Civil AviationBoeing Working With Air India On 787 Window CrackBoeing is working with Air India after the cockpit window of a 787 Dreamliner cracked while landing in Australia, the plane maker said on Tuesday. The incident comes just weeks after a body panel fell off a 787 also operated by Air India, a development that Boeing and the airline are still investigating. Indian media reported on Monday that the flight from Delhi, carrying 74 passengers, developed a crack late Sunday while landing in Melbourne.
LinkJapanese Govt. Sticking To Haneda Slot AllocationJapan's government said on Tuesday it was sticking to a handout of new landing rights at Tokyo's Haneda airport that Japan Airlines complained was unfair because it gave local rival ANA twice as many slots. Japan's aviation regulators responded to a request from JAL for a review of the allocation submitted a month ago, sticking to its decision to give JAL five new slots compared with 11 for ANA. "It's water under the bridge," Shigenori Hiraoka, director of aviation industries at Japan's Civil Aviation Bureau, told Reuters news agency. The bureau has never revised slot allocations, he said.
LinkWestjet's Third Quarter Profit DropsWestJet Airlines, Canada's second-largest carrier, reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit as expenses fell. Net income dropped to CAD$65.1 million in the quarter, from CAD$70.6 million a year earlier. Revenue grew nearly 7 percent to CAD$924.8 million (USD$888.5 million). Load factor fell to 82.8 percent in the third quarter from 84.6 percent a year earlier. Cost per available seat mile (CASM), excluding fuel and employee profit-sharing costs, declined 1.5 percent in the third quarter ended September 30.
LinkRyanair Investors Berate O'Leary But Fear His LeavingWhen a Ryanair shareholder made a stinging attack on chief executive Michael O'Leary at the airline's annual meeting for scaring off customers with his "bullying" and "macho" style, there was one thing he didn't mention. That O'Leary's leaving was one of his biggest fears. As Ryanair scrambles to reinvent itself and woo customers from higher-cost rivals to fill hundreds of new planes, there are growing concerns about the cost of what O'Leary recently described as his "personal character deformities". But with his heir apparent about to leave - and as a series of profit warnings eat away at O'Leary's air of invincibility - a bigger worry is that Europe's largest airline has left itself over-dependent on a single personality.
LinkBoeing, IAM submit proposal on 777X assembly for voteLeaders of Boeing’s largest union agreed to send members a proposal to keep assembly of the 777X and the new carbonfibre composite wing in Washington state in exchange for a package of concessions on retirement benefits. The proposal must still be ratified by a majority vote of the Boeing chapter of the International Association of Machnists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). Meanwhile, Washington Governor Jay Inslee has called a special session of the state legislature to quickly approve a package of major incentives, including an extension of tax incentives for commercial aircraft production, workforce training programs and infrastructure investments.
LinkUS Airways reports 5.1% increase in Oct. trafficUS Airways handled 5.1% more passenger traffic in October on a year-over-year basis, the carrier said. Passenger revenue per available seat mile, a key revenue metric, also grew by 1% for the month.
LinkAmerican Airlines implements gate-to-gate use of PEDsAmerican Airlines received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to allow customers to expand their use of portable electronic devices (PEDs) in flight. "We’re delighted that our customers are now able to use their hand-held portable electronic devices gate to gate," said Jon Snook, American’s senior vice president for customer service.
LinkSouthwest to offer TSA PreCheck by mid-NovemberBy the middle of this month, fliers on Southwest Airlines will be able to take advantage of the Transportation Security Administration's PreCheck program.
LinkDelta reports increase in key revenue metric for Oct.[/b]
Delta Air Lines reported a 2% increase in consolidated passenger unit revenue in October on a year-over-year basis. Consolidated traffic at the carrier also rose by 1.4% for the month.
LinkFAA: NextGen needs more stable fundingThe Federal Aviation Administration said the implementation of NextGen is vulnerable to the political nature of its funding. "We remain committed to NextGen in its current schedule, but we need greater fiscal certainty this year and beyond," said FAA Deputy Administrator Michael Whitaker.
LinkBoeing says 737 Max will save even more fuelBoeing has revised the fuel-burn savings for its 737 Max up to 14% as compared with its 737-800NG version. "Fundamentally we’re really pleased with the market response to the Max and we can only see this adding to it," said Keith Leverkuhn, program manager for the 737 Max.
LinkAttorney general is open to AA-US Airways settlementAttorney General Eric Holder said the Justice Department is willing to settle its antitrust case over the proposed merger between US Airways and American Airlines if the airlines make concessions. "What we have tried to focus on is to make sure that any resolution in this case necessarily includes divestitures of facilities at key, constrained airports throughout the United States," Holder said.
LinkDOT announces new policies for airline websitesThe Department of Transportation announced new policies for airline websites, which will make it easier for disabled customers to access information. Airlines have several years to implement the changes and must also give disabled customers Web-based discounts if they cannot access the websites.
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