CommercialMH370 Found IntactThe Malaysian B777 airliner that has been lost for almost four weeks has been found. There are no indications of where the passengers and the crew are. The airplane has been found in a remote part of Ceylon.
LinkMalaysia Changes Version Of Pilot's Last WordsThe last words spoken by one of the pilots of the missing Malaysia Airlines airliner to the control tower were "Good night Malaysian three seven zero", Malaysia's civil aviation authority said, changing the previous account of the last message as a more casual "All right, good night." The correction of the official account of the last words was made as Malaysian authorities face heavy criticism for their handling of the disappearance, particularly from families of the Chinese passengers on board flight MH370 who have accused Malaysia of mismanaging the search and holding back information. "We would like to confirm that the last conversation in the transcript between the air traffic controller and the cockpit is at 01:19 (Malaysian Time) and is "Good night Malaysian three seven zero," the Department of Civil Aviation said in a statement on Monday.
LinkAustralian PM Says No Time Limit On MH370 SearchAustralian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Monday the hunt for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 had no time limit, despite the failure of an international operation to find any sign of the plane in three weeks of fruitless searching. A total of 20 aircraft and ships were again scouring a massive area in the Indian Ocean some 2,000 km (1,200 miles) west of Perth, where investigators believe the Boeing 777 came down. "I'm certainly not putting a time limit on it," Abbott told reporters after meeting flight crews at Pearce airbase near Perth. "The intensity of our search and the magnitude of our operations is increasing, not decreasing," he said, adding that searchers owed it to grieving families of passengers to continue the hunt.
LinkEasyJet Plans 20 Pct Growth At UK's Luton AirportBritish budget airline easyJet has secured more space at London's Luton airport to be able to carry 20 percent more passengers next year, as it looks to put new planes to use. EasyJet said on Monday the expansion was part of a new ten-year deal it signed with the airport. It did not give financial terms of the deal. EasyJet reached a seven-year agreement with London Gatwick, its biggest base, on Thursday, where it plans to be able to carry 10 percent more passengers by this time next year. "Around 60 percent of what we will do is thickening our routes and frequencies and about 30 percent to 40 percent will be about new destinations," chief executive Carolyn McCall said of the plans at Luton.
LinkIsland Air orders two Q400s Hawaii Island Air has ordered two Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 NextGen turboprops, with plans to replace its ATR 72 fleet. The order is valued at $60.9 million at list prices and includes four options, according to the Canadian airframer. “As part of our ongoing restructuring and expansion strategy, the Island Air team considered a number of aircraft and we are pleased to announce the selection of the Q400 NextGen turboprop,” says Paul Casey, president and chief executive of the regional carrier, in a statement.
LinkAsiana cites crew failures and autothrottle design in flight 214 crashUpdated to include details about Boeing's accident report, also released by the NTSB on 31 March. A report from Asiana says failure by its pilots to monitor and maintain airspeed led to the crash of one of its Boeing 777-200ER aircraft at San Francisco in July 2013. But the report, released on 31 March by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), says that the poor design of the 777’s autothrottle and airspeed warning systems and other factors contributed to the accident. A separate report from Boeing places blame on the pilots.
LinkNok Air converts two Q400 optionsNok Air has converted options for two Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft to firm orders. The Bangkok-based low-cost carrier now has firm orders for four Q400s in an 86-seat high-density configuration and purchase rights for four more aircraft, according to the Canadian airframer. “Nok Air is at a crossroad to become a major player in Southeast Asia's low-cost carrier arena," says Patee Sarasin, chief executive of Nok Air, in a statement.
LinkTAM and US Airways join OneworldBrazil’s TAM and US Airways joined Oneworld today, in a move that the alliance called its biggest single day of growth since it was launched 15 years ago. oth TAM and US Airways left Star Alliance for Oneworld, a departure caused by two mega airline mergers involving the two carriers. TAM merged with Oneworld member LAN to form LATAM Airlines Group, while US Airways had combined with American, also a Oneworld carrier. The two carriers, both of which operated their last flights as Star airlines yesterday, will add almost 100 new destinations to the Oneworld network. TAM will add almost 45 new cities to the alliance map, while US Airways will contribute more than 50.
