NewsSingapore to launch 787-10X with order for 30 Singapore Airlines has become the first carrier to commit to the proposed stretched Boeing 787-10X, with an order for 30. The carrier disclosed the agreement - which is conditional on a formal launch - as it firmed orders for 30 more Airbus A350-900s. Delivery of the 787-10X would take place in the 2018-19 financial year. The carrier has not made an engine selection for the Boeing twinjets.
LinkDual cowl mystery at center of BA A319 probe Investigations into the damage sustained by a British Airways Airbus A319 after departing London Heathrow are to focus on the event that stripped the cowl doors from both engines. The aircraft took off from Heathrow for Oslo on 24 May, operating flight BA762, but lost the cowls of its International Aero Engines V2500 powerplants as it lifted off the runway. Its crew opted to return to Heathrow, via a clockwise path to the north of London, returning on an approach path over the city from the east with the starboard engine emitting a clear vapour trail. While the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch has not given any formal indication of the cause of the event, the circumstances closely parallel other cowl-loss incidents.
LinkTUI Travel commits to 60 737 Max TUI Travel has committed to 60 Boeing 737 Max aircraft in a deal valued at $6.9 billion at list prices. These aircraft includes 40 of the 737-8 variant and 20 -9 variant. It also has the option to purchase another 90 737 Max, although the deal is still subject to shareholders' approval, says the travel operator.
LinkBoeing 737 MAX To Burn Less Fuel Than ExpectedBoeing said on Thursday it is confident its new 737 MAX passenger jet will burn 13 percent less fuel than current 737 models, a figure that exceeds earlier estimates. At a press briefing, Boeing said its forecast is based on computer models and wind tunnel tests. The plane is due to enter production in 2015 and be delivered to customers in 2017. The 737 MAX is the latest narrow-body plane by Boeing and competes with the Airbus A320neo.
LinkBombardier's CSeries Passes Ground Safety TestsBombardier said its new CSeries aircraft passed a crucial milestone, completing a series of ground tests prior to obtaining flight certification ahead of its first flight at the end of June. The single-aisle CSeries, the Canadian plane maker's USD$3.4 billion challenge to industry leaders Boeing and Airbus, performed the last of seven Safety of Flight (SOF) tests in Saint-Laurent, Quebec, the company said. Orders for the CSeries have been poor so far as airlines await the first flight to see if the plane's technology and efficiency claims hold up. Bombardier has firm orders for 145 planes; its goal is 300 by mid-2014, when the CSeries is scheduled to enter service.
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Flight Paths At New Berlin Airport Draw EU IreBerlin's much-delayed new airport suffered another setback on Thursday when the European Commission accused Germany of failing to heed EU wildlife protection law. The European Union's executive, which enforces environmental law, said Germany had failed to assess adequately the environmental impact of planned flight routes into and out of the new airport. The Commission's intervention adds to Germany's embarrassment over the project, could further delay the airport's opening and may eventually lead to a fine.
LinkHeathrow To Name And Shame Noisiest AirlinesAirlines found guilty of breaking noise limits at London's Heathrow airport will face bigger fines and will be named and shamed by the London hub as it seeks to win more public support for a controversial expansion. Europe's busiest airport plans to "significantly increase" the fines it imposes on airlines that break its day and night noise limits, it said in a report released on Thursday, part of its efforts to gain approval for expansion. Fines for carriers that break maximum noise levels, which differ according to the time of day, range from GBP£500 to GBP£1000 (USD$1,500) per case. Fewer decibels are allowed during the night. Heathrow's two biggest airlines are British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, but it is also used heavily by major carriers such as Lufthansa, Air France and Emirates.
LinkAmerican Airlines reports results for AprilAMR Corp., the parent company of American Airlines, reported financial results for April. Excluding reorganization fees and other accounting items, the carrier would have posted a profit of $14 million for the month. "If current trends continue, we are well on our way to a strongly profitable second quarter," said AMR CEO Tom Horton in a letter to employees.
