NewsBoeing rolls out first 787-9 in new livery 
Boeing rolled out the first 787-9 aircraft bearing the new Boeing Commercial Airplanes livery on 27 July. The new livery retains many of the features found on 787-8s, adding a prominent number to the tail to help distinguish models within the same product family, says Boeing. The refreshed look began with the 747-8s and is also shown on pictures of the 737 Max.
LinkA350 cabin simulator performs first virtual passenger flight Airbus has completed an initial five-hour simulated flight using its A350 cabin demonstrator, Cabin Zero, which is located in Hamburg. Two pilots and eight flight attendants participated in the simulation along with 129 passengers. Airbus says they treated the virtual flight identically to a real service, from boarding to disembarkation. Cabin Zero is designed to test interior systems and equipment in near-reality conditions, in order to ensure a sufficient maturity level ahead of service entry.
LinkTUI to fit scimitar wing-tips on 737-800s 
Tour operator TUI Travel is to fit the new split-scimitar wing-tip to its Boeing 737-800s, becoming the first company in Europe to use them. The wing-tips, which incorporate a new cap and a ventral strake, have been developed by Aviation Partners Boeing as an improvement on its standard blended winglet. United Airlines has already agreed to take the new wing-tips for its 737s.
LinkScimitar Thread On STC UA AcftQatar Airways Grounds Another Boeing 787Qatar Airways said on Friday it had taken one of its Boeing 787 Dreamliners out of service following what it described as a "minor" technical issue, as pressure mounted on Boeing over possible new electrical problems with the advanced jet. The airline and Boeing declined to give further details but industry sources said they were treating seriously reports that the aircraft had been grounded for days after smoke was seen near an electrical panel. The 787 has suffered a spate of mishaps in recent weeks, including a spontaneous fire on an Ethiopian Airlines-operated 787 that broke out while the plane was parked at a remote stand at London's Heathrow airport July 12.
LinkBoeing calls for inspections of ELTs on up to 1200 aircraft Boeing has asked airlines around the world to inspect Honeywell emergency locator transmitters (ELTs) fitted on over 1000 aircraft ahead of possible action by airworthiness authorities to address a potential fire risk in the beacons. Boeing says that it is asking "specific operators" of Boeing 717s, 737NGs, 747-400s, 767s and 777s to inspect aircraft fitted with Honeywell ELTs and gather data to support potential regulatory action by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). "Up to 1,200 aircraft have been fitted with the devices, but we are asking that airlines inspect as many as possible and report back within 10 days to help regulators decide what, if any, action to take," says a Boeing spokesman.
LinkRepublic In Preliminary Deal To Sell FrontierRepublic Airways said it has reached a non-binding deal to sell its Frontier unit, sparking a rise in its shares. Chief executive Bryan Bedford said the terms require certain conditions to be met to reach a binding agreement and complete the potential sale. Republic did not identify the buyer but referred to it as a third party. "If a binding sales agreement is reached... we currently would expect such a closing to occur late in the third quarter," Bedford said during an earnings conference call.
LinkLOT Still Seeking 787 Damages From BoeingPoland's flag carrier LOT said it will continue to pursue hefty damages from Boeing over the grounding of its 787 Dreamliners, which the airline said hurt its efforts to restructure its ailing business. "We are demanding from Boeing concrete sums that we have been able to calculate," said LOT chief executive Sebastian Mikosz. "Unfortunately, it's not possible to estimate all the losses to our image related to the loss of credibility among some of our customers."
LinkUnited's Profit Rises On Lower CostsUnited Continental on Thursday posted a higher-than-expected quarterly profit as costs at the airline fell and it raised airfares. United said second-quarter revenue rose 0.6 percent to USD$10 billion, the highest ever for that period. The average airfare rose 3.5 percent to USD$289.46. United has been working to win back customers who turned to rivals after technology problems hurt customer service last year. The company made a number of changes to integrate as one carrier following the 2010 merger of United and Continental, including converting to a new computer reservation system.
