NewsCommercial
Boeing CEO brushes off 777X pricing question
With less than three years before the 777-9 enters service, Boeing executives say they are feeling no pressure to heavily discount the new aircraft type to increase sales. “We’re seeing airplane pricing holding up pretty well. It’s competitive, but not unusual,” Dennis Muilenburg, Boeing’s chairman, president and chief executive, told analysts on a fourth quarter earnings call on 25 January.
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Date Set For Boeing South Carolina Union Vote
The IAM union, seeking to represent Boeing workers at its South Carolina factory, has announced the date of a vote. The International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers and Boeing have agreed February 15 for the vote at its North Charleston 787 production line. About 2,850 workers will be eligible to vote.
LinkAirlines
American Airlines Makes 2016 Net Profit Of USD$2.7 Bln
American Airlines reported fourth quarter and 2016 full year results on Friday showing a USD$2.7 billion net profit for the year. Fourth quarter net income was $289 million, down from the same period in 2015’s $3.28 billion. The prior quarter’s headline profit was due to a one-off tax benefit. For comparison, income before tax for Q4 was $500 million in 2016, against $244 million in 2015.
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ANA Holdings reports nine-month net profit up 18% to $742 million
ANA Holdings reported a net profit of ¥86.6 billion ($741.5 million) for the first nine months of its 2016 fiscal year, up 18% from ¥73.3 billion in net profit for the comparable period in 2015. ANA’s fiscal year ends March 31, 2017. Revenue for the nine-month period was down 2.7% year-over-year (YOY) to ¥1.3 trillion ($11.4 billion), but was mitigated by a 4.1% decline in operating expenses (¥1.2 trillion). ANA’s operating income was ¥130.2 billion, up 11.5% from ¥116.8 billion in 2015.
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Arik Air switches Boeing 747-8s with 787-9s
Nigeria’s Arik Air has scrapped a longstanding order for two Boeing 747-8Is, replacing it with a pair of Boeing 787-9s. The change means a further shrinking of the already slim orderbook for the 747-8. Most of the new variant 747s ordered to date have been the -8 freighter version, as airlines increasingly turn to “big twins” for long-haul passenger services.
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British Airways Cabin Crew Announce Further Strike
The Unite union which represents British Airways ‘mixed fleet’ cabin crew announced a six day strike in support of the dispute with the airline over pay. The dates for this latest industrial action are February 5th, 6th and 7th and February 9th, 10th and 11th.
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British Virgin Islands carrier seeks approval to serve US
British Virgin Island carrier BVI Airways plans seek US approval to serve Florida's Miami International Airport (MIA), after receiving its air operator’s certificate (AOC) from UK-based regulator Air Safety Support International (ASSI). ASSI is a wholly owned subsidiary of the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority.
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Cimber CRJ900 badly damaged after unchecked trailer detached
Danish investigators have determined that a tractor driver’s failure to check the vehicle led a towed trailer to detach and career into a parked Cimber Bombardier CRJ900. The CRJ900 suffered substantial damage at Copenhagen after the trailer – a mobile x-ray unit – collided with the aircraft beneath its starboard engine and wedged in the aft fuselage.
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Horizon pilots file suit against management, claim RLA violation
Pilots for Seattle-based Horizon Air—the regional subsidiary of Alaska Airlines—filed a lawsuit Jan. 27 claiming Horizon executives “broke faith with the negotiation process and began making unilateral changes to compensation,” violating the terms of the Railway Labor Act (RLA). The suit also claims violation of the terms of the labor agreement between Horizon’s 675 pilots and Horizon management.
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First Qatar A320neo repainted in IndiGo colours
At least one of the Airbus A320neos formerly ordered by Qatar Airways has been repainted in the livery of Indian operator IndiGo. Qatar Airways had ordered 34 A320neos but began cancelling individual airframes during a spat over their Pratt & Whitney PW1100G powerplants. Four had been cancelled by the end of last year.
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‘Basic economy’ would be ‘a huge mistake’ for Southwest
Southwest Airlines will not be following American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines in implementing a “basic economy” fare, chairman and CEO Gary Kelly said. Speaking to analysts and reporters to discuss Southwest’s 2016 earnings, Kelly said Dallas-based Southwest is sticking to its relatively straightforward fare structure that includes checked bags and flight changes at no extra-cost. Southwest also will stay with a single-class configuration on its all-Boeing 737 fleet, he added.
