NewsPratt completes first flight of PW1100G engineFirst flight of the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G took off on 15 May, exactly as it was planned more than two years ago - and ended only moments ahead of a rain storm that nearly spoiled the inaugural test. "It was Mother Nature or divine intervention that allowed us to [complete] the first flight before the downpour came in," says Bob Saia, P&W's vice-president of next generation products. The maiden sortie of the first of two engines selected by Airbus to power the A320neo kicks-off a year-long certification program using a total of eight engines on board the P&W-owned Boeing 747SP flying testbed.
LinkAirlines Agree Plan For Tackling EmissionsGlobal airlines have agreed on a proposal for tackling aircraft emissions in a bid to break international deadlock over an issue that has stoked fears of a carbon trade war. Airlines representing 85 percent of global traffic urged governments to adopt a single market-based system designed to offset growth in their post-2020 emissions against the funding of projects to cut emissions deemed harmful to the environment. The decision is designed to offer governments a basis for negotiation after United Nations talks failed to resolve a stand-off between the European Union and a number of other countries over an issue with cross-border implications.
LinkJAL Studying Airbus, Boeing To Replace 777sJapan Airlines wants to start replacing around 40 of its Boeing 777 aircraft from 2019, chairman Masaru Onishi said. The airline is studying the Airbus A350-1000, as well as Boeing's proposed 787-10X and 777-9X, he told reporters. Japan's flag carrier has been a loyal Boeing customer and is one of the few airlines in the world not to operate any Airbus aircraft. It has been looking to diversify its fleet purchases between the two leading aircraft manufacturers.
LinkLufthansa Open To Ties With Gulf CarriersLufthansa CEO Christoph Franz eased open the door to rival Gulf carriers on Monday, saying he would not rule out future commercial ties with one of the region's heavyweight airlines. Lufthansa, a leading member of the Star Alliance group of airlines, has criticized the market power of fast-growing Gulf airlines and is locked in a dispute with Dubai's Emirates over the latter's bid to gain more access to German airports. After a period of rapid standalone growth, Gulf airlines have started forging links with carriers including Lufthansa's two main European network rivals.
LinkAirbus, Boeing Long-haul Jet Battle Throttles UpThe battle between Airbus and Boeing over their next-generation of long-haul jets is heating up, with a string of major airlines flagging plans to place multi-billion dollar orders. Germany's Lufthansa, Japan Airlines and Malaysia Airlines were among carriers at the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) annual general meeting to say they were sizing up Airbus's new A350 wide-body jets and Boeing's rival 787 Dreamliner and revamped 777 models. Airbus and Boeing compete for the lion's share of a jet market estimated at USD$100 billion a year. While recent years have seen them battling over smaller Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft, interest in larger fuel-efficient planes is on the rise, suggesting airlines are betting on an upturn in the global economy and their premium and long-haul markets.
LinkEthiopian May Lease Or Buy More 787sEthiopian Airlines plans to buy or lease up to six more Boeing 787 Dreamliners by 2018 as it adds routes to Asia and South America, its chief executive told Reuters. "We are looking at another five or six by 2017/18. We always maintain a 60/40 percent balance, with 60 percent owned and 40 percent leased," Tewolde Gebremariam said on the sidelines of the IATA AGM in Cape Town.
LinkLeahy sees no weakening of appetite for A380s Airbus's chief salesman insists that the open slots for the A380 in 2015 are not evidence of a weakening appetite for the type. Chief operating officer customers John Leahy is maintaining his target to sell 25 of the double-deck jets this year, as Airbus embarks on a new advertising campaign for the aircraft. "There's a lot of demand for the A380," Leahy says. While parent company EADS recently admitted having open slots for the type in 2015 - the year in which it hopes the A380 will break even at production level - Leahy is unconcerned, indicating that the number of slots is as low as two.
LinkAir Canada Rouge 767-300ER arrives in Mirabel with new livery
Air Canada Rouge's first Boeing 767-300ER touched down at Montreal-Mirabel International airport on 1 June. Mirabel-based maintenance firm Avianor will perform final interior modifications on the aircraft ahead of the leisure carrier's launch on 1 July. The 767 with registration C-GHPE is now part of Air Canada's mainline fleet and will be transitioned to the Rouge fleet later this month. It is returning from a heavy maintenance check in Tel Aviv, where it received a new livery design.
LinkUS Airways CEO Doug Parker to make new management structure decisionsIn an interview at the annual meeting of the International Air Transport Association, AMR CEO Tom Horton and US Airways CEO Doug Parker indicated that by the middle of this month, they plan to announce a new management structure. While Horton will make recommendations, the final decision rests with Parker, who will helm the merged carrier under the American Airlines brand.
LinkIATA predicts U.S. carriers are better positioned to compete globallyU.S. airlines are seeking to improve their market share now that they are better positioned to compete globally and have invested in more fuel-efficient aircraft, said International Air Transport Association CEO Tony Tyler. "We're going to see more competition now internationally as the U.S. carriers operate from a stronger base," Tyler said.
LinkEtihad Airways: Abu Dhabi will open CBP preclearance facility in DecemberEtihad CEO James Hogan said that the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol preclearance facility, scheduled to open at the end of this year in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, would support Etihad's international expansion. U.S. airlines, pilots groups and some politicians are strongly opposed to the deal because it would benefit a foreign airline at the expense of U.S. carriers. U.S. government officials did not respond to requests for comment.
LinkAirbus preps A350 for debut flight by powering up enginesAirbus powered up the Rolls-Royce XWB engines on its A350 for the first time in preparation for the aircraft's debut flight. Flight trials for the A350 should be completed within 12 months. Airbus has booked firm orders for 616 A350 aircraft.
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