NewsHow Monarch ran out of room in crowded market The demise of Monarch Airlines during its 50th year of operations may have surprised plenty of its customers, but it was perhaps inevitable that there would be a casualty in the overcrowded market from the UK to popular Mediterranean holiday resorts. UK-based Monarch completed its transition to scheduled-only short-haul operator in mid-2014 – a strategy shift effected not because it saw any great untapped potential in that sector, but because its previously core charter market was "structurally flawed", the carrier's chief executive Andrew Swaffield said at the time.
LinkOrders slow as holidays kick inPreliminary figures from Flight Fleets Analyzer show there were 37 new orders booked during August – predominantly the firming up of preliminary commitments made during June’s Paris air show. There were also a dozen swaps, resulting in a relatively quiet month for net orders, 72% down on August 2016.
LinkSpiceJet considers single-engine Kodiak for regional servicesIndian low-cost carrier SpiceJet is exploring the possibility of obtaining Quest Kodiak single-engine turboprop aircraft, as part of its effort to enhance regional connectivity. The carrier has held talks with Japan's Setouchu Holdings, which owns Quest, about operating the aircraft as an amphibian, able to operate both from runways and water.
LinkLocal regulator states ire at HK ExpressHong Kong's Civil Aviation Department (CAD) has expressed irritation with Hong Kong Express Airways' cancellation of 18 flights in early October, citing previous concerns about staff turnover in the low-cost carrier's safety department.
LinkZunum launches hybrid-electric aircraft for regional marketSeeking to serve a neglected market for inexpensive, short-range air transport, Zunum Aero formally launched development of a six-to-12-seat hybrid-electric vehicle on 5 October and promised to deliver the aircraft within five years, says company founder Ashish Kumar.
LinkBoeing agrees to acquire autonomy pioneer Aurora Flight Sciences Boeing has agreed to acquire Aurora Flight Sciences as the company grapples with plotting an innovation strategy amidst fast-moving developments in composite structures, autonomous systems and electric propulsion. “This is a new chapter for the Boeing company,” says Greg Hyslop, Boeing’s chief technology officer. “The aerospace industry is going to be changing as we move into the future. There a lot of attention around drones, unmanned and autonomous vehicles. Aurora has been an industry leader in these technology areas, so this positions us well for whatever that future might be in the aerospace industry.”
LinkEmirates named new launch operator for 777-9Emirates has jumped to the front of the line when Boeing begins deliveries of the 777-9 in less than three years, the manufacturer confirms. Boeing previously announced that Lufthansa would be the first airline to receive the re-engined and re-winged 400-seater.
LinkBoeing starts building first 737 Max 7Boeing workers are now building components for the 737 Max 7, the third of five major variants planned for the re-engined narrowbody, the company announces on 4 October. The first 19.8m (65ft) wing spar for the 737-7 entered Boeing’s production system this week at the Renton, Washington, factory complex. Entry into service is expected in January 2019 with launch operator Southwest Airlines.
LinkUSAF teases JSTARS decision for end of OctoberThe US Air Force could have a decision on the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) recapitalisation programme by the end of the October, the service’s top civilian hinted during a 5 October event in Washington.
LinkParamount Group bolsters Dassault Mirage F1 fleetSouth Africa's Paramount Group has acquired four twin-seat Dassault Mirage F1s from the French government to support aggressor training. The surplus French air force fighters will be operated by its Paramount Aerospace Systems subsidiary.
LinkBelgium casts doubts on Rafale offerFrance's bid to offer the Dassault Rafale to Belgium appears increasingly doomed following comments from the latter's defense minister. Under questioning from fellow lawmakers in the Belgian parliament, defence minister Steven Vandeput said Paris had not responded correctly to a request for proposals (RfP) covering the replacement of its Lockheed Martin F-16 fleet.
LinkFlying to meet rising bandwith demandBandwidth demand from business aviation customers is stronger than ever. In-flight wi-fi providers offering a variety of solutions are competing fiercely with one another to come out on top. While Inmarsat and ViaSat continue to slug it out for market share in the satellite-based connectivity space, US-based Gogo Business Aviation recently launched its new and improved 4G air-to-ground service, Avance L5, for which it says sales are progressing well.
LinkIreland's Dublin Airport to deploy 20 biometric entry gatesThe Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service will deploy 20 biometric ABC eGates at Dublin Airport. The biometric gates, supplied by VisionBox, will authenticate e-passports and Irish Passport Identification Cards.
LinkBelgium takes legal action against Ryanair over flight cancellationsBelgium’s deputy prime minister is launching legal action against Ryanair for unfair commercial practices as the fallout from the Irish LCC’s cancellation of thousands of flights—which came about after it mishandled scheduling of pilots’ leave—continues.
LinkChina Eastern and Delta complete Air France-KLM buy-inSkyTeam members Air France, Delta Air Lines and China Eastern Airlines have completed a series of share transactions aimed at strengthening their strategic partnership. Under the agreement, which was originally announced July 27, China Eastern and Atlanta-based Delta are each taking a 10% stake in Air France-KLM, which will in turn acquire 31% of UK-based long-haul carrier Virgin Atlantic.
LinkEurowings asks passengers to vote on potential new routesGerman LCC Eurowings is linking up passenger engagement with its route development strategy by asking customers to vote for the route they want the airline to fly. The Lufthansa Group wholly owned subsidiary launched the “You vote, we fly” campaign Oct. 4, giving passengers a choice of 10 European short-haul routes.
LinkMonarch collapse frees up maintenance slotsThe collapse of Monarch Airlines—which accounted for around 50% of Monarch Aircraft Engineering’s customer base—has freed up maintenance slots over the 2017/18 winter season managing director Chris Dare said.
LinkTAP meets mechanic demand with two-prong approachTAP Maintenance & Engineering will celebrate its 30th anniversary of ab initio training for mechanics in November, which is a milestone for its EASA pat 147 training school in Portugal.
LinkAir New Zealand reveals new sustainability plansAir New Zealand is introducing new sustainability initiatives, including increasing its use of airport gate power and reusing a wide range of inflight products. The carrier expects to save a significant amount of fuel by plugging aircraft into ground electricity supplies when they are parked at gates.
LinkBoeing 3Q deliveries up 12.2%; Ryanair takes most new aircraft YTDBoeing has delivered 554 commercial aircraft as of Sept. 30, including 202 aircraft during the third quarter alone, the US-based manufacturer said Oct. 5. This is a 1.5% increase on year to-date deliveries over 2016, and a 12.2% year-over-year increase in third-quarter deliveries.
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