NewsA330neo arrives in Atlanta on route-proving flight with TAP Airbus is continuing its route-proving program toward A330neo certification, completing a 2-hr. leg from Chicago O’Hare to Atlanta Hartsfield July 7. This part of the testing is using an A330-900neo that will be delivered to TAP Air Portugal, which has ordered 21 of the type.
LinkAirbus decreases A320neo glider fleet; forecasts 4.4% demand growth Airbus has started reducing the number of A320neo family “gliders” awaiting engines at its facilities in Toulouse and Hamburg.
LinkEnders criticizes British government on lack of Brexit progress Airbus CEO Tom Enders has accused the British government of having “no clue, or no consensus” of how to achieve Brexit—when the UK leaves the European Union (EU)—without severe harm. In his most harshly worded criticism of Brexit yet, Enders, speaking in London July 6, he said Brexit “in whatever form” would be damaging to the aerospace industry, and “damaging for the UK whatever the outcome maybe.”
LinkStartup Green Africa Airways secures investment Nigerian startup Green Africa Airways has completed its initial financing push in partnership with pan-African investment manager Kuramo Capital, and has begun negotiations for its future fleet. The so-called Series A financing marks Green Africa Airways’ first major institutional round of financing.
LinkReports: Gulf Air drops CSeries order Confusion surrounded the status of Gulf Air’s order for Bombardier CSeries regional jets July 6, as reports on several European aviation sites suggested the Bahraini carrier had canceled the deal. Bombardier insisted the contract was still valid.
LinkGaruda Indonesia, unions ink agreement to avoid strikesGaruda Indonesia has averted a strike threat following an agreement with key employee unions. An airline spokesman told ATW’s sister publication Aviation Daily the agreement has been signed by management, the pilots’ association and another employee union. As part of the deal, the employee groups have committed to not carry out previous threats to hold a strike this month.
LinkEthiopian Airlines to enter aircraft interiors market Ethiopian Airlines Group will start manufacturing aircraft-interior components in Ethiopia, after forming a partnership with German cabin specialist ACM Aerospace. Following a feasibility study, Ethiopian said July 5 it has agreed to produce aircraft seat covers, safety belts, carpets and other interior parts for ACM Aerospace.
LinkAustrian Airlines adjusts long-haul network, cuts five destinations Lufthansa subsidiary Austrian Airlines plans to alter its long-haul network and eliminate loss-making routes from Vienna to Hong Kong, Havana (Cuba) and Colombo (Sri Lanka) at the end of October.
LinkNorwegian regional Widerøe increases overseas linksNorwegian regional carrier Widerøe has signed a codeshare agreement with Air France. The move comes after Air France’s partner KLM initiated a similar arrangement with the Norwegian airline earlier this year. The new agreement will be of particular importance to Norwegians living in rural districts, who will now have access to a much greater portfolio of destinations, Air France-KLM Norway sales director Halvor Gløersen said.
LinkUK airports group sees continuing growthLong-haul growth at two of its three airports saw Manchester Airports Group (MAG) return an increased net profit from continuing operations for its 2017-18 financial year of £122.5 million ($161.9 million), up from £117.4 million. MAG made the profit on revenues up 10.2% at £818.1 million, compared to a restated figure of £742.7 million. The latter figure was restated due to the adoption of IFRS 15 financial reporting rules.
LinkAfghan national carrier seeks external assistanceAriana Afghan Airlines (AAA) has issued a request for proposal (RFP) for management experts to help it out financially.
LinkRomania’s Tarom issues RFP to dry lease 13 regional jets Romanian flag carrier Tarom has issued a request for proposal (RFP) to dry lease up to 13 regional jets, the Romanian flag carrier announced in a tender. According to the documents provided by the state-owned carrier, the requested aircraft must offer a seat capacity of between 70 and 120 passengers in a two-class configuration. Minimum range required is 1,400 nautical miles; maximum takeoff weight is 62 tonnes.
LinkEASA certifies ATR 72-600 FFSATR has received certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for a new ATR 72-600 full flight simulator (FFS) based at its headquarters in Toulouse. Manufactured by CAE, ATR said the new FFS will enable the turboprop manufacturer to conduct some 5,000 additional training hours per year. Within a period of 18 months, ATR has put three simulators into service, and another one will soon be installed at a location that remains to be determined.
LinkEgyptAir crash probe logjam frustrates French investigatorsFrench investigators have openly criticised the Egyptian probe into the fatal loss of an EgyptAir Airbus A320 two years ago, after the inquiry was turned over to judicial authorities. The A320, operating a service from Paris to Cairo on 19 May 2016, departed from its cruise altitude of 37,000ft and came down in the Mediterranean Sea.
LinkAirbus touts A330neo flexibility in quest to replace 767sAirbus claims that the flexibility of the Airbus A330neo makes it a strong candidate to replace the aging fleet of Boeing 767s and other widebodies at US carriers. Airlines can customise the A330neo family, which includes the -800 and -900, to have lower maximum takeoff weights (MTOW) or a lower thrust rating that, while also reducing the range of the aircraft, reduces the operating costs, says Peter Finn, A330 family product marketing manager for customer affairs at Airbus.
Link Airbus forecasts 20-year demand for 37,400 aircraftAirbus is predicting demand for almost 37,400 new passenger and freighter aircraft over the next 20 years. This total is around 2,500 more than the figure the airframer gave in last year's outlook.
LinkRegulators propose new rule for engine bird ingestionEngine companies bidding for Boeing’s potential New Mid-sized Airplane (NMA) could face a new safety requirement proposed by regulators in response to a 2009 bird strike incident that caused an Airbus A320 to make an emergency landing in the Hudson River.
LinkRomanian plans on hold for Airbus HelicoptersAirbus Helicopters remains locked in an impasse with the Romanian government over a possible order for new rotorcraft which has left the manufacturer's industrial plans in the country on hold. The airframer had intended to launch production of the H215 heavy-twin at the new facility in Brasov via Airbus Helicopters Industries, a local company it created to run the plant; final assembly activities were due to start last year.
LinkAirbus urges pan-European solution to future combat air systemAirbus Defence & Space has urged Europe to come together to work on a future combat air system, warning that the bloc cannot support the development of several competing platforms. Speaking at a pre-Farnborough air show media briefing, Dirk Hoke, chief executive of the division, said any program for a sixth-generation fighter "had to be a full European solution".
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