NewsCenturion Cargo faces suspension in Brazil after landing incident Brazil’s civil aviation authority has warned it could suspend Miami-based cargo carrier Centurion Cargo following a 13 October landing incident in which the airline’s Boeing MD-11 freighter’s left landing gear collapsed. The incident at Viracopos-Campinas International Airport, one of three major airports serving Sao Paulo, led to the runway being closed until 17:35 yesterday. The aircraft was removed from the runway at 16:20, says Brazil’s civil aviation authority ANAC.
LinkKenya Airways unconcerned by FastJet launch Kenya Airways (KQ) believes new African rival FastJet will “get it right,” as it presses ahead with plans for its own Jambo Jet low-cost venture. FastJet, which is backed by easyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou, will launch from Tanzania Nov. 15. FastJet poses a threat to KQ because it already has four African air operator’s certificates in Ghana, Angola, Tanzania and Kenya through its acquisition of Fly540.
LinkBA's first A380s to ply short-haul routes to train crews British Airways will reinforce its Airbus A380 crew complement by putting the double-deck type on short-haul routes to maximise pilot training and build up a core of instructors. While the UK flag carrier has yet to disclose its initial long-haul route plans, it will operate the A380 on European services at first to enable its pilots to fly about four sectors daily. BA will commission a simulator at London Heathrow in January 2013 - the Thales device is undergoing tests near Gatwick - giving the carrier a six-month window to train before its first aircraft arrives in July.
LinkIATA: Aviation industry must focus on innovationInnovation and an aligned value chain will be crucial components toward serving a growing aviation industry, IATA DG and CEO Tony Tyler said Tuesday. Speaking at the IATA World Passenger Symposium in Abu Dhabi, Tyler stressed the need for simplifying airport processes, implementing a checkpoint of the future (COF) and developing a new distribution capability.
LinkRyanair Probed For Italy Social Security EvasionRyanair is being investigated in Italy for allegedly dodging around EUR€12 million (USD$15.5 million) of social security payments, a judicial source told Reuters on Tuesday.
LinkAMR Seeks Extension Of Bankruptcy Plan PeriodAmerican Airlines parent AMR on Tuesday asked a bankruptcy judge for a 30-day extension, to January 28, of its exclusive period to file a plan to exit bankruptcy.
LinkIndia To Drop New Delhi, Mumbai Airport FeesIndia will abolish a controversial airport fee at New Delhi and Mumbai airports from January 2013, the government said, as the country seeks to bolster air travel amid complaints of high costs by global airlines.
LinkFuel Shortages At Scottish Airport A WarningEdinburgh airport said jet fuel supplies were being rationed on Tuesday because of a problem discovered last week at a Scottish refinery, a further sign Europe could be heading towards a supply shortage this winter.
LinkBrazil Upholds US Pilots' ConvictionsA Brazilian federal court on Monday upheld the conviction of two US pilots for their role in Brazil's second-worst airline disaster, a 2006 midair collision over the Amazon in which 154 people died.
LinkBoeing to begin assembly of first KC-46 refueling boom this week Boeing will begin putting together the first aerial refueling boom for the US Air Force's new KC-46 tanker at a new assembly center that opened on 16 October in Seattle, Washington. "We're pleased that this facility opened on schedule," says Maureen Dougherty, Boeing's KC-46 program manager. The opening of the facility marks the transition of the new boom from the design phase and to the production phase, Boeing says.
LinkVirgin in talks about feeding Heathrow airlines hit by BMI demise Virgin Atlantic is aiming to plug the connectivity gap left at its London Heathrow hub by the British Airways/BMI merger and is in talks with the carriers and alliances affected by the move. "Clearly there are a lot of carriers at Heathrow that were fed by BMI - we will be able to provide that," says Virgin Atlantic chief executive Steve Ridgway.
LinkDelta will boost refinancing loan to $1.95B, source saysDelta Air Lines is seeking a bigger loan than originally expected for its debt-refinancing plan, a source says. If correct, the new loan would bring the total refinancing plan to $1.95 billion, up from $1.7 billion.
LinkSouthwest hires ex-FAA chief to head labor relationsSouthwest Airlines has hired a former head of the Federal Aviation Administration as senior vice president of labor relations. Randy Babbitt will be responsible for communication, negotiations and maintaining relationships with each of Southwest's 11 unions.
LinkUnions work together in bid to represent Delta flight attendantsTwo unions have come together in a new attempt to represent Delta Air Lines' flight attendants. The Association of Flight Attendants and the Transport Workers Union are beginning to make plans to seek a representation vote among Delta's flight attendants, despite three failed attempts by the Association of Flight Attendants to unionize the group. Delta's workforce is mostly nonunion, unlike most of the airline's competitors.
LinkJudge clears US Airways contract plans, warns of possible litigationA federal judge has ruled that US Airways Group can begin contract negotiations with its pilots, taking a controversial seniority clause into account, but that the airline risks litigation in doing so. The airline sought a court judgment before negotiating a new labor agreement to be sure it follows its legal obligation regarding the seniority clause, but the specific nature of the case led the judge to write that "the court cannot provide as much guidance as it had hoped it could."
LinkAirlines want PreCheck expandedThe Transportation Security Administration's PreCheck program does not let fliers registered with an airline use the program if they use another carrier. The PreCheck program was developed closely with the airline industry in order to reduce wait times and allow TSA to "focus its resources where they are most needed," an A4A representative said. Airlines support expansion of PreCheck and efforts to help customers qualify across airlines, she said.
LinkN.J. bill would bring harsher punishments for security breachersThe New Jersey Assembly's Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee has released a bill allowing prosecutors to bring charges against people who breach security restrictions at airports in the state. The proposed legislation is in response to an incident in 2010 during which a passenger disrupted flights around the world by sneaking past a security barrier at Newark Liberty International Airport, causing the airport to shut down for six hours.
LinkSouthwest raises fares as much as $10An airline fare-comparison website, FareCompare.com, shows that Southwest Airlines has raised its domestic round-trip fares $4 to $10. Chris Mainz, an airline spokesman, attributed the fare increase to meeting competitor competition "in the wake of rising costs."
LinkAA unveils meal reservations for first and business classesAmerican Airlines has announced a new program that will let first- and business-class passengers select their meals before departure. The airline plans to roll out the option this year and on all flights during 2013. "Our entree reservations program is another example of our desire to personalize the travel experience for our customers in our premium cabin," said Rob Friedman, vice president of marketing.
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