NewsIAG Attacks Alitalia Rescue As IllegalIAG on Monday denounced Italian plans to rescue Alitalia as illegal, urging the European Commission to intervene over the Italian government's attempts to stitch together a bailout for the ailing airline. A EUR€300 million (USD$407 million) capital increase forms a major part of the rescue, which aims to keep Alitalia alive while it works out how to ensure its long-term survival, but the participation of its biggest shareholder Air France-KLM remains uncertain. International Airlines Group said the rescue breaks European Union rules. "We have always been opposed to state aid," said a spokeswoman for IAG, Europe's third biggest airline group by market value. "It's protectionist, undermines competition and favors failing airlines that have not got to grips with economic reality.
LinkAir France-KLM's Position Unclear On AlitaliaAlitalia shareholders will vote on Monday on a EUR€300 million (USD$407 million) capital increase to keep the near-bankrupt Italian airline flying, but the participation of Air France-KLM is far from certain. Alitalia was thrown a lifeline on Friday when its board members - including Air France-KLM - approved a government-led EUR€500 million bailout. The emergency plan includes the capital increase and loans worth EUR€200 million. Italian media reports over the weekend said Air France-KLM chief executive Alexandre de Juniac had told Alitalia's chairman that his group would not participate in a cash call.
LinkLufthansa Not Interested In Alitalia StakeLufthansa is not interested in taking a stake in near-bankrupt Alitalia, which is on the lookout for a strategic foreign partner, a Lufthansa spokesman said on Monday. "There's no interest in Alitalia from Lufthansa's side," Martin Riecken, spokesman for Lufthansa Europe said.
LinkSpain To Cut Airport Charges To Boost TrafficSpain will cut the tariffs airlines pay to use the country's airports and remove the charge entirely in some cases in an attempt to boost falling traffic, the government said on Monday. The cuts will reverse increases made over the past two years, which doubled tariffs at Spain's two largest airports in Madrid and Barcelona and prompted budget airline easyJet to close its Madrid base and Ryanair to reduce flights and routes. The measure could increase traffic in Spain's 46 airports by about 2 percent, or almost 4 million passengers, Public Works Minister Ana Pastor said.
LinkSecond A350 joins flight-test program Airbus's second A350-900 has departed Toulouse on its first sortie, joining the certification program four months after the maiden flight of the type. The aircraft, MSN3, took off at about 09:50 local time and flew north-west to the Bay of Biscay. Airbus confirms the take-off but has not indicated further details about the flight tests the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-powered aircraft will undertake, or the probable length of the flight.
LinkFBI Investigating Suspected Dry Ice Bomb At LAXInvestigations are underway into a suspected dry ice bomb that exploded at Los Angeles Airport on Sunday evening, officials said. Police responding to a report of an explosion in an employee bathroom in the airport's Terminal 2 found evidence of a plastic bottle containing dry ice, the Los Angeles Police Department and FBI said in statements.
LinkEngine thrust central to Lagos Embraer crash probePreliminary flight-recorder data indicates engine and configuration issues were present on the Embraer EMB-120 which apparently stalled on take-off from Lagos on 3 October. Pilots of the turboprop, operated by Associated Aviation, had “discussed some concerns about the aircraft” before departure but the Nigerian Accident Investigation Bureau is not yet elaborating on their nature. About 4s after applying throttle for the take-off roll the pilots received an audible configuration warning that the flaps were not in the correct setting. The position of the flaps has not been confirmed.
LinkMilitaryUSAF planning to award second C-130J multiyear contractThe US Air Force has signaled its intention to award Lockheed Martin a second multi-year procurement deal for 79 C-130J Hercules tactical transports. “The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center is planning for the procurement of seventy-nine C-130J aircraft or C-130J variants, associated mission equipment, and related support for all systems for FY14-FY18 [fiscal year 2014-fiscal year 2018] multi-year buy, with an option to purchase the USCG [US Coast Guard] five HC-130J aircraft,” says a USAF document.
LinkIsrael, Greece conduct joint air refuelling exerciseIsraeli fighter squadrons have conducted their largest ever air refuelling exercise in co-operation with an allied air force. An official announcement about the complex manoeuvres came only days after a Greek television report claimed that the Israeli and Greek air forces had participated in a joint exercise. This involved Israeli Boeing F-15 and Lockheed Martin F-16 squadrons, tanker aircraft and naval vessels.
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SpaceRoscosmos faces major shake-upDespite a leadership change and pending organisational shake-up, the Russian space industry is unlikely to see a dramatic revolution as it attempts to right itself in the wake of quality control issues. Vladimir Popovkin, the head of Russian space agency Roscosmos, has been replaced, according to Russian government media. At the same the agency revealed a plan to realign several related aerospace companies. Popovkin will become a civilian advisor to Russian president Vladimir Putin. The shake-up comes in the wake of a series of quality control failures on Popovkin's watch, resulting in the loss of two high-profile space missions. Changes at Roscosmos and the associated Russian space industry were unveiled on 9 October, aiming to improve quality control and weed out inefficiencies long associated with the Russian space program.
LinkNASA in suspended animation but signs of life persistNASA, the world’s largest and best-funded space agency, has furloughed 97% of its 18,000-strong workforce because of the US government shutdown. The furlough has largely put on hold all but those programs deemed essential. Staff supporting the International Space Station largely fall into this category, particularly those working in mission support roles. Employees responsible for in-flight spacecraft, including interplanetary probes – in recognition of the uniqueness of their situation – are also exempt from the shutdown. This category includes staff working on the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) program, including its planned November launch.
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JetBlue Airways keeps "Bills" moving in D.C.JetBlue Airways is trying to lend a hand in the government shutdown. The carrier is offering complimentary "Even More Speed" passes to passengers named "Bill" leaving from D.C.-area airports. "Whatever our personal politics, we'd like to see good legislation moving through Washington," said Marty St. George, senior vice president of marketing and commercial strategy "JetBlue is doing our part to keep 'Bills' moving."
LinkU.S. airline revenue rose in Sept. on strong demandIn September, the majority of U.S. airlines reported growth in unit revenue, also known as passenger revenue per available seat mile. "Revenue growth looks to have accelerated in 3Q driven by strong demand," wrote Helane Becker, an analyst at Cowen & Co.
LinkForeign pilots spread their wings in ChinaSome U.S. pilots are finding positions in China as the country's aviation system grows rapidly. "With the middle class expanding like it is China, they want to travel, they want to go places and you don't understand what that equates to until you get over here and you see it for yourself" with full airplanes, said American pilot Dave Hubberts, who flies for Tianjin Airlines.
LinkSouthwest counting down until Wright Amendment expiresSouthwest Airlines has installed a countdown clock measuring the one year remaining on the Wright Amendment, which has restricted the carrier's travel. "We are going to start telling people exactly what this means, in terms of providing nonstop Love to the people of North Texas," said Ron Ricks, executive vice president. After Oct. 13, 2014, Southwest will be able to fly anywhere nonstop in the U.S. from Love Field in Dallas.
LinkNorwegian Air orders 787 to help low-cost faresNorwegian Air Shuttle is the first low-cost carrier to order the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The carrier has sold transatlantic flights from New York to Scandinavia for less than $300, and the fuel-efficient 787 can help deliver cost savings. "The Dreamliner is the first airplane that can do it," said CEO Bjørn Kjos.
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