NewsAir France-KLM Defers Decision On AlitaliaAir France-KLM deferred a decision on whether to offer more help for struggling Alitalia on Monday, saying it needed more information about its Italian partner's finances. Air France-KLM said a board meeting - held hours after Italy opened the door to a takeover by inviting the Franco-Dutch carrier to double its 25 percent stake - had discussed its own management's view of loss-making Alitalia's predicament. "The board considered it vital to hear the information that Alitalia's executive management should provide at a forthcoming meeting of the Italian company's board of directors," Air France-KLM said in a statement afterwards.
LinkUS Air, American Extend Merger DeadlineUS Airways and American Airlines on Monday said they had extended their merger agreement as they fight a US government lawsuit seeking to block the combination, which would form the world's largest airline. The companies said they extended the date by which either airline could terminate the merger pact to either January 18, 2014, or the 15th day following the entry of a court order approving the merger should it be entered on or before January 17, whichever is later.
LinkIATA Cuts 2013 Airline Industry Profit ForecastGlobal airlines cut their 2013 industry profit forecast by 8 percent to USD$11.7 billion on Monday, citing weaker growth in parts of Asia and a worsening slowdown in freight demand. The International Air Transport Association, which represents around 200 carriers, said the USD$1 billion downgrade from its previous forecast for the whole industry in June also reflected a spike in oil prices driven by the Syrian crisis. "The industry situation is not improving as quickly as we had expected," IATA director general Tony Tyler said. "I should stress that this is still an improvement over the 2012 profit of USD$7.4 billion."
LinkNorwegian Air Calls In Boeing Over 787 WoesNorwegian Air has summoned Boeing management to Oslo to explain a slew of technical problems with its 787 Dreamliners after weekend glitches brought further disruption. The Scandinavian carrier said one of two 787s was grounded due to problems with oxygen supply to the cockpit and technicians were working to fix the problem. A problem with a valve on the second plane was repaired but only after delaying a flight from Oslo to New York on Sunday. Technical problems with brakes, hydraulic pumps and power issues have forced Norwegian Air to ground the Boeing jets several times in recent weeks.
LinkDiscussionOne week later, still no second flight for Bombardier CSeries Bombardier has not flown the CSeries again now more than one week after completing the type's first flight in a highly-publicised event at Mirabel International airport. Flight test schedules can vary greatly due to weather or small technical problems. The CSeries first flight on 16 September was itself delayed by at least a few days due to poor weather conditions in Montreal. But first flights are typically followed-up with more take-offs and landings within the week of the big event. For example, the Airbus A350-900 had completed three flights, including a fly-by of the Paris Air Show, within a week of first flight on 14 June.
LinkEmirates begins parting out its A340-500s Emirates has retired two of its 10 Airbus A340-500s, and is breaking one for spares, as sustained high fuel prices take their toll on operations of the four-engined aircraft. The Dubai network carrier introduced the ultra-long range airliner in 2003, meaning that its oldest aircraft is only 10 years old. But the high cost of fuel makes the aircraft uneconomic to fly now, says Emirates Airline president Tim Clark. “We’ve taken a big hit to retire them, but [their poor economics means] there’s no point in flying them,” says Clark. “They were designed in the late 1990s with fuel at $25-30. They fell over at $60 and at $120 they haven’t got a hope in hell.”
LinkAir New Zealand to trial 767 flights to Antarctica Air New Zealand will fly a Boeing 767-300ER to McMurdo Sound in Antarctica to assess the suitability of operating charter services there. Research body Antarctica New Zealand said in a statement that the Star Alliance carrier has been invited to assist with transporting researchers to and from the frozen continent, and the airline will operate a proving flight from Auckland on 5 October. The research organisation had previously relied on the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s Boeing 757s to fly to McMurdo. However, unlike those aircraft, the larger 767s will not require refuelling on the ground to make the return trip to Auckland.
LinkDelta and Virgin Atlantic joint venture gets DOT green light Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic Airways received final approval from the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to implement an immunised joint venture across the Atlantic today. The alliance covers all flights operated by the carriers between the UK and USA from 1 January 2014, says Atlanta-based Delta. It will supplement the codeshare that the airlines began on 3 July. “We are delighted that the Department of Transportation recognises that the immunised partnership offers significant advantages to customers,” says Ed Bastian, president of Delta, in a statement. “The freedom to cooperate fully with Virgin Atlantic will initiate a new era of greater competition in the New York to London market where it is much needed.”
LinkUSAF and Boeing fly QF-16 drone without pilotBoeing and the US Air Force flew a QF-16 target drone without a pilot for the first time at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, on 19 September, the company says. Before it was converted into a drone, the F-16 was originally built by Lockheed Martin. “It was a little different to see it without anyone in it, but it was a great flight all the way around,” says Lt Col Ryan Inman, commander of the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron. “It’s a replication of current, real world situations and aircraft platforms they can shoot as a target. Now we have a 9g capable, highly sustainable aerial target.”
