NewsLufthansa Signals Major Wide-Body Jet OrderLufthansa signaled its second major aircraft order in six months on Wednesday, saying its supervisory board had backed a long-haul fleet plan that industry watchers expect to benefit Airbus and Boeing. The German airline group said it would hold a news conference to outline the multi-billion dollar investment at 11 am local time in Frankfurt on Thursday. Lufthansa is in the middle of a deep revamp that includes 3,500 job cuts, while investing in modern aircraft to reduce its fuel bill and catch up with Middle East rivals particularly on the highly fought over routes between Europe and Asia. On Friday, two people familiar with the matter said Lufthansa was putting the finishing touches to a deal worth well over USD$10 billion at list prices to be split between Airbus and Boeing. The purchase of dozens of aircraft will include the first provisional order for a revamped version of Boeing's most popular big jet, the 777X, the people said.
LinkVolaris Shares Rise On Market DebutShares of Mexican airline Volaris surged more than 16 percent on their debut in Mexico and New York on Wednesday, as investors bet the low-cost carrier would profit from Mexico's expanding middle class. The successful Volaris launch - its offer was three times over-subscribed - comes amid a record year for Mexico's equity capital market. Volaris' US-listed shares, which priced at USD$12 on Tuesday, closed up 16.75 percent at USD$14.01. The Mexican-listed shares were up 15.4 percent at 17.90 pesos.
LinkKenya Secures USD$650 Mln. For Airport ExpansionKenya's airport authority has received full funding offers from three banks to build a new terminal and second runway at its main Jomo Kenyatta airport, hit by a massive fire last month, the transport minister said on Wednesday. The USD$653 million plan to expand the airport, a regional gateway for passengers and cargo, are not new but the authorities have come under pressure to speed up the expansion after the blaze destroyed the arrivals terminal. The new terminal and runway will provide a further capacity of 40 million passengers, transport secretary Michael Kamau said, seen by government as necessary to cope with the anticipated boost to the economy the expected exploitation of oil reserves will bring.
LinkThomas Cook Restarts Egypt Trips From GermanyTour operator Thomas Cook Germany will restart trips to Egypt from the end of September, just ahead of the peak winter sun season, it said on Wednesday. Many travel firms halted trips to the country after violence broke out in July and August and governments advised tourists to stay away, hurting a vital part of Egypt's economy. Germany has not altered its travel recommendation for Egypt, which advises tourists against going to the resorts but stops short of a full travel warning, as the French government has put in place.
LinkAmerican and US Airways unions meet with DOJ Unions representing the majority of employees at American Airlines and US Airways met with representatives of the US Department of Justice (DOJ) today, lobbying in favour of the deal. Union leaders from Allied Pilots Association (APA), Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), Transport Workers Union and US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA) met with Bill Baer, assistant attorney general for the antitrust division at the DOJ, and David Gelfand, deputy assistant attorney general for litigation in the agency’s antitrust division, says Laura Glading, president of APFA, during an employee rally at the US Capitol in Washington DC today.
LinkAir France tells staff 2,800 more job cuts needed Air France has confirmed that it is seeking a further 2,800 voluntary redundancies among its staff as part of the latest measures in its Transform 2015 restructuring program. In a meeting with the airline’s central works committee today, Air France’s management put a figure on the redundancies that Air France-KLM chief executive Alexandre de Juniac had said in July will be needed in order to ensure the sustainability of the business. Meetings with Air France's unions over the cuts are ongoing. In addition, Air France says it will continue a policy of wage moderation in 2014.
LinkSingapore's F-15SGs achieve final operational capability Singapore’s Boeing F-15SG fighter aircraft have achieved full operational capability (FOC) three and a half years after the first deliveries. "The RSAF's F-15SGs have been rigorously tested and proven superior in air defence and strike capabilities, and integrated with other air platforms within the RSAF, which together are able to respond to a spectrum of threats to defend and dominate our skies,” defence minister Ng Eng Hen said during a ceremony to mark the occasion.
LinkBoeing to cease C-17 production in 2015Boeing will shutter the production line for its C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlifter in 2015, the company announced on 18 September. “Despite strong international interest we did not receive sufficient orders to continue to protect the C-17 production line beyond 2015,” says Nan Bouchard, Boeing vice-president and C-17 program manager. Thus far, the company has delivered 223 C-17s to the US Air Force and 34 additional airframes to international customers.
