NewsAnswers sought to cause of Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX crash A Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashed into the sea shortly after takeoff from Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, with no reports of survivors. It is the first crash of a MAX narrowbody. Flight JT610 took off from Jakarta at around 6:20 a.m. local time on Oct. 29, and was scheduled to arrive at Depati Amir Airport in Pangkal Pinang City, Indonesia, at 7:20 a.m. However, the aircraft lost contact around 6:33 a.m. Indonesian officials have confirmed the crash, and aircraft debris and human remains have been recovered from the water. Search and rescue divers are on site. The fuselage has not yet been located and is believed to be more than 30 meters underwater in the Java Sea.
LinkLion 737 Max 8 crash the second worst in Indonesian historyThe fatal crash of a Lion Air Boeing 737 Max 8 on 29 October is the second worst air disaster in Indonesian history. The crash of flight JT610 claimed the lives of 189, of whom 181 were passengers and eight crew. Contact was lost with the aircraft (PK-LQP) 13 minutes after it departed Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta bound for Pangkal Pinang. The crew had reported technical difficulties and sought to return to Jakarta before the crash.
LinkRolls admits A330neo engine delays Rolls-Royce has acknowledged it has fallen behind on Trent 7000 shipments to Airbus that will cause knock-on delays to A330neo deliveries later this year and into 2019. News of the 7000 setback comes on the heels of fresh complaints from operators affected by extended Trent 1000-related groundings of Boeing 787s.
LinkAirbus tentatively aims to fly A330-800 next weekAirbus has tentatively narrowed the A330-800 first flight window to the week beginning 5 November. The airframer has been conducting ground and engine tests on the initial flight-test aircraft, the smaller of the two A330neo variants. FlightGlobal understands that the airframer is looking to carry out the maiden flight next week, although this would naturally be subject to weather conditions.
LinkInvestor renews call for Ryanair management change A Ryanair investor has renewed a call for management change at the airline, saying the Irish LCC's chairman is not independent and has not adequately overseen recent labor issues. The investor also wants a succession plan to be put in place for CEO Michael O’Leary. “LAPFF has informed Ryanair that it plans to file a resolution at the company’s next annual general meeting (AGM) recommending the replacement of David Bonderman with an independent chair by the end of 2019,” the UK-based Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF), which represents local government pension scheme funds, wrote on Twitter Oct. 29.
LinkUK opens formal inquiry into CityJet-Aer Lingus deal The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has opened a formal merger inquiry into Irish regional airline CityJet’s plans to wet-lease two Avro RJ85s to International Airlines Group (IAG) Irish carrier Aer Lingus. CMA launched a formal inquiry Oct. 29, marking an escalation of an initial enforcement order that was issued Oct. 4.
LinkSouthwest nears ETOPS approval to launch Hawaiian flights Southwest Airlines is nearing the end of its required FAA certification process to launch Hawaii flights, and could launch service within weeks of getting final approval, top executives said.
LinkSwift Air 737 landed long before wet-runway overrunCzech investigators have disclosed that a Swift Air Boeing 737-800 touched down long at Pardubice airport before it overran the wet runway. The aircraft (N624XA) had been conducting an ILS approach to runway 27, says investigation authority UZPLN in a third-quarter incident bulletin.
LinkMexicans want to stop construction on $13.3 billion international airport Mexicans want president-elect Andrés Manuel López Obrador to cancel construction of the $13.3 billion new Mexico International Airport (NAIM) project, according to the results of a four-day "national consultation" that concluded Oct. 28.
LinkJapan Air Commuter takes first ATR 72Japan Airlines’ regional unit Japan Air Commuter (JAC) has taken delivery of the first ATR 72-600 to be operated in the country. JAC converted one of its orders for an ATR 42-600 for the larger 70-seat variant in June.
LinkAvianca CEO: Every single Latin American airport at ‘maximum capacity’ Latin American and Caribbean airline leaders meeting at the annual ALTA forum in Panama City Oct. 29 emphasized a coordinated and vigorous approach to digital modernization, decreased regulation and infrastructure improvements as vital to meeting the demands of a forecast doubling of air traffic in the region in 10 years. “My number one headache, by far, is the state of airports in Latin America,” Avianca CEO Hernan Rincon said. “Every single airport is at maximum capacity.”
LinkUK dismisses threat of grounded flights after BrexitUK transport secretary Chris Grayling insists there is "no way" that flights between the UK and mainland Europe will be grounded after Brexit, but he admits that "disruption" could occur. Speaking at the Airport Operators Association annual conference in London today, Grayling said it was "theoretically possible" that the European Air Safety Agency could "refuse", or delay, the certification of UK-registered aircraft after March 2019.
LinkPobeda deal for 20 737 Max includes high-density optionRussian budget airline Pobeda is committing to acquiring 20 Boeing 737 Max 8s, with an option to convert some to the high-density ‘Max 200’ variant. It is to take 15 of the aircraft from lessor SMBC Aviation Capital and another five from GECAS, it states in a formal procurement notice.