LinkHawaiian secures financing for Airbus aircraftHawaiian Airlines closed on enhanced equipment trust certificates of $444.5 million to finance the acquisition of six Airbus A330-200 aircraft. "This financing represents a significant landmark for Hawaiian, and we are very pleased with the results," said CFO Scott Topping.
LinkBoeing utilizes technology to paint 777 wingsBoeing is using two robots to paint the wings of its 777 aircraft at its plant in Everett, Wash. The robots can complete the first coat of paint in 24 minutes, compared with 4.5 hours for manual labor. Jason Clark, the director of 777 manufacturing, said that "no layoffs occurred because of the implementation of this technology."
LinkAirline satisfaction is up, J.D. Power saysCustomer satisfaction with North American airlines has improved to its highest level since 2006, according to J.D. Power & Associates. The overall passenger satisfaction rose to 695 this year, a 14-point increase from 2012.
LinkChina, India do not comply with emissions-trading schemeThe European Commission reported that aircraft operators responsible for more than 98% of aviation emissions in 2012 have complied with the emissions-trading scheme. Airlines from China and India have refused to comply with the scheme. The Civil Aviation Administration of China said the country "will not accept any unilateral and compulsory market measures."
LinkFedEx makes progress on reducing aviation fuel consumptionFedEx is progressing on a goal to reduce jet fuel consumption through its FedEx Express Fuel Sense program. The package delivery service is also replacing older aircraft with more fuel-efficient planes such as the Boeing 777 and Boeing 757.
LinkTSA removes all backscatter scanners from U.S. airportsThe Transportation Security Administration has removed all of its 250 backscatter full-body scanners from U.S. airports ahead of a June 1 deadline. The machines have been replaced by scanners that show a generic outline of the body.
LinkU.S. carriers contenders in business lounge arenaU.S. airlines are trying to keep up with international carriers in creating luxury lounge experiences, which can help secure more revenue from business travelers. Delta's latest lounge debuted at JFK airport in New York City and features a 2,000-square-foot outdoor Sky Deck. "U.S. airlines, which have multiple domestic lounges ... were behind the newer international lounges," said Adam Weissenberg, vice chairman at Deloitte. "But that is starting to change as new terminals are opened, lounges are renovated and airlines merge."
LinkPlug in at these Florida airportsAirports such as Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Palm Beach International Airport in Florida are trying to keep up with travelers' desire to plug in. The hubs are just a few in Southern Florida that have added more charging stations.
LinkStudy focuses on in-flight medical illnessIt happens on about one in 600 flights: an onboard medical emergency requires help and sometimes an unscheduled landing. Passengers are often left wondering what happened. A new study in the New England Journal of Medicine opens a window into some 12,000 in-flight medical emergencies on five airlines over a three-year period. Dramatic or serious incidents—pregnancy complications, psychiatric episodes, cardiac arrest—were relatively rare, the researchers found. The most common problems: fainting, followed by difficulty breathing; gastrointestinal problems and cardiac symptoms.
LinkUSAF will consolidate F-22 depot maintenance at Hill AFB The US Air Force says it will consolidate depot maintenance for the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor at the Ogden Air Logistics Complex at Hill AFB, Utah. Currently, depot maintenance for the stealthy fifth-generation fighter is split between Ogden and a Lockheed plant in Palmdale, California. "The facts show this will be a great efficiency for the F-22 programme and the warfighter," says Lt Gen CD Moore, commander of the USAF lifecycle management center. "It will allow us to more quickly maintain the F-22, keeping this vital front-line fighter ready to meet any challenge, while at the same time allow us to strengthen the robust and capable Palmdale workforce on other critical programmes within the local area."
LinkRussia suspends Mil Mi-8 flights after fatal crash Russia's defence ministry on 28 May suspended operations using Mil Mi-8 helicopters, following a fatal training accident involving the type. A statement from the ministry says that a Russian air force Mi-8, on a routine training flight, crashed at around 12:00 local time near the village of Ivanovo in the Saratov region. Two crew members - the pilot and a student pilot - escaped from the wreckage, but the flight engineer was killed, it says.
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