NewsAir Canada preparing to compete in low-fare marketAir Canada is keeping an eye on discount airlines and will enter the market when it settles down, said Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick. "At this point, we are readying ourselves to compete, but we have not provided additional information on routes or fares as we first need to see what these new entrants will bring to market," he said.
LinkSouthwest maximizes revenue by flying cargo in passenger planesSouthwest Airlines uses analytics to to predict how much luggage passengers will check on a specific flight, then uses the extra space to carry high-value cargo, including critical medical supplies and organs for transplant.
LinkUnited Airlines' new video promotes safety, fun destinationsA new United Airlines in-flight safety video incorporates scenes from destinations served by the carrier with information about turbulence, seat belts and oxygen masks. The four-minute video will be available on all United flights by the end of the month.
LinkAmerican Airlines, Charlotte airport collaborate on gate expansionThe Street's Ted Reed writes that big things are happening at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, thanks to investments from American Airlines and the carrier's strong partnership with airport officials. The airport is undergoing a $2.5 billion improvement project that will add 25 new gates, all of which is being done without any PFC tax increases on passengers. "Charlotte is the only large hub in the country that does not have the maximum PFC," said Mike Minerva, American's vice president for government and airport affairs. "The way things are done in Charlotte is that airlines and the airport get together to decide what needs to be done." Airport aviation director Brent Cagle echoed Minerva's comments about their collaborative partnership: "We add facilities when they're needed by the airlines. We've never had anything but 100% agreement by the airlines."
LinkCAAC to allow smartphone use to access Wi-Fi on China’s airlinesThe Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) is loosening control over inflight smartphone use, setting up a process in which Chinese airlines can apply to CAAC to allow passengers the option of using mobile phones during flights to access Wi-Fi services.
LinkJapan Airlines orders four Boeing 787-8sJapan Airlines (JAL) has ordered four Boeing 787-8s, in an order valued at more than $900 million at list prices. The transaction, previously attributed to an unidentified customer, will expand JAL’s Dreamliner fleet to 49 aircraft.
LinkDeadline extended for Alitalia bidders Alitalia’s special administrators have given interested parties longer to make binding bids for the struggling Italian airline. The company said bidders would have until Oct. 16 to examine its data room and submit their binding bids, compared with a previous Oct. 2 deadline.
LinkCondor, Eurowings to take over airberlin Caribbean routesGerman leisure carrier Condor and Lufthansa Group LCC Eurowings will launch flights to the Caribbean from Dusseldorf from Sept. 25, following the closure of airberlin’s long-haul routes to these regions. Condor will wet lease one Airbus A330-200 on flights from Dusseldorf to Punta Cana and La Romana (Dominican Republic), Cancun (Mexico), Montego Bay (Jamaica) and Barbados, from November.
LinkFrench all-business airline La Compagnie orders two A321neosFrench all-business class carrier La Compagnie has ordered two Airbus A321neos, scheduled for delivery in 2019. The new aircraft—to be equipped with full-flat beds—will allow the carrier to accelerate its transatlantic development on Paris to New York flights.
LinkBrazil’s Azul to lease five A330-900neosAzul Brazilian Airlines plans to add five Airbus A330-900neos, which Dublin-based lessor Avolon will supply. The Brazilian airline said it would start taking delivery of the 298-seat aircraft in “late 2018.”
LinkAzimuth Airline’s first SSJ100 flight hits 100% load factorRussian startup Azimuth Airline, which began operations Sept. 21 with Rostov-on-Don to Moscow Vnukovo service, operated its first flight with a 100% seat load factor, Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Co. (SCAC) said. The carrier operates a fleet of Sukhoi Superjet 100s (SSJ100s); the first 100-seat aircraft was delivered in July.
