NewsOneworld set to announce new member; Qatar won’t confirm Oneworld appears to be preparing to announce a new member next week. Media speculation has focused on Qatar Airways (QR) as the new member, but the airline isn’t confirming. Oneworld has advised media that it is “set to announce a significant membership development” at a Monday press conference in New York that will include American Airlines chairman and CEO Tom Horton, International Airlines Group CEO Willie Walsh and oneworld CEO Bruce Ashby. It has given no further details.
LinkGE Orders Second Inspection Round On GEnxGeneral Electric on Thursday issued its second directive this week for an inspection of its new GEnx engine on Boeing jets, this time telling airlines to check the installation of a turbine part, after an engine failed on a Boeing 747-8 freighter last month in Shanghai.
LinkRyanair Offers Concessions To Snare Aer LingusRyanair on Thursday offered additional concessions to win European Commission approval of a take over of Aer Lingus.
LinkEU Court Says Pax Deserve More CompensationAirlines cannot use strikes as an excuse not to pay compensation to people they bump off flights, Europe's highest court said on Thursday, widening the scope of passenger rights in the European Union.
LinkBoeing Doubles 787 Deliveries In Q3Boeing said on Thursday it doubled deliveries of its fuel-efficient 787 Dreamliner in the third quarter to 12, compared with six in the second quarter.
LinkEADS-BAE Merger Could Be Hostage To US PoliticsTo win approval for their planned USD$45 billion merger, EADS and BAE must persuade Washington to let a pan-European behemoth control some of the most sensitive US military contracts, without triggering a political backlash.
LinkCircumstances of Syrian A320 collision remain hazy Mystery still surrounds the circumstances of an apparent mid-air collision involving a Syrian Arab Airlines Airbus A320 that resulted in substantial damage to the twinjet's vertical fin. The only verification of a collision came from a brief statement released by the ministry of information and carried by Syrian government media, which stated that a military helicopter - possibly a Mil Mi-17 or Mi-8 - had collided with the jet, which had returned to land at Damascus.
LinkAmerican points to saddle clamp for loose seats American Airlines says that an improperly installed saddle clamp resulted in a row of seats coming loose in-flight on two of its Boeing 757-200s. The Fort Worth-based Oneworld carrier says that the clamp in question is used to secure seats to the aircraft floor on 47 of its 757s. It has expanded seat inspections to all of these aircraft from the initial 10.
LinkSaudi’s Nasair undergoes fleet expansion Saudi Arabian carrier Nasair (XY) is planning to phase out its six Embraer E-190s and two E-195s, and grow to a single-type fleet of 40 Airbus A320s within four years to bring down operating costs. XY, which launched in February 2007, currently operates 16 aircraft to six cities in Saudi Arabia and 21 international destinations in the region.
LinkCosmo buys liquidated Pluna’s seven CRJ900s Spanish charter carrier Cosmo Airlines has paid $137 million for seven Bombardier CRJ900s from Uruguay’s liquidated Pluna (PU) at a government auction. Cosmo plans to use the aircraft on its Central and Eastern European services, expanding its current fleet of two Airbus A320s. Cosmo has a priority status through Nov. 1 to negotiate parallel route rights granted to PU or give them up, opening the doors for government negotiations with other interested parties.
LinkAustralia signs A$73.9m deal to participate in P-8A development Australia has signed a A$73.9 million ($81.1 million) agreement with the US Navy to participate in the further development of the Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (MPA). The signing formalises Australia's participation in the development of the Increment 3 P-8A Aircraft and marks Australia's continued commitment to the project to acquire a new manned MPA, says Australia's Department of Defense.
LinkDelta Air Lines, Korean Air are in talks to strengthen allianceDelta Air Lines and Korean Air are in talks to revamp their decade-old joint marketing alliance into something stronger. Specific moves being discussed have not yet been revealed by the companies. The existing agreement allows both airlines to cross-sell seats and has some limited protection from antitrust laws.
LinkAlaska Airlines traffic increased 5.1% last monthAlaska Air Group reported Wednesday that its Alaska Airlines saw a 5.1% increase in traffic in September. The increased traffic corresponds to a nearly identical increase in capacity.
LinkUS Airways saw 2% traffic growth in SeptemberUS Airways Group has reported a 2% increase in traffic for September when compared to the same time last year. Capacity grew 1.1% during the month, while load factor went up to 84%, from 83.3%.
LinkOrders for Boeing's 737 MAX continue to riseThe firm order tally for Boeing's 737 MAX jet increased this week, as the aircraft carrier sold nearly 100 more jets Wednesday. GE Capital Aviation Services finalized a previously announced order for 75 of the planes, and another unnamed customer ordered 22. The jets are equipped with fuel-efficient engines.
LinkEU asks WTO for permission to fine BoeingThe European Union has requested permission from the World Trade Organization to issue $12 billion in fines against U.S. companies, aiming at Boeing. The case is part of a long-time dispute between the U.S. and the EU over government subsidies to Boeing and Airbus. The case parallels a similar request by the U.S. to fine European companies nearly $10 billion.
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