LinkFinnair considers 37 narrowbody replacementsFinnair is evaluating its plans for narrowbody replacements, with deliveries anticipated to begin about 2020, as 37 of the airline’s existing narrowbody fleet approach mid-life. The Finland flag carrier operates a mainline fleet of 57 aircraft: 11 Airbus A350s, nine A330s, 19 A321s, 10 A320s and eight A319s, according to Aviation Week’s AWIN database.
LinkLATAM warns of tough conditions in 2019LATAM Airlines Group's chief executive Enrique Cueto has warned of challenging macroeconomic conditions for the region's airlines in 2019, even as he is cautiously optimistic that a change of government in Brazil could benefit the country's businesses. "The Brazil currency devaluation is improving because of the election results," Cueto tells FlightGlobal at the ALTA Airline Leaders Forum in Panama City. "But in any case, 2019 will be a challenge for the region."
LinkScoot begins A320neo operations; to introduce SilkAir 737s next year Singapore Airlines’ (SIA) LCC subsidiary Scoot will begin introducing sister company SilkAir’s Boeing 737-800s after April 2019 as part of SIA Group plans to optimize the airline’s network and better compete against regional LCCs. Scoot CEO Lee Lik Hsin spoke to the media during the inaugural flight of its Airbus A320neo Oct. 29. SIA announced in May 2018 that SilkAir will merge with the parent company from 2020, but will still retain its Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
Link Chile's Sky eyes other locales as Peru tracks to Q2 launchChile's Sky Airline is on track to launch its new Peruvian subsidiary in the second quarter of 2019, with ambitions to set up affiliates in other Spanish-speaking countries. "We are moving ahead, with a team of 15 very good people working on the AOC [air operator's certificate] in Peru," Sky chief executive Holger Paulmann tells FlightGlobal at the ALTA Airline Leaders Forum in Panama City. "We target for operations to begin in the second quarter of 2019."
LinkUzbekistan Airways moves Moscow flights from Domodedovo to VnukovoUzbekistan Airways has transferred its Moscow flights from Domodedovo to Vnukovo International Airport on Oct. 28. The Uzbekistan flag carrier operates services to Moscow from Tashkent, Samarkand, Namangan, Termez, Bukhara, Urgench, Nukus, Navoiy and Ferghana with Boeing 757-200, 767-300 and 787 aircraft.
LinkChile's Sky on the lookout to lease 12 more A320neosChile's Sky Airline plans to launch a request for proposal by year-end to lease another 12 Airbus A320neos, as the low-cost carrier progresses towards its goal to become an all-A320neo carrier by 2021. The RFP has been approved by the airline's board, Sky chief executive Holger Paulmann tells FlightGlobal at the ALTA Airline Leaders Forum in Panama City. Sky operates three A320neos currently and expects to take its fourth in the second week of November.
LinkArgentina stresses growth potential despite 'transitory' weaknessArgentina's transport minister Guillermo Dietrich believes that ongoing weakness in international travel demand from Argentina is "transitory", as he reiterates the South American country's commitment in liberalizing the aviation sector. "We might not have international passenger traffic growing at the same rate as before," Dietrich tells FlightGlobal at the ALTA Airline Leaders Forum in Panama City. "But in a market that has grown dramatically, we are sure this is transitory."
LinkAtlas Air lands as ALTA's latest associate memberAtlas Air is the Latin American airline association ALTA's latest associate member, joining the likes of Delta Air Lines and Iberia as partners with the organization. Bill Flynn, president and chief executive of the US cargo carrier, touts the region's growing role in global trade, particularly with Asia, among reasons for joining association at the ALTA Airline Leaders Forum in Panama City.
LinkKenya Airways becomes Africa’s fifth carrier to serve USKenya Airways launched daily Nairobi-New York JFK services Oct. 28, making it the fifth African carrier serving the US. “Nairobi becoming the eighth city in Africa that will be served from the US. For us it is the longest flight—12,500 km [1,553 mi.]. This flight is an important step in our development,” Kenya Airways CEO Sebastian Mikosz said.
LinkIberia to add Latin American flights, more A350 routesSpanish flag carrier Iberia is boosting services from its Madrid Barajas hub to Latin America, and introducing additional Airbus A350 XWB routes to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (Argentina) and Chicago O’Hare (Illinois) in 2019. The International Airlines Group-owned carrier will increase capacity between Madrid and Montevideo (Uruguay) from 5X-weekly to daily; to Quito (Ecuador) from 6X-weekly to daily; and to Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) from 5X-weekly to daily services, starting July 2019.
LinkNew RoutesEtihad Airways will launch Abu Dhabi-Kuala Lumpur Boeing 787-9 services from Dec. 20; and Abu Dhabi-Brussels 787-9 service Jan. 3, 2019.
JetBlue Airways will begin daily Fort Lauderdale-Guayaquil, Ecuador Airbus A320 service Feb. 28, 2019.
Austria’s
LaudaMotion began twice-weekly Larnaca-Vienna service.
Ethiopian Airlines will launch 3X-weekly Addis Ababa-Moscow Boeing 787 service from Dec. 1.
United Airlines began daily Chicago- León (Guanajuato, Mexico) service.
