NewsWizz Air to open largest training center in Budapest Central and eastern European LCC Wizz Air plans to open a new training and education center in Budapest by the end of 2018. The new 3,800 sq m facility, which is located nearby Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, features two new full-flight simulators, one fix-based simulator and a cabin-emergency evacuation training device.
LinkRoyal Jordanian inches back into black as turnaround gathers paceJordan’s national carrier, Royal Jordanian, broke even in 2017, a significant improvement on the previous year’s performance.
LinkFrontier pilots say talks are at an impasse, seek arbitrationDenver-based ultra LCC Frontier Airlines pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), are petitioning the National Mediation Board (NMB) to release the union from further contract negotiations, saying talks are at an impasse and “further mediation will be futile.” In a letter submitted to the NMB April 27, ALPA detailed the April 17-19 mediation session at which talks broke down.
LinkAzerbaijan Airlines steps up Saudi linksAzerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) plans a major increase in its services to Saudi Arabia and has started negotiations to operate flights from the small Caucasian nation to four cities. These are in addition to recently announced weekly AZAL flights from Baku to the Saudi capital of Riyadh and the eastern provincial capital of Dammam, both of which will start in June. Both cities will be served by Airbus A320s.
LinkKenya Airways to add capacity as leased aircraft returnKenya Airways is adding capacity as it prepares take back two Boeing 787-8s and three 777-300ERs as their leases expire over the next two years. The 787-8s that were on a three-year wet lease arrangement with Oman Air will return in 2019 and the 777s that were leased to Turkish Airlines will return in 2019/20.
LinkSaudi’s flynas looks to dry-lease market for pilgrimage surgeSaudi Arabian hybrid carrier flynas again plans to increase its exposure to the long-haul sector, as it seeks to take advantage of growing numbers of religious travelers to the country. The airline had a brief foray into the long-haul market in 2014, when it launched services to several Far East nations, as well as to the UK and Morocco, using leased Airbus A330s. The venture was halted within months, when load factors failed to live up to expectations.
LinkSaratov Airlines’ AOC extended through May 30; rebrands as Ivolga Russian authorities have extended the air operator’s certificate (AOC) for Saratov Airlines through May 30 after the carrier resolved issues found in a March inspection that grounded the Antonov An-148 fleet. Authorities carried out inspections in March after a Saratov Airlines An-148, en route from Moscow Domodedovo-Orsk, crashed several minutes after takeoff on Feb. 11. All 71 passengers and crew were killed.
LinkLion Air 737-800 veers off runway after landing in rainA Lion Air Boeing 737-800 skidded off the runway and came to a stop in soft ground after landing in rainy conditions at Gorontalo's Jalaluddin airport on 29 April. The aircraft, registered PK-LOO, was operating a Makassar-Gorontalo service with 174 passengers and seven crew onboard when the incident happened. Evacuation was done through emergency slides, with two passengers sent for medical treatment.
LinkVietnam Airlines A321 landed on unfinished runwayThe Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) is investigating a serious incident in which a Vietnam Airlines Airbus A321 landed on a runway that is still under construction. The incident happened at Nha Trang on 29 April at 14:53 local time, when the aircraft landed incorrectly on what will eventually become runway 02R, as opposed to runway 02, which will become runway 02L, says the CAAV.
LinkHong Kong probes Nippon Cargo 747-8F engine fireHong Kong’s civil aviation department is investigating an engine fire involving a Nippon Cargo Airlines Boeing 747-8 Freighter. The incident happened on 29 March when the aircraft, registered JA18KZ, was approaching Hong Kong International airport. It had departed from Tokyo Narita.
LinkSpring Airlines posts strong jump in Q1 profitSpring Airlines' operating profit more than quadrupled to CNY508 million ($80.4 million) in the first quarter of the year, up from CNY119 million in the previous corresponding period. Operating revenue during the three months jumped 25.6% to CNY3.23 billion, while costs climbed 17.9% to CNY2.89 billion.
LinkHainan Airlines sells 1/5 of its Azul stakeHainan Airlines has sold 20% of its stake in Brazil’s Azul to United Continental’s subsidiary Calfinco. The deal is valued at $138 million, and will leave Hainan Airlines with a 17.9% stake in Azul.
LinkOver half of A330 output next year to be A330neosAirbus is expecting more than half of its A330 deliveries next year will be re-engined A330neo twinjets. Entry into service of the A330neo is scheduled to take place around mid-2018 with the initial delivery of an A330-900 to TAP Portugal.
LinkGulfstream revenues slide but 2018 outlook remains goodGeneral Dynamics' aerospace division recorded a 12% slide in first-quarter revenues, thanks to lower-than-predicted delivery output at Gulfstream. The unit – which also includes completions and fixed-base operation provider Jet Aviation – saw revenues tumble from $2.07 billion in the three months ended 31 March 2017, to $1.82 billion this year. Earnings slipped by 21% to $346 million, from $439 million in the same period a year earlier.
LinkUS policy shift could open door for Israeli UAV salesIsraeli manufacturers could benefit from a decision by Washington to ease restrictions on the US defence industry's sale of armed unmanned air vehicles, although they are likely to face increased competition. The Trump administration in mid-April announced that a new policy will allow US contractors to offer armed UAVs under direct commercial sale, rather than via the Foreign Military Sales mechanism.
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