronics such as touch screens and voice recognition. "We are increasingly being driven by expectations generated in the consumer electronics market than we are by internally developed concepts and ideas," said Kris Ganase, president of L-3 Aviation Products.
LinkU.S. signs Open Skies agreement with Saudi ArabiaThe United States and Saudi Arabia have inked an Open Skies agreement allowing unrestricted air travel between the two countries. The agreement will benefit "U.S. and Saudi Arabian businesses and travelers by expanding opportunities for air services and encouraging vigorous price competition by airlines, while preserving our commitments to aviation safety and security," the State Department said.
LinkTSA still debating change in carry-on policy, Pistole saysTransportation Security Administration chief John Pistole said he plans to proceed with changing the TSA's carry-on policy. "While our original intention was to make these changes effective at the end of April, we are still gathering input from key stakeholders and have delayed implementation until that process is complete," Pistole said.
LinkMore than half of passengers check luggage, survey saysMore than half of passengers check baggage some or all of the time, according to a survey by the GO Group and GO Airport Express. While 27% of travelers check baggage all the time, another 28% check baggage some of the time. Meanwhile, 19% of passengers said they always do carry-on.
LinkDelta to offer daily service to Quebec from NYC
Delta Air Lines will offer daily service between New York and Quebec, starting on June 8. The flights will take off twice a day between John F. Kennedy International Airport and Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport. Delta also will offer seasonal service between Detroit and Quebec from June through September.
LinkAllegiant pulling out of Gary-Chicago Airport in August
Gary-Chicago International Airport will again be without any airline passenger service starting in August, officials said Tuesday. The airport’s only commercial carrier, Allegiant Airlines, which operates two flights a week between Gary and Sanford, Fla., near Orlando, will cease service at Gary after its last scheduled flight on Aug. 10, the airline said. “We are always disappointed to end service in a community,’’ Allegiant spokeswoman Jessica Wheeler said. “The airport has been a great partner to us, but unfortunately, we were not seeing a strong demand in the market, and we have a responsibility to use our resources where they are most successful.’’ Six airlines – as varied as a restructured Pan Am Airways to Hooters Air – have attempted to create niches for themselves at Gary/Chicago since 1999. But the competition from nearby Midway Airport, which appeals to budget-conscious travelers, and O’Hare International Airport has made it a constant challenge for Gary-Chicago, which bills itself as “Chicago’s real third airport.’’
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