NewsAACO chief responds to EU competition rules redraftArab Air Carriers Organization (AACO) secretary general Abdul Teffaha has struck out at new rules aimed at better protecting European Union (EU) airlines, arguing that millennial travelers will “not allow protectionism.”
LinkNorwegian raises $168 million to lift finances, warns of 1Q operating lossesNorwegian Air Shuttle said it raised NOK1.3 billion ($168 million) in a private share placement as the LCC pushes ahead with its expansion amid rising fuel prices and currency effects, which are making for a “challenging” first quarter. Norwegian has been shaking up the transatlantic travel market, using its rapidly growing fleet to launch new destinations and challenge legacy carriers on an important section of their networks with cheap tickets.
LinkERA seeks increase to pilot retirement ageRegional airline lobby group European Regions Airline Association (ERA) wants to increase the pilot retirement age cap beyond 65, using case study work that is being performed by member carrier ASL Airlines Hungary. ASL Airlines Hungary is working with the Hungarian CAA and aircraft Hungarian aeromedical specialist Pharma Flight to collect data and benchmark the performance of older pilots.
LinkUkraine LCC startup SkyUp Airlines orders 5 Boeing 737 MAXsUkrainian startup LCC SkyUp Airlines has signed a firm order for five Boeing MAX aircraft, comprising three 737 MAX 10s and two 737 MAX 8s, making it the first Eastern European carrier to order a MAX 10. Total value of the order is $624 million at list prices. According to SkyUp general director Yevhen Khainatsky, the Kiev-based airline expects to receive its air operator’s certificate from the Ukraine state aviation service this month, and plans to begin charter operations in April from several Ukraine cities to 16 international leisure destinations, including Egypt, Spain, Turkey and Dubai.
LinkRussian regional RusLine moves base from Domodedovo to VnukovoRussia’s regional carrier RusLine moved its Moscow base from Domodedovo to Vnukovo March 21. RusLine operates Bombardier CRJ100/200 service on 13 routes (one international and 12 domestic) from Moscow. It flies to Russia’s Belgorod, Vorkuta, Voronezh, Ivanovo, Izhevsk, Kirov, Kursk, Lipetsk, Penza, Tambov, Ulyanovsk and Elista and Germany’s Leipzig.
LinkUnited suspends pet-cargo service after spate of incidentsFollowing three widely publicized pet-related incidents last week, United Airlines suspended its PetSafe travel offering “to conduct a thorough and systematic review,” the Chicago-based airline said March 20. The suspension does not affect the transport of small pets in-cabin, United emphasized. “We are taking this voluntary action … [to] make improvements that will ensure the best possible experience for our customers and their pets,” United said. The carrier will honor PetSafe reservations through March 20, but will not accept any new reservations. United expects to complete its review by May 1.
LinkHainan Airlines makes missed fuel payments, continues international expansionHainan Airlines has made up missed fuel payments before the March 15 deadline and has continued international expansion plans by opening three routes from Shenzhen this week. Earlier this month, South China Bluesky Aviation Oil, a subsidiary of China National Aviation Fuel Group, threatened to stop supplying fuel to Hainan Airlines on March 16 if the company failed to make up delinquent payments since October 2017.
LinkJetBlue: Mint success is benchmark for transatlantic flyingThe decision of JetBlue Airways to convert some of its Airbus A321neo orders to the longer-range (LR) version and launch transatlantic service to Europe hinges on the potential to replicate returns the carrier sees on its dual-class Mint transcontinental flying, executives said.
LinkDOT taps United for subsidized service to Maine airportThe US Department of Transportation has selected United Airlines to provide subsidized service to Northern Maine Regional Airport in Presque Isle. The airline will offer a daily flight to its hub at New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport.
LinkAir Canada exec takes on corporate communications dutiesAir Canada's Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, senior vice president, People and Culture, is taking over responsibility for corporate communications at the airline, including social media, employee communications and corporate reputation.
LinkBoeing delivers first 737 Max 9 to Thai Lion AirTen months after handing over the first 737 Max 8, Boeing has now delivered the second major variant in re-engined single-aisle family with Thai Lion Air taking the first 737-9 in a 21 March ceremony in Renton, Washington. The stretched single-aisle powered by CFM International Leap-1B engines completed a 10-month certification effort in January, clearing the way for the Lion Air subsidiary to accept the first aircraft from Boeing.
LinkAerolineas grounds 15 737s after hailstormAerolineas Argentinas has grounded 15 Boeing 737 aircraft in its domestic and regional fleet, after the aircraft were damaged by a severe hailstorm on 14 March at Buenos Aires Aeroparque airport. The SkyTeam airline has cancelled multiple domestic flights until 25 March and temporarily halted all domestic fare sales.
LinkSaratov faces restrictions as Russian An-148s scrutinisedRussian authorities have restricted the operating certificate of Saratov Airlines following inspections of the carrier in the aftermath of a fatal Antonov An-148 crash. Federal air transport regulator Rosaviatsia has limited the validity of Saratov's certificate to 27 April.
LinkVirgin Australia seeing fruit from Alliance Airlines tie-upVirgin Australia’s growing wet-lease and codeshare relationship with Alliance Airlines has been performing well for both carriers. “Alliance really came on board in the first half of last year. The rollout in Queensland went extremely well,” says Virgin Australia group executive Rob Sharp.
LinkEurope a ‘long-term plan’ for Thai AirAsia XThai AirAsia X is eyeing potential flights to Europe, but this year will be focused on bolstering its North Asian network. “It’s a long-term plan, we have been studying again,” said the carrier’s chief executive Nadda Buranasiri during a discussion session at the Routes Asia event in Brisbane.
Link Second BelugaXL will be first into service Airbus's high-capacity Beluga fleet is likely to peak at eight aircraft before the new XL version fully replaces the current A300-600ST. Conversion work has commenced on the second BelugaXL – MSN1853 – which will be the first of the type to be delivered for operational service next year, while the first, MSN1824, is having the first of its two Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines fitted.
LinkIsle of Man registry hits 1,000th registration milestoneThe Isle of Man Aircraft Registry (IOMAR) has notched up its 1,000th M-prefixed registration – a Gulfstream G650ER: M-JSWB. The milestone comes a little under 11 years since the British Crown Dependency burst onto the business aviation scene with the launch of the first aircraft register dedicated to privately-owned types.
LinkUSAF criticises Boeing on new KC-46 delay concernsSecretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson heavily criticised Boeing for what she believes will be further delivery delays of KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling tankers during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on 20 March. The USAF had expected Boeing to deliver the first KC-46 by the end of 2017. Now, the airframe manufacturer said it will deliver by the second quarter of 2018, but the USAF believes it will miss that target date too.
LinkGermany studies market for Sea Lynx replacementGermany is proceeding with a project to replace its navy's fleet of 22 Westland Sea Lynx anti-submarine warfare helicopters, but does not yet have a date for launching the procurement. The fleet is set to retire in 2025, and in December last year the "functional requirements" for a replacement were approved by the German chief of defence, says the Bundeswehr.
LinkWinglet-equipped C-27J to arrive in 2019Leonardo will from 2019 deliver its C-27J Spartan battlefield airlifter in a new baseline configuration featuring updated avionics and winglets as standard. Flight tests of the modernized variant are due to begin later this year, with the modifications in 2017 having passed the critical design review milestone.
LinkLatin America shows signs of defense spending recoveryAs military aircraft makers occupy the exhibit halls of the 19th FIDAE air show in Santiago, Chile, in early April, the focus of the Chilean air force's acquisitions staff is likely to be about 8,000 miles away, in a small city in southeastern Poland.
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