NewsA350-1000 clear for beyond-180min ETOPSAirbus has secured extended twin-engined operations clearance beyond 3h for the A350-1000. The -1000 is the larger of the two A350 family variants, and is powered by the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engine.
LinkMitsubishi readies MRJ90 for demo-flight debutMitsubishi Aircraft has brought its third MRJ90 test aircraft to the Farnborough air show, where the type is to make its flying display debut on 16 July. Painted in an All Nippon Airways livery, FTA-3 (JA23MJ) took off from the MRJ flight centre in Moses Lake, in the US state of Washington, at 05:53 local time on 9 July and landed at Farnborough at 19:19 local time the day after.
LinkCFM to restore ramp-up plan by year-endCFM International will not decide on increased production of its Leap programme until a delay in its existing ramp-up plan has been made up, as is targeted for later this year. Leap production fell behind schedule earlier this year because suppliers of a "very small number" of parts – in particular castings and forgings – did not meet production targets, executive vice-president and general manager Sebastien Imbourg said during a briefing in London on 14 July, ahead of the Farnborough air show.
LinkSpirit 2Q revenue projections rise; improved costs, completions citedFort Lauderdale, Florida-based ultra-LCC Spirit Airlines said it will report better-than-expected revenue for the 2018 second quarter, and has adjusted its 2Q total RASM guidance to reflect a 6.8% year-over-year (YOY) drop—at the lower end of Spirit’s previous 2Q guidance issued in April. Spirit said total 2Q revenue “came in more than $10 million higher than the mid-point of our implied guidance,” which Spirit had said earlier would be down 6.5%-7.5%.
LinkUK aviation regulator prepares for ‘disorderly’ Brexit The UK’s aviation regulator has given details of the work it is undertaking in the event of a “disorderly” Brexit, where the UK leaves the European Union (EU) without an agreed deal between the two parties. Concerns have been widely expressed that such an eventuality threatens a cessation of air services between the UK and the other 27 EU nations. Additionally, it raises the prospect of maintenance operations carried out in the UK or aviation components made in the UK not being approved or accepted because the UK will have left the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
LinkRyanair Irish pilot union calls for more strikes July 20 & 24 Ryanair’s Ireland-based pilots have called two more one-day strikes on July 20 and July 24, as a conflict with the LCC’s management continues despite ongoing talks between the two sides. The Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (IALPA), a branch of union Forsa, said in a statement that the union and management had found some common ground in July 11 talks on a proposal that a joint working group could help the parties agree on a fair and transparent method to govern base transfer arrangements and related matters, but had failed to reach agreement on the terms of reference for such a group.
LinkAustrian expects flight cancellations, delays July 25 as staff meetLufthansa subsidiary Austrian Airlines expects flight cancellations and interruptions July 25, as flight attendants and staff meet to consider a new collective wage agreement, which was announced May 1. The new agreement spells out salary increases and flexible flight duty regulations through 2021 and is expected to be signed in the very near future.
LinkIrkut MC-21-300 test aircraft flies in new colorIrkut’s Corp.’s second MC-21-300 prototype performed a flight painted in a new color July 11. “The white color was selected for painting the second aircraft to demonstrate high quality of airframe surface and precision of joints of fuselage sections,” Irkut said in a statement.
LinkAtlas Air, GoJet ink pilot pathway agreementAtlas Air Worldwide (AAW), ramping up to meet rising demand from cargo carriers looking for lift, has signed an agreement with GoJet Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of Trans States Holdings, that guarantees the regional carrier’s pilots interviews with the widebody freight-hauling specialist. Under the deal, the first of its kind for AAW, first officers at Bridgeton, Missouri-based GoJet with military experience will be eligible to interview at Atlas after one year. All other pilots will be eligible after two years.
LinkMalaysia Airlines to launch Hajj A380 flights to Saudi ArabiaMalaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) is preparing to deploy its Airbus A380s and other aircraft to transport passengers to Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj religious pilgrimage. The carrier expects to fly more than 15,000 people to Jeddah and Medina on special flights for Hajj pilgrims. MAB will operate 80 long-haul flights to these destinations from Kuala Lumpur using its A380s.
