NewsJetBlue announces daily flights from Boston to Syracuse, N.Y.JetBlue Airways plans to launch daily nonstop flights between Syracuse Hancock International Airport and Boston's Logan International Airport, beginning Jan. 4, 2018. The airline hopes the added flights will encourage travelers to visit Boston or take a connecting flight from Logan.
LinkUnited to open invitation-only restaurant at Newark airportUnited Airlines is opening a a luxury restaurant at New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport which requires an invitation to dine. The restaurant, CLASSIFIED, seats only 36 customers and offers high-end menu items, including a $98 tomahawk ribeye steak.
LinkRyanair signals interest in Air Berlin bidRyanair has joined the airlines outlining preliminary interest in German carrier Air Berlin, which filed for insolvency proceedings earlier this month. The Irish carrier confirm's comments its chief executive Michael O'Leary gave to Reuters yesterday saying the airline would be "happy to bid" for Air Berlin. But the airline stresses it would need greater access to Air Berlin's financial details to evaluate an offer for the beleaguered airline.
LinkSenegal collision: Mystery of absent warning unresolvedInvestigators believe there was no collision-avoidance warning before the mid-air impact involving a Boeing 737-800 and a British Aerospace 125 over Senegal, but the reason for its absence remains unclear. The aircraft collided outside the area of radar coverage, apparently after the Senegalair BAe 125 descended into the flightpath of the opposite-direction Ceiba Intercontinental 737 at 35,000ft.
LinkSIA quietly parks its first A380Singapore Airlines (SIA) has parked the first Airbus A380 aircraft to enter commercial service. Flight Fleets Analyzer shows that 9V-SKA has been parked since 10 June 2017. SIA confirms that the aircraft is "undergoing de-lease work before returning to the lessor."
LinkFirst El Al 787 arrives in Tel AvivIsraeli flag-carrier El Al's first Boeing 787 has arrived at the airline's main base at Tel Aviv Ben-Gurion airport. The Rolls-Royce Trent-powered aircraft, a 787-9 variant (4X-EDA), touched down at around 10:20 on 23 August following a delivery flight from Boeing's plant in Seattle, according to the Israeli civil aviation authority.
LinkAir New Zealand FY2017 operating profit drops sharplyAir New Zealand saw its operating profit fall 34.9% to NZ$524 million($379 million) for its 2017 fiscal year ended 30 June, on the back of increased competition. Revenue fell 2.3% to NZ$5.1 billion with revenue from carrying passengers, cargo, and contract services all slipping, says the Star Alliance carrier in an earnings statement.
LinkHow Lufthansa had already targeted Air Berlin routesEven before the Air Berlin estate is divided up, Lufthansa has already nabbed some of the Oneworld carrier's prized possessions – market share on important routes to southern Europe. When Lufthansa Group started introducing 38 wet-leased Air Berlin Airbus A320-family jets to its operations, the additional capacity was deployed on routes vacated by Air Berlin.
LinkFirst Mil Mi-28UB attack helicopter trainers readied for deliveryRussian Helicopters has produced the first serial examples of the Mil Mi-28UB, a combined combat and trainer variant of the company's attack helicopter. The aircraft are currently undergoing customer acceptance testing at the company's Moscow facilities, and by year-end the airframer intends to deliver a total of eight to the Russian defence ministry, which will eventually procure 60 examples.
LinkValue of Indonesian Su-35 buy pegged at $1.14 billionJakarta has confirmed that it will buy 11 Sukhoi Su-35 fighter aircraft for $1.14 billion, with a major component of the deal involving agricultural commodities. In a joint press conference, Indonesia's defence minister and trade minister stated that under the deal, Moscow will be obligated to accept 50% of the contract value in local commodities.
LinkAirberlin creditors to grant preliminary approval for Niki saleAmid intense pressure to find quick solutions for the failing airberlin business, the company’s creditor committee is expected to grant preliminary approval for the sale of Austrian affiliate Niki to Lufthansa at its Aug. 23 meeting.
