CommercialAustralian Ship Trawls For Signals From MH370An Australian ship which picked up possible "pings" from the black box recorders of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has been unable to detect any further signals and time is running out to narrow the search area, officials said on Tuesday. Angus Houston, head of the Australian agency coordinating the search for the Boeing 777, said the month-long hunt in the Indian Ocean was at a critical stage given the batteries in the black box beacons had already reached the end of their 30-day expected life. A US Navy towed pinger locator onboard Australia's Ocean Shield picked up two "ping" signals over the weekend - the first for more than two hours and the second for about 13 minutes. Houston said the signals sounded very much like black box beacons and represented the best lead in the search yet, but efforts to pick up the pings again had so far been unsuccessful.
LinkVirgin America Top In US Airline Quality StudyVirgin America had the highest performance ranking among 15 US airlines in 2013 in an annual study as the industry's overall quality improved, researchers said on Monday. The national Airline Quality Rating, which ranks airlines in four categories based on US Department of Transportation figures, found that carriers overall received fewer complaints from passengers and had a lower bumped passenger rate in 2013, compared with 2012. But on-time performance and mishandled baggage rates worsened. Researchers at Wichita State and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical universities who conducted the study said airlines delivered their best performance in 2013 in the 23-year history of the quality rating. The 2013 study rated 15 airlines. Still, the researchers said airlines can do more to improve customer satisfaction.
LinkLATAM Airlines Chile Strike Delayed By A DayThe union representing cabin crew at LATAM Airlines' Chilean unit have resumed talks with the company and delayed by one day a strike initially planned for Tuesday. The unionized workers are seeking better salaries and working conditions. "In an attempt to seek to avoid a possible strike and the impacts this would have, we have agreed... with the union to extend the negotiations by a day, so the strike won't go forward tomorrow," said Jose Luis Rodriguez, head of operations and service for the airline's Chilean unit.
LinkLufthansa, Austrian Airlines Halt Libyan FlightsLufthansa and its Austrian Airlines unit have halted flights to Libya indefinitely after a security incident at Tripoli airport two weeks ago, a Lufthansa spokesman said on Monday. At the end of March, a bomb exploded on the main runway of Tripoli Airport, highlighting the deteriorating security situation and chaos in the North African country.
LinkBrazil Falling Short In World Cup Airport RushWith less than 10 weeks until the start of the World Cup, work on crucial new airport terminals has fallen behind in most of the dozen Brazilian host cities, heightening the risk of overcrowding and confusion during the tournament. A temporary canvas terminal will be used instead of a planned airport expansion to receive fans in Fortaleza, which will host six matches including Brazil's game against Mexico and a quarter-final. Officials are already preparing alternatives for other cities. "Other airports have not said anything yet, but they will probably have to come up with contingencies," said Carlos Ozores, a principal at aviation consultancy ICF International who has consulted for Brazilian airlines and airport operators.
LinkSkymark’s first A380 performs maiden flightSkymark Airlines' first Airbus A380 aircraft has performed its maiden flight, after the completion of airframe assembly and system tests. The widebody aircraft will now enter next the phase of production, where it will complete cabin installation and painting in Hamburg, says Airbus.
LinkAirbus unveils first flying A350 cabinAirbus has unveiled its A350 XWB cabin ahead of the opening of the Aircraft Interiors show in Hamburg. Test aircraft MSN 002, hangared at the airframer’s local assembly and completions complex, is the first of the A350 test fleet to be outfitted with a cabin – in this case configured with a two-class layout designed to show off the twinjet’s “extra-wide” 221in (5.6m) fuselage and “fourth-generation” systems
LinkAirbus anticipates A330neo decision by mid-2014Airbus is likely to make a decision on whether to move forward with a re-engined A330 by the middle of 2014, says Airbus Americas president Barry Eccleston. A decision on the aircraft, dubbed the A330neo, is needed in order to ensure that it is competitive with the Boeing 787 but does not erode sales of the European airframer’s own A350 when it enters service, he says at the Phoenix International Aviation Symposium on 4 April. That entry-into-service window is widely understood to be in the 2017 or 2018 timeframe when there is limited availability of A350s and 787s, based on comments from various lessors and lenders at the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (ISTAT) Americas conference in March. Airline interest will play a large role in Airbus’ decision, says Eccleston.
