NewsCommercial
Boeing cements Japanese participation in 777X
Boeing has formalized agreements with a consortium of five Japanese suppliers to produce large parts for the 777X program. The latest agreement formalizes a memorandum signed in June last year between Boeing, Japan Aircraft Development Corporation (JADC) and Japan Aircraft Industries (JAI) – the latter representing Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI), Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI), ShinMaywa Industries and NIPPI Corporation.
LinkAirlines
Deeper first-half loss forces further cost cuts at Air France-KLM
Air France-KLM Group is to implement new cost-saving measures immediately after its latest financial figures showed a 22% decline in its second-quarter operating profit and a 12% wider first-half loss. These measures will include cutting routes and restricting winter capacity. The group made a profit of €185 million ($203 million) in the three months to 30 June but a first-half loss of €232 million.
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Alitalia Pilots' Strike Grounds Flights
Pilots and flight attendants at Alitalia went on strike across the country on Friday, forcing the company to cancel flights at the start of one of the busiest holiday weekends of the year. The Anpac union called the 24-hour stoppage to push management to give guarantees over staffing levels and harmonize pay levels following Etihad Airways' purchase of a 49 percent stake in Alitalia last year.
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American Airlines Doubles Second Quarter Profit
American Airlines' second quarter profit grew 97 percent from a year earlier to USD$1.7 billion. On an adjusted basis, profit was USD$1.9 billion. The oil glut, which has driven down US crude prices more than 50 percent since June 2014, has been a boon to American because it did not hedge against a price rise. The carrier's fuel bill and related taxes fell to USD$2.1 billion in the second quarter compared to USD$3.4 billion a year earlier.
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Delta raises a record $1.6M for the American Cancer Society
Delta employees and customers have raised a record $1.6 million for the American Cancer Society through events, auctions and other activities. "The American Cancer Society's 13-year partnership with Delta Air Lines has contributed significantly to our efforts to save more lives from cancer," said Shari Henning, executive vice president of American Cancer Society's South Atlantic Division.
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Hawaiian Airlines adds holiday flights to Los Angeles
Hawaiian Airlines has announced additional flights from Kauai and Maui to Los Angeles this holiday season. The flights will run several times a week between the middle of December and the beginning of January. Passengers will enjoy the comfort of wide body jets on the additional flights.
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Hawaiian Airlines adds an additional A330 for summer 2016
Hawaiian Airlines will lease an additional Airbus 330-200. The six-year lease will begin in the summer of 2016.
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Southwest F/As Reject Tentative Contract
Southwest Airlines flight attendants voted overwhelmingly against a tentative contract that would have increased wages but involved changes in work rules that many thought were burdensome. 87 percent of voting flight attendants rejected the tentative deal, according to the Transport Workers Union. The union said it will continue negotiations with Southwest on the contract, which became amendable more than two years ago.
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Southwest seeks to maintain low-cost edge
Southwest Airlines is working to maintain its position as the low-cost carrier of choice and CEO Gary Kelly noted that average fares are down in 2015. To that end the airline is concentrating its growth in developing markets.
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United Airlines is investing in backup systems, redundancy
United CEO Jeff Smisek announced the carrier is making significant investments into technologies and backup systems. "We know areas where we can beef up backups," Smisek said on a call with investors.
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United announces stock buyback
United Continental Holdings, the parent company of United Airlines, will be spending some of its record revenues on a $3 billion stock buyback. "The $3 billion share repurchase program we announced today demonstrates the confidence we have in our future," said Chief Executive Officer Jeff Smisek.
LinkAirports
McCarran International Airport sees an almost 6% increase in traffic
McCarran International is continuing its rapid growth trend with June passenger numbers up 5.8% over 2014.
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Military
Canada's reactivated CF-18 'Rams' squadron takes flight
Canada’s newly reborn CF-18 fighter squadron conducted its first operational fight since reactivating on 30 June. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) announced on Facebook that the 401 Tactical Fighter Squadron based at Cold Lake, Alberta, took to the skies 20 July, marking the unit’s first operational flight since disbanding in 1996.
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F-35 gun tests start while US Marines await IOC decision
Activity on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program has reached fever pitch, with the US Air Force now testing the aircraft’s 25mm Gatling gun and a decision on declaring the first Marine Corps squadron to achieve initial operational capable (IOC) status. Gen Joseph Dunford, Marine Corps commandant,has been briefed on the readiness of the first combat-coded F-35B squadron and could deliver an IOC decision any day.
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Jordan acquires ex-Israeli Cobra attack helicopters
Israel has transferred 16 Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters to Jordan to assist its air force in the fight against Islamic State militants, US sources have confirmed. The rotorcraft involved had been phased out of use by the Israeli air force several years ago, and were refurbished prior to being flown to Jordan, the sources add.
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USAF rules out international A-10 sales
The US Air Force has closed the lid on discussions about shopping the A-10 Warthog to allies, said it will not sell the close-in attack aircraft to anyone. Boeing triggered speculation about whether the US government would consider selling the aircraft it wants to retire when a company official told reporters there have been “early discussions” about international sales.
LinkRegulatory
DOT to investigate US airlines for price gouging
The US Department of Transportation is investigating possible price gouging by five US carriers following an Amtrak derailment on 12 May that shut down train travel in the US northeast. The agency says it has sent a letter to American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines seeking pricing information for routes most likely affected by the Amtrak shutdown.
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Aviation Quote
A recession is when you have to tighten your belt; depression is when you have no belt to tighten. When you've lost your trousers - you're in the airline business.
— Sir Adam Thomson
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Editor’s Choice
Trivia
General Trivia
1. A British pilot holds the world record for having flown the most different types of aircraft, 487. He also holds the world record for having made the greatest number of carrier landings, 2,407. Unfortunately, not enough pilots know this remarkable pilot's name. What is it?
2. A pilot knows the maximum cruise speed and climb performance of his airplane when flown at maximum gross weight. He is curious to know, however , how this performance could be affected if the gross weight by 25 percent. How can her determine this during flight without actually overloading the airplane?
3. What is the largest, heaviest, most-powerful, piston-engined airplane ever produced?
4. A pilot over the 48 conterminous states flies along a parallel of latitude until he reaches his destination, which is 10degrees of longitude east of his departure point. If the time of sunset at the departure airport is 0020 UTC, what is the time of sunset at the destination airport?
5. True or False, each of two major US airlines have had well-publicized, major accidents involving the same type of airliner on the same day?
6. A most inspiring radio report was transmitted by a World War 2liaison pilot on 23 FEB 45. He transmitted matter-of-factly, "Target Area One Two Three Peter. One flag. Red, white and blue." Where was this target area?
