NewsAllegiant plans unveil of first new A320Allegiant Air will show off its first new Airbus A320 at its Orlando Sanford base next week, as it prepares to add more new narrowbodies in the coming months. The aircraft, registration N246NV, arrived at Orlando Sanford airport on 16 May. It is the first Allegiant aircraft to feature an updated livery. Allegiant has another 11 new A320s on order and is scheduled to take delivery of the next one in June, Flight Fleets Analyzer shows.
LinkTaxiBot gains A320 certificationEuropean regulators have certificated Israel Aerospace Industries' pilot-controlled aircraft tow tractor TaxiBot for deployment on Airbus A320-family jets.
LinkEU and US reach no conclusion on electronics banEuropean and US regulators have decided to meet again later this month to discuss a potential expansion of a controversial ban on personal electronic devices in the cabin of flights from Middle Eastern and North African countries.
LinkThe effect of the ban on China-South Korea group toursJoanna Lu, Head of Advisory Asia, looks at seat capacity data to assess the impact of China’s curbs on tourists to South Korea.
LinkLion's Kirana appointed ambassador to MalaysiaIndonesia president Joko Widodo has appointed Lion Air Group founder Rusdi Kirana as the country's ambassador to Malaysia. The appointment took place on 18 May, along with five other individuals named as ambassadors to various countries, says Indonesia's Ministry of State Secretariat in a statement.
LinkTug speed limit prescribed following SilkAir 737 damageA ground service provider in Singapore has set speed limits for its towing tractors when moving aircraft, following an incident where a SilkAir Boeing 737-800 was damaged during a pull forward by such a vehicle.
LinkStrikes could hit A350 wing productionAirbus could be facing more supply chain misery on its A350 programme after workers at a wing component supplier voted overwhelmingly for industrial action in a dispute over pay.
LinkBoeing could deliver Block II Chinook to international customers in 2026Boeing could make CH-47 Block II helicopter renewal available to international customers in 2026, according to Boeing’s director of Chinook global sales.
LinkFinland analyses responses in Hornet replacement effortFinland is continuing to analyse responses to a request for information it issued last year as part of the HX programme to replace its air force’s fleet of Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornets.
LinkAlaska Air bringing flights to 2nd Seattle-area airportIn fall 2018, Alaska Air Group will begin flights to and from Paine Field in Everett, Wash., 31 miles north of Seattle. "As our region continues to grow at a record pace and Sea-Tac Airport nears capacity, the time is right to bring air service to ... the North Sound," said Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden.
LinkSouthwest increases shareholder dividend by 25%Southwest is raising its quarterly dividend to shareholders to 12.5 cents per share, a 25% increase. Southwest's stock is up 15% for the year and the airline reported record passenger traffic and revenues for 2016.
LinkDefense secretary supports modernization of ATCDefense Secretary James Mattis has come out in support of putting air traffic control under a private entity. The Defense Department is assessing its links with the ATC system to "ensure privatization efforts going forward preserve our national security interests."
LinkAirlines show support for men, women in uniformAlaska Airlines' Freedom Award, the Hero Miles Program at American Airlines and complimentary checked bags for military members who fly Hawaiian Airlines show a few of the ways the industry supports the US military. JetBlue Airways' Vets in Blue program, Southwest Airlines' Honor Flight Network and United Airlines' discounts for flights booked by National Guard and Reserve members are other prime examples.
LinkGE starts 18-month GE9X certification programGE Aviation has started the 18-month certification program for the GE9X engine that will exclusively power the Boeing 777X. The first round of certification tests will take place in Peebles, Ohio. The certification testing is beginning on the second GE9X engine GE has built; ultimately, there will be eight certification test engines. The next two GE9X engines are currently being built. One of those two engines will be tested in flight on GE’s 747 flying testbed based in Victorville, California, in the second half of 2017.
LinkRockwell Collins plans light touch in integrating B/E Aerospace Rockwell Collins has developed a “low-risk” integration plan for merging B/E Aerospace, which it acquired last month for $8.6 billion, into Rockwell, according to chairman, president and CEO Kelly Ortberg.
LinkKorean Air reverses losses, posts $500 million 1Q net profitKorean Air produced a consolidated net profit of KRW559 billion ($500.3 million) for the first quarter of 2017, reversing a loss of KRW175 billion in the year-ago period.
LinkTurkish Airlines may help Albania establish flag carrierIstanbul-based Turkish Airlines may give technical assistance to the Albanian government in setting up its own national carrier, Albania Prime Minister Edi Rama announced at a May 9 joint press conference in Tirana, Albania.
LinkAirberlin names new board membersAirberlin has appointed new board members as part of the German carrier’s strategy to reposition itself into a network carrier.
LinkAlaska wins US DOT approval for Mexico City routesSeattle-based Alaska Airlines has won approval by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for services to Mexico City’s Benito Juarez International Airport from Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego, California.
LinkAir Serbia to retrofit 10 aircraft with Recaro seatsEtihad Airways partner Air Serbia has begun retrofitting 10 of its Airbus A319s and A320s with slimmer and lighter-weight Recaro BL3520 seats, adding 12% capacity to the airline’s narrowbody fleet. Air Serbia is changing its seats as part of a five-year strategy to maximize returns and utilization from its short-haul European network.
LinkAir cargo growth at fastest pace since 2010Growth in worldwide air cargo traffic reached its highest level in nearly seven years as March FTKs expanded 14% compared to a year ago, according to IATA’s March Air Freight Market analysis. Freight capacity increased 4.2% during the month, leading to a total market freight load factor of 47.4%, up 4.1 points year-over-year.
LinkChina’s Loong Air to lease five A320s from BOC AviationHangzhou-based Loong Air plans to lease five Airbus A320s from BOC Aviation in an effort to facilitate rapid growth. According to BOC Aviation, the aircraft are scheduled to be delivered in 2017.
LinkS7 Airlines launches first international service from St. PetersburgRussia’s S7 Airlines began international flights from St. Petersburg Pulkovo International Airport May 9, with 3X-weekly Airbus A319 services to Berlin Tegel. The carrier’s network from Pulkovo now includes seven destinations, comprising Berlin, Bryansk, Kaliningrad, Kaluga, Moscow, Novosibirsk and Yaroslavl.
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