AirlinesAir France-KLM hikes winter season capacityAir France-KLM Group has announced a year-over-year 3.7% capacity increase for the upcoming northern winter season. The Franco-Dutch Group announced 52 new services compared to a year ago, most of them to be performed by its Transavia low-cost carrier (LCC) arm, although many of the “new” services are continuations of services begun over the summer season.
LinkAlaska Airlines donates flight simulator to Central Washington UniversityAlaska Airlines has committed to donating a flight simulator to Central Washington University for its pilot training program and the airline will also provide stipends to 17 student pilots. CWU's aviation program is the first institution in the US to receive such an investment from a commercial airline.
LinkCityJet expects to firm SSJ optionsIrish regional airline CityJet is expecting to firm half of its 16 Sukhoi Superjet 100 options in 2018, after becoming the European launch operator of the type in June. CityJet is leasing 15 SSJs and has options on an additional 16. The Dublin-based airline received the first of these in June, the second in July and a third aircraft will be delivered over the next two weeks. After this, CityJet will take deliveries every two months, taking it to eight aircraft by June 2017.
LinkDelta’s oil refinery on track for $100 million full-year 2016 lossDelta Air Lines’ Trainer, Pennsylvania, oil refinery is expected to incur an operating loss of about $100 million for the full-year 2016 after posting operating profits in both 2014 and 2015. The refinery, which Delta purchased in 2012, had a $45 million operating loss in the 2016 third quarter, reversed from an operating profit of $106 million in the 2015 September quarter. The refinery’s third-quarter revenue fell 23% year-over-year to $971 million.
LinkHawaiian continues new business class cabin upgradesHawaiian Airlines has completed cabin upgrades on two of its A330-200 aircraft to accommodate its new business class product for international routes. The airline plans to upgrade cabins in all 23 of its A330-200s.
LinkMonarch modifies Boeing 737 dealUK low-cost carrier Monarch Airlines is understood to have converted its order for Boeing 737 MAX8s into a sale-and-leaseback deal. The London Luton-based carrier, which on Oct. 12 announced it had received a £165 million ($203 million) injection from majority shareholder Greybull Capital that allowed it to keep flying, placed the order for 30 MAX 8s, together with 15 options, in October 2014. The first is scheduled to be delivered in 2018.
LinkNordwind Airlines Gets Moscow-New York designationRussia’s Nordwind Airlines has received approval for a Moscow-New York route. The carrier will replace Transaero Airlines, which went bankrupt in 2015. According to Russia’s federal air transport authority Rosaviatsia, the airline may perform up to 7X-weekly flights.
LinkPAL signs to purchase Bombardier Q400sPhilippine Airlines (PAL) has signed a letter of intent (LoI) to acquire “up to 12” Bombardier Q400 regional turboprops, the Canadian OEM announced Oct. 14. The aircraft will be the first in Bombardier’s new two-class, high-density 86-seat configuration to enter service. The aircraft will have 10 “premium service” seats.
LinkQatar's Boeing commitment sends clear messageAs the Qatar Airways spotlight swings pendulum-like around its supply chain, OEMs can breathe a sigh of relief when it is not their turn to be in the laser focus of its notoriously demanding chief Akbar Al Baker. But this can be a double-edged sword, as Boeing will testify. It was not so long ago that Al Baker was publicly chastising Seattle over the teething troubles being suffered by the 787. Airbus, meanwhile, was basking in praise as it prepared the first A350s for Qatar, with the airline chief declaring that the twinjet would be “a fantastic aeroplane.”
LinkUnited Flights Restart After Computer ProblemUnited Airlines said a computer problem affecting its weight reporting system had been resolved and that flights were returning to normal. The system-wide problem stopped all United departures late on Thursday and into Friday morning.
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