NewsRyanair Holidays business to closeIrish LCC Ryanair is discontinuing its Ryanair Holidays business, which packaged flight and hotels, just two years after the service was launched. Ryanair Holidays was announced in late 2016, as part of Ryanair’s plan to become the “Amazon of Travel.” However, the Ryanair Holidays website now carries a message saying the service is being discontinued. “Going forward, it is no longer possible to book a package on Ryanair Holidays. However, all previous bookings are unaffected and will be fulfilled as planned,” according to the website.
LinkEmirates, flydubai expand strategic partnership Dubai-based airlines Emirates and flydubai are expecting to build their combined networks to 240 destinations by 2022, up from 216, further building the strategic partnership they started in October 2017. In 2018, the two airlines jointly carried 3.29 million passengers on codeshare flights across 84 destinations. “Through the codeshare partnership, Emirates customers can access 67 additional destinations through flydubai’s network, while flydubai customers have 115 additional destinations they can travel to on Emirates network,” Emirates said in a statement issued Jan. 16.
LinkCounter-UAV system makers frustrated by airports’ inactionFollowing the drone sightings that shut down London Gatwick Airport in December, manufacturers of equipment to counter unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) say the technology is available and expressed frustration that airports and authorities are not being more proactive in meeting the threat. “We have a solution that is available now that can prevent a catastrophic event,” said Megan Ferris, program director for CACI’s SkyTracker family of counter-UAV systems. “At a minimum, we can provide situational awareness to avoid such an event. It’s there and ready to go. It is frustrating.”
LinkAirlines downplay impact on US government shutdown for nowAirline executives acknowledge that the partial US government shutdown is affecting their businesses, but they are downplaying both immediate and long-term ramifications, seemingly betting on a near-term resolution to the stalemate that began Dec. 22, 2018. “We’re not going to speculate what’s going to happen with the government shutdown,” Delta Air Lines president Glen Hauenstein told analysts on the airline’s fourth-quarter earnings call Jan. 15. “We don’t expect it to have a meaningful impact on the unit-cost guidance in either the [first] quarter or the year.”
LinkFAA recalls inspectors, engineers to work during shutdownFAA is recalling aviation safety inspectors and engineers to work without pay during the ongoing partial shutdown of US government agencies. The agency said it anticipates 2,200 inspectors and engineers will return to work by Jan. 18. Overall plans call for recalling 3,113 people employed by FAA’s Aviation Safety Organization, but a breakdown of affected positions was not available.
LinkIndigo to initially take 49% stake in Wow AirIcelandic LCC WOW Air has disclosed that US private equity firm Indigo Partners is looking at an initial 49% investment, although this could be increased at a later date. Indigo Partners emerged as a potential investor in WOW Air in November 2018, after Icelandair’s plans to acquire its rival collapsed. At the time, an investment value of up to $75 million was announced, although no details were given about the percentage shareholding that Indigo was planning to take.
LinkIAG’s Level takes over Vueling’s Amsterdam baseInternational Airlines Group’s (IAG) Vienna-based LCC Level will take over the Amsterdam base from Spanish LCC Vueling, starting in the spring. Both, Vueling and Level are part of IAG. “We can only confirm that we are planning to launch a new short-haul base at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport this year. Discussions with staff and unions are ongoing and more details will be provided when appropriate,” a Vueling spokesperson told ATW, declining to give more information.
LinkANA trials autonomous bus system at HanedaAll Nippon Airways (ANA) is conducting further trials of an autonomous, “driverless” bus at Tokyo Haneda Airport, and could introduce the system operationally by next year. The latest trial will run through Jan. 25. This will be the second stage of testing, following earlier trials by ANA in February 2018. In addition to the ANA project, other companies are investigating the technology at Tokyo Narita, Sendai and Nagoya airports.
LinkJazz pilots endorse new labor contract; airline to expand fleetPilot leaders from Canadian regional carrier Jazz Aviation endorsed a tentative agreement for a new contract Jan. 15, on the same day Jazz’s parent company Chorus Aviation Inc. and Air Canada announced terms to extend their capacity purchase agreement (CPA) through 2035 and increase the Jazz fleet with an additional 14 Bombardier CRJ900s. “By announcing a new agreement with Air Canada, our management has signaled that they are focused on the future and will continue to provide Air Canada customers and our employees the best possible service and place to work well into the future,” Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) Jazz chapter chairman Claude Buraglia said. “This agreement will provide real improvements to our current contract and improve the quality of life of Jazz pilots.” As part of the agreement, 12 CRJ200 aircraft from Air Georgian—a regional partner of Air Canada—will head to Jazz, and all Air Georgian pilots will be offered employment at the airline. The deal also includes a career-progression path that would allow Jazz pilots to transfer to Air Canada, while also stabilizing pilot pay rates.