LinkEtihad And JAT To Sign Partnership DealEtihad Airways will a sign a strategic partnership deal with Serbian flag carrier JAT Airways on August 1, a Serbian government source said on Friday. Neither airline would reveal details of the deal on Friday, but after signing a preliminary agreement last month on a possible equity investment Etihad chief executive James Hogan said the airlines would discuss "ways to further integrate their networks and help JAT Airways achieve efficiency, build revenue and reduce costs."
LinkU.S. airline industry reports healthy results in Q2 The U.S. airline industry reported strong results for the second quarter, in part because more carriers are focused on serving routes that generate revenue and charging for optional service offerings. "Those are things that are new, that didn't exist five years ago," said Jonathan Kletzel, national airlines leader for PwC, referring to ancillary services. "And those are going to help contribute to the health of the industry." He also said, "It's definitely healthier than it has been."
LinkAMR, US Airways meet with antitrust regulators AMR Corp., the parent company of American Airlines, and US Airways are meeting with U.S. antitrust regulators about their proposed merger. According to a source, it is possible the merged carrier may provide concessions to allay antitrust concerns and win approvals. The airlines have said they anticipate closing the deal in the third quarter.
Link2013 sees notable advances in aviation Advances in aviation this year include the introduction of fiber-optic sensors in batteries to precisely find and correct developing problems, Popular Science reports. Other notable developments include RFID tags on airline cabin safety equipment to greatly reduce inspection times, and carbon fiber airframes such as that of the Boeing 787.
LinkBoeing to increase production of 787 Dreamliner in Wash. Boeing plans to ramp up production of its 787 Dreamliner at its facility in Washington. "We remain highly confident in the future of the 787 program and the integrity, safety and performance of the airplane," said CEO Jim McNerney. Boeing projects the aircraft manufacturer will deliver 60 Dreamliners this year.
Link2.2M U.S. citizens travel to international destinations in April More than 2 million U.S. citizens traveled to international destinations in April. More than 17 million U.S. citizens traveled so far this year through April to both domestic and international destinations. Europe was the most popular international destination, followed by the Caribbean and Asia.
LinkEmbedded screens and Wi-Fi will both be IFE options, expert says In-flight entertainment options aboard some airlines now include Wi-Fi, but embedded seatback screens will still be an option. "A key point is that the Hollywood studios do not permit early-window content streaming through personal devices," said Mary Kirby, editor-in-chief of Airline Passenger Experience magazine. "Until it changes, wireless will not replace embedded IFE."
LinkAlaska Airlines to allow passengers' Ore. wine to fly free of charge Visitors to the State of Oregon can have a case of wine loaded free on Alaska Airlines as part of an agreement between the airline, the Oregon Wine Board and Travel Oregon. Starting September 10 and through November 20, domestic Alaska Airlines passengers can check one case of wine at no charge on their return flight out of four Oregon airports—Portland, Eugene, Medford and Redmond as well as Walla Walla, Wash. Passengers showing their Alaska Airlines boarding passes within a week of their arrival in Oregon will receive complementary tastings at any of more than 180 participating Oregon wineries. "Partnering with Alaska Airlines and Travel Oregon to help visitors to Oregon experience the beauty and bounty of our amazing wine country, is a no brainer," said Tom Danowski, executive director of OWB. "Increasingly, the customers of Oregon wine are the same customers being courted by Alaska Airlines and Travel Oregon."
LinkSan Francisco airport welcomes food trucks in designated area Food trucks pulled up to the curb for the first time at San Francisco International Airport on Thursday, greeted by enthusiastic passengers and airport workers. Airport officials asked Off The Grid, which organizes street food vendor locations around the city, to help provide the 30,000 people who work at the airport with more options for lunch. The inaugural event featured Boardwalk Eats and Curry Up Now parked outside the old Starbucks near the Terminal One departures area, the spot airport security has identified as a safe one for flying foodies.
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