NewsHawaiian Airlines enhances policies to accommodate surfersHawaiian Airlines has enhanced its surfboard policy to allow as many boards as will fit in a bag, so long as the bag stays within the 50-pound weight limit. "We are always looking at ways to improve the travel experience, and so we are hopeful that the new policy, along with improved handling procedures by our staff, will strike the right balance between accommodating our guests and making sure we get their boards safely to their destination," the airline said.
LinkColumn: JetBlue, Alaska Airlines look to be winners for investorsJetBlue Airways and Alaska Airlines could have great upside potential for investors, Adam Levine-Weinberg writes, citing the performance of both carriers in recent years. He notes that "their above-average growth rates have been a key reason for their success up to this point -- and there's no reason why that should change in the future."
LinkAmerican Airlines taps IBM for cloud transformationAmerican Airlines is moving key functions to the IBM Cloud in a bid to increase efficiency and speed. "It is the foundation of American's digital transformation and enables the airline to take its delivery speed to the next level with increased scalability, performance and agility to transform business processes and customer experiences at the same time," said IBM's David Kenny.
LinkBaltimore airport's luxury options draw well-heeled flyersBaltimore-Washington International Airport boasts a new passenger lounge, Club BWI, where for $40 a day passengers can enjoy plush seating, drinks, snacks and free high-speed Wi-Fi while they await their flights. Elsewhere in the airport, travelers will find exceptional eateries and art installations.
LinkParis fashion show takes inspiration from airline uniformsHainan Airlines' runway shows at the InterContinental Paris Le Grand featured designs by Laurence Xu that were inspired by the airline's uniforms.
LinkBaltimore, San Diego airports to launch delivery servicesIn the next few weeks, passengers flying out of Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) and San Diego International will now have the option to have food, drinks, and products sold in the airport delivered straight to their gate. Two developers, Airport Sherpa (at BWI) and At Your Gate (at San Diego) have created apps to solve the “gate hugging” problem that so many American travelers are guilty of. Research has shown that most travelers, once through security, will proceed straight to their gate and only spend time around that area.
LinkNorwegian UK secures tentative US permit approvalNorwegian's UK subsidiary has been given tentative approval by the US Department of Transportation for a foreign air carrier permit. The Scandinavian budget airline says that, once finalised, the permit will allow Norwegian UK to operate "low-cost flights between the US and Europe".
LinkTianjin Airlines makes push into Australia, RussiaTianjin Airlines has applied to launch services into Australia and Russia. The carrier is seeking to start twice-weekly services on the Chongqing-Nanjing-Melbourne and Chongqing-Zhengzhou-Sydney routes from December, says the Civl Aviation Administration of China.
LinkEmirates and Flydubai to combine network operationsMiddle Eastern carrier Emirates is entering a broad partnership with low-cost operator Flydubai, which will include a codeshare and optimisation of the airlines' networks. The agreement follows increasing moves to bring the two government-owned carriers closer together, and reduce unnecessary competition, enabling Emirates to benefit from Flydubai's single-aisle operations.
LinkEasyJet chief McCall to step down at year-endUK budget carrier EasyJet has confirmed that it is searching for a new chief executive after Carolyn McCall opted to step down from the post. McCall will leave her position around the end of this year, the airline states, to become the head of broadcaster ITV.
LinkAirbus, Boeing prepare to thwart an aerospace TeslaElectric-powered airliners aren’t coming any time soon, but Airbus and Boeing see potential. Elon Musk co-founded Tesla Motors in 2003 to make electric cars, a technology at that time largely ignored by the world’s biggest automakers. Fourteen years later, Tesla’s market capitalisation has surpassed Ford’s and General Motors’.
LinkGST change adds to IndiGo's A320neo engine woesIndian low-cost carrier IndiGo has grounded seven of its Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-powered Airbus A320neos, with reports suggesting that a tax change is delaying replacement powerplants. Flight Fleets Analzyer shows that the affected aircraft bear the registrations VT-ITG, VT-ITN, VT-ITF, VT-ITJ, VT-ITK and VT-ITM. IndiGo operates 128 A320s, 22 of which are of the re-engined variant.
LinkRafael nears latest Indian contract for Litening podsIndia is about to sign a contract to equip its Dassault Rafales with Rafael's Litening targeting pod, according to Yuval Miller, head of the Israeli company's air and C4I systems division. Miller says the advanced sensors will be manufactured by a local company that is jointly owned by Rafael and an Indian partner. "The Rafale is a multi-role aircraft, and the Litening gives it the flexibility to deal with ground and air targets with the same efficiency," he notes.
LinkIsrael broadens Lavi training scopeThe Israeli air force has enhanced the capabilities of its Leonardo Aermacchi M-346 "Lavi" advanced jet trainers by adding external fuel tanks. The enhancement was made possible after the aircraft's software was upgraded following a long series of test flights performed by the service's flight test squadron.
LinkAir France secures pilot backing for BoostFrench Skyteam member Air France is expecting to formally sign an agreement with its pilots July 17, paving the way for the launch of its Boost new airline project in fall 2017. Boost, which is a project name for Air France’s new lower-cost airline subsidiary, was first revealed in November 2016 as part of Air France-KLM’s Trust Together strategy.
LinkHNA to take 51% stake in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro AeroportosHNA Group’s subsidiary HNA Infrastructure Investment Co. plans to purchase a 21% stake in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro Aeroportos ( RJA) for CNY108 million ($16 million). According to an HNA statement released by the Shanghai Stock Exchange, HNA Investment will also increase a CNY2.2 billion capital injection to RJA to pay off its airport franchise fees. RJA holds a 51% stake in Concessionária Aeroporto Rio de Janeiro (CARJ), which holds the franchise rights for Rio de Janeiro Airport.
LinkLOT completes initial phase of long-haul renewalLOT Polish Airlines has taken delivery of the final aircraft of its batch of eight Boeing 787-8s, as the Polish national carrier eyes the arrival of the larger -9 model next year. CEO Rafał Milczarski credits the twin-aisle aircraft as being a factor in the airline’s financial turnaround.
LinkJetBlue to expand Mint service to Las Vegas, Seattle in 2018New York-based JetBlue Airways will expand its Mint service with three new US domestic routes and five additional flights on existing US and Caribbean routes beginning January 2018. JetBlue’s Mint service, available on the airline’s new fleet of specially configured Airbus A321s, includes lie-flat seats and customized meals. With the new routes, JetBlue will operate its Mint service on over 80 flights daily.
LinkSWISS CSeries prepares for London City debutSwiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has undertaken one of the final steps before the start of its Bombardier CSeries services to London City Airport (LCY) Aug. 8. One of the airline’s CS100s visited LCY for the first time July 17, to carry out pilot familiarization and parking trials. It will be the largest aircraft to use the small airport, which is located in the capital’s Docklands area.
LinkAir Astana launched 3X-weekly Astana-New Delhi Airbus A320 and Embraer E190 service.
EasyJet will begin twice-weekly Liverpool-Venice service from Oct. 31.
Xiamen Airlines launched 3X-weekly Xiamen-Los Angeles Boeing 787-9 service.
SriLankan Airlines started 4X-weekly Colombo-Hyderabad service.
Iran’s
Qeshm Airlines launched twice-weekly Hamburg-Tabriz Airbus A319 services.
TAP Portugal began double-daily Lisbon-Cologne Bonn Embraer E190 service.
