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NEWS

IAG reports €555 million net profit for 2011

International Airlines Group (IAG) has reported a solid set of results in its first year as a combined entity of British Airways (BA) and Iberia (IB), with a net profit of €555 million ($745.5 million) and an operating profit of €407 million.
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United to move to single booking system this weekend

The public face of Continental Airlines will vanish for good this weekend when the carrier and United Airlines adopt a single passenger reservation system, a step that -- at least in the public eye -- will finally cement their 2010 merger.
The move to a unified platform is by far the most significant change customers will experience since the merger of United and Continental to form the world's largest airline, known as United Airlines and owned by United Continental Holdings.
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NextGen procedures underway at CLT & ATL
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Delta Air Lines, US Airways and other stakeholders have officially kicked off an airspace and flight procedures modernisation project for the high density Atlanta and Charlotte area metroplexes, regions where several airports service one main metropolitan area.
Part of the FAA's optimisation of airspace and procedures in the metroplex (OAPM) programme, Atlanta and Charlotte will follow the Washington DC metro area and Dallas/Fort Worth in becoming the beneficiaries of the government and industry effort to increase capacity while cutting flight time, delays, fuel burn and noise. Metroplex initiatives are underway or planned for 21 metropolitan areas, said the FAA.
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MAS writes down value of A330Fs, blames P2F program

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has been forced to write down the value of its Airbus A330-200 freighters, blaming the airframer's recent decision to launch a passenger-to-freighter conversion programme for the type.
The carrier's MASkargo division will take delivery of the last of four new-build freighters this year, dating from a 2010 order. It also operates a pair of Boeing 747-400 Freighters.
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IAG determined to press ahead with Iberia Express

International Airlines Group (IAG) has "no other option" for turning around Iberia's struggling short- and medium-haul business than to press ahead with the launch of low-cost subsidiary Iberia Express, despite fierce opposition from pilots, according to chief executive Willie Walsh.
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EuroLOT to acquire eight Q400NGs

LOT Polish Airlines subsidiary EuroLOT announced it will purchase eight Bombardier Q400NG aircraft this year. It will take delivery of three aircraft in April, one in May, three in July and the last one in August, CEO Mariusz Dabrowski announced Wednesday.
Polish Press Agency PAP reported the carrier also has the option to purchase another 12 aircraft of this type.
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FAA proposes 1,500 hour requirement for pilots
FAA proposed requiring US airline pilots to hold an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate, meaning first officers will need 1,500 flight hr. before ascending to a Part 121 cockpit. First officers currently need an instrument rating and commercial pilot certificate requiring just 250 hr.
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KLM begins widebody fleet renewal with A330-300 delivery

KLM expects deliveries of its Boeing 787-9s to begin on schedule in October 2015, but is in no rush to make an engine selection.
The Dutch carrier has 23 787s on order plus options for 25 more aircraft through parent company Air France KLM Group. The aircraft will make up a significant portion of KLM’s fleet renewal plan, which will focus on replacing its aging Fokker F-100s with Embraer E-190s and replacing much of its widebody fleet with a mix of Airbus A330s and A350s, as well as Boeing 777s and 787s.
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American pilots ask court to order negotiations

The Allied Pilots Assn. (APA) representing 10,000 American Airlines (AA) pilots has asked a US bankruptcy court to require airline management to continue negotiations toward a new labor agreement.
The union expects AA to utilize the Chapter 11 process to reject existing work rules and impose new conditions. AA has said it needs to cut about 13,000 jobs through bankruptcy reorganization.
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Aeromexico posts record operating profit in 2011

Grupo Aeromexico (AM) announced its consolidated 2011 results showing a record operating profit of MXN3.4 billion ($265 million), up 27% compared to 2010, and the highest full-year numbers in the carrier’s history.
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Airbus: First neo; now ceo?
Airbus has begun labeling its current generation A320s the ceo—short for current engine option—as it markets the new, re-engined A320neo while still selling the original variant.
Speaking at a briefing in Toulouse Wednesday, Airbus EVP, Europe, Asia & Pacific Chris Buckley revealed that the term ceo was gaining traction within the company. Neo stands for new engine option.
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Airbus mulls upping A330-300 MTOW

Airbus is considering increasing the maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of the A330-300 from 235 tonnes to 240 tonnes.
A decision could be made in about six months, Airbus EVP Europe, Asia & Pacific Chris Buckley said in a briefing in Toulouse Wednesday. Although a small increase, Buckley said there was market demand and Airbus was working “intensively” on the idea. “It would give the aircraft Amsterdam to US West Coast capability,” he said.
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Other News

New Routes

Flydubai has launched 2X-weekly Boeing 737-800 Dubai-Bishkek service.

