NewsBoeing Resumes Deliveries Of 787 DreamlinersBoeing resumed deliveries of its 787 Dreamliner on Tuesday, ending a period of nearly four months in which it was unable to provide new planes to customers because of safety concerns about the battery system. The delivery of the first jet with a redesigned battery system marks a turning point in Boeing's 787 crisis, allowing the jet maker to book revenue for completed sales of the jet, which costs USD$207 million at list prices. Resuming deliveries will lower Boeing's profit margin in the near-term, though. The 787s being delivered now are among the relatively early jets that are more costly to make and that were sold at steep discounts to attract customers.
LinkLATAM Airlines Q1 Profit Down By Nearly HalfLATAM Airlines' first-quarter net profit dropped to USD$42.7 million, or nearly half of a year earlier, on foreign exchange fluctuations, a drop in cargo revenue and the grounding of its three 787s, the company said on Tuesday. The carrier, which is the product of Chilean LAN's takeover of Brazil's TAM in June, said in a statement to Chile's securities regulator that its net profit fell 43.8 percent from USD$76.1 million in the year ago period. But LATAM Airlines said that on a pro forma basis, which simulates a combined 2012 first quarter profit for both carriers, net income dropped 48.9 percent from USD$83.7 million.
LinkTurkish Air Faces Strike As Deadline ApproachesTurkish Airlines staff are highly likely to go on strike from Wednesday, a union official said, raising the prospect of flight delays and cancellations in a dispute over pay and the reinstatement of sacked workers. Aviation union Hava-Is, which says it represents 14,000 of the airline's 15,800 workers, is demanding that the company rehires 305 employees dismissed after industrial action that grounded hundreds of flights in May last year. The prospect of a strike this week comes as Turkish Airlines denied media reports of strife within management over the unrest and a move to ban female flight attendants wearing red lipstick and nail polish, which it withdrew this month.
LinkAirbus 'More Confident' On A350 Flight DateAirbus expressed growing optimism about the schedule for the keenly-awaited maiden flight of its A350, amid speculation that its first new jet in almost a decade could debut before next month's Paris air show. Scooping headlines at the world's largest aerospace event would give a boost to the A350, which went through several changes in design but for the time being seems relatively immune from problems which have plagued Boeing's 787 Dreamliner. Airbus parent EADS described the A350 project as "challenging," but stuck to a summer target date for the first flight of Europe's response to the 787.
LinkGol Posts Deeper Loss On Currency HedgeBrazilian airline Gol posted a bigger net loss in the first quarter than a year earlier, as losses from currency hedges offset profitability gains from a year of cutting its payroll and flight network. Gol Linhas Aereas reported a net loss of BRR75 million reais (USD$37 million), according to a late Monday filing, after a loss of BRR41 million reais a year earlier. A 30 percent cut in employee costs allowed Gol to boost operating profits, adding to signs of a gradual turnaround after years of poorly controlled growth led to a loss of BRR1.5 billion reais for 2012.
LinkNew Chinese advances in tailless UAV designs revealed China's internal pipeline of military aircraft demonstrators has produced yet another new and intriguing specimen as pictures posted on Chinese discussion forums revealed the nation's first tailless, unmanned and partially stealthy aircraft, apparently being readied for a debut flight test. Chinese military watchers identify the aircraft as the Lijian - or "Sharp Sword" unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) demonstrator - calling it the product of an industrial collaboration between Hongdu, a maker of military jet trainers, and Shenyang, one of two major suppliers of frontline fighters to the Chinese air force and navy. The size and shape of the pictured aircraft recalls the dimensions of such advanced Western designs as the Boeing Phantom Ray, Dassault Neuron, Lockheed Martin RQ-170 and Northrop Grumman X-47B.
LinkA350-1000 could demand extra assembly line EADS is to look into supplementing assembly capacity for the A350 following the increased interest for the A350-1000, the largest member of the family. The -1000 has emerged, over the past year, from a period of dormancy with agreements from Cathay Pacific and Air Lease, while conversion of a Qatar Airways order has reinforced backing for the twinjet. British Airways has also tentatively selected the -1000 to help replace its Boeing 747-400 fleet, and potentially provide additional capacity for Iberia.