LinkLufthansa cancels most flights during three-day strikeLufthansa has cancelled the vast majority of its flights scheduled for 2-4 April following industrial action by its pilots over a long-standing pay dispute. More than 3,800 flights by Lufthansa, its cargo unit and low-cost arm Germanwings have been cancelled during the planned three-day walkout. The airline expects to operate just under 500 services by the mainline carrier and Germanwings, it says. Pilots at the group’s subsidiaries Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Swiss International Air Lines as well as regional branches Lufthansa CityLine, Eurowings and Air Dolomiti are not included in the strike.
LinkLufthansa Cancels 3,800 Flights Due To Pilot StrikeLufthansa has cancelled 3,800 flights for April 2-4, or virtually all of its operations, due to a planned walkout by pilots, in what would be one of the biggest strikes ever to hit the German airline. Vereiningung Cockpit, the union representing most of Lufthansa's 5,400 pilots, last week said it was calling for a three day strike from April 2 over plans by Germany's largest airline to scrap an early retirement deal. Although Lufthansa had improved its offer, the pilots said it wasn't enough as it didn't apply to pilots joining after 2014. The Lufthansa units affected by the strikes would normally operate around 4,300 flights over the three days, but the walkout means it will be able to operate just 500 short and long-haul flights during the three-day period, it said.
LinkAlaska Airlines adds new express bag optionAlaska Airlines passengers will soon have two new cities to which they can fly -- along with an option to get their luggage through the airport process even more efficiently. Alaska has added service to Albuquerque and Baltimore and is launching a self-tagging baggage option for certain flights. Fliers who choose the option will be able to use a self-tag express service at the airport.
LinkAlaska Air CEO discusses GPS connectivityAlaska Air Group CEO Bradley Tilden told CNBC that the loss of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 illustrates the need for all airlines to equip their planes with GPS technology. "I think where we are with basically airspace in general and the way we surveil airplanes when they are in flight, the technology is ready for us to move to what we call next generation air traffic control," he said.
LinkDelta, American boost New York-London serviceDelta Air Lines and American Airlines are boosting service from New York to London. Delta has partnered with Virgin Atlantic, while American has joined forces with British Airways, to offer trans-Atlantic flights between the two business centers.
LinkUnited, Massport make comfort a priority in Logan renovationUnited Airlines and Massport have redesigned Terminal B at Boston's Logan International Airport with comfort in mind, and the renovation includes plugs at each seat to charge electronics. "Everything is just a range of colors, even the seats that you sit on are all different colors, different fabrics," said Sam Sleiman from Massport. "It’s just like you're home.
LinkU.S. airline employment on rise for second consecutive monthU.S. airline industry employment figures are trending upward, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics. In January, U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 381,819 full-time equivalent workers, up 0.5% over January 2013. The employment figures have risen for two months in a row, following 15 months of declines.
LinkTSA PreCheck a boon to busy air travelersTravelers can now apply for a program that promises to expedite the security screening process, saving time and enhancing the overall travel experience. Enrolling in the Transportation Security Administration's PreCheck program gives travelers access to expedited security lanes and excuses them from removing their jackets, belts and shoes.
LinkSacramento airport to get new lounge, expand retail optionsTravelers passing through Sacramento International Airport could soon see fresh retail options, a new concessionaire and a new airport-run lounge. The airport is seeking proposals by June 6 and hopes to get new vendors in later this summer.
LinkWichita airport celebrates six decades of serviceThe Wichita Mid-Continent Airport in Wichita, Kan., celebrates 60 years of operations on Tuesday. The airport opened to commercial flights in 1954, and transported more than 221,000 passengers in its first year. In 2013, the airport handled 1.5 million passengers. The airport is preparing to open a new terminal building next year, and could change its name to Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport.
LinkFla. airport to open new runway in September Broward County's international airport, seaport and hospitality sector are among the big drivers of the economy, and all are experiencing tremendous growth, key industry officials said Friday. At Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, the new south runway set to open Sept. 18 will play a pivotal role in boosting the airport's ability to handle more international flights, and reduce long delays that currently average about 45 minutes, Aviation Director Kent George said. "When the runway is done we won't have those delays," George noted during a presentation at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center as part of the sixth annual Economic Engine Performance Report. While domestic traffic is holding flat, international traffic has grown to 16 percent of total traffic over the past decade, and more growth is on tap with new service in the pipeline, George said.
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