NewsUnited CEO places focus on customer serviceUnited Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz says the company is focused on "training, developing and nurturing a more values-oriented customer services policy."
LinkSupport strong in Mo. for ATC modernization planThousands of Missouri residents are rallying behind a plan to modernize the country's outdated air traffic control infrastructure, and lawmakers and transportation leaders in the state are joining the cause to urge action in Congress. Republican state Rep. Kevin Corlew, who also serves as chairman of the 21st Century Missouri Transportation System Task Force, says air traffic control hasn't kept pace with other technology, such as cellphones. Republican state House Majority Leader Mike Cierpiot noted the critical role of ATC but said it's still using "the same ground-based system that is has used since World War II."
LinkHawaiian Airlines' Pualani icon gets a revampPualani, the Hawaiian Airlines icon, has recently undergone a design update. The image has been part of the airline's message since the 1970s.
LinkBombardier delivers first dual-class 86-seat Q400Bombardier has delivered its first dual-class 86-seat Q400 turboprop, handing over the aircraft to Philippine Airlines on 20 July. PAL became the first customer for the configuration in December 2016 when it signed deals that included firm order for five 86-seat Q400s and purchase rights for an additional seven aircraft. The carrier recently converted those seven options to firm orders at the Paris air show.
LinkUK government opens broad consultation on aviation strategyUK aviation policy is to undergo an extensive review, after the government opened a formal consultation to update the current strategic program. The government has identified six objectives for the review in an 86-page document detailing the areas for consultation, which will take place in three phases over the next 18 months.
LinkItalian government could take stake in Alitalia: ministerItaly's government may take a stake in Alitalia as part of its sale process. Alitalia confirms that transport minister Graziano Delrio yesterday told a parliamentary committee the government could remain involved in the airline even after a strategic investor is found.
LinkAdria takes over Darwin as Etihad withdrawsAdria Airways has acquired a majority stake in Swiss regional operator Darwin Airline. The Slovenian carrier confirms it has purchased a 99.1% stake in Darwin – which operates as Etihad Regional – via a Swiss subsidiary. It expects the remaining shares "will be taken shortly". Etihad has sold its entire 33.3% holding, Darwin confirms.
LinkEasyJet set to operate first flight under new AOCBudget carrier EasyJet is set to conduct the first service with its newly-created EasyJet Europe division, following the awarding of an Austrian air operator's certificate to the company. The airline has established the new division to protect its European operations following the UK's withdrawal from the European Union.
LinkAvation places remaining 2017 ATR 72 deliveriesAvation has placed all of its remaining new aircraft deliveries for this year after signing a conditional deal to lease three ATR 72-600s to Mandarin Airlines. The aircraft will be delivered in October, November, and December following modifications to suit Mandarin's specifications, Avation says in a stock exchange statement.
LinkRussian researchers ponder sonic-boom measurementRussian researchers are aiming to demonstrate potential designs to reduce sonic boom under a supersonic civil aircraft initiative. The Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute states that the "primary challenge" in developing supersonic passenger aircraft concepts is a lack of "universally-approved" metrics to measure this noise.
LinkFlight tests beckon for Il-114 powerplantRussia's United Engine Corporation is preparing for a series of flight tests with the powerplant set to equip the new Ilyushin Il-114-300. The Klimov TV7-117ST turboprop has been fitted to an Ilyushin Il-76 heavy transport testbed – normally powered by four jet engines.
LinkSaudi Arabia considering Scorpion deal: Textron chiefSaudi Arabia is considering acquiring the Textron AirLand Scorpion light attack aircraft, with initial discussions under way. Scott Donnelly, chief executive of parent company Textron, says Riyadh is one of a number of customers it is in talks with over the developmental aircraft.
LinkUK to drive down Typhoon operating costs to match F-16The UK Royal Air Force is to enhance the capability of its Eurofighter Typhoons by using money saved via a new in-service support model for the multirole type. Dubbed the Typhoon total availability enterprise, or Tytan, the new, 10-year arrangement between the RAF and industry partners BAE Systems and Leonardo is expected to reduce the Typhoon's per-hour operating cost by 30-40%.
LinkFranco-German fighter proposal gains momentumFrance and Germany have signalled their intention to co-operate on the development of a future combat aircraft to be produced after the Dassault Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon. Part of a broader move to increase military co-operation and enhance export prospects for European products, the fighter initiative was referred to during a press conference involving French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Paris on 13 July.
LinkUS Navy requirements could narrow trainer helicopter searchThe US Navy is seeking a single-turbine-engined rotorcraft that could achieve an instrument flight rules (IFR) certification: a requirement that could potentially limit the field of candidates in the service’s TH-XX trainer helicopter recapitalisation competition. The navy will replace its ageing fleet of 113 Bell Helicopter TH-57 Sea Ranger trainers with 105 new aircraft, with production beginning in fiscal year 2020 or 2021, according to a 1 June request for proposals published on the Federal Business Opportunities website.
LinkGulfstream proposes nose refuelling for JSTARS candidateGulfstream’s proposal for the US Air Force’s JSTARS recapitalisation project will include a refuelling nozzle mounted on the nose of its G550 business jet, the company’s vice-president of special mission sales has revealed. The Gulfstream design is still subject to change, with a slide showing the nose receptacle having been a last-minute change to a presentation made to journalists last week, and the airframer has also considered a more traditional refuelling position on the aircraft’s "crown", Troy Miller says. The nose-mounted nozzle is not an unusual choice, as both the USAF’s Fairchild Republic A-10 and Boeing B-1 have similar receptacles, he notes.
LinkDelta launches biometrics boarding at Washington NationalCertain Delta Air Lines customers now can use fingerprints instead of their boarding pass to board any Delta aircraft at Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). According to Delta, its biometric boarding pass experience that launched in May at the DCA Delta Sky Club is now integrated into the boarding process to allow eligible Delta SkyMiles members who are enrolled in CLEAR to forego a paper or mobile boarding pass in favor of using fingerprints as proof of identity to board their plane. The final phase of Delta’s DCA biometric boarding pass test, coming this summer, will allow members to also use their fingerprints to check a bag.
LinkReports: Turkey about to be removed from UK’s laptop ban The UK has refused to comment on reports that it is on the verge of lifting the cabin ban on large personal electronic devices (PEDs) being carried to the UK from Turkish airports. The UK followed the US ban on PEDs in March, although the UK move covered a slightly different set of affected nations—Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia. It did not include the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or Qatar that were part of the US ban.
LinkStudy uncovers cultural tensions at Air France-KLMAir France-KLM has admitted there is room for improvement, after a research report exposed a cultural rift between the Dutch and French sides of the group. The study was performed by Philippe d’Iribarne from the French Institute of Science and Niels Noorderhaven of Tilburg University, involving 47 interviews with Air France and KLM staff between January and April 2017.
LinkFinnair swings to profit in 1H on fleet renewal, cost programFinnair is increasingly seeing the benefits of fleet renewal and a cost-efficiency program feed through to its bottom line, the company said July 20. The Finnish flag carrier recorded a first-half net profit of €58.8 million ($67 million), a turnaround from a loss of €16.1 million for 1H 2016. The airline achieved the result on turnover up 7.4% year-over-year (YOY) at just under €1.2 billion.
LinkBritish Airways cabin crew extend strike to four weeksBritish Airways (BA) cabin crew has announced a further 14-day strike, to follow immediately on the heels of the current 14-day walkout. This latest action among BA’s London Heathrow-based “mixed fleet” cabin crew began July 19, just three days after the last strike ended, and is scheduled to run until Aug. 1.
LinkSupreme Court backs broad family definition in travel ban exemptionsThe US Supreme Court, in a short order issued July 18, denied the Trump Administration’s recent motion seeking clarification on the court’s June 26 ruling, in which the court said the administration’s 90-day travel ban executive order “may not be enforced against foreign nationals who have a credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States.”
LinkAir France names Boost airline ‘Joon’French Skyteam carrier Air France has christened its new lower-cost airline, which was previously known as the Boost project, as ‘Joon’ and named Jean-Michel Mathieu as CEO. With pilot backing for the startup recently secured, Joon will launch this autumn, initially operating medium-haul flights from Paris-Charles de Gaulle, before branching out to long-haul routes in summer 2018.
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