NewsQantas Profit Up As International Losses ShrinkAustralia's Qantas Airways doubled its underlying annual profit as shrinking losses on its international arm offset tougher competition on its lucrative domestic routes. Qantas, which formed an alliance with Emirates this year in an effort to trim losses on international routes, has been trying to keep its domestic yields up as investment in the once-booming resources sector slows and the government forecasts limp economic growth into 2014. The slowdown has coincided with a ramping up in competition from rival Virgin Australia.
LinkEmirates To Double US DestinationsEmirates plans to more than double its network of US destinations in the next three to five years to a total of 15 cities, up from seven currently, a company official said. Emirates plans to add three new US city destinations in the next 12 months, Thierry Antinori, chief commercial officer, said in an interview with Reuters news agency. The comments mark a further sign of the expansion aims of one of the fastest-growing Middle Eastern carriers. Emirates is set to add new service between New York's John F. Kennedy airport and Milan in October. That fifth-freedom route, because it goes between two countries other than the carrier's home base, is out of step with Emirates' Dubai-centric, single-hub strategy, but is not a sign that more such routes will be added in the future, Antinori said.
"The step after that will be to open new destinations between US and Dubai," he added. The cities haven't been decided, but Chicago, Boston and Miami are possible, he said.
LinkUK Orders Ryanair To Cut Aer Lingus StakeBritain's competition watchdog on Wednesday ordered Ryanair to cut its stake in smaller Irish rival Aer Lingus to 5 percent from 30 percent, saying the current arrangement had the potential to substantially reduce competition. Ryanair said it would appeal against what it described as a "bizarre and manifestly wrong" decision in a legal process that could last years. Six months after the European Commission blocked Ryanair's third bid to takeover Aer Lingus, the decision appears to all but end Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary's seven-year pursuit of Ireland's former flag carrier.
LinkMAKS: Russia lifts veil on PD-14 demonstrator, latest engine technologyRussia's answer to the latest turbofan engines for single-aisle aircraft from CFM International and Pratt & Whitney was on public display for the first time at the MAKS air show. Engine manufacturer Aviadvigatel unveiled the technology demonstrator - bearing serial number 100-01 - of the PD-14, the proposed alternate powerplant for Irkut's in-development MC-21 narrowbody. Although Aviadvigatel has previously displayed scaled mock-ups of the engine, the MAKS show marks the first time the manufacturer has shown off the real example of Russia's latest engine technology.
LinkFirst production Citation M2 takes to the skiesCessna's latest light business jet offering, the Citation M2, is on target for year-end certification and first deliveries following the successful maiden flight of the first production model on 23 August. During the 2h flight, the six-seat aircraft reached an altitude of 17,500ft (5,338m) and "completed a large portion of the production test flight procedures", says Cessna. The Williams International FJ44-powered twinjet was launched two years ago as a step-up model between the entry level Mustang and the light-cabin CJ2+.
LinkIlyushin displays revived Il-76 variantIlyushin's recently revived Il-76 military and commercial transport was on display at the MAKS air show. The only example of the modernised Il-76MD-90A2 variant, also known as Il-476, was presented to the public on the static display. Ilyushin revived manufacturing after receiving a contract from Russia's trade ministry to build a new Il-76 with upgraded engines, a glass cockpit and improved landing gear and brakes.
LinkBoeing shows off advanced Super Hornet demonstratorBoeing has unveiled an F/A-18F Super Hornet demonstrator aircraft fitted with a number of enhancements designed to improve its stealth capability and range. Shown at its factory in St Louis, Missouri, the modifications to the baseline aircraft include the addition of prototype conformal fuel tanks (CFT), an enclosed weapons pod and new radar cross-section treatments. "It feels the same to the pilot," says Ricardo Traven, Boeing's chief test pilot for the type, describing the flight characteristics of the twin-engined strike fighter when equipped with the prototype 680kg (1,500lb) CFTs and 930kg weapons pod.
LinkJetBlue: Size doesn't determine successIn response to speculation as to whether JetBlue Airways could be a potential merger partner for US Airways or American Airlines if the Justice Department blocks their proposed merger, the carrier "doesn't think size determines success." Spokeswoman Jenny Dervin expressed confidence in JetBlue's position in the industry, saying "we believe we can continue to grow profitably and sustainably, through organic growth and strategic partnerships."
LinkUS Airways to move to Terminal 8 at JFK AirportUS Airways is moving forward with a plan to move from Terminal 7 to Terminal 8 at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. American Airlines operates out of Terminal 8. US Airways' spokesman Todd Lehmacher said the "move to JFK was one we wanted to make regardless of the merger and had been discussed for some time as necessary for our operation."