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Southwest jockeys with Norwegian for 737 Max launch title
Southwest Airlines chief executive Gary Kelly says the carrier will be the launch customer of the Boeing 737 Max “regardless of when we take the first delivery”, even as Norwegian prepares to be the first operator. Kelly cites the Dallas-based carrier’s extensive involvement with Boeing on the development and testing of the latest generation of the venerable narrowbody, as the rationale behind his comment during a quarterly earnings call today.
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Sunwing Airlines joins TSA Pre-Check
Toronto-based Sunwing Airlines has become the first Canadian leisure carrier to join the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) expedited passenger screening program Pre-Check. Sunwing president Mark Williams said, “Delivering an excellent customer experience is of paramount importance to us. We look forward to working with TSA in continuing to improve travelers’ experience in processing through security, while still maintaining their utmost safety.”
LinkAirports
Chinese New Year celebrations at Dubai International Airport
A traditional Dragon Dance was arguably the highlight of yesterday's Chinese New Year celebrations at Dubai International Airport. The gateway, which retains its status as the world's busiest international airport after handling 83.6 million passengers in 2016, served cake to passengers and showcased Chinese culture during a day of celebrations. “Our goal is to engage and delight our customers with culture and entertainment that reflects and celebrates that diversity,” says Dubai Airports' vice president for media and brand engagement, Helen Mellor-Mitchell.
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DFW Airport shows off the first phase of its $2.7 billion upgrade
Executives with DFW International Airport Thursday hosted the official unveiling of a brighter, more techno-friendly Terminal A, marking the first completed portion of a $2.7 billion airport upgrade. The effort is designed to make the airport more appealing not only to North Texas residents but also to Asian and European travelers who can choose among stop-over hubs such as Dallas, Atlanta, San Francisco and other major airports.
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Military
Analyst floats theory for Northrop CEO's caution on T-X
Northrop Grumman shocked press and analysts this week with a lukewarm response on its US Air Force T-X trainer bid, but the company might be better positioned to lose the competition rather than eat away at its bottom line, says one Washington-based analyst. It’s possible that Northrop chief executive Wes Bush is looking to hold back a price-aggressive bid by Aerospace Systems management in an effort to protect the company’s operating margins, defense analysts Jim McAleese writes this week. In a 25 January earnings call, Bush announced Northrop was assessing the USAF’s request for proposals, despite the fact that the company has designed an aircraft specifically marketed to the trainer competition.
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US defense secretary orders immediate review of F-35 and Air Force One
The US defense secretary has ordered an immediate review of the Air Force One recapitalization and Lockheed Martin F-35 programs, following president Donald Trump’s earlier threats to lower the costs of both platforms. In a 26 January memo, Defense Secretary James Mattis ordered the deputy secretary of defense to examine ways to reduce the cost of the both the F-35 and Air Force One replacement programs. Lockheed’s stocks dropped sharply following Mattis’ announcement.
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India acts to maintain air power edge
The Indian air force continues to grapple with the challenge of sustaining its combat fleet to project a strong defensive and offensive posture on India’s eastern and western borders. Defense credibility, however, comes from the existing force structure. The air force today is down to 33 operational fighter squadrons, of which 24 squadrons are made up with fighters of Russian origin, namely MiG-21s, MiG-23s, MiG-27s, MiG-29s, and Sukhoi Su-30MKIs.
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Aviation Quote
A checkride ought to be like a skirt, short enough to be interesting but still be long enough to cover everything.
- Anonymous
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Editor's Choice
Trivia
Airplane - The Movie Trivia
1. What is the name of the little girl on the plane who needs a heart transplant?
Linda
Laura
Lindsey
Lisa
2. What is the name of the original pilot of the airplane?
Ted
Victor
Clarence
Roger
3. Where is the airplane scheduled to land?
Chicago
New York
Minneapolis
Detroit
4. Does Ted order a seat in smoking or non-smoking?
Answer: (One Word - Smoking or Non-smoking)
5. How old is Randy the flight attendant?
28
26
25
32
6. What does the little kid, Joey, eat on the plane?
Fish
Mystery Meat
Lasagna
Steak
7. After the war, Elaine and Ted joined the Peace Corps. What tribe did they introduce to American culture?
The Mohicans
The Molombos
The Haidans
The Dodgers
8. What happens to Rex Kramer's cigarette when he throws it out the window?
It comes back to him
It explodes
It sets someone on fire
It does nothing
9. Randy the flight attendant is married.
True
False
10. Who is the actor who plays Dr. Rumack?
Robert Hays
Robert Stack
Lloyd Bridges
Leslie Nielsen
