NewsAir Berlin jets help drive EasyJet Europe expansionLow-cost carrier EasyJet's new European operation has surpassed the size of the airline's Swiss division having taken its fleet to 28 jets. The Vienna-based operation was established earlier this year in response to EasyJet's need to secure traffic rights following the UK's withdrawal from the European Union.
LinkViva Air firms order for 50 A320sLatin American low-cost operator Viva Air has firmed its order for 50 Airbus A320-family jets, which the company disclosed during the Paris air show. It will be taking 35 A320neos and 15 regular A320s which will be distributed among the group's VivaColombia and new Viva Air Peru carriers.
LinkSeoul rejects Fly Yangyang and Aero K license applicationsSouth Korea’s transport ministry has rejected license applications from prospective budget carriers Fly Yangyang and Aero K, citing concerns about their financial strength and competition in the market. The rejections followed advice from a committee that recommended the minimum capital requirement for new carriers be raised to W30 billion ($27.9 million), up from 15, and the minimum number of aircraft rise from three to five.
LinkKorean Air becomes third operator for CSeriesBombardier delivered the first of 10 CS300s to Korean Air on 22 December, adding a third customer to receive a member of the CSeries family and notching the 15th delivery overall this year.
LinkSupplier selection nears for Russian-Chinese CR929Russia's United Aircraft says the project's board has approved the clearance of the 'Gate 2' development stage for the CRAIC CR929. It has also recommended that the steering committee for the program discuss transition to the next phase.
LinkEASA issues Trent 1000 emergency airworthiness directiveThe European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) instructing the operators of a small group of Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines to ensure that no twin-engined airliner has both engines from the affected batch. It says that any airline that operates an aircraft with two of the engines should “de-pair” them to reduce the risk of a double inflight shutdown (IFSD).
LinkATL blackout cost Delta up to $50 million, reimbursement talks to comeDelta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian estimates the 11-hour power blackout at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) Dec. 17 cost the company between $25 and $50 million, a Delta spokesperson confirmed to ATW Dec. 21. The Atlanta-based airline is planning to “have conversations with Georgia Power and ATL on reimbursement,” Delta said.
LinkUK eases ban on Saudi PEDsThe UK government has relaxed the ban on large personal electronic devices (PEDs) being carried in the cabin of aircraft operating from two Saudi Arabian airports.
LinkRussian authorities direct airlines to decrease charter flightsRussia’s Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsia, has directed six carriers to cut their winter charter programs because there is not enough aircraft to cover planned flights, the authority said in a statement Dec. 21. Azur Air has reduced 15% of its charter program volume, while Royal Flight has cut 5% of its charter flights.
LinkAllegiant Air, flight attendants secure first contractAfter six years of negotiations, Las Vegas-based ultra LCC Allegiant Air and its 1,150 flight attendants have a contract. Allegiant’s flight attendants, as represented by the Transport Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO (TWU) voted to ratify the collective bargaining agreement, their first-ever with the company, which went into effect Dec. 21 for a five-year term.
LinkSingapore Airlines, Scoot to expand European networkSingapore Airlines (SIA) Group and its LCC subsidiary Scoot plan to further grow their European network. “This [European] expansion is for both Singapore Airlines and Scoot—it is an ongoing process.”
LinkEmirates to launch third London route to StanstedEmirates Airline is launching services to London Stansted Airport (STN), the Dubai-based carrier’s third London route, starting June 8, 2018. The daily service will use the airline’s new Boeing 777-300ER featuring the latest cabin interiors, which includes first-class fully enclosed private suites.
LinkLufthansa makes seasonal network changes for Munich-based A380s Lufthansa—which plans to transfer five of 14 Airbus A380s from its Frankfurt home base to Munich from March 25, 2018—has announced seasonal network changes. The A380s will be used on long-haul destinations from the Bavaria state capital in southern Germany to Los Angeles (California), Hong Kong and Beijing (China) throughout the summer season. During the winter, A380 destinations will connect Munich with Miami (Florida), Shanghai Pudong (China) and San Francisco (California).
LinkBlock III Super Hornet upgrades to begin this springThe first US Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet to receive service life modification upgrades will arrive at Boeing’s St. Louis facility next April and will leave with an additional 3,000 flight hours of service life, Boeing’s vice president of F/A-18 programs tells FlightGlobal. Unlike the legacy Hornet fleet, the Super Hornet modification will not entail one large replacement such as the center barrel, says Dan Gillian. Instead, modifications will be distributed across the aircraft with a focus on corrosion, a perennial hurdle for the carrier-based aircraft.
LinkNew Delhi proceeds with deal for 83 Tejas fightersHindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has received a request for proposal (RFP) for 83 Tejas Mk-1A light combat aircraft from the Indian air force (IAF). On completion of negotiations, Hindustan Aeronautics is expected to receive a production order in late 2018.
LinkJapan KC-46 acquisition moves forwardThe US Air Force has awarded Boeing a $279 million contract to produce Japan's first KC-46 tanker aircraft. The contract is a key step in Tokyo's development of a new tanker capability. The decision to obtain three KC-46s in the 2020 time frame was originally announced in 2015.
LinkAG600 achieves 2017 first flight target - justThe AVIC AG600 amphibian aircraft conducted its first flight on Sunday 24 December. The aircraft took off from the Zhuhai airport runway at 09:39 local time and flew for 64 minutes, says AVIC in a statement.
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