NewsEADS rebrands and restructures under Airbus name EADS has confirmed that it is to restructure under the Airbus Group brand next year, into a company with three divisions covering commercial, defence and rotorcraft operations. It disclosed the plan as Airbus posted first-half earnings of nearly €1.1 billion ($1.4 billion), a 95% increase on the previous year, on revenues of over €18 billion. Airbus's gross order forecast has been raised to over 1,000 aircraft for the full year, with deliveries of 600-610 jets. Restructuring of EADS will begin in January 2014 and will be completed in the second half of the year. But EADS says several approval procedures, including consultation with personnel, will need to be undertaken first.
LinkTurkish Airlines firms three more A330s Turkish Airlines is to exercise options on three Airbus A330-300s, days after deciding to convert options on a batch of Boeing 777-300ERs. The Star Alliance carrier says the aircraft will be delivered in 2015-16, following the firming of the order.
LinkSukhoi details extent of Superjet debt burden Sukhoi's civil aircraft division has disclosed that the Superjet 100 programme is labouring under a debt of Rb70 billion ($2.1 billion) but insists measures are being discussed to ease the burden. The airframer has produced 10 Superjet 100s so far this year, of which three have been delivered, and is expecting total production of 26 aircraft during 2013. Sukhoi adds that it will produce 40 of the type next year. But it notes that the company's financial performance is being "dictated" by matters such as the "significant" discounting of aircraft sold to launch customers.
LinkAirAsia X chief details fleet strategy The Airbus A330 will remain the core workhorse of AirAsia X's fleet, even as the airline gears towards expansion that could see it order more aircraft in the coming years. The Malaysia-based long-haul low-cost carrier operates a fleet of 13 A330-300s and two A340s, and has a further 19 A330s and 10 A350s on order. While the A350s will be delivered only after 2018, the carrier will have a fleet of 32 A330s by 2017.
LinkAll Nippon Airways orders three 777-300ERs All Nippon Airways (ANA) has placed orders for three Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and a single 767-300 Freighter. "The introduction of the additional 777-300ERs will further strengthen ANA Group's long-haul network," says the company. The order was placed with Boeing on 30 July. The three new aircraft will arrive in the first six months of 2015. In addition, the carrier will obtain a new 767-300F for ANA Cargo, but it has yet to decide whether it will acquire a new aircraft or lease one.
LinkFirst flight for Spanish-assembled Tiger Eurocopter has achieved the first flight of a Spanish-assembled Tiger attack helicopter, and says the HAD/E-standard aircraft will be delivered "by the end of 2013". Flown from Eurocopter Spain's Albacete site on 29 July, aircraft 5002 is drawn from a 24-unit order signed by Madrid. Six Tigers are already in Spanish army use in an earlier HAP/E configuration, and the new type "will significantly reinforce the French-assembled variants", the manufacturer says. Key differences between the models include the new standard's use of more powerful MTRI MTR390E engines, which have been in flight-test in a French-built example HAD/E 5001 since 2010.
LinkAirline Worker, Wife Accused Of Stealing LuggageA United Airlines customer services representative and his wife have been arrested in the theft of unclaimed luggage from a flight that had been diverted after the July 6 fatal crash of an Asiana Airlines 777, a county prosecutor said on Monday. Sean Sharif Crudup, 44, was charged with grand theft and burglary, said Karen Guidotti, chief deputy district attorney for San Mateo County. His wife, Raychas Elizabeth Thomas, 32, will be arraigned in August, Guidotti said. Guidotti said video surveillance showed Crudup taking the bags and handing them to his wife. She said Thomas later unpacked the luggage and returned much of the clothing to a Nordstrom department store, pocketing about USD$5,000 cash.
LinkUnited-Continental on track to success, analyst saysb]The merger of United and Continental closed in 2010, and analysts say the carrier is on the path to success. "While we still think the company has a way to go to achieve what we would describe as strong results, this quarter clearly marks a step in the right direction," said Deutsche Bank analyst Mike Linenberg.
LinkJetBlue announces Q2 resultsJetBlue reported a profit of $36 million, or 11 cents a share, in the second quarter, despite sluggish economic conditions. President and CEO Dave Barger expressed confidence, saying JetBlue is "well positioned to expand margins in the second half of the year as we expect maintenance cost pressures to lessen and unit revenue performance to improve."
LinkAlaska allows flexible rebooking due to Tropical Storm FlossieAlaska Airlines added additional flights on Monday to ferry passengers home after Tropical Storm Flossie prompted flight cancellations to Hawaii. Alaska also implemented a flexible rebooking policy for passengers originally scheduled to fly to or from Hawaii airports Monday or Tuesday.
LinkUnited Airlines to replace 757s with 737s, CFO saysUnited Airlines plans to retire Boeing 757-200s from its domestic fleet by the end of 2015. The carrier will replace the older aircraft with the fuel-efficient Boeing 737-900ERs, according to United CFO John Rainey.
LinkBoeing attempts to price fuel savings for 777XBoeing is highlighting the fact that its 777X will burn 20% less fuel than the current 777 generation when setting a price for the aircraft. Michel Merluzeau, managing partner at G2 Solutions, said that fuel-efficient aircraft such as the 777X acts as an "insurance policy" for airlines should fuel prices rise.
LinkEU to approve American Airlines-US Airways merger, sources sayAmerican Airlines and US Airways will receive approval from the European Union for their proposed merger, sources said. "The deal is set to be approved," one source said. The EU will announce its decision on Aug. 6.
LinkFAA outlines requirements for Charlotte airportThe Federal Aviation Administration outlined requirements for the Charlotte Douglas International Airport in a letter to the city. The state recently passed a bill to create an airport commission to run the airport, which would still be owned by the city. "At this point, given the complexity of the bill and the issues it addresses, we must wait for the courts to weigh in before we decide our course of action," said Charlotte Mayor Patsy Kinsey.
LinkTSA aims for faster screening with PreCheck expansionThe Transportation Security Administration is striving to roll out its PreCheck program to 25% of all eligible travelers by the end of this year and to 50% by the end of next year. New York Times writer Joe Sharkey says expansion of the risk-based PreCheck program is a "work in progress, and a welcome one too."
LinkOperations return to normal following record rainfall at Philadelphia airportFull flight operations have resumed at Philadelphia International Airport, after it recorded more than 8 inches of rain on Sunday, which set a new record for a one-day total. The deluge flooded an access tunnel and left Terminal A East without power, affecting arrivals and departures on Monday.
LinkStudy: Small businesses spend 24% more on travel than large businessesSmall businesses outspend large businesses on travel costs, according to a new Concur Expense IQ report. Small businesses spend around 24% more than large businesses on travel. "Negotiating leverage, driven by scale and sophisticated spend management strategies, continues to give large market companies significant advantages in controlling their T&E spending," the study said.
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