NewsKenya Resumes Some International FlightsSome international flights resumed at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta airport on Thursday, but visitors complained and vital air cargo was blocked underlining fears that fire damage could threaten its role as Kenya's key transport hub. Fire swept through the airport early on Wednesday and forced a day-long shut down. The blackened shell of the arrivals building continued to smolder on Thursday as white smoke drifted into the air. Investigators say it is too early to ascertain the cause of the fire, though they have ruled out terrorism, and officials say they will build a makeshift international arrivals terminal within days. "What is key is the speed at which this is normalized. If they can pull a rabbit out of the hat and get international flights moving they may bail themselves out," said Aly Khan Satchu, a Nairobi-based analyst. "If this drags on it's going to damage Nairobi's regional hub status." The fire, which destroyed a large part of the international departures section, was a blow to Kenya at the start of the peak tourism season. The airport was operating at more than twice its 2.5 million passenger capacity.
LinkLOT still making demands for 787 delay compensation Although Boeing executives have declared the issue behind them, Poland's LOT is still pursuing compensation claims over delays caused by the four-month 787 grounding earlier this year. The airline appears to be using diplomatic channels to keep pressure on the US manufacturer. In a 7 August meeting, Poland's Treasury Minister Vladimir Karpinski raised the issue of LOT's claim for compensation from Boeing with US Ambassador to Poland Stephen Mull, the ministry says in a statement. "The US ambassador said that this issue is the subject of talks between the two companies and hope that it will result a proposed solution acceptable to both parties," the statement adds.
LinkBombardier starts construction on new CSeries factory While first flight of the Bombardier CSeries test aircraft remains vaguely scheduled for the "coming weeks", the airframer has announced progress in another critical area of the program. Construction has begun on the new CSeries final assembly plant that is sized to support production of at least 120 aircraft per year, Bombardier says. The 667,000ft² (62,000m²) factory doubles the company's industrial complex in Mirabel, where it also builds CRJ regional jets. Including office space, the entire industrial complex in Mirabel will rise to 1.5 million square feet.
LinkNorwegian considers basing long-haul division in Ireland Norwegian is applying for a permanent Irish air operator's certificate for its new long-haul division, as the Scandinavian low-cost carrier prepares for the first intercontinental deployment of its Boeing 787 on 15 August. The Irish Aviation Authority has issued a temporary AOC for Norwegian's long-haul arm, which launched on 30 May, with two wet-leased Airbus A340s, and operates flights to New York's JFK airport and Bangkok. But that certificate - which is being used to operate the airline's 787s - will expire by year-end. Now, the Oslo-based carrier is "in the process" of applying for a permanent AOC in Ireland to be able to employ international crew members. The airline wants to recruit flight attendants from Thailand, which would not be possible if the aircraft were registered at home as Norwegian law prohibits the employment of staff from outside the European Economic Area.
LinkUnion Accuses Spirit Of Unfair PracticeSPEEA, the union representing engineers and technical workers at Spirit Aerosystems charged the company with dealing directly with employees on severance issues related to layoffs rather than with the union. SPEEA filed the case with the National Labor Relations Board office in Kansas City. The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace said Spirit laid off 221 of its unionized engineers and technical workers on July 25. The layoffs were part of 360 announced that day.
LinkUS Air Flight Makes Emergency LandingA US Airways flight from Ireland's Shannon Airport made an emergency landing at Philadelphia airport on Wednesday due to an unspecified threat, police and the airline said. "There was some type of threat made, but nothing specified," a spokeswoman for the Philadelphia Police Department said. Rather than following the usual landing procedure, the passengers were isolated and screened, and the luggage was screened, police said. Flight 777 landed safely and without incident at its intended destination around 2 pm local time, airline spokesman Andrew Christie said.
LinkIsrael Shuts Eilat Airport, Citing SecurityIsrael closed Eilat airport near Egypt's Sinai peninsula on Thursday until further notice because of security concerns, the military said. "Due to security assessments, the Israeli army has instructed Eilat Airport to cancel all departures and arrivals," a military spokeswoman said, giving no further details. The airport in the Red Sea city, wedged between Jordan and Egypt, brings tourists to Israel's Eilat resort and the closure follows heightened concerns about Islamist militant activity in the neighboring Sinai. Air traffic often has been disrupted at Eilat by desert winds but the air strip has seldom been shut altogether. The Israel Aviation Authority said eight flights scheduled to land at the city on Thursday would be diverted to another airport, Uvda, some 60 km (36 miles) away.
