NEWSMargin-Hunting Airlines May Shed Catering UnitsA plastic tray, a hard bread roll and cellophane-wrapped cutlery: airline food can be a joyless culinary experience for economy class flyers, and some carriers may now be about to shed their catering units to focus on the hunt for higher margins.
LinkJapan Airlines IPO To Benefit From Tax Savings
As Japan Airlines taxies towards its initial public offering in September, the airline will pitch investors on the hard-won cost-cuts and fuel-efficient fleet that helped it emerge from bankruptcy to become the world's most profitable airline.
LinkGol Aims To Cut 2,500 Jobs This YearBrazil's No.2 airline, Gol plans to reduce its workforce by 2,500 employees this year through layoffs, hiring freezes and natural turnover at the company, according to a press statement released on Tuesday.
LinkSingapore Air Clings To Luxury As LCCs Thrive
Tony Fernandes, the flamboyant chief executive of budget airline AirAsia, joked last month that he could buy Singapore Airlines and even displayed an artist's impression of his competitor's plane painted in AirAsia livery.
LinkNTSB wants ATR 42 stick pusher adjustment, broad analysis
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is asking US and European aviation regulators to modify the stick pusher activation angle of attack (AOA) on the ATR 42 regional turboprop so that the system will automatically activate at a lower AOA in icing conditions. The recommendation is in response to the non-fatal 27 January 2009 crash of an Empire Airlines ATR 42 landing in Lubbock, Texas, in icing conditions.
LinkBoeing X-48C blended-wing body to fly next month Boeing and NASA hope to fly a new version of the X-48 blended-wing body subscale test aircraft next month, a senior company official says. "We're looking to fly roughly middle to late next month," says Mike Kisska, Boeing's X-48C programme manager. "We have a roughly six-month flight test program."
LinkAustralia’s Tiger attack helicopters grounded again for cockpit fumes Australia has grounded its Eurocopter Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters for the second time in two months after fumes were again detected in the aircraft's cockpit. On 25 June, the two-man crew of a Tiger flying in Australia's Shoalwater Bay training area landed safely after fumes were detected in the cockpit, says the Australian army.
LinkMerger to form ground handling giantMajor cargo handler Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) and passenger services specialist Aviapartner are planning to merge, forming a company with €1 billion ($1.25 billion) in annual revenue and 17,000 staff.
LinkTransaero reports $54.6 million 2011 profit
Russia’s Transaero Airlines (UN) has reported a 2011 net profit of RUB1.83 billion ($54.6 million), more than doubled from 2010. Revenue increased 42% to RUB86.5 billion. The results were certified at annual shareholder meeting in Moscow in June. UN 2011 passenger traffic totaled 33.18 billion RPKs, up 26% from 2010. Cargo traffic rose 28% year-over-year.
LinkAmerican Airlines will seek off-the-shelf passenger services system
American Airlines asked its bankruptcy court to approve a deal between the carrier and HP Enterprise Services to dissolve their contract to build a next-generation passenger services system. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for June 28, but since both parties have agreed to the terms, the deal is not likely to meet with opposition. In papers filed with the court, American said it had worked with HP over the past two years to develop the new PSS, dubbed Jetstream, but was “unable to reach agreement on a number of key issues affecting the project’s direction.”
LinkDelta tests self-boarding scanners at Atlanta, Las Vegas airports
Delta Air Lines recently tested self-service boarding turnstiles that allow passengers to scan their own boarding passes. Officials at Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport say the test was positive and that they plan to offer 14 gates with the machines to carriers that are interested by summer's end. At least 17 carriers in Asia and Europe use the machines, as do several U.S. airlines, the International Air Transport Association says.
LinkNASA is working on supersonic jet that would be faster than Concorde
NASA has partnered with Boeing, Gulfstream and Lockheed Martin on a supersonic jet that could exceed the Concorde's record speed. The supersonic jet could travel the more than 12,000 miles from London to Sydney in four hours. The planes, which seat 12, are expected to retail for $80 million.
LinkBoeing will launch flying display of 787 at Farnborough air show
Boeing plans to showcase the 787 Dreamliner in a flying display at the Farnborough International Airshow in July. Boeing has not done a flying display at the U.K. air show in almost three decades, choosing to display aircraft on the ground. Boeing will fly a 787 destined for Qatar Airways, sources say.
LinkPilot-fatigue rules on cargo planes may not be justified, experts sayFurther safety regulation of the airline industry is complicated by the fact that there has not been a major crash on U.S. soil since 2001, this feature says. While regulators want to change pilot-fatigue guidelines for cargo carriers, the cost may be prohibitive, experts say. Airlines for America estimates the pilot-fatigue rules for passenger airlines will cost $8 billion over 10 years.
LinkAirlines are ordered by FAA to reinstall oxygen in lavatoriesThe Federal Aviation Administration is ordering airlines to reinstall emergency oxygen in aircraft lavatories. The FAA had previously ordered airlines to remove the oxygen due to an unspecified terrorist threat. Airlines have three years to comply with the FAA order.
LinkUK airlines call on government to deal with capacity issuesU.K. airlines are calling on the government to establish an aviation policy, especially for lack of capacity at British airports. "Crazy taxation and ongoing indecision on how to deal with the crippling lack of capacity is stunting economic growth and having a strangling effect on tourism," said Virgin Atlantic CEO Steve Ridgway.
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