LinkAmerican Airlines focuses on merger after record profitAmerican Airlines remains focused on plans for merging with US Airways. "Finally and most important, we are focused on completing our merger with US Airways," American CEO Tom Horton wrote in a letter to employees. "You probably saw last week's news that we are seeking a November trial date, and the American team is standing strong together with US Airways to get this merger closed."
LinkDOT reports June U.S. airline employmentU.S. airlines employed 381,441 full-time equivalent workers in June, according to data from the Department of Transportation. JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines and Allegiant Air all added jobs during the month.
LinkUnion opposition to DOJ’s lawsuit growsOpposition to the Department of Justice's antitrust suit continues to grow with four labor unions joining the fight. “It’s going further than just a few unions that really don’t represent a lot of people,” said Marc Scribner, a transportation policy expert with the Competitive Enterprise Institute. “The president is doing things that don’t cater to the interests of labor,” Scribner added.
LinkDOJ requests March trial date; carriers oppose unnecessary delayThe Justice Department said it wants to begin the antitrust trial for the proposed US Airways and American Airlines merger in March. AMR, the parent company of American Airlines, and US Airways requested a Nov. 12 trial date and said a delay would cost the carriers. "Unnecessary delays also prevent American's financial stakeholders, which includes creditors, shareholders and employees, from realizing the benefits and improved certainty that will come from American's emergence from Chapter 11," the two carriers said in a statement.
LinkWebsite helps travelers by predicting TSA wait timesA new website helps travelers predict wait times at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints at 100 U.S. airports. WhatsBusy.com uses flight information, weather forecasts and other data to predict crowds for security screening.
LinkAirlines focus on innovation for upgradesJetBlue Airways' announcement this week that the carrier will install lie-flat seats follows the latest trend in seat upgrades. Jami Counter, senior director of SeatGuru, said airlines are focusing on innovation for airline seats. "Power ports are becoming more ubiquitous, and you've gone to lighter-weight seats that allow airlines to put in additional rows of seats without impacting passenger comfort," she said.
LinkSources: Pratt to build F-35 engines in $1B deal for DODThe Defense Department and United Technologies' Pratt & Whitney have reached an agreement worth more than $1 billion for Pratt to build F-35 engines, sources say. The agreement in principle calls for the production of 39 engines for a sixth batch of F-35 aircraft.
LinkTensions with Syria could affect price of jet fuelCrude oil prices rose this week on tensions with Syria. "If oil goes up, the price of jet fuel goes up immediately after," said Robert McAdoo, an analyst with Imperial Capital. "People are worried that in the short run, airlines’ earnings could be hurt."
LinkArctic surveillance drones to monitor ice, animalsTwo commercial drones have received clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration to operate over the Arctic, the first of an expected wave of unmanned aircraft that will track ice, eye migrating whales, aid in oil drilling and assist in rescue missions. The FAA is considering creating special air corridors for commercial, government and scientific drones to use in the Arctic.
LinkFAA lifts solo-approach rule at San FranciscoThe Federal Aviation Administration has lifted a temporary restriction at San Francisco International Airport that prevented foreign airlines from landing side by side, a spokesman said. The temporary restriction, which required solo approaches by foreign flights landing on SFO's parallel runways, was put in place two weeks after the July 6 crash of Asiana Airlines Flight 214. The restriction was lifted on Thursday when SFO's instrument landing system was put back into service, FAA spokesman Allen Kenitzer said. The "glide slope" landing system, which communicates real-time information about an airplane's descent path to the cockpit, had been turned off at SFO when Asiana Airlines Flight 214 approached the airport too slow and too low and crashed, killing three passengers and injuring more than 180.
LinkVa. drone crash injures spectators, sparks investigation The FAA is investigating after a drone crashed into a crowd in Virginia. Several spectators were injured and wondering why the unmanned aircraft was above them in the first place. Most of us think of drones as the lethal, military-controlled tools used to hunt down terrorists in the Middle East, but there is another type of drone. Video shows that drone and what happened to spectators at the Virginia Motor Sports Park as it flew overhead.
LinkCalif. eyes laws to boost space tourismCalifornia is among a handful of states eager to build the space-tourism industry by providing incentives that may include relaxed liability laws. The Legislature is discussing a law that would bar lawsuits against makers of spaceships and parts for injury and death unless the manufacturers committed willful wrongdoing or were grossly negligent.
LinkGlitch cancels Japan's Epsilon rocket takeoff The first launch of Japan's newest rocket, the next-generation Epsilon booster, hit a major last-minute snag Tuesday (Aug. 27), forcing the country's space agency to abort the spaceflight 19 seconds before liftoff. The glitch occurred extremely late in the countdown for the Epsilon rocket, which was slated to blast off from a seaside pad at the Uchinoura Space Center in southern Japan. The rocket was set to launch Tuesday at 12:45 a.m. EDT (0445 GMT), which was 1:45 p.m. Japan Standard Time at the launch site.
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