LinkMalaysia Airport Holdings see growth in JuneSpurred by the Eid Al-Fitr holidays and two weeks mid-term school break, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) saw positive growth across both international and domestic sectors in June.
LinkSelect flydubai flights to operate from DXB Terminal 3Dubai-based LCC flydubai has announced that flights to 10 destinations will move from Dubai International (DXB) Terminal 2 to Terminal 3 beginning Dec. 2. Other services will continue to operate from DXB Terminal 2 and Dubai World Central (DWC).
Link Virgin Australia boosts short-haul network Virgin Australia is boosting its flight schedule on short-haul international routes to New Zealand and the Pacific Islands over the southern summer peak season. The scale of the seasonal flights is similar to what the carrier has operated in previous years. However, it also provides more evidence that the airline will compete strongly in the Australia-New Zealand market following the breakup of its partnership with Air New Zealand at the end of October.
LinkGogo company overhaul includes possible saleInflight connectivity provider Gogo is considering a sale, splitting up the company or other exit plans, and has been approached with a “number of inquiries in the past few weeks,” top executives said in a July 13 teleconference. The news came as the executives unveiled a major overhaul of the Chicago company, called Gogo 2020, including cutting 30% of the workforce over the next two years—including 55 positions this month—and changing its business model, such as no longer subsidizing equipment installation for airline customers.
LinkCathay Pacific to codeshare on seven Brussels Airlines flightsHong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has enhanced its European network by signing a codeshare agreement with Brussels Airlines, adding to its partnerships with Lufthansa Group carriers.Under the new deal, Cathay will be able to codeshare on seven Brussels Airlines flights beyond its Brussels hub. The destinations covered are Berlin and Hamburg in Germany; Lyon, Marseilles and Toulouse in France; Oslo; and Prague.
LinkBritish Airways 777 diverts to Singapore after engine failureA Boeing 777-300ER operated by British Airways suffered an engine failure immediately after taking off from Singapore, requiring it to dump fuel and make a single-engine landing. As the aircraft, registration G-STBE, climbed over Malaysia on flight BA16 to London Heathrow, passengers felt a moment of shuddering.
LinkDelta pulls newer MD-90s over MD-88s in fleet updateDelta Air Lines quietly began removing Boeing MD-90s from its fleet in the second quarter, as it continues to shift towards larger gauge aircraft. The Atlanta-based carrier removed 12 of the 158-seat aircraft from its "operating aircraft fleet" during the period, a quarterly financial filing shows. It ended the period with 53 MD-90s.
Link Turkish receives first higher-capacity A321neoAirbus has today delivered the first A321neo ACF (Airbus Cabin Flex) to Turkish Airlines. The aircraft features a single pair of doors forward of the wing, four newly introduced over-wing exits, and repositioned doors aft of the wing, which can be deactivated. A pair of standard doors is located at the rear of the cabin.
LinkJetBlue decision fails to dent Embraer's confidenceEmbraer's confidence in its E-Jet E2 offering appears to remain buoyant, as the Brazilian manufacturer maintains that its momentum will not be disrupted by its recent defeat to rival Airbus in a campaign for JetBlue Airways' business.
LinkLM-100J makes Farnborough debutThe original L-100 appearance at Farnborough was made by an aircraft expected to be used for ferrying Rolls-Royce RB.211 engines to Lockheed's L-1011 TriStar assembly line in Palmdale, California. Lockheed has a broad list of applications planned for the LM-100J, the re-engined and heavily updated successor of the original civil version.
LinkAirbus defence unit close to A400M export dealAfter enduring a tough time with its A400M tactical transport, Airbus Defence & Space appears poised to secure its first new export order for the Atlas. "The tide has turned now, with the [partner] nations using the aircraft in operational and humanitarian relief missions," says Fernando Alonso, the company's head of military aircraft.
LinkF-35B off to a flier with UK squadronWithout in any way wanting to tempt fate, the UK's long-anticipated introduction of the stealthy Lockheed Martin F-35B appears to be running smoothly, with its first four squadron examples having touched down at their Norfolk home on 6 June some two months ahead of schedule.
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