LinkIsrael lifts grounding on F-16 and F-15 fleetsIsrael has resumed operations with its Lockheed Martin F-16I and F-15I combat aircraft, which have been grounded since an accident involving the F-16I on 7 July. The F-16I Sufa was on a training flight when it crashed in the Mediterranean Sea, some 27nm (50km) off the coast of the Gaza Strip. Its two crew ejected safely and were subsequently rescued.
LinkOrbital Sciences launches first Cygnus capsule to ISSOrbital Sciences has successfully launched the first Cygnus cargo capsule into low Earth orbit (LEO). Initial data indicates that the spacecraft has successfully reached orbit, where it will undergo a series of tests before docking with the International Space Station (ISS). The launch from Wallops Island, Virginia, is the first launch of the Cygnus capsule, and the second for its Antares launch vehicle. Cygnus will spend four days in space before docking with the ISS, conducting 10 equipment demonstrations to assure NASA of the spacecraft’s safety. The capsule could stay on orbit for a month or more awaiting a docking opportunity if necessary, running its systems on battery and keeping station with thrusters. After docking and unloading, the vehicle will be sent to burn up during atmospheric re-entry.
LinkEmployees travel to D.C. to support AA-US Airways mergerEmployees from American Airlines and US Airways are visiting Washington, D.C., to show support for the proposed merger between the two carriers. "I thought it would be a good opportunity to volunteer in support of the merger and let Washington know, let our representatives know, that we're very interested in it and behind it," said Kimberly Payne, an American Airlines customer service manager.
LinkNegotiations extended for sale of Frontier AirlinesRepublic Airways Holdings announced an extension of negotiations until Sept. 30 with an unnamed potential buyer for Frontier Airlines. "Sitting here today, we have made substantial progress towards reaching a definitive agreement with the buyer, and while we can make no assurances, we believe providing the additional time will allow for the process to be completed," said Bryan Bedford, chairman and CEO of Republic.
LinkDelta invests in in-flight entertainmentMike Henny, director of customer experience for Delta Air Lines, says the carrier will continue to invest in in-flight entertainment options that customers want. "When you are sitting on a plane for several hours at a time, being able to see the latest movies that were in a theater several weeks ago is a big deal. In the grand scheme of things that's something we do view as worthwhile," said Henny.
LinkReport: Customs lines reach 5 hours at busiest U.S. airportsSome international travelers are waiting in lines for U.S. Customs for almost five hours, according to a report by the U.S. Travel Association. "Far too many of these valued customers spent the first hours of their trip waiting in line at U.S. air ports of entry," said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the association.
LinkAirline pilots need to retain manual flying skills, experts say In February 2009, a Continental Connection flight crashed outside Buffalo, N.Y., killing 50 people. Four months later, an Air France jet crashed into the Atlantic, killing all 228 on board. Investigators say in both disasters, the pilots were relying on computers — automation — to fly the plane, and became confused when something went wrong. There is no question that automation has made flying safer. Today the autopilot is so advanced, as you're sitting comfortably in your seat, computers are often flying the plane — even landing it, right down to the ground. But a new study at the University of Iowa is investigating whether automation is making pilots lazy in the cockpit, causing them to check out in flight. Researchers are testing their reaction times in an emergency.
LinkFlight attendants at American Eagle do not back merger Every employee union involved in the proposed merger of American Airlines and US Airways has endorsed the marriage that would create the nation's largest carrier. Well, almost every labor group. The flight attendants for American Eagle, the regional carrier owned by AMR Corp., the parent company of American, are the first employee group speaking out against the merger. The 1,800 flight attendants for the small carrier say they fear their jobs are at risk because of a series of outsourcing plans announced since November.
LinkAir traffic controllers should not face furloughsSources say the Federal Aviation Administration may again consider furloughing some employees, including air-traffic controllers, because of ongoing budget cuts. "We expect that Congress and the White House will ensure that the traveling and shipping public are not impacted by sequester, as they were in April, and believe that air-traffic controllers, who are front-line safety professionals, should not face furloughs," said Victoria Day, a spokeswoman for Airlines for America.
LinkFAA issues safety directive on emergency locatorsThe Federal Aviation Administration ordered inspections of emergency locators manufactured by Honeywell International. The safety directive covers more than 3,800 aircraft, and airlines have four months to comply.
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