LinkUK ATC controls UAV for first timeA twin-turboprop BAe Jetstream research aircraft has completed a 500nm (925km) flight through UK airspace under the command of a ground-based pilot and the control of UK air navigation service provider NATS. Advanced sensors and on-board robotic systems were employed to control the aircraft once in the air. The flight is one of several recent technology demonstrations conducted under the Autonomous Systems Technology Related Airborne Evaluation & Assessment (ASTRAEA), a UK research programme testing the management of civilian unmanned aircraft in common-use airspace. Others include: a pilot simultaneously co-ordinating two small unmanned aircraft in a simulated search and rescue mission; a team of specially equipped vehicles replicating the demands of a secure communications network while driving through mountainous terrain in Wales; work to develop an automatic in-flight refuelling system that could allow unmanned aircraft to operate for extended periods; and the conversion of an engine testbed into an intelligent, integrated power systems rig, successfully demonstrating the complete autonomous operation of an unmanned aircraft's propulsion and electrical system from start-up to shutdown, including 'self-healing'.
LinkJAL's fleet of seven 787s complete modifications Japan Airlines' (JAL) fleet of Boeing 787-8s have completed modifications and is on track to resume operations on 1 June. Aircraft JA826J was the seventh and last aircraft to receive modifications to its lithium-ion batteries, including the installation of a new containment system. The works were finished on 13 May. Four of JAL's seven 787s have also completed confirmation flights, where no battery problems were found, says the carrier. Fellow Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways (ANA) still has six 787s undergoing modifications. Works on 11 others have been completed, where like JAL, the carrier did not discover any further problems.
LinkX-47B launches off carrier deck, aviation first The Northrop Grumman X-47B has made its first aircraft carrier launch, becoming the first autonomous aircraft to launch from a carrier. The launch, conducted 14 May from the USS George H.W. Bush in the Atlantic Ocean near Virginia, went flawlessly, according to Northrop. The aircraft was lifted aboard while the carrier was docked and sailed from port. The launch was characterised as a "huge step" by Adm Ted Branch, the commander of naval air forces in the Atlantic area. Branch hailed the launch as showing the adaptability of aircraft carriers.
LinkUS Airways equips A330s with SafeRoute avionicsUS Airways received approval last month from the Federal Aviation Administration for its SafeRoute avionics featuring NextGen applications. US Airways said SafeRoute will "enhance operational safety and efficiency during various phases of flight." The avionics are installed aboard the carrier's Airbus A330s.
LinkUS Airways CEO says his focus is on preserving jobsUS Airways CEO Doug Parker has already established himself as a key proponent of industry consolidation and, according to this article, remains "poised to establish himself as an aviation leader for the ages." Parker said his legacy should be largely based on how well he can maintain jobs for the employees of US Airways and American Airlines. "What I care about is, by the time I'm done, I'd like the people at American and US Airways to know the company will be there for them," he said. "I'm highly confident we'll get there.”
LinkUnited to resume flying 787s May 20United Airlines said it plans to return its Boeing 787s to service next week. Domestic flights from United's Houston hub on the 787 are scheduled to begin May 20. "Our customers responded extremely well when we introduced the 787, and we know they'll welcome it back," Pete McDonald, United's chief operations officer, said in a statement.
LinkAmerican focuses direct-connect strategy on leisure marketsAmerican Airlines is focusing its direct-connect strategy more toward leisure markets instead of corporate markets. American has direct connects with Priceline and other leisure-focused travel agencies, according to American.
LinkEADS reports healthy Q1 profit on Airbus deliveriesEADS reported a higher-than-expected profit for the first quarter on strong deliveries of commercial jets from its Airbus unit. "On the operational side, we had a rather good start into 2013 with improved revenues and profitability," CEO Tom Enders said.
LinkColumn: Applying for Global Entry can take some timeCatharine M. Hamm, travel editor of the Los Angeles Times, chronicled her application process for the Global Entry Trusted Traveler program, which would also grant her PreCheck status. Hamm submitted her application on April 4, and now she is scheduled for an Aug. 6 appointment to complete the process. "If I'm lucky, maybe, just maybe, this journey toward Trusted Traveler status will end happily and my other journeys can begin without the hassle," she writes.
LinkARC reports flat air ticket sales for travel agents through AprilTotal air ticket sales by travel agents were $30.87 billion in the first four months of the year, according to the latest report by the Airlines Reporting Corp. That's down 0.66% from a year ago. Ticket transactions were flat as well, at 51.3 million. Paul Ruden, ASTA's senior vice president of legal and industry affairs, says the results could be caused by continued business uncertainty related to the government sequester. "But one quarter does not a year make. There are still chances for a good year," Ruden said.
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