Tarom has increased its Bucharest Otopeni-Budapest ATR 42/72 services from 5X-weekly to 12X-weekly from Feb. 6.

Alaska Airlines will operate seasonal daily San Jose-Palm Springs through June 2, and again Oct. 5.

Porter Airlines launched 2X-weekly Toronto City-Myrtle Beach service, increasing to 4X-weekly March 1-April 30.

A US airline lobbying group has unveiled a broad agenda to improve the domestic industry's competitiveness by overhauling the regulations and taxes imposed on the industry from the government.

AAI, Boeing and a Computer Sciences Corp (CSC)/Saab team were selected by the US Navy today to compete for task orders for services provided by unmanned air systems (UAS) worth up to $874 million.

EADS Cassidian has confirmed plans to launch a new flight-test campaign with its Barracuda unmanned combat air vehicle technology demonstrator later this year, but declined to detail its objectives for the activity.

The global airline industry faces hurdles from high fuel prices and the euro zone debt crisis, although passenger traffic rose in January from a year earlier and the slide in air freight seems to have tapered off, IATA said on Wednesday.

Rome's Fiumicino Airport has reported passenger traffic up 1% and cargo volume down 11.4%.

AVIATION QUOTE

The best safety device is the pilot, who, deep down, regardless of the aircraft, retains a sense of fallibility and vulnerability. No system can ever substitute for that.

— Arnold Reiner, retired airline captain and a former director of flight safety at Pan Am, end of 'Pilots on Autopilot' op-ed, the 'New York Times,' 16 December 2009.

ON THIS DATE

---In 1912... Capt. Albert Berry makes the first parachute descent from a powered airplane in America when he jumps from a Benoist aircraft that is being flown by the company pilot, Anthony Jannus. The aircraft is flying at a height of 1,500 ft. over Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, Missouri, and Berry uses a static line parachute.

---In 1925... Ryan Airlines begins the first regularly scheduled passenger airline service flown within the mainland United States. The service runs between Los Angeles and San Diego. (F&F)

--- In 1928... An airmail route between France and Chile is opened with a fast sea link between Dakar, Senegal and Natal, Brazil.

---In 1933... U.S. Air Commerce Regulations are amended to increase the flying time required for a pilot’s license from 10 hours to 50 hours.

---In 1962... Los Angeles Airways sets up the world’s first commercial service using turbine-powered, multi-engine helicopters, the Sikorsky S-621L, which could accommodate up to 28 passengers.

---In 1962… American Airlines Flight 1, a Boeing 707, crashed shortly after takeoff from Idlewild airport due to a maintenance error causing rudder failure. All 95 people onboard were killed. At the time, it was the nation's highest death toll involving a single commercial airplane.

---In 1966…Venera 3 becomes 1st man-made object to impact on a planet (Venus).

---In 1982…Venera 13 landed on Venus.

---In 1984…Landsat 5 and ham satellite Oscar 11 launched into polar orbit.

---In 1986…Sakigake, Japan Comet Flyby made its comet flyby.

---In 1988… Spanair commenced operations.

---In 1989…Comet du Toit at perihelion.

---In 1996…NEAR, USA Asteroid Orbiter (Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous) imaged Comet Hyakutake.

---In 2005… Lufthansa acquired their first 11% of Swiss International Air Lines.

DAILY VIDEO

HUMOR

Which Branch Is Better

A Soldier, a Sailor, an Airman. and a Marine, got into an argument about which service is "The Best."

The arguing became so heated, that they eventually ended up killing each other.

Soon, they found themselves at the Pearly Gates of Heaven. Soon they meet St Peter and decide that only he would be the ultimate source of truth and honesty so they ask him:

"St Peter, which branch of the American Armed Forces is the best?"

St. Peter instantly replies: "I can't answer that. But, I will ask God what he thinks the next time I see him."

Some time later the three see St. Peter again and remind him of the question and ask if he was able to find the answer. Suddenly, a sparkling white dove lands on St. Peter's shoulder. In the dove's beak is a note with glistening gold dust.

St. Peter says to the four men, "Your answer from the Boss. Let's see what he says." St Peter opens the note, trumpets blare, gold dust drifts into the air, harps play crescendos and St Peter begins to read it aloud to the four young men:

MEMORANDUM TO SOLDIERS, SEAMEN, MARINES, AND AIRMEN
SUBJECT: Which Military Service Is The Best?
"Gentlemen, all the Branches of the Armed Services are Honorable and Noble. Each of you served your country well and with distinction. Being a member of the American Armed Forces represents a special calling warranting special respect, tribute, and dedication. Be proud of that."

Very Respectfully,

GOD, USA SF (Ret.)

TRIVIA

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