AirlinesAir Canada rouge to add Casablanca, three other destinations in 2016Air Canada unveiled four new international routes it will start next year, including its first-ever service to Africa. All four routes will be operated by leisure subsidiary Air Canada rouge on a seasonal basis using 280-seat Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. Three of the routes will be from Toronto Pearson International Airport, which Air Canada is planning to increasingly market as an international transit hub. The fourth route will be Montreal-Casablanca; the Moroccan city will be Air Canada’s first destination in Africa.
LinkInvestigation underway after British Airways 777 runway fire An investigation is underway after a British Airways (BA) Boeing 777-200ER suffered a major engine fire as it was preparing for takeoff at McCarran International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas, Nevada. British Airways flight BA2276 was en route for London Gatwick at 16.13 local time on Sept. 8 when the fire broke out and the aircraft came to a halt on the runway, prompting a mayday call from crew to air traffic control requesting fire services.
LinkWeather data suggests crosswind at time of BA 777 fireMeteorological data from Las Vegas at the time of the British Airways Boeing 777-200 fire indicates a crosswind from the left at the time of the departure. The damage to the aircraft is consistent with a fire being blown inboard from the left-hand powerplant, along the wing, to the left side of the fuselage. Images from the scene show severe structural damage to the leading edge and the centre wing-box area of the jet.
LinkCourt ruling ends Lufthansa pilot strikeLufthansa is expecting its flights to be “virtually back to normal” from Sept. 10 after its pilots’ strike was declared unlawful by a local labor court. In its ruling, Frankfurt’s Hessen Labor Court said the two-day strike on Sept. 8-9 was a protest against Lufthansa’s “Wings” long-haul low-cost plan, as well as a failure to agree on a new collective labor agreement (CLA). According to the court, the inclusion of Wings went beyond the union’s mandate; therefore, judge Dr. Michael Horcher ordered an immediate end to the action.
LinkOman Air to take 14 aircraft from Air Lease Corp.Oman Air is to take 11 new aircraft—three Boeing 737-800s, seven 737-8 MAXs and one 787-9—as well as three used Boeing 737s on long-term lease from Air Lease Corp. The aircraft will be used for fleet renewal and growth, with deliveries scheduled to run from 2015 until 2019. The used aircraft comprise one 737-700 (MSN 33103) and two Boeing 737-800s (MSNs 33104 and 34242).
LinkAfrica’s RwandAir firms order for two Airbus A330sRwandAir has finalized its order for its first widebodies, an Airbus A330-200 and an A330-300, firming up a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed in March. Kigali-based RwandAir will receive the Rolls-Royce Trent 700-powered aircraft from the second half of 2016, deploying them on medium- and long-haul routes to Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
LinkRyanair boosts full-year guidance 25%Ireland-based low-cost carrier (LCC) Ryanair has upgraded its full-year guidance by as much as 25%—into the €1.175-1.225 billion range—due to low fuel prices, the strength of sterling against the euro and poor summer weather in northern Europe. The Irish LCC had previously expected annual profits in the €940-€970 million ($1.04-$1.08 billion) bracket.
LinkChinese investor takes 10% stake in Czech carrierCEFC China Energy Co. has acquired a 10% stake in Czech Republic’s largest airline, Travel Service, as Chinese companies continue their rapid investment drive into Europe. CEFC has said it intends to increase its stake in Travel Service to 49.92% over the next few months. “The authorized capital of Travel Service will be significantly strengthened as well,” the airline said. “Current shareholders of Travel Service will remain majority owners of the company. CEFC is a strong financial and strategic partner for us that will allow further intensive development of our firm with the potential of making Travel Service into a very strong air carrier in Central and East Europe.”
LinkUnion Urges UPS Pilots To Approve StrikeThe union representing pilots at package delivery company United Parcel Service said it had urged them to vote to approve a strike. The Independent Pilots Association said on Wednesday that if the pilots voted in favour of authorising a strike, its board would have the authority to request a release from federally mediated negotiations with UPS. The National Mediation Board has been mediating since early 2014 in contract negotiations between UPS and its pilots' union on issues related to compensation, pension and benefits.
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