NewsIAG 'disappointed' after losing Niki to rival bidderBritish Airways parent IAG has confirmed that its bid for Austrian carrier Niki has not succeeded, following a change of insolvency proceedings for the Air Berlin operation. Niki has been widely reported as having been sold to Laudamotion, a company controlled by former Formula 1 racing driver and aviation entrepreneur Niki Lauda. The reports cite the carrier's administrators.
LinkEasyJet outlines trading and Tegel impact on full yearUK budget carrier EasyJet is putting its consensus full-year pre-tax profit at £475 million ($662 million) following its acquisition of Air Berlin assets and the launch of a Berlin Tegel operation. Its previous headline consensus, prior to the acquisition, had been around £505 million.
LinkHard landing in turbulence damaged Virgin Australia ATR 72A hard landing in turbulence on 19 November 2017 resulted in substantial damage to a Virgin Australia ATR 72-600, says Australia investigators in a preliminary report. The turboprop was operating a scheduled service from Sydney to Canberra, and conducting a visual approach to runway 35, when the incident happened. There were 67 passengers and five crew onboard.
LinkTwo US lawmakers throw support behind Bombardier in trade disputeTwo US lawmakers have written the head of the US International Trade Commission to express support for Bombardier in that company's trade dispute with Boeing. The letters from Alabama congressman Bradley Byrne and Kansas senator Jerry Moran – both Republicans – come days before four trade commissioners will vote on whether Bombardier's sale of CS100s to Delta Air Lines in 2016 caused harm to Boeing.
LinkATR bullish on 2018 Chinese market accessTurboprop manufacturer ATR expects to gain Chinese certification of its 600-series models this year, as it bids to enter the country's market with the aircraft family's latest variant. ATR chief executive Christian Scherer said, speaking at a results briefing in Toulouse on 22 January, that the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has accepted an application to certificate the aircraft.
LinkAirlines add flights for Super Bowl-bound fansCarriers including United Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Sun Country Airlines are adding flights to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport during the first weekend in February to accommodate fans who want to attend the Super Bowl.
LinkAmerican Airlines seeks FAA's nod to keep D.C.-Mich. serviceAmerican Airlines is looking to get approval from the Federal Aviation Administration and US Department of Transportation to continue service between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Capital Region International Airport in Ann Arbor, Mich. The airline needs an extension of its slot exemption at Reagan National to continue the service.
LinkMaine airport first in US to use 100% recycled de-icing fluidPortland International Jetport in Maine is the first airport in the nation to use 100% recycled aircraft de-icing fluid. The airport has been collecting used de-icing fluid for six years to protect local groundwater and is now having contaminants removed so the fluid can be reused.
LinkReview: Hawaiian Airlines flight from Auckland to HonoluluIvanka Zonich describes her flight from Auckland, New Zealand, to Honolulu, Hawaii, aboard a Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330 jet. Zonich flew in the Economy Extra Comfort class and writes the amenities, food and service were excellent throughout the flight.
LinkTSA imposes enhanced cargo security rules on six Middle East airlinesSix Middle East airlines are being required by the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to implement additional security protocols for air cargo being transported to the US from seven Middle East airports. TSA is mandating the airlines comply with the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS) program, a pilot program in which airlines can voluntarily participate. But ACAS will no longer be voluntary for the six Middle East airlines operating from five countries (Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates), according to TSA.
LinkUnited plans aggressive domestic capacity growth from 2018-2020United Airlines plans to grow system capacity 4%-6% year-over-year (YOY) in 2018, 2019 and 2020, an aggressive pace of growth that is likely to be faster than main rivals American Airlines’ and Delta Air Lines’ rate of capacity expansion over the next three years.
LinkKorean Air: Delta partnership would net stronger market positionKorean Air expects its planned joint venture (JV) with Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines to allow it to compete more effectively for transpacific connecting traffic.
LinkEmbraer’s Slattery is ‘positive’ about possible Boeing tie-upEmbraer Commercial Aviation CEO John Slattery has, for the first time, expressed support for the possible combination with Boeing, which was confirmed by the two companies Dec. 21, 2017.
LinkANA Group set to boost international, domestic and cargo flights Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) Group plans to boost international, domestic and air cargo frequencies in its 2018 fiscal year, in “response to increased air travel demand on a global scale,” the company said. ANA also plans to rapidly deploy its incoming fleet of new Boeing 787 and Airbus A320neo family aircraft. ANA’s 2018 fiscal year begins April 1.
Link Virgin Australia, Virgin Atlantic win codeshare approvalVirgin Australia and UK long-haul carrier Virgin Atlantic have gained permission to codeshare on the Australian carrier’s flights from Hong Kong and the US to Australia. Australia’s International Air Services Commission (IASC) granted approval for the codesharing under terms of the relevant bilateral agreements. In each case, the IASC determined it is unlikely there will be any harm to competition, and the deal would add to the number of carriers serving these routes.
LinkAerCap CEO: Boeing needs to correctly price NMA aircraft Boeing’s plan for a new mid-market airplane (NMA) has been met with some hesitation by the aircraft finance and leasing community, as illustrated in comments made by Dublin-based lessor AerCap CEO Aengus Kelly.
LinkVistaJet records 'strongest year ever' and plots expansionVistaJet recorded its “strongest year ever” in 2017, thanks to a surge in demand for its high-end subscription-based programme and large fleet of bespoke Bombardier business jets. The company, headquartered in Malta, says it flew a record 50,000 passengers last year, and while it increased its market share in all regions, Asia, the Middle East and the USA were the leading geographies.
LinkGulfstream launches G500 global demo tourGulfstream has embarked on a six-month global customer demonstration tour with its G500, ahead of US type certification and service entry for the super-large-cabin, long-range business jet early this year. The Savannah, Georgia-based airframer says the tour, which kicked off in Dallas, Texas in mid-January, will cover 12 locations including the US cities of Atlanta, New York and Chicago; Milan, Italy; Moscow, Russia; Beijing, China; and Melbourne, Australia.
LinkBoeing still evaluating whether to bid for Canadian fighter contractBoeing has yet to decide whether to compete for a contract worth $12-14.5 billion to replace Canada’s tactical fighter fleet. The airframer once had the deal in its pocket before Ottawa terminated plans to buy the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet after Boeing filed a trade complaint against Bombardier last May.
LinkItaly receives second G550 for AEW dutiesIsrael Aerospace Industries has delivered its second Gulfstream G550 conformal airborne early warning (CAEW) aircraft to the Italian air force, completing a reciprocal package of procurements signed by the nations in 2012.
LinkBell makes progress on V-247 unmanned tiltrotorBell Helicopter is continuing through the preliminary design review stage of its V-247 Vigilant unmanned tiltrotor, as it waits for its intended US Marine Corps customer to deliver precise requirements for the program. Launched in 2016, the V-247 is a self-funded development, which Bell is producing to address an emerging USMC need for a long-range expeditionary aircraft.
LinkMyanmar signs order for six Su-30sMyanmar is to obtain six Sukhoi Su-30 fighters under a deal signed during a visit by Russia's defence minister to the Southeast Asian nation. A report by Russia's TASS news agency quotes deputy defence minister Lt. Gen. Alexander Fomin as saying that the aircraft will be the main fighter aircraft of the Myanmar air force.
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