AirlinesAmazon to start air cargo network; leases 20 Boeing 767Fs from ATSGCargo aircraft lessor Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) inked a deal March 9 with online retailing giant Amazon to run an air cargo network in the US. Ohio-based ATSG’s subsidiary charter cargo-delivery airlines ABX Air and Air Transport International will operate 20 Boeing 767 freighters on behalf of Amazon Fulfillment Services, the delivery arm affiliate of Amazon, for five years, according to ATSG. The network will only serve Amazon customers residing in the US.
LinkChina Eastern to boost international capacity by more than 20%China Eastern Airlines (CEA) is expected to boost international capacity by more than 20% this year. The Shanghai-based carrier plans to introduce 49 aircraft in 2016 and open more long-haul international routes to Chicago, Madrid, Amsterdam, St. Petersburg, Brisbane and Prague starting from Shanghai this year, according to CEO Ma Xulun.
LinkEVA Air Chairman Replaced After Board MeetingEVA Airways' chairman Chang Kuo-wei has been replaced following an unscheduled board meeting on Friday. The decision takes effect immediately, EVA said in a statement, without elaborating further.
LinkFlybe increases Scandinavian ATRsUK-based regional Flybe is to step up its “white label” operations on behalf of SAS Scandinavian Airlines in Sweden. Over the next two months Flybe will increase the number of ATR 72-600s used on the contract from three to five. The aircraft are used primarily out of Stockholm’s Arlanda airport and operate mainly on domestic Swedish and Finnish routes. The aircraft are operated in SAS colors.
LinkHawaiian Airlines mulls more flights to Australiaawaiian Airlines could add a route from Honolulu to Melbourne, Australia, in 2017. Peter Ingram, chief commercial officer for the carrier, said Melbourne is "one of a number of markets on our drawing board for the future."
LinkIndiGo takes delivery of Asia's first A320neoIndian low-cost carrier (LCC) IndiGo has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320neo, making it the first Asian airline to receive the new aircraft type, and the second operator of the aircraft after launch customer Lufthansa. The carrier, which placed the largest ever order for the A320neo in August last year with a 250-aircraft commitment worth $26.55 billion at list prices, is expected to take delivery of another aircraft next week and up to 25 more over the next 12 months.
LinkIron Maiden 747-400 badly damaged in tug collisionRock band Iron Maiden’s newly-customized Boeing 747-400 has been extensively damaged in a ground-towing accident in Santiago that injured two tractor operators. The aircraft has been transporting the group’s members and its equipment for an extensive tour, which was covering Latin American cities in March.
LinkSouth African Teen Finds Suspected Piece Of MH370A South African teenager has found debris which will be sent to Australia for testing as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines MH370. Liam Lotter, 18, told South Africa's East Coast radio he found the piece of debris on a beach in Mozambique while on holiday in December and his family took it back to their home in South Africa.
LinkNordic Aviation rebrands as NordicaEstonia’s new national carrier, Nordic Aviation Group (NAG), has rebranded, taking the name Nordica. Unveiled March 11, the company uses a dragonfly as its logo. NAG was set up by the small Baltic nation’s government as a fallback in advance of the demise of Estonia Air last autumn. The European Commission had found Estonian Air had breached state subsidy rules and was ordered to pay back some €85 million ($95 million) in aid. Unable to do so, it filed for bankruptcy.
LinkSingapore expands tracking, ATM plansThe Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has announced initiatives with both local airlines and the Japanese aviation authorities to improve aircraft traffic management and tracking across the region. CAAS has signed an agreement with the Civil Aviation Bureau of Japan (JCAB), which will enable two aviation bodies to jointly promote air traffic management (ATM) improvements across the Asia-Pacific region. They will be able to share information, knowledge and expertise, and will enable collaboration and modernization of regional ATM capabilities.
Link
Thai Says No Agreement On Aircraft DeliveriesThai Airways has not yet agreed with Airbus and Boeing on delivery deferrals for aircraft it no longer needs as it tries to fill seats on its existing planes. Thai is one of several state-controlled companies undergoing reform since the Thai military seized power in May 2014. Late last month the company said it had returned to profit in the final quarter of 2015.
LinkUnited Airlines starts regular LAX-SFO biofuel flightsUnited Airlines is starting to use a fuel that is 30% comprised of biofuel on flights from Los Angeles International (LAX) to San Francisco International (SFO). United reached an agreement with AltAir Fuels in 2013 to buy biofuel produced using Honeywell UOP’s renewable jet fuel processing technology, which converts non-edible animal fats and oils into fuel.
LinkUnited forms joint venture with Air New ZealandUnited Airlines and Air New Zealand inked an agreement for a joint venture that expands on their codeshare agreement. "This joint venture will allow us to work more closely with Air New Zealand to optimize our trans-Pacific schedules and offer more convenient flight choices to our customers in both the US and New Zealand," said Jim Compton, chief revenue officer for United. The deal awaits approval from US regulators.
LinkUPS set to expand in GermanyUPS said this week it has broken ground to expand its package sorting and delivery facility in Herne, Germany, an $80 million project that is expected to be completed by the end of next year. According to UPS, this new facility is expected to more than double the hub’s operating area and sorting capacity, with the operating area to be 25,000 square meters and be comprised of advanced technology that it said will increase its package sorting capacity to more than 36,000 pieces per hour, with the number of loading and unloading container bays to double to 130 and parking positions for delivery trucks to increase by 100 percent to 180. On the personnel side, 300 new jobs are expected to be added to this facility, which will bring the total number of staffers to 1,400.
Link 
