NewsNorwegian sells Argentinian subsidiaryNorwegian Air Shuttle has agreed to sell its domestic Argentinian subsidiary, Norwegian Air Argentina (NAA), to Chilean ultra-LCC JetSMART Airlines. Norwegian has also appointed former New York-based JetBlue Airways executive Marty St. George as interim CCO as the company continues to focus on profitability after rapid growth led to financial difficulties.
LinkSAA to draw up new schedule as it enters business rescueSouth African Airways states that its placement under business rescue is the "unanimous" conclusion which emerged from consultations with its state shareholder, the department of public enterprises. The loss-making airline had been facing the prospect of such a move as its financial situation continued to deteriorate.
LinkFrench ATC strikes threaten air services Disruption in flights originating and landing in France is expected as a three-day strike by air traffic controllers (ATCs) gets under way Dec. 5. The strike is part of much wider industrial action that is expected to affect all modes of transport, the emergency services and other public sector workers, in protest against plans to reform the country’s pension scheme.
LinkAustralian watchdog flags concerns over frequent flyer programsAustralia’s competition watchdog has expressed concern about airline frequent flyer programs, flagging the potential for unfair pricing and anti-competitive practices. “Loyalty schemes have the potential to raise competition concerns,” the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) says in an investigation report on a broad range of loyalty programs.
LinkRyanair to cut capacity, close bases on 737 MAX groundingIrish LCC Ryanair is making cuts to its European network of bases as a result of the growing impact of the Boeing 737 MAX grounding. In a Dec. 4 investor update, Ryanair Holdings said worsening delivery delays on its customized MAX 200 order means it must further revise its summer 2020 schedules.
LinkCitilink receives first A330neo from AvolonGaruda Indonesia’s low-cost arm Citilink is Avolon’s latest customer, having received its first Airbus A330-900neo from the lessor. Cirium’s fleets data shows that Avolon delivered MSN 1887 new to Citilink earlier this week. The aircraft was originally meant for the now-defunct WOW air and has been managed by Avolon since 2017.
LinkHong Kong Airlines gets financial lifelineTwo days after it was handed an ultimatum by Hong Kong authorities, Hong Kong Airlines (HKA) received temporary reprieve — in the form of a cash injection plan. The embattled carrier, facing the possibility of being wound up, says in a statement that the plan was drawn up "following urgent consultations".
LinkBosnia set to take full control of its airspaceBosnia and Herzegovina air navigation authority BHANSA is set to take full control of the Balkan country's airspace from midnight on 5 December. The measure means that all flights passing through the Sarajevo flight information region will be locally controlled.
LinkAustrian Airlines, Eurowings Europe to expand wet-lease contractLufthansa subsidiaries Austrian Airlines and LCC Eurowings Europe are in talks to expand a wet-lease contract from Jan. 1, 2020. Under the new strategy—and to better position themselves in the Austrian market—Austrian Airlines will take over Eurowings Europe’s network planning at the Vienna hub and will wet lease four Airbus A319s/320s from the LCC beginning Jan. 1.
LinkEASA advises inspection of Xtra Aerospace partsEurope's safety regulator is drawing operators' attention to the possibility that items improperly approved by US firm Xtra Aerospace may have been installed on European-registered aircraft. Xtra Aerospace's repair station certificate was revoked by the US FAA following the discovery that a crucial angle-of-attack sensor was improperly calibrated before it was fitted to the Lion Air Boeing 737 Max which crashed in October last year.
LinkAir Senegal receives second A330neoAfrican carrier Air Senegal has taken delivery of its second Airbus A330-900, nine months after receiving its first. Air Senegal ordered two of the Rolls-Royce Trent 7000-powered aircraft in December 2017.
LinkQatar Airways Cargo expands services to South America Qatar Airways Cargo plans to launch a major expansion into South America, adding four new cities to the division’s network of freighter destinations. Bogota (Colombia), Campinas (Brazil), Lima (Peru) and Santiago (Chile) will be added to the carrier’s dedicated freighter network from Jan. 16, 2020, with flights operated by a Boeing 777F.
LinkChina Airlines picks P&W to power A321neosChina Airlines has selected Pratt & Whitney (P&W) engines for its fleet of Airbus A321neo aircraft. The PW1100G engine selection will cover up to 30 A321neos that China Airlines has on order and on option.
LinkTwo Singapore Airlines aircraft involved in separate landing incidentsInvestigations have been opened into two separate landing incidents involving Singapore Airlines’ aircraft within a week. On Nov. 24, a SIA Airbus A330-300, operating as flight SQ998, was slightly damaged after experiencing a “suspected tailstrike” while landing at Myanmar’s Yangon International Airport. Then, on Nov. 28, a SIA Boeing 747-400F, operating as cargo flight 7292, experienced an engine pod strike when the number 1 engine struck the runway while executing a missed approached at Sydney Airport.
LinkBoeing chief engineer Hamilton to retire this monthBoeing chief engineer John Hamilton is retiring after 35 years with the company and will be succeeded by Lynne Hopper, currently Boeing's vice-president of engineering for commercial airplanes. Chicago-based Boeing, which first disclosed the news in a 4 December internal letter to employees, says Hamilton's retirement will take effect this month.
LinkPiaggio delivers first Canada-based P180 Avanti EvoPiaggio Aerospace has delivered the first P180 Avanti Evo to a Canadian owner, with the twin-pusher a former North American customer demonstrator, built by the Italian airframer in 2018. Windsor, Ontario-based plastics and toilet seat manufacturer Centoco Holding plans to place the Evo (registration N32WC) on an air operator certificate and make it available for ad hoc charter. Centoco is also giving Piaggio the option to lease the Evo for its future marketing and demonstration needs.
LinkRussian Helicopters awaits big KA-52M buyRussian Helicopters looks forward to signing a contract from Moscow for its planned Kamov KA-52M attack helicopter. Russian Helicopters chief executive Andrei Boginsky believes a contract for the updated co-axial type will be awarded in 2020, according to a report in official news agency Tass.
LinkIndia funds P-8I top-up buy and AWACS acquisitionThe purchase of additional Boeing P-8I maritime patrol aircraft for the Indian navy has received government approval – but only six aircraft are now planned to be acquired, instead of the 10 originally planned. New Delhi has also revived its moribund Airborne Warning and Control System India (AWACS India) program, which seeks to deliver an indigenous replacement for the Ilyushin Il-76-based A-50Is now in use.
LinkSpain picks PC-21 as C-101 trainer successorSpain has selected the Pilatus PC-21 single-engined turboprop to replace its aged fleet of jet-powered CASA C-101 trainers. Tender documents indicated that Madrid will pay €204 million ($226 million) for 24 PC-21s, plus simulators and a logistics package, against a budget of €225 million.
Link 
