News
Branson: Virgin Atlantic nearing alliance decision
Virgin Group chairman Richard Branson has indicated that Virgin Atlantic Airways (VS), long known for its independent streak, is closing in on a decision to join a global alliance. In an interview with Bloomberg Television while in India to announce the re-launching of VS’s London Heathrow-Mumbai service, Branson said, “Virgin Atlantic has always enjoyed its independence, but since pretty well every competitor that we have has an alliance, I think we have finally decided that to survive we need to have an alliance.”
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Etihad orders two more A330-200s
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways (EY) has signed a firm order for two additional Airbus A330-200 passenger aircraft as part of the carrier’s continued growth plans. The aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines. The carrier also converted seven of its previously ordered Airbus A320s to the A321.
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Royal Brunei Airlines unveils new livery
Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) has unveiled a new livery and logo as part of its rebranding strategy. The airline has painted an Airbus A319 aircraft with the new livery and logo, and plans to progressively introduce new uniforms for its personnel. It will also revamp its airport lounges and website.
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First class delays American 777-300 launch
American Airlines has delayed the commercial launch of its Boeing 777-300ER to 31 January 2013 from 13 December due to production issues with the first class suites for the aircraft. The Fort Worth-based Oneworld carrier says that the seats are manufactured by Zodiac UK, which is also supplying those used in its business class cabin, and that it is working with Boeing to "augment" the delivery schedule of the aircraft.
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Russian leasing firm plans order for 35 737 Max jets
Russian state corporation Rostekhnologii is intending to purchase 35 Boeing 737 Max twinjets, through its leasing division Aviakapital-Servis. The agreement marks the first deal for the re-engined aircraft family in Russia, and comes as the airframer plans increased co-operation with an affiliated titanium supplier. Rostekhnologii has previously disclosed plans to take up to 85 737s, and 50 of these had been firmed. Aeroflot subsequently agreed to lease 50 737-800s and -900ERs from the corporation.
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Virgin Australia back in budget market with Tiger deal
Buying a stake in Tiger Airways Australia allows Virgin Australia to re-enter the low-cost segment after four years and embark on a two-brand strategy in the domestic market. This will also allow Virgin to provide competition across all market segments in Australia, says its chief executive John Borghetti. Virgin said on 30 October that it will buy a 60% stake in Tiger for Australian dollars (A$) 35 million ($36.2 million), with the low-cost carrier's Singapore-based parent retaining 40%. The Australian carrier will also make a deferred payment of A$5 million to Tiger upon achieving certain targets.
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Boeing Says 787s For United Are Delayed
Boeing said delivery of at least two 787s for United Airlines was taking longer than expected, a surprise hitch in delivery to its first US customer that is set to disappoint some customers wanting to fly the new fuel-efficient aircraft.
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US Airlines, Airports Assess Storm Damage
As airline, airport, rail and port workers dug through storm debris, dealt with power outages and assessed damage on Tuesday, one thing became increasingly clear: Restoring full services could take some time.
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Air France Seeking A380 Compensation
Air France-KLM is seeking compensation from Airbus for service disruptions caused by technical issues affecting its fleet of A380 superjumbo aircraft, French daily Les Echos reported.
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SAS To Slash Costs To Secure Its Future
Loss-making Scandinavian airline SAS said it would slash costs and sell assets to secure its future following media reports it was in financial difficulties.
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AMR Pilots Cite 'Potential' For Deal
The pilots' union at American Airlines said on Tuesday that a deal could be close if the bankrupt airline is willing to make certain key concessions.
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American Airlines seeks to draw premium fliers with upgrades
American Airlines has made an impressive effort to improve its premium product amid restructuring efforts, this blog says. The carrier's list of investments in the premium category include offering economy seats with extra legroom, equipping flight attendants with tablet devices and new first-class and business-class seats with high-end amenities
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EU ministers reject airport slot rule tightening
European Union transport ministers rejected a proposed rule from the European Commission that would force carriers to use airport slots 85% of the time or lose them the following year, up from the current requirement of 80%. The proposed rule was aimed at reducing traffic crunches at major airports. The European Commission says worsening capacity problems could delay as many as half of all EU flights in the coming two decades.
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Other News
Swiss charter airline Hello[/B], which announced insolvency and stopped flights from Zurich and Basel Oct. 21, is looking for new investors. According to an associate from Barons Financial Services, a bankruptcy judge has given Hello until Nov. 30 to find new investors. Barons Financial Services has been mandated to seek additional funding for the airline. “The company is not yet in bankruptcy,” a Hello source said.
UK air navigation service provider NATS has won a contract to provide tower and engineering services at London Luton Airport (LTN) for another three years. The contract was awarded following an open market tender process. In 2011, 9.5 million passengers travelled through LTN, with NATS controllers handling 99,296 flights, making it the UK’s fifth busiest airport. The contract award means NATS will continue to provide air traffic management services to all five major London airports. It also maintains the London Terminal Manoeuvring Area (TMA) which is “one of the most complex and busiest areas of airspace in the world,” NATS said.
Azerbaijan’s national carrier AZAL (J2) and Serbian Jat Airways (JU) are in negotiations to launch joint flights from Azerbaijan to the US via Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG) in 2013. Talks about a possible cooperation have been ongoing since the last year, Balkans.com Business Newsreported, quoting Ambassador of Serbia to Azerbaijan Zoran Vajovic. Routes have not yet been specified, but J2 plans to start flights via BEG, if the US Federal Aviation Administration gives the airport a Category I safety rating.
Lufthansa Technik[/B] signed a 10-year Total Component Support (TCS) contract with Ethiopian Airlines, covering its 10 Boeing 787s. Lufthansa Technik already provides component support for Ethiopian’s Bombardier Q400 and Boeing MD-11 aircraft.
Sepang Aircraft Engineering has signed a contract with Airbus for its Airbus Managed Inventory (AMI) solution. SAE performs all base maintenance activities for Air Asia’s fleet.
ST Aerospace has signed a 10-year component Maintenance-By-the-Hour (MBHTM) contract with TransAsia Airways, covering two Airbus A330s which recently joined their fleet. ST Aerospace already supports TransAsia Airways’ five A321s and four A320s. The contract is expected to begin Nov. 1.
Sabena technics has signed a component support deal with Tanzanian carrier Precision Air, covering its ATR 42- and 72-600s. This is an extension of a five-year contract, signed in 2010, extended to the airline’s four new ATR 42-600s and one ATR 72-600, which will arrive from November.
Aviation Quote
An excellent weapon and luck had been on my side. To be successful, the best fighter pilot needs both.
— General Adolf Galland, Luftwaffe.
On This Date
--- In 1933... France’s air minister Pierre Cot formally inaugurates the country’s national airline, Air France.
---In 1947…The Avro Tudor 4 enters service with British South American Airways.
---In 1956... The US Navy R4D-5 Skytrain Que Sera Sera, commanded by Rear Admiral George Dufek, becomes the 1st airplane to make a landing at the South Pole.
---In 1959… Colonel G. Mosolov sets a new airspeed record of 2,387 km/h (1,483 mph) in the Mikoyan-Gurevich Ye-66.
---In 1960… BEA retires the DC-3, its last piston-engined airliner serving out of London-Heathrow, from scheduled passenger service.
---In 1977…a Pan Am Boeing 747SP circumnavigates the world over the two poles.
---In 1990… the Australian airline industry is deregulated. Airlines are allowed to select their own routes and set their own fares.
---In 1994…American Eagle Airlines Flight 4184 crashed in Roselawn, Indiana after a flaw in the ATR-72's deicing system lead to a buildup of ice on the plane's wings.
---In 1996…Air Tahiti Nui formed.
---In 1999…EgyptAir Flight 990, a Boeing 767 on its way Cairo, Egypt, was deliberately crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off Nantucket, Massachusetts by the co-pilot as a way of committing suicide. All 217 passengers and crew members on board were killed.
Daily Video
Editor’s Choice
Humor
Russian War College
At the Russian War College, the general is a guest lecturer and tells the class of officers that the session will focus on potential problems and the resulting strategies. One of the officers in the class begins by asking the first question,
"Will we have to fight a World War Three?"
"Yes, comrades, looks like you will," answers the general.
"And who will be our enemy, Comrade General?" another officer asks.
"The likelihood is that it will be China."
The class looks alarmed, and finally one officer asks, "But Comrade General, we are 150 million people and they are about 1.5 billion. How can we possibly win?"
"Well," replies the general, "Think about it. In modern war, it is not the quantity, but the quality that is the key. For example, in the Middle East, 5 million Jews have fought against 50 million Arabs, and the Jews have been the winners every time."
"But Comrade General," asks the panicky officer, "Do we have enough Jews"?
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