LinkNew Saudi LCC Flyadeal to launch in SeptemberNew Saudi Arabian LCC Flyadeal will launch services Sept. 23, as it seeks to stimulate an already fast-growing domestic market with low fares.
LinkSWISS considering Airbus A321neoLR for Africa routesSwiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is considering ordering the Airbus A321neoLR to operate on routes from Zurich to long-haul destinations in Africa, SWISS CEO Thomas Klühr said. “It is an interesting option, especially on routes where a 300-seat widebody aircraft is difficult to fill. The A321neoLR offers very efficient operations,” Klühr said. Lufthansa Group subsidiary SWISS is slated to take delivery of 15 Airbus A320neo family aircraft in 2019 and 2020, but it does not have any A321neoLRs on order. The A321neoLR is expected to enter service in the second half of 2018.
LinkSWISS to take at least 12 CSeries in 2017Lufthansa subsidiary Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS)—which took delivery of its fifth Bombardier CS100 on Dec. 30, 2016—expects to receive a minimum of 12 CS100s, as well as the larger CSeries variant CS300, in 2017.
LinkAirAsia X eyes more growth in frequencies, marketsAirAsia’s long-haul, LCC affiliate, AirAsia X, is looking to increase frequencies on its most popular routes and expand into markets such as Hawaii.
LinkEl Al 2Q net profit hit by labor costs, rising competitionSecond-quarter 2017 net earnings for El Al Israel Airlines fell 53.1% year-over-year (YOY) to $16.4 million, a drop from $35 million in the year-ago quarter, as the airline “had to cope with the huge growth in competition at [Tel Aviv’s] Ben Gurion Airport,” according to El Al CEO David Maimon. The Israel flag carrier generated revenue of $540.9 million during the June quarter, up 0.6% YOY despite a moderate decline in passenger traffic. El Al attributed to revenue growth to a 0.7% increase in passenger yield. Passenger revenue was up 1.1%, but cargo revenue decreased about 2.5%, in line with reduced air cargo being flown by the airline
LinkGermania expands flight schedule, cites airberlin insolvency Berlin-based Germania is expanding its flight schedule for 2018 in an effort to fill a void in the German air travel market following the announcement of airberlin’s insolvency. “As a result of the current [airberlin] situation, we have decided to expand our flight program for those travelers and tour operators that are looking for comfort and planning security,” CEO Karsten Balke said in a statement.
LinkAtlas Air expands transpacific flying for Nippon Cargo AirlinesPurchase, New York-based air cargo operator Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings will operate a second Boeing 747-400 freighter for Japan’s Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) beginning Sept. 1, the two companies said Aug. 22. Atlas Air initiated its relationship with the Narita International Airport (NRT)-based cargo carrier in December 2016, launching flights for NCA in January. The two companies indicated additional aircraft may be added to their agreement in the future.
LinkAir Canada continues Montreal hub buildup with Tokyo Narita 787 flightsAir Canada will launch Montreal Trudeau-Tokyo Narita Boeing 787 flights in June 2018, the latest move by the carrier to make Montreal into its third major international gateway along with Toronto and Vancouver. Montreal-based Air Canada is aiming to use the 787, of which it has taken delivery of more than 30 so far, to make Canadian hubs into transit points for international passengers, particularly US passengers traveling to points around the globe.
LinkThailand’s Nok Air 2Q revenue growth hampered by rising fuel costsRising fuel expenses, combined with the cost of operating new international routes, were behind Thailand LCC Nok Air’s THB749 million ($22 million) net loss for the 2017 second quarter, narrowed from a THB864 million net loss in 2Q 2016. Nok Air’s total revenue increased 14.1% year-over-year (YOY) to THB3.4 billion. Passenger revenue rose 7% as the airline increased its air fares, even as system traffic declined 2% during the quarter.
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