LinkIndian navy receives first Hawk trainerThe Indian navy has taken delivery of its first of 17 BAE Systems Hawk advanced jet trainers, with its remaining examples to follow over a three-year period. Assembled in Bengaluru by Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL), the naval trainers are contained within a wider Hawk order signed in 2010, which also contains 40 examples for the Indian air force. The latter service had previously acquired 66 in the same Mk 132 configuration.
LinkAA, US Airways to request DOJ documents on other mergersAmerican Airlines and US Airways plan to file court papers asking for Department of Justice documents that approved previous mergers. The department approved the following mergers between 2005 and 2011: Delta-Northwest, Southwest-AirTran, United-Continental and US Airways-America West. A trial for the antitrust case brought by the DOJ is scheduled to begin on Nov. 25.
LinkJetBlue offers practice travel session for autistic childrenJetBlue Airways and Autism Speaks, a nonprofit organization, teamed up to offer a practice air travel session for children with autism at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. The carrier invited families with autistic children to board a JetBlue flight that taxied briefly on the runway and then returned to the airport. "Having a situation where they can get to experience what it's like, it makes it so much easier, for them and for us," said Ryan Young, who brought his 8-year-old daughter.
LinkNATCA open to discussion on ATC privatizationSome stakeholders are having discussions on privatizing air-traffic control functions because of recent budget cuts and concerns over funding NextGen, according to the General Accountability Office. "We should have this discussion," said Paul Rinaldi, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. "I don’t have the answers, but I do know the current system is broken."
LinkFAA advisory group recommends top priorities for fundingAn advisory group for the Federal Aviation Administration recommended focusing on navigation and runway procedures that do not require significant investment from airlines. "In a difficult budget environment, it is important to prioritize and move forward with programs" that use equipment already installed "to provide immediate benefits to the flying public and reduce fuel burn," said a spokeswoman for Airlines for America.
LinkFAA panel could relax restrictions on electronic devicesAn advisory panel to the Federal Aviation Administration plans to meet this week about the use of personal electronic devices on aircraft. The panel may recommend relaxing restrictions on the use of electronics inflight when it submits recommendations at the end of the month.
LinkIATA calls on governments to back New Distribution CapabilityTony Tyler, the director general and CEO of the International Air Transport Association, called on governments to back New Distribution Capability for airfares. "Airlines are the transit system for the global economy, and they have transformed commerce every bit as thoroughly as the automobile transformed America," said Tyler. "But our ability to meet the growing demand for connectivity is at risk … Our biggest challenge comes from governments that are engaging in what I would broadly describe as regulatory backtracking."
LinkEU air-traffic controllers call for strike on Oct. 10Travelers planning a trip to, from, or within Europe on October 10 may face massive cancellations that day. The Air Traffic Controllers European Unions Coordination is calling on its members to take part in a pan-European job action on 10 October to protect European Commission plans to merge air-traffic control services across the European Union. The group, which was created in 1989, is an umbrella organization for 28 trade unions that represent more than 14,000 air-traffic controllers on the European continent.
LinkChicago airport receives $10M grant from FAA for taxiwayChicago O'Hare International Airport received a $10 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration to help build a taxiway. Construction of the taxiway is scheduled to start in the spring, and the taxiway will open in 2016.
LinkStudy: Air bookings by business travelers on the riseA new study by Travel Leaders Group indicates that the number of travel agents who booked first- or business-class seats for at least 11% of their clients increased 4.6% from the previous year. "We're seeing a notable increase overall in the number of business travelers flying first and business class. This is a positive indicator that businesses are feeling better about the economy," said Steve Loucks, a Travel Leaders Group spokesman.
LinkPassenger traffic dips at Las Vegas airport in August The stagnation in local air travel continued in August as the 3.6 million passengers who passed through McCarran International Airport marked a 0.8 percent drop from one year ago. The decline, contained in the monthly report issued by the Clark County Department of Aviation on Friday, came even as airlines boosted their seat counts into Las Vegas by 1.9 percent, which had given visitor industry leaders some hope that more people would be coming. Visitor surveys have consistently shown that people who fly in stay longer and spend more than those who come by car. Nevertheless, August was the fifth month this year that the passenger total slid, although never by more than 1.6 percent.
LinkFake food truck to open as concession at LAX The food truck craze that has swept the nation will soon roll up to Los Angeles International Airport. No, airport security won’t allow food trucks to pull to the curb of the terminal. Instead, an airport concession operator plans to install the shell of a food truck inside of Terminal 4. The fake truck will be outfitted inside with grills, pots, pans and other equipment to serve food. Starting Nov. 1, the food truck will be operated by food truck chefs based in Los Angeles, who will rotate in once a year or so.
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