LinkAMR Defends CEO's $19.9 Mln Severance PaymentAmerican Airlines has defended a USD$19.9 million severance package for departing chief executive Tom Horton, who will step down after American's bankrupt parent, AMR, merges with US Airways. In court papers filed Thursday in US Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan, AMR said that the payment does not violate bankruptcy laws and will not cause harm to the firm's creditors. Last week, the US Department of Justice's bankruptcy watchdog, the US Trustee Program, filed court papers challenging the payment. The watchdog said Horton's severance payment defies bankruptcy laws that bar severance payments greater than 10 times the mean severance given to employees and that are not part of a program applicable to all workers.
LinkFrench budget plan applies brakes to Rafale, A400M deliveries Deliveries of the Dassault Rafale fighter, Airbus Military A400M transport and A330 multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) to France could be slowed significantly over the next six years, if the nation's newly proposed military planning law is adopted. Outlined by defence minister Jean Yves Le-Drian on 2 August, the suggested spending plan for 2014-19 would slow deliveries of the Rafale to a combined 26 aircraft for the French air force and navy. While a significant reduction from the 11 examples currently being produced per annum, the fall could be accommodated if potential export sales are finalised. A Dassault-led team is still negotiating the terms for a planned 126-unit order for India, with the type also on offer to nations including Brazil, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates.
LinkUnited Continental load factor increased in July United Continental Holdings reported a 3.5% to 4.5% increase in passenger revenue per available seat mile for July, as compared to the same month last year. The carrier's load factor also rose to 87.2% for July, compared to 86.6% for July 2012.
LinkJetBlue, South African Airways ink codeshare agreement JetBlue Airways has signed a codeshare agreement with South African Airways. The deal is awaiting regulatory approval from the Department of Transportation and South African authorities. The codeshare agreement expands an interline agreement signed by the two carriers in 2010
LinkBoeing forecasts strong demand for aircraft over 20 years Boeing predicts a strong and steady demand for 35,000 commercial aircraft over the next two decades. "We’re in a very good position as we look toward the future," said Randy Tinseth, marketing vice president for Boeing.
LinkBoeing: Production rates will not be affected by Spirit sale Boeing said its production rates will not be affected by Spirit AeroSystem's plan to sell a division. Spirit supplies wing parts for all aircraft models to Boeing, as well as fuselages for the Boeing 737. "We assume we'll find a way to build these airplanes," said Randy Tinseth, marketing vice president.
LinkAirlines join Sen. Thune for roundtable discussion on rural air service Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., a ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, was joined by key airline officials for a roundtable discussion on the importance of air service to South Dakota. Sen. Thune stressed that a strong aviation system is critical to economic development in South Dakota. Aviation generates 7,000 jobs and provides an economic benefit of $800 million annually to the state.
LinkTSA expands PreCheck in Washington and Indianapolis The Transportation Security Administration is expanding its PreCheck program, opening enrollment centers in Washington and Indianapolis. The program "enables us to focus on the travelers we know the least about, adding efficiency and effectiveness to the screening process," said TSA Administrator John Pistole.
LinkBlog: Former TSA chief has right idea for risk-based approach Karen Walker, the editor of ATW, said she agrees with former Transportation Security Administrator Kip Hawley on the need to change airport and other transportation security operations to a risk-based approach. "Intelligence and pragmatism are the best tools when it comes to addressing security risks and preventing attacks," she writes.
LinkFAA plans to order inspections of IFE systems on 737NGs The FAA plans to order inspections of LiveTV in-flight entertainment system radomes on certain Boeing 737NGs, after 26 reports of radomes being cracked due to mishandling during installation or maintenance. In a draft directive published Aug. 5, the FAA says a “lack of dimensional controls” on manufacturing drawings can lead to preload stress on a radome during assembly with the fairing that surrounds it on top of the fuselage. Combining preload stress with more stress during flight or maintenance—such as by stepping on the fairing—is thought to be causing the cracks.
LinkSatellites are the future for in-flight connectivity Some executives say that satellite connectivity will lower the cost of in-flight Internet service. Inmarsat has teamed up with Honeywell to bring its signal to Honeywell's equipment next year, while Intelsat should put its first Epic satellite in space in 2015. "Air-to-ground was a unique situation that worked just right in the U.S. for us to get the early lead," said Gogo CEO Michael Small. "But in the long run, it will be predominantly a satellite solution."
LinkCalif. airport requests change in takeoff route City officials are requesting a change in the takeoff pattern at John Wayne airport in Newport Beach, Calif., to reduce noise. The city would like aircraft to perform a "S-curve" takeoff route, which pilots say is difficult to perform. The Federal Aviation Administration is considering the request
LinkAirlines offer business travelers more choice, better flight experience Business travelers like to purchase ancillary services that improve their travel experience near the start of their trip, according to a survey by FlightView. "Business travelers told us they want to buy these products," said FlightView CEO Mike Benjamin during a Global Business Travel Association convention. Fifty-two percent of business travelers said they would consider buying optional service amenities on their mobile phone before boarding.
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