NewsUnited Airlines JV takes stake in ExpressJet after SkyWest sell-offManaAir, a new regional airline operation partially owned by United Airlines, has agreed to purchase ExpressJet, setting the mainline carrier up with a purpose-built exclusive partner that it can use to support its hub-feeding growth strategy. Under the terms of the deal announced Dec. 18, Utah-based SkyWest Inc. is selling ExpressJet subsidiary to ManaAir for $70 million.
LinkJetBlue asks DOT to review Delta JV competition concernsNew York-based JetBlue Airways has renewed its call for the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to review concerns that a proposed combination of transatlantic joint ventures (JV) between Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic and Air France-KLM could negatively affect competition and slot allocation at London Heathrow Airport (LHR). In a Dec. 17 motion to the DOT, lawyers for JetBlue called on DOT to compile a “complete and up-to-date” analysis of current market conditions before granting the airlines antitrust immunity (ATI) application, adding that such a move would be “consistent with past precedent.”
LinkSouth African court orders CemAir AOC reinstatedRegional carrier CemAir, grounded Dec. 13 by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) for alleged operational violations, won a court battle Dec. 18 to have its air operator’s certificate (AOC) restored. CemAir’s AOC was suspended after the SACAA determined that the airline did not have a qualified staff member in the position of “responsible person: flight operations” and had operated some of its aircraft outside permitted weight and balance limits.
LinkEurope to test safety of UAVs, aircraft sharing low-altitude airspaceThe European Safedrone project will mount flight demonstrations of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and aircraft sharing low-altitude airspace in Spain. The demonstrations, which will be some of the largest held in Europe, will seek to work out how UAVs can co-exist safely with aircraft and unlock the former’s potential for services in both rural areas and cities in the next decade.
LinkSIA 777 excursion at Munich sparked by ILS interferenceInterference from a departing aircraft disrupted the ILS signal moments before a landing Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER veered off the runway at Munich. German investigation authority BFU says the 777 crew was conducting an automatic landing, a decision it describes as “understandable” given the weather conditions – a cloud base of 300ft and visibility of 2km.
LinkIndigo Partners may invest up to $75 million in WOW AirIndigo Partners, the US-based private equity firm that specializes in ultra-LCCs, is looking to invest up to $75 million in Icelandic carrier WOW Air. The US company, which emerged in late November as a potential investor in WOW Air after an acquisition attempt by Icelandair collapsed, has been in negotiations with airline executives over its possible future involvement as a major shareholder.
LinkVirgin Australia ATR suffered flameouts in both enginesThe Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating an incident in which a Virgin Australia ATR 72-600 suffered non-simultaneous flameouts in both engines during the same flight. The incident involved aircraft VH-FVN, which was operating the Sydney-Canberra route on 13 December.
LinkLion Air charters ship to search for JT610 recorderLion Air has chartered a ship from a Dutch company to assist in the search for the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) of JT610, a Boeing 737 Max 8 that crashed on 29 October. The low-cost operator said in a statement that the ship, MPV Everest, will arrive in the Indonesian town of Karawang on 19 December, after departing the Malaysian city of Johor Bahru on 17 December.
LinkAir Italy to begin flights to Toronto, Chicago in 2019Newly rebranded Air Italy has announced new routes to Toronto and Chicago, bringing to six the number of North American destinations the carrier will fly to from Milan Malpensa Airport. From May 6, 2019, Air Italy will fly 4X-weekly Milan Malpensa-Toronto (Canada) services, and from May 14, the carrier will launch 3X-weekly Milan Malpensa-Chicago O’Hare flights. The new route announcements come just days after three US major carriers announced strong opposition to the Italian airline’s recently announced US expansion.
LinkBritish Airways resumes flights to Islamabad, PakistanBritish Airways will resume nonstop flights to Islamabad, Pakistan next year, more than a decade after withdrawing the route because of security concerns. The UK carrier announced Dec. 18 that it will begin operating a 3X-weekly Boeing 787 service between London Heathrow and Islamabad in June 2019.
LinkGA Telesis, partners firm up engine leasing ventureGA Telesis, Tokyo Century Corporation, and All Nippon Airways Trading have formed a joint venture called Gateway Engine Leasing. The new entity will focus on “rising demand from airlines worldwide for long-term engine leases,” says GA Telesis in a statement. Gateway will initially operate from Ft. Lauderdale, the headquarters of aftermarket services provider GA Telesis, but “has plans to rapidly expand to Europe and Asia.”
LinkAer Lingus to bring back short-haul premium service with A321neo LR Aer Lingus will re-enter the short-haul, business-class market when the Ireland flag carrier begins operating the long-range Airbus A321LR next summer. An Aer Lingus spokesperson confirmed to ATW that the A321LRs, which will be configured with lie-flat business class seats and initially deployed on transatlantic routes, will offer onward European connections from Dublin. This will enable the airline to provide a business-class service on certain, as-yet undisclosed short-haul routes.
LinkLondon Luton Airport names new CEOLondon Luton Airport has promoted planning and investment director Alberto Martin to the role of CEO, replacing Nick Barton who is stepping down to take up another role in 2019. Martin recently oversaw Luton’s £160 million ($201.3 million) terminal upgrade—the biggest transformation project in Luton’s 80-year history—and had been involved in negotiations for a £225 million air-rail transit system, which will link the airport terminal with Luton Airport Parkway station by 2021.
LinkBell V-280 to focus on manoeuvrability after flying 250ktBell’s V-280 demonstration programme plans to continue to expand the tiltrotor’s flight envelope, with additional focus on manoeuvrability, after reaching 250kt this September. So far, the aircraft has been tested on 50˚ banked turns at 200kt, which is the equivalent of 1.8g, says Vince Tobin, Bell executive vice-president for military business. During upcoming tests the manufacturer expects the aircraft to fly turns that generate more than 3g, he says.
LinkTokyo set to become second biggest F-35 operatorThe Japanese cabinet has approved a plan to add an additional 105 Lockheed Martin F-35s to its planned fleet of 42 examples, potentially making it the world’s second largest F-35 operator. In a press briefing, the chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga confirmed that the country’s Medium Term Defence Program has been approved by the cabinet.
LinkEthiopian Airlines launched 4X-weekly Addis Ababa-Manchester Boeing 787 service.
Wizz Air will begin 3X-weekly Liverpool (LJLA)-Varna from July 1.
Qantas will start daily Sydney-Sunshine Coast (Queensland) service in March 2019.
JetBlue launched twice-weekly Bozeman (Montana)-Long Beach (California) Airbus A320 service.
Delta Air Lines will begin daily Minneapolis/St. Paul-Mexico City Airbus A319 service from June 8, 2019.
Flydubai will launch Budapest-Dubai Boeing 737 MAX 8 service from June 27, 2019.
Royal Air Maroc will launch 3X-weekly Casablanca-Miami (Florida) Boeing 787 services from April 3, 2019.