LinkAAR to service Air Canada narrowbody Airbus, Embraer fleetIllinois-based aviation services specialist AAR has signed contracts to provide airframe maintenance on Air Canada’s fleet of narrowbody Airbus A319, A320 and A321 aircraft and Embraer E190s. The Airbus fleet MRO contract will cover 10 years, while the new MRO contract for the Embraer fleet is for five years.
LinkERA names new director generalThe European Regions Airline Association (ERA) has announced that Montserrat Barriga will be its new director general. She takes over the post from Simon McNamara, who left in July to become director of communications at UK-based regional carrier Flybe. Barriga, who will take up her new position Nov. 1, was previously director-international development & industry affairs at Spanish ERA member regional airline Binter Canarias.
LinkCape Air to begin taking 20 P2012s in 2019Niche US regional carrier Cape Air has reached an agreement with Italian aircraft maker Tecnam to begin taking delivery of 20 Tecnam P2012 Travellers in January 2019, the companies announce on 21 September. The 20 aircraft are among 100 P2012s that Cape Air intends to acquire, the companies say. The airline will use the type to replace a large and aging fleet of nine-seat Cessna 402s, executives have said.
LinkTemperature error behind Sunwing 737's near-overrunPreliminary analysis indicates that a temperature data-entry error introduced during take-off calculations resulted in a Sunwing Airlines Boeing 737-800's almost failing to become airborne during departure from Belfast. The aircraft's thrust setting was "grossly low", says the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch, and it barely managed to lift off from runway 07.
LinkBALPA urges Ryanair to improve working conditionsBALPA has declared its willingness to help Ryanair improve working conditions in order to facilitate recruitment and retention of pilots, after a lack of available flightcrew led to the budget carrier's cancellation of 2,100 flights over the next six weeks. The UK union is urging the airline to "do more to encourage pilots to stay with the airline, following news of its pilot holiday chaos" and to foster a "more attractive place for people to build their career".
LinkProbe opens into Emirates A380 descent below glideslopeUnited Arab Emirates investigators are probing a serious incident during which an Emirates Airbus A380 descended below the glideslope during an approach to Moscow Domodedovo. The General Civil Aviation Authority's accident investigation division tells FlightGlobal that the incident occurred on 10 September.
LinkAirbus foresees more China A330 ordersAirbus expects Chinese carriers to place orders for more A330 aircraft as a result of domestic capacity upgauging, says its chief operating officer and president of commercial aircraft Fabrice Bregier. Speaking at a media roundtable in Tianjin, Bregier notes that while narrowbodies make up the largest percentage of fleet in China, Chinese carriers have deployed between 50 to 60 widebodies on domestic services. This number is set to grow as China builds new airports, and as the country continues to grow international traffic.
LinkFirst Qantas 787-9 breaks coverQantas’s first Boeing 787-9 has emerged from the manufacturer’s paint shop, resplendent in the carrier’s new ‘Silveroo’ livery. The aircraft, which bears registration VH-ZNA, will be delivered to the carrier in October. It will initially fly on a series of domestic flights for crew familiarization and training before commencing regular scheduled services on the Melbourne-Los Angeles route in December.
LinkQatar closes in on Typhoon acquisitionQatar has signalled its intention to acquire 24 Eurofighter Typhoons, in a move which would further strengthen its future air combat capabilities. Details of the planned purchase emerged following a government-to-government meeting conducted in Doha on 17 September.
LinkAC-130J poised to hit initial operational capability targetThe US Air Force’s Lockheed Martin AC-130J gunship is set to reach initial operational capability this month, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) chief Lt Gen Brad Webb confirms. The AC-130J Ghostrider is still two years shy of combat, Webb said during the Air Force Association's annual Air, Space and Cyber conference outside Washington DC. AFSOC is developing the gunship by removing refuelling pods on the existing MC-130J and replacing them with weapons racks outfitted with precision strike packages. The Block 10 AC-130J configuration includes an internal 30mm gun, GPS-guided small diameter bombs and laser-guided missiles that will launch from the rear cargo door.
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