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How will Boeing approach the Paris air show?
Imagine, momentarily, that two Boeing 737 Max had not crashed, that 346 people had not died and that regulators had not grounded Boeing’s most popular aircraft. In such a world, Boeing would be riding high at this year’s Paris air show, brimming with optimism and promoting its 737 Max as a market winner.
Reality, however, has other plans. Although the company could land widebody orders or possibly announce news relating to its proposed new mid-market airplane (NMA), the 737 Max crisis overshadows all else.
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Russia eliminates VAT on non-Moscow domestic flights
Amendments to the Russian tax code that set a 0% value-added tax (VAT) on domestic flights, excluding those to and from Moscow, were signed by President Vladimir Putin June 6.
The new rate will go into effect in July.
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California's Ampaire demonstrates parallel hybrid Cessna 337
A Cessna 337 Skymaster powered partly by an electric motor flew on 6 June from a California airport, demonstrating a prototype propulsion system that manufacturer Ampaire hopes to deploy commercially by 2021.
Ampaire replaced the twin-engined 337's rear combustion engine with a "proprietary electric propulsion system" that utilises a lightweight battery system for power.
LinkAirlines
American extends MAX-related cancellations through Sept. 3
American Airlines has removed its 24 737 MAXs from its flight schedules through Sept. 3, becoming the first US operator to formally plan to be without its newest Boeing narrowbodies through August. Since April, the Dallas/Fort Worth-based carrier has canceled about 115 flights per day as a result of the MAX grounding. While the Dallas/Fort Worth-based carrier said it “remains confident” that the MAX will be cleared to return to revenue service “soon,”
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Malaysia Airlines submits new turnaround plan to state owner
Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) is seeking approval for a revised turnaround plan aimed at better aligning its business strategy and fleet to address financial and market challenges.
The airline submitted its proposed plan to Khazanah Nasional Berhad, the government’s sovereign wealth fund, MAB CEO Izham Ismail told ATW on the sidelines of the recent IATA AGM in Seoul.
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Italy’s Blue Panorama may appeal $1.1 million fine
Italy’s Blue Panorama Airlines is considering whether to appeal against a €1 million ($1.1 million) fine imposed by the Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) for what the authority described as “unfair commercial practice” by the carrier.
An AGCM investigation found that the Fiumicino-headquartered airline—which specializes in charter and leisure flights to a variety of Mediterranean, Caribbean and African destinations—was levying a charge on passengers who arrived for their flights with discrepancies between the spelling of their names in their flight documentation and passports.
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Vanilla Air A320 undergoes cockpit conversion for Peach integration
Japanese LCC Vanilla Air has begun a cockpit conversion on its Airbus A320 fleet as it prepares for full integration into sister LCC Peach Aviation.
The scope of modifications includes the changing out the multi-function control and display unit (MCDU), radio management panels (RMP), transponder to Peach standards. SATCOM and ETOPS equipment will be removed from the Vanilla fleet. Externally, brake-cooling fans will also be installed.
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Swedish investment house acquires Dutch leisure carrier
Swedish investment firm Triton has acquired the tour operating activities of the Dutch Corendon Holiday Group, including the latter’s small in-house airline.
Corendon is a tour operator group in the Netherlands and Belgium with a turnover of slightly more than €500 million ($567 million).
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EVA Air cabin crew union approves strike
Members of a union representing EVA Air cabin crews voted in favor of a strike after negotiations with the Taiwanese airline broke down.
After three weeks of voting May 13-June 6, a total of 4,038 members of the 5,933-strong Taoyuan Flight Attendants Union—about 70%—voted in favor of the strike action. About 90% of those voting in favor were EVA Air employees.
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BOAC 747-400 ‘retrojet’ set for flypast with Red Arrows at RIAT
British Airways will display its retro-liveried BOAC Boeing 747-400 in a formation flypast with the Red Arrows at next month’s Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford.
The plan was confirmed by the Royal Air Force’s aerobatic display team today, which said: “The Red Arrows will join forces with a special British Airways Boeing 747 [in BOAC livery] for a spectacular flypast at the Royal International Air Tattoo on 20 July, to mark the airline’s centenary.”
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Virgin Australia and Virgin Atlantic set to deepen ties
Virgin Australia is seeking regulatory approval to co-ordinate on services with Virgin Atlantic Airways between Australia and the UK and Ireland via Hong Kong and Los Angeles.
A filing with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission shows that the carriers are seeking authorisation that would allow them to jointly set prices, control inventory and co-ordinate schedules and network planning.
LinkAirports
Heathrow invests more than $63 million to upgrade security equipment
London Heathrow is investing £50 million ($63.5 million) in security-screening upgrades, meaning passengers will no longer be required to remove their liquids and laptops from their hand luggage.
The UK hub has been trialing computed tomography (CT) scanners since 2017, in partnership with the UK government Department for Transport.
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Jewel Changi airport's canopy park attractions open for business
Jewel Changi Airport just got a little more exciting with the unveiling of the eagerly awaited Canopy Park attractions located on the top level.
The picturesque 14,000sqm space is home to seven iconic play attractions and creative gardens in Singapore Changi's groundbreaking new facility that promises to redefine the airport experience.
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Commercial flights set to resume at Carlisle Lake District airport
Carlisle Lake District Airport staff were put through their paces over the weekend as Loganair held a check-in training session ahead of the planned re-opening of the UK gateway for commercial operations.
Security and passenger service agents worked through Loganair’s bespoke IT systems, customer service-related procedures and security measures.
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Cairns Airport launches daily route to Singapore with SilkAir
A daily service between Cairns and Singapore will see weekly seats increase by 40 per cent; expanding the connections between both Australia and Singapore.
Cairns Airport has welcomed the launch of daily services with SilkAir from Cairns to Singapore.
LinkMilitary
Pentagon and Lockheed agree to $34bil deal for hundreds of F-35s
In what is billed as the largest procurement contract in the history of the Department of Defense (DoD), Lockheed Martin and the Pentagon reached a $34 billion “handshake agreement” for hundreds of F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters.
The agreement covers the purchase of 478 F-35 aircraft over low-rate initial production lots 12, 13 and 14.
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ANALYSIS: Turkey ban to wipe out 20% of F-35 sales in Europe
Lockheed Martin was building several F-35A Lightning IIs for Turkey on its production line in Fort Worth, Texas when FlightGlobal toured the factory on 9 May. A small version of the country’s flag, red with a white star and crescent moon, was optimistically posted in front of each fuselage being assembled.
A month later, hopes the dispute over Ankara’s decision to buy the Russian Almaz-Antey S-400 Triumf anti-aircraft system would be solved are all but dashed – the country’s large order of F-35 stealth fighters is in jeopardy.
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New programmes will maintain European fighter prowess
Among the military highlights at Le Bourget this year will be a first glimpse of a proposed future European combat aircraft being advanced via an ambitious collaboration between France and Germany.
In February, the nations signed a joint concept study deal linked to a Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme, which plans to deliver a broad-ranging set of capabilities to their armed forces for frontline use by 2040.
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Tokyo attributes F-35A crash to pilot disorientation
The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) believes pilot disorientation caused the crash of a Lockheed Martin F-35A on 9 April.
A Reuters report quotes defence minister Takeshi Iwaya as saying that it is “highly likely the pilot was suffering from vertigo or spatial disorientation and wasn’t aware of his condition.”
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Aviation Quote
The emergencies you train for almost never happen. It's the one you can't train for that kills you.
- Ernest K. Gann, advice from the 'old pelican,' 'The Black Watch,' 1989.
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