NewsRAF VC10s to make last operational flightThe last operational Vickers VC10s will perform the type’s final flights for the Royal Air Force on 20 September, before being retired from use. A final pair of Rolls-Royce Conway-engined VC10 tankers are due to conduct the sortie from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, bringing to an end a 47-year service life. Flown by personnel from 101 Sqn, the aircraft should perform a last air-to-air refuelling mission, before conducting a series of separate flypasts at air force bases and other sites around the UK. Their formal retirement will be completed by the end of September.
LinkSplit Lufthansa widebody order includes firm 777XLufthansa has ordered 34 Boeing 777-9X widebodies and 25 Airbus A350-900s to replace its A340 and 747-400 long-haul fleets. The German flag carrier said in March that it would make a widebody order by the fourth quarter 2013 to replace its ageing long-range aircraft below the very large A380 and 747-8. Following negotiations with both manufacturers, Lufthansa’s supervisory board met on 18 September to approve the deal.
LinkLinkDiscussionAir France-KLM Board To Discuss Alitalia Bid - ReportAir France-KLM will decide what to do with its stake in Alitalia next week, according to two media reports on Thursday. Bloomberg, quoting a person familiar with the plan, said the Air France board will meet on Monday to decide whether to bid for control of Alitalia by the end of this year. French financial news site La Tribune said Air France will decide next week whether or not to take part in an Alitalia capital increase. An Air France spokesman said the company would not comment on rumors and could not say whether a board meeting or other meetings were planned next week.
LinkLondon City Airport Eyes USD$320 Mln. ExpansionLondon's City Airport on Thursday applied for planning permission for a USD$320 million expansion to double passenger numbers to 6 million a year. The east London airport, owned by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), wants to extend its terminal and build new parking stands to accommodate larger aircraft and a new taxi-way. The airport, which is predominantly used by business travelers, currently handles 70,000 flights a year. It wants to increase the number to 120,000 - a level already permitted under an application granted in 2009.
LinkAvianca close to decision on US stock offeringLatin American airline group Avianca will decide in the next two weeks on a potential listing of the carrier's stock on the New York stock exchange (NYSE), its chairman Roberto Kriete said. Colombia's finance regulator said last week that the Star Alliance carrier is considering filing a public offering of American depositary shares on the NYSE and is in the process of securing approvals, and will inform the market once it does so.
LinkRolls-Royce and P&W ditch plan for narrowbody collaborationRolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney have abandoned plans for a joint venture to develop an engine to power future narrowbodies. The two engine makers had in October 2011 declared their intention to pursue the collaboration, to be focused on high-bypass ratio geared turbofan technology to power aircraft in the 120- to 230-seat segment. "In addition, the venture will collaborate on future studies for next-generation propulsion, including advanced geared engines, open-rotor technology and other advanced configurations," they said at the time.
LinkBoeing coy on 'enhancement' to 787-9 gear doorsBoeing is giving away little about a curious aspect of the new 787-9 observed as the aircraft departed on its maiden flight. The aircraft’s main landing-gear doors opened as the aircraft rotated from runway 34L at Paine Field, and were clearly seen to be deployed as the aircraft climbed away.
LinkSIA and India's Tata to set up full-service carrierSingapore Airlines is intending to establish an Indian-based airline in co-operation with the diversified Tata Group. Under the joint-venture plan SIA will take a 49% share of the New Delhi-based carrier, with Tata holding the balance. SIA says the agreement, currently a memorandum of understanding, sets out a $100 million investment to be funded in respective proportions by the shareholders. The unnamed airline will be a “full service” carrier, SIA states. Its creation is subject to regulatory approval. The airline will have a three-member board.
LinkGripen program gets Czech, Swiss boostsEight years after introducing the type to provide air policing cover for its territory, the Czech Republic has opted to renew a deal to lease 14 Saab Gripen C/Ds from the Swedish government. Yet to be finalised, the agreement will extend Prague’s use of the single-engined fighter by a further 14 years, says Sweden’s Defence and Security Export Agency (FXM). Negotiations linked to the deal have been proceeding for more than a year and the proposal also covers undetailed aircraft upgrades, training services and logistics and operational support.