LinkUS federal judge denies NATCA request for restraining orderA federal judge on Jan. 15 declined to issue a temporary restraining order sought by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) to compel the US government to pay controllers who are required to work during the current funding shutdown. US District Court Judge Richard Leon denied the NATCA request and a restraining order sought by the National Treasury Employees Union, but scheduled a Jan. 31 hearing for arguments on their separate motions for a preliminary injunction.
LinkEuropean airlines warn of capacity freeze as no-deal Brexit fears riseAirlines and airports are warning of looming capacity freezes across Europe, after UK prime minister Theresa May's terms with the European Union (EU) for exiting the trade bloc was overwhelmingly rejected by the UK parliament.
LinkIATA calls for clarity as Brexit flight cap loomsIATA has called on the European Union and the UK to provide clarity on how the bloc's proposal for a cap on flights would work in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Under its planning for such a scenario, the European Commission in December proposed that any flights operated by UK airlines between the country and the bloc on 29 March 2019 would be allowed to continue for 12 months; however, it also said that those carriers would not be able to add new routes or increase the frequencies of existing services during the period.
LinkUnited to take delivery of additional 777-300ERs from this yearUnited Airlines will receive the first widebody aircraft from a new Boeing order this year, the airline told analysts on an earnings call earlier today. The Chicago-based carrier disclosed it recently ordered 28 Boeing aircraft in its 15 January earnings release, including four 777-300ERs and 24 737 Max aircraft. Chief financial officer Gerry Laderman tells analysts that United will receive two of the 777-300ERs this year and the remaining two in 2020.
LinkLufthansa-DHL venture AeroLogic to add another 777FLufthansa Group’s joint venture AeroLogic is to take its fleet of freighters to a dozen this year, with the addition of another Boeing 777F. The aircraft will be leased from Boeing, says Lufthansa Cargo, which shares ownership of AeroLogic with DHL Express. It states that the aircraft will be based at Leipzig-Halle airport once it arrives in the autumn.
LinkAzur receives second 737-900ERRussia’s Azur Air has introduced a second Boeing 737-900ER, two months after acquiring its initial one – which the carrier claimed was the first in the country. Azur Air says the aircraft (VQ-BYO) is configured in a single-class layout for 215 passengers, with 24 seats featuring greater legroom.
LinkVietnam's Bamboo Airways begins operationsVietnamese start-up Bamboo Airways began commercial operations on 16 January. Flight tracking websites indicate that the airline's first flight, QH202, departed from Ho Chi Minh City at 06.31 hours local time and landed in Hanoi at 08.15 hours local time. It also indicates that an Airbus A320 registered TC-FBO was the aircraft that operated the first flight.
LinkChinese carriers seek rights to Europe, Southeast AsiaShanghai Airlines, Hainan Airlines and China Southern Airlines are seeking rights to launch services to Europe. Hainan Airlines wants to launch a weekly Guiyang-Paris service from March, a route it had first sought to launch from January.
LinkTAME to drop sole long-haul route and return A330Ecuador’s state-owned airline TAME will stop operating its sole remaining long-haul route connecting Quito with New York John F Kennedy on 1 February, and return its single Airbus A330-200 to its lessor. The decision is part of a major strategic route and fleet reshuffle to stem losses at TAME, which in 2018 required a cash injection from the government of reportedly $65 million.
LinkAirbus open to developing larger version of A220 Airbus is "likely" to develop a larger derivative of its A220 in the coming years – but only after the company has ramped up production and the aircraft has secured a firm place in the global aviation market. "It's very likely that… once the A220 has done the ramp up, is economically viable [and] then we can further invest, that this is going to happen," Airbus president of commercial aircraft Guillaume Faury tells reporters on 16 January. "Once this success is on track, it would be time for looking at what we do for the product.
LinkBoeing relationship key to KC-390 costs, marketingEmbraer’s defence joint venture with Boeing will use the American company’s leverage over suppliers to cut parts and components costs on the KC-390 tactical transport. The Brazilian company said at an investor conference on 16 January that it will also lean on Boeing’s international sales and marketing network, as well as the USA’s geopolitical influence, to expand the transport’s sales.
LinkNorway cites training failures in AW101 helicopter roll-overSevere damage inflicted by an embarrassing ground accident on a brand new search and rescue helicopter in Norway has been pinned on organizational and human failures within the country's air force, partly driven by program delays. Norwegian military investigators, in their final report on the 24 November 2017 incident, determined that although the roll-over of the Leonardo Helicopters AW101 – which had been delivered one week earlier – was caused by pilot error, severe systemic failings also contributed to the accident.
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