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Airbus-led alliance works on improved connectivity experience
The Seamless Air Alliance, an Airbus-led consortium of airlines, communications equipment manufacturers and operators of mobile networks and satellites, is working toward a technology demonstration for improved passenger connectivity experience this year.
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EASA extends A-check intervals for ATR family
European regulators have approved an extension to A-check intervals for ATR turboprops to 750 flight hours, as part of the manufacturer's efforts to reduce maintenance costs for the aircraft.
Previously, European Aviation Safety Agency regulation required operators to conduct the light checks after 500h.
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ANALYSIS: Why Airbus Helicopters is on an Even keel
After a little under a year in the job, Bruno Even, chief executive of Airbus Helicopters, seems to be settling into the role.
Even is gearing up for his first appearance at HAI Heli-Expo in his new position and says he is "happy and excited to be there".
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PICTURE: Williams to bring F1 technology to aircraft cabins
Formula 1 team Williams has hooked up with JPA Design to leverage technology from racing-car design to create a more comfortable cabin environment using lighter-weight materials.
Williams Advanced Engineering is the racing team’s technology and engineering services business.
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INTERVIEW: CR929 boss details progress, timeline
Sino-Russian joint venture CRAIC is “very close” to finalising the engine supplier for its CR929 widebody programme, with certification pushed back two years to 2027.
Rolls-Royce and General Electric are the two finalists, and a letter of intent will be signed by the first half of the year, before moving into the joint definition phase, CR929 programme director Xie Canjun tells FlightGlobal.
LinkAirlines
Attempted hijacking on Biman Bangladesh 737 foiled
An attempted hijacking on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from Dhaka to Dubai, via Chittagong, ended the evening of Feb. 24 after local forces raided the aircraft and shot the suspect. None of the 148 passengers and crew were harmed in the incident.
Flight BG147, a Boeing 737-800 (S2-AHV), departed the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka at around 4:30 p.m. local time for Chittagong when cabin crew soon reported a man displaying “suspicious behavior” and attempting to gain access to the cockpit about 20 min. into the flight.
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JAL to slow down fleet growth, expand capacity
Japan Airlines (JAL) is planning relatively little fleet growth through its next two fiscal years, although the Japanese flag carrier plans to expand capacity at a slightly faster rate.
JAL will have a total fleet size of 231—excluding regional aircraft—by the end of its 2018 fiscal year on March 31.
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Austrian adds Vienna services in response to LCC growth
Austrian Airlines, reacting to growing competition in Europe from LCCs, is adding services from its hub at Vienna International Airport (VIE).
The Lufthansa Group subsidiary will add 12 weekly flights to Paris, for a total of 39 weekly.
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Kenya Airways appoints six new senior managers
Kenya Airways has announced six new senior management appointments.
Ursula Siling became CCO on Feb. 1, succeeding Vincent Coste, CEO Sebastian Mikosz told ATW.
Siling has held senior executive positions with Lufthansa Passenger Services and Lufthansa Systems, British Airways, Virgin Express, Brussels Airlines, TUI Group and AeroSvit Ukrainian Airlines.
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Germania Flug becomes 100% Swiss-owned airline
Swiss entrepreneur and Air Prishtina CEO Leyla Ibrahimi Salahi has taken full ownership of Switzerland-based Germania Flug AG.
The transaction, which makes Germania Flug a 100% Swiss-owned carrier, was confirmed to ATW by board member Urs Pelizzoni.
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EgyptAir plans new Washington DC flight
EgyptAir plans to begin new service to Washington Dulles International airport in June, its third North American destination.
The Star Alliance carrier will offer three-times weekly service between its Cairo base and Washington Dulles with a Boeing 787-9 from 3 July, Cirium schedules data shows. The service will operate seasonally through 25 October.
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US investigators puzzle over Atlas 767's fatal dive
Twenty years after the most notorious accident in the Boeing 767’s history, US investigators are faced with explaining another fatal dive involving a twinjet which has maintained an impressive safety record over its near-40-year service life.
The Atlas Air 767-300F had been inbound to Houston on 23 February when, during descent to its cleared height of 3,000ft, contact with the jet was suddenly lost at about 6,000ft while it was travelling at 240kt.
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PICTURE: Nigeria's new Ibom Air takes delivery of CRJ900s
Nigerian carrier Ibom Air has taken delivery of its first aircraft in the form of two Bombardier CRJ-900s.
Pictures posted by the social media accounts of Ibom Air and the Akwa Ibom state government show the two jets registered C-FWNL and C-FWNK arriving at Akwa Ibom International airport on 20 February.
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JAL targets 500 destinations by FY2020
Japan Airlines is targeting to connect 500 destinations by the end of April 2020 by leveraging on its partnerships with other carriers, the airline disclosed in an update to its medium-term management plan.
The 500 destinations target was listed among three key network expansion initiatives, which included preparing for “functional improvements at Haneda and Narita” airports, and continuing refinement of its various passenger brands to best serve their respective markets.
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US-Bangla to lease 737 Max 8
US-Bangla Airlines has agreed to lease a Boeing 737 Max 8 from AerCap, making it the first Bangladeshi carrier to have committed to the re-engined variant.
Cirium's Fleets Analyzer shows that the carrier will take delivery of the aircraft, which comes from AerCap's existing order stream, in early 2020. It will be leased for 12 years.
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Thai AirAsia parent considering Nok Air investment
Thai AirAsia parent company Asia Aviation (AAV) has confirmed that it is considering taking a stake in loss-making carrier Nok Air.
The company confirmed its interest in a Stock Exchange of Thailand disclosure, following Thai media reports indicated that it had come to an agreement to acquire a stake in Nok from that carrier's majority shareholders, the Jurangkool family.
LinkAirports
Shenzhen adds two new connections to Tel Aviv, Dublin
China’s Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport added two more long-haul international routes to Ireland’s Dublin and Israel’s Tel Aviv as the Chinese city continues to grow in line with the country new Greater Bay Area roadmap.
The twice-weekly Shenzhen-Tel Aviv route began Feb. 22, operated by Hainan Airlines’ Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The Dublin route will also be serviced by Hainan Airline’s 787-9, starting Feb. 25.
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Edimburgh trials new F&B ordering service for passengers with reduced mobility
Edinburgh Airport is trialling a mobile service that allows passengers with reduced mobility (PRM) to order food and beverages and have them brought to them, ensuring that they avoid the often difficult task of going in search of somthing to eat and drink.
Using the FetchyFox platform, staff will be able to ask PRM passengers if they would like to order food from eateries in the departure lounge and have it delivered to them.
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SSP Canada to open new F&B outlets at YVR
SSP Canada has been awarded three contracts to develop and operate a new group of food and beverage concession spaces at Vancouver International Airport (YVR).
The contracts will see SSP Canada introduce a diverse portfolio of award-winning local brands anchored by two wholly modern, innovative fast casual brands with a national presence.
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Austin-Bergstrom Airport opens first phase of terminal expansion
In seeking to elevate the passenger experience, the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas has opened Phase I of the new nine-gate expansion inside the Barbara Jordan Terminal.
The terminal and apron expansion is a $350 million project, which became operational on 21 February 2019 with a Delta to Atlanta flight.
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Heathrow and airlines agree new deal to grow passenger numbers
A landmark deal on airport charges, worth several hundred million pounds, heralds a new phase of airport and airline commercial cooperation supporting growth at Heathrow Airport.
Heathrow today announced that the UK’s hub airport has signed a landmark deal on airport charges worth hundreds of millions of pounds with airlines operating at the airport.
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Record-breaking January passenger numbers for Southwest Florida International
In January 2019, a total of 1,050,093 passengers travelled through Southwest Florida International Airport; an increase of 8.7 per cent compared to January 2018.
Delta Air Lines was the passenger traffic leader during January with 190,395 passengers travelling to and from the airport. Rounding out the top five airlines were Southwest (180,711), American (133,274) Frontier (126,059) and Spirit (126,033).
LinkMilitary
Rolls-Royce touts modernised Indiana factory for B-52 engine bid
Rolls-Royce plans to build its F130 turbine at a modernised factory in Indiana if selected by the US Air Force to replace the engines on the service’s fleet of Boeing B-52 bombers.
The USAF programme calls for 650 new engines to help extend the longevity and performance of its aging B-52s. Rolls-Royce says its Indianapolis, Indiana facility is nearing completion of a $600 million modernisation initiative, which would optimise production of an engine in the size class of the F130.
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Pilot error caused Light Attack Experiment crash: Investigators
US Air Force investigators have found that the fatal Sierra Nevada/Embraer A-29 Super Tucano crash in June 2018 during the service’s Light Attack Experiment was caused by pilot error.
After the crash the USAF suspended further experimental flights and eventually finished its testing programme prematurely.
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ANALYSIS: How Aero Vodochody recharged the L-39
Most of the pilots who honed their combat skills in the Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros single-engined jet trainer were defending the Soviet empire. The 21st century-born aviators who fly its successor – the L-39NG – will only know of the Cold War from history books.
More than two decades separate the closing of the original L-39 line in 1996 – after 2,900 examples were shipped over 25 years – and first flight of the L-39NG on 22 December 2018.
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