NewsTurkish nine-month profit soars
Turkish Airlines (TK) has reported a nine-month net profit of TRY868 million ($481.6 million), up 655% over the same period in 2011. Revenue increased 30% to TRY11.2 billion and operating profit was TRY1.08 billion. The carrier returned to profit in its 2012 first-half results.
LinkUS Air Cabin Crew Vote To Approve Strike
Flight attendants at US Airways voted by a 94 percent margin to approve a strike, according to the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA website.
LinkSAS governments prepare financial support for carrier 
Sweden's government is preparing to submit a parliamentary bill proposing SKr749 million ($111 million) in financial support for SAS Group after the struggling company secured union agreement for its restructuring plan. The Swedish minister for financial markets, Peter Norman, says those involved in reaching the agreement have "shown great responsibility" towards SAS. "I understand the difficult decisions and major sacrifices that the SAS employees had to make in light of the company's plight," he adds.
LinkSAS Directors Agree To 30 Pct Pay Cut
Scandinavian airline SAS said on Tuesday its board of directors had agreed to a 30 percent pay cut as part of a restructuring plan to secure the company's long-term
LinkIberia Looking At Big Staff Cost Savings
Iberia, battling low-cost rivals, high-speed trains and a deep recession at home, said on Tuesday it needed to cut staff costs by a third to become competitive.
LinkCroatia Air To Cut Jobs, Get Capital Boost
State-owned Croatia Airlines will be handed an HRK800 million kuna (USD$136 million) government boost to its efforts to become profitable from 2013.
LinkMAS Lines Up Funding To Buy Aircraft
Loss-making Malaysia Airlines has secured a state-backed Islamic bond facility to raise up to MYR5.3 billion ringgit (USD$1.73 billion) for the purchase of eight new wide-body aircraft from Airbus.
LinkAirbus details three newest A380 weight variants 
Airbus has formally detailed new higher- and lower-weight variants of the A380 in its latest aircraft characteristics documentation for the type. Three additional weight variants - designated WV006, WV007 and WV008 - have been included in a revision of the airframer's technical information. WV008 has a maximum take-off weight of 575t, the highest offered by Airbus.
LinkEasyJet reports record profit for FY2012
EasyJet (U2) has reported a record pre-tax profit of £317 million ($512.4 million) for the year ended 30 September, up 27.9% over the previous financial year, despite the challenging economic climate and a £182 million increase in unit fuel costs. After a tax charge of £62 million, profit for the year was £255 million, up from £225 million the previous year.
LinkEasyJet edges closer to new aircraft order 
Low-cost carrier EasyJet is continuing its evaluations of new products from Airbus, Boeing and Bombardier as it advances towards a sizeable order for delivery post-2017. In its full-year results, the UK-based airline says that as the "technical and commercial" studies evolve it will bring a proposal to its shareholders, although does not give a timeframe. The report indicates it is examining the A320neo, 737 Max and Bombardier CSeries, but also suggests it will look to place an order for current-generation narrowbodies to bridge the period between 2014-2017.
LinkUSMC stands-up first operational F-35B squadron; operational testing in 2015 The US Marine Corps (USMC) has stood-up its first operational Lockheed Martin F-35B Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) squadron at MCAS Yuma, Arizona. Marine Strike Fighter Squadron (All Weather)-121 (VMFA(AW)-121) formally converted to the new jet from the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet during a ceremony on 20 November. However, the unit actually received its first short take-off vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B earlier on 16 November with the arrival of its first aircraft.
LinkIsraeli air force details strikes against Hamas rocket launch teamsThe Israeli air force says it has achieved a record sensor-to-shooter time during its missions flown as part its "Pillar of Defense" operation against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. Most of the missions have been mounted against the Hamas squads that operate the launchers for rockets that have been aimed at Israeli cities and towns.
LinkFAA finalizes rule for Airbus to install rudder safety updateThe Federal Aviation Administration has ordered Airbus to install a warning on the rudders of 215 of its planes after too much stress was placed on a vertical stabilizer and it came off in New York in 2001. Airbus has received approval of two ways to update the jets. The FAA order grants a four-year timeline for the changes.
LinkNextGen has "redundancies to ensure safe" operations, FAA saysThe Next Generation Air Transportation System has received attention from some critics who say that the satellite technology used by NextGen is vulnerable to hackers. The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that it was continually addressing safety concerns and that NextGen "is based on redundancies to ensure safe and secure operations."
LinkExpert predicts global increase in demand for pilotsOne aviation expert is predicting a rapid increase in global demand for pilots as the overall demand for aviation expands. Kit Darby, a U.S. pilot recruitment consultant, said forecasts show a 5% increase annually in the demand for pilots, and the number of aircraft across the globe is estimated to double by 2030
LinkMore air travel means more plane maintenance: "Your flight has been delayed due to a mechanical problem" -- it is something a passenger never really wants to hear especially during Thanksgiving week. More than 24 million passengers are expected to fly in the U.S. during the Thanksgiving holiday which runs from November 16 through the 27. CNN went behind the scenes with maintenance crews at United Airlines at its base in Houston to find out how they work to keep planes flying safe and on time. More than 600 flights will go through Houston this Wednesday alone.
LinkFAA postpones selection of drone test sites over privacy concernsActing Federal Aviation Administration chief Michael Huerta has delayed the selection of drone test sites indefinitely, citing the need to overcome privacy issues before testing begins. Selection of these test sites, originally intended to take place next month, is considered an important step for locales to become key players in the development of unmanned aircraft.
LinkAmerican Airlines' new iPad app puts fliers in control
American Airlines has launched an iPad application that lets users monitor elite status, change seats, produce a mobile boarding pass and play a trivia game. To kick off the new app, the airline is letting Facebook users who "like" their page to register weekly for a contest to win 100,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles.
LinkWhat the Airline Industry Thinks of "Flight" With Denzel Washington"Flight" is a movie about an alcoholic commercial airline pilot, which is a fallacy. He minimizes the impact of a plane crash by intentionally flying the plane upside down during the descent. This is also a fallacy. Our pilot, portrayed by Denzel Washington, flies an aircraft while drunk and high on cocaine. He finds a way to sneak a drink during the flight. After the accident, lawyers for the pilot and his union engage in a cover-up, including paying a pusher for drugs, in order to protect him. And the National Transportation Safety Board seems poised to let him off.
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