LinkFlynas to start US flights in 2015Flynas is planning to triple its Airbus A330 fleet to 12 aircraft by 2017 as the Saudi Arabian budget carrier aims to expand its new long-haul operations to Africa and North America. On 6 April, the Riyadh-based airline started long-haul flights with A330s wet-leased from Portuguese operator HiFly on 6 April, said commercial strategy director Clayton Ulisses Begido at the Routes Europe summit in Marseille. The initial fleet will comprise four aircraft, but this is set to grow to 12 A330s within “three years at maximum”, he says.
LinkAmerican will keep operating American Eagle, CEO saysDoug Parker, the CEO of American Airlines, said the carrier is not planning to sell its affiliate, American Eagle. "We have no plans to do anything with Eagle at this point other than to own it and have it provide services for American," Parker said. American Eagle pilots voted against a labor contract that would have provided Embraer E-175 aircraft.
LinkAlaska Airlines to enhance inflight entertainment options for passengersBy the end of the year, Alaska Airlines plans to offer customizable in-flight entertainment options that will allow passengers to access movies and television from their personal electronic devices for a fee. Dubbed GoGo Vision, the service will provide full Internet access on laptops and personal electronic devices. The airline said that speeds are similar to wireless mobile broadband services on the ground.
LinkBoeing debuts stretched Dreamliner 787-9Boeing launched a larger version of its Dreamliner on Saturday with the rollout of the 787-9, which seats 280 passengers. "They’re a little bit longer, with a lot more redesigned systems," said Richard Aboulafia, aerospace analyst for the Teal Group, of the 787-9. "It’s mostly refinement and improvement rather than radical changes."
LinkBoeing and Airbus report net orders for Q1Boeing announced it had 234 net orders during the first quarter, outpacing Airbus, which booked 103 net orders during the same period. Air Canada finalized an order last week for 61 Boeing aircraft, while China ordered 27 Airbus aircraft last month. During the quarter, Boeing also delivered 161 commercial aircraft, while Airbus delivered 141 aircraft.
LinkTwo unions compete for representation of American Airlines agents The unions representing US Airways Inc. airport agents and reservations employees have asked the National Mediation Board to declare American Airlines Inc. and US Airways Inc. a single carrier. That designation would be a first step toward holding an election of American and US Airways airport agents and reservations employees to determine if they want to be represented by a union. Those employees at US Airways are currently represented by the Airline Customer Service Employee Association, a joint group of the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
LinkNegotiations continue for Republic Airways and pilots union Pilots for Republic Airways overwhelmingly rejected a proposed 4-year contract that the company said would have put them at or near the top of wages for pilots at regional airlines. The voting that ended Friday affected more than 2,200 pilots represented by the Teamsters. The union said 85 percent of ballots cast were against ratification. Republic Airways Holdings Inc. operates Republic Airlines, Chautauqua Airlines and Shuttle America, which operate flights for bigger airlines including Delta Connection, United Express and US Airways Express. Republic CEO Bryan Bedford said he was disappointed in the vote and would work with the Teamsters to determine its next steps. Union local president Craig Moffatt called the offer inadequate and said the Teamsters would come up with a plan for an acceptable agreement. Shares of Indianapolis-based Republic fell 38 cents, or 4.1 percent, to close at $8.88.
LinkDetroit aims for airport upgradesColeman A. Young International Airport in Detroit could receive $28.5 million in upgrades as part of the city's bankruptcy plan. "The end goal to all of this is to turn the airport into a destination where people would like to come and benefit from all the wonderful things that are happening downtown," said Jason Watt, airport manager.
LinkChicago O'Hare unveils $26M renovation of international terminalChicago O'Hare International Airport debuted its $26 million renovation of Terminal 5 last week. The international terminal now features 24 retail stores and restaurants, as well as a XpresSpa featuring massages and manicures. "From now on, when you land in the world-class city, you're going to get a world-class welcome in the city of Chicago," said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
LinkAirlines improve experience through technologyAirlines are improving the passenger experience by offering technology such as self-serve kiosks. "Number one is to put control and convenience in the hands of our customers," said Jeff Foland, executive vice president of marketing, technology and strategy at United Airlines. The carrier plans to open its high-tech Terminal B at Logan International Airport in Boston at the end of the month.
LinkUnited launches Mercedes-Benz service at LAX for elite travelersUnited Airlines is debuting more perks for elite travelers at Los Angeles International Airport. United will chauffeur elite passengers who need to make connecting flights in Mercedes-Benz cars. Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst at Hudson Crossing, said, "the more you pay, the better your experience will be in terms of access to the best seats, boarding, security or other elements like that."
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