LinkFedEx reports quarterly profit of $489MFedEx reported a profit of $489 million, or $1.53 a share, for the fiscal quarter that ended in August. The package delivery firm's profit exceeded analyst estimates of $1.50 a share. FedEx successfully cut costs as more customers moved to less-expensive forms of shipping than overnight shipping. "As a strategy for FedEx, we are embracing international economy," said CFO Alan Graf.
LinkUnion leaders meet with DOJ over AA-US Airways mergerUnion leaders from American Airlines and US Airways met with the Justice Department's antitrust division chief on Wednesday. "We were very interested in telling them about our strong support for the merger," said Laura Glading, president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants. "We wanted to make sure they clearly understood how important the merger is to our jobs and our careers."
LinkAir Lease finalizes Boeing order for 33 DreamlinersAir Lease Corp. has completed an order with Boeing for 33 787 Dreamliners that was placed at the Paris Air Show. Air Lease will receive three 787-9s and 30 787-10s in the order valued at $9.4 billion.
Link3 carriers deploy 787 Dreamliner on long-haul routesThree carriers announced long-haul routes recently for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner that takes advantage of the aircraft's expanded range. United Airlines plans to fly a 787 to Chengdu, China, while British Airways will debut a flight from London to Austin, Texas. Norwegian also plans to fly the 787 to California cities from Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm.
LinkReport: Long customs lines cost U.S. $95B in lost spendingLong waits at customs entry points, which reach up to five hours at the busiest U.S. airports, could cost the U.S. $95 billion in travel spending over five years, according to a report by the U.S. Travel Association. The group says the government should hire 3,500 additional customs and border patrol officers, and also recommends the implementation of automated kiosks.
LinkChicago O'Hare deems kiosk program a successOfficials at Chicago O’Hare International Airport said the installation of 32 automated kiosks for passport control proved successful at the airport. “What it has allowed us to do this summer was reduce wait times, with 60 percent of total arriving passengers clearing customs here in less than 15 minutes, and 85 percent of our passengers cleared in less than 30 minutes,” said Rosemarie Andolino, Chicago aviation commissioner.
LinkEuropean airport regulators to begin allowing some liquids in carry-onAirports in Europe are set to begin gradually relaxing restrictions on carry-on liquids in January following improvements in screening technology and a thumbs-up sign from U.S. officials. Passengers will be allowed to carry duty-free purchases over 100ml in a tamper-proof bag when entering European airports from abroad. "So far we are confident that we will be able to make it with the partial withdrawal of restrictions," said Airports Council International Europe Director General Olivier Jankovec.
LinkAirlines focus on enhancing catering for passengersAndreas Weber, general manager of Gate Gourmet, oversees the preparation of meals for passengers departing from Hong Kong International Airport. "(Today) more airlines are investing substantially in their first and business class products," he said. "Making people comfortable in big seats, everyone is doing that already, but what is left is the catering experience."
LinkPublic art increasingly finds a home in U.S. airportsThe past decade has seen installations of major works of public art installed in airports across the country as cities have looked to improve the travel experience for frazzled passengers and create a positive impression. The new international terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta includes $5 million in art, while San Diego spent $2.2 million on an installation with 38,000 LED lights in it. "Once 9/11 happened, airports were desperate to make the experience calmer and more enjoyable for passengers. And art has made a difference," said Greg Mamary, director of special projects for the American Association of Airport Executives.
LinkUnited Airlines debuted Economy Plus in 1999 Seasoned air travelers know seat size matters a lot. But so does leg space, especially in the increasingly-crowded economy cabins of commercial jetliners. And to its credit, United Airlines figured that out early on. Way back In 1999 (a long time in air travel years), Chicago-based United (NYSE: UAL) was the first domestic carrier to introduce an economy seat section with 4 to 6 additional inches of legroom beyond the cramped 31-inch seat pitch found in most regular economy cabins. United dubbed its new option Economy Plus.
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