CommercialSunExpress places firm order for 40 737sSunExpress, the Lufthansa-Turkish Airlines joint venture, has placed a firm order for 40 Boeing 737s, split between the -800 and -8 Max variants. The carrier has signed for 25 of the -800s and 15 of the -8 Max aircraft, taking options for an additional 10 of the latter. The deal has a potential list-price value of $4.7 billion. Deliveries will begin in 2015 and run through 2021.
LinkKuwait Air Confirms 25 Jet Airbus OrderKuwait Airways has signed a contract with Airbus to buy 25 aircraft and lease 12 others, the state news agency said on Wednesday, firming up an order that was announced last year. In December, the carrier signed a provisional agreement with Airbus to buy 25 aircraft in a deal worth USD$4.4 billion at list prices.
LinkMalaysian Plans Aircraft Orders In Turnaround PlanMalaysia Airlines is waiting for government approval to place a multi-billion dollar order for up to 100 Airbus and Boeing passenger aircraft as part of moves aimed at boosting profitability, two sources said. The new aircraft will lower the airline's operating costs by allowing it to retire its older, less fuel-efficient aircraft. That may help it cope with intense competition at home and within Southeast Asia, the people said. Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has 88 aircraft in its fleet, including Airbus A330s and A380s, and Boeing 777-200ERs and 737s. It plans to initially order around 30 wide-body aircraft, including Airbus A330s and A350-900s, to replace its older Airbus A330s and Boeing 777s over this decade. It could also order either the Boeing 787-10 or the Airbus A350-1000 for its fleet beyond 2020, one of the people said.
LinkSpirit Loses Washington National Slots BidLow-cost carrier Spirit Airlines said it lost a bid for slots at Washington's Reagan National Airport that are being given up by American Airlines. American agreed to divest takeoff and landing rights at key US airports under a settlement with the US Justice Department, which had challenged the merger with US Airways. "We put in a bid at a price that we thought we could keep our target margin returns in place and we did not win," Spirit chief executive Ben Baldanza said.
LinkProsecutors Search Lufthansa Cargo In Bribery ProbeThe offices of Lufthansa Cargo have been searched by prosecutors in connection with a bribery probe, a spokeswoman for the Frankfurt prosecutor's office said on Tuesday. "Five people are being investigated, including a manager who is suspected of taking bribes," the spokeswoman said.
LinkDiscussionColumn: Southwest to enjoy "dynamite position in Dallas"Columnist Ed Perkins says Southwest Airlines will enjoy the benefits of Love Field after the sunset period on the Wright Amendment expires this year. "After waiting out the sunset period, Southwest will now enjoy a dynamite position in Dallas. Love Field is, as indicated, much closer to downtown Dallas than DFW, the terminal is small and user-friendly, and it's a better choice for most people living in or going to Dallas," he writes.
LinkOhana by Hawaiian says aloha to launching service in MarchHawaiian Airlines subsidiary Ohana