NewsLufthansa To Launch New Low Cost CarrierLufthansa will merge its European and German domestic routes under a new low-cost brand from next year, hoping to improve profits and fend off growing competition from low-cost carriers.
LinkAMR Bondholders Demand PaymentHolders of USD$450 million in American Airlines bonds plan to ask a US bankruptcy judge for an order to help ensure they get paid, claiming that the 143 planes that are collateral for their investment could lose too much value.
LinkNo Emergency Directive On GE EnginesThe US Federal Aviation Administration said on Wednesday it would stop short of issuing an emergency directive on recently identified problems in General Electric engines on a pair of Boeing jet models, sticking instead to more routine safety notices.
LinkAir Canada Reveals More Details Of LCCAir Canada will operate its planned low-cost airline as a wholly owned unit with its own management team, the company's chief financial officer said on Wednesday.
LinkAir Berlin Sees Better Results In Q3Air Berlin said on Wednesday it was confident of improved results in the third quarter and announced a restructuring of its executive board.
LinkSouthwest orders additional 268 sets of winglets for 737NGs Low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines has placed an order for an additional 268 sets of blended winglets from Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) for its Boeing 737-700 and -800s, in a deal that is the biggest ever single order for the manufacturer.
LinkALC: Boeing 'gun shy' on 777X launchBoeing is understandably "gun shy" about launching the 777X program and will likely move on the 787-10 programme first, says Air Lease Corp chairman and chief executive Steven Udvar-Hazy. He says that he expects the airframer to launch the 787-10 program by the end of this year and delay a decision on the 777X program until 2013, to Flightglobal on the sidelines of the Boyd Group International Aviation Forecast Summit in Dallas. Boeing has moved away from an end-of-2012 board launch for the 777X since Ray Conner took over as chief executive of Boeing Commercial Airplanes from Jim Albaugh earlier this year.
LinkAir France revamping 777s to compete with Gulf carriers Troubled carrier Air France plans to refurbish its entire fleet of long-haul Boeing 777s in a bid to respond to the competitive threat, and perceived higher quality service, of Gulf and Asian airlines. Launching the initiative at a Paris press conference on 18 September, Air France chief executive Alexandre de Juniac said the airline would invest "hundreds of millions of euros" to improve its offering to passengers.
LinkJetBlue to offer extra legroom seats on A321s Low-cost carrier JetBlue Airways will offer its extra legroom seats on its new Airbus A321s, following a recent move to extend the product offering to its Embraer 190s. The airline's chief executive Dave Barger says that it is not clear yet how many of the 190 seats on the carrier's new A321s will have extra legroom, but he adds that the ratio should be comparable to what it currently offers on its A320s, at the Boyd Group International Aviation Forecast Summit in Dallas today.
LinkBombardier hints at scaled-down version of Learjet 85Bombardier has hinted at plans to launch a scaled-down version of the all-composite Learjet 85. The Learjet 85 was designed to define a new category between the traditional ranges for the midsize and super-midsize segments. However, it is now clear Bombardier has no intention of overlooking the core of the midsize category with its latest and most significant new product in decades.
LinkNorthrop progresses E-8 Joint STARS modifications Northrop Grumman is making progress on upgrading the Boeing E-8 joint surveillance target attack radar system (JSTARS), a Boeing 707 with a side-looking infrared radar underneath. In August, the first aircraft operationally deployed with the enhanced land and maritime (ELM) modification, which manufacturer Northrop says greatly increases radar precision.
LinkDutch Lynx flies last operational mission The Netherlands' Defence Helicopter Command has conducted its last operational flight with a Westland Lynx, bringing to an end a service history spanning 36 years. The milestone sortie was performed at its Naval Air Station De Kooy base on 11 September.
LinkNatural gas to fuel is "next big thing," JetBlue's founder saysDavid Neeleman, founder of JetBlue, has his eyes on what he calls his "next big thing." Neeleman is looking at developing a way to convert natural gas into jet fuel that is also affordable for airlines. The technology to make the conversion exists but not on a global scale nor at a feasible cost. Neeleman hopes to generate support from other airlines for a fund to develop the necessary technology.
LinkHawaiian Airlines passenger traffic grew 12.6% in AugustHawaiian Airlines has released its August and year-to-date statistics. The carrier's number of total passengers increased 12.6% in August compared with the same month in 2011. Year-to-date passenger totals are up 8.4% over the same period last year.
LinkAmerican Airlines is improving financials, executive saysChuck Schubert, the vice president of network planning for American Airlines, says the carrier is nearing its goal of $3 billion in financial improvements by 2017. The figure includes $2 billion in cost savings through measures such as renegotiating employee contracts and restructuring debt. "We're making good progress on all these items, and we'll begin to see the savings flow through our financials later this year and into 2013," Schubert said. AMR, the parent company of American Airlines, filed for bankruptcy in November.
LinkFAA orders further inspections for Boeing 737 cracksThe Federal Aviation Administration has updated its policies regarding inspections for more than 1,600 737 Boeing jets. The move was prompted by concerns about undetected cracks in fuselages and bulkheads of the jets. The new rule extends a previous requirement to inspect older 737s to include more jets that are later models, likely leading to extra inspections every few months of many 737s.
LinkFAA may delay drone access to U.S. skiesThe Federal Aviation Administration is under pressure from Congress, the aviation industry and other government agencies to allow civilian unmanned drones access to U.S. air space, but safety and security concerns may cause delays to meeting the deadline. Industry forecasts expect the commercial and military drone markets to account for nearly $90 billion over the next 10 years. State and local law enforcement departments are expected to have the largest demand for drones once the FAA clears the way for their use.
LinkTSA says it has improved security at Newark, N.J., airportThe Transportation Security Administration is reporting an improved security system at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. The TSA's functions at the airport recently came under fire from lawmakers for security breaches. TSA Administrator John Pistole reportedly has written a memo to lawmakers stating that security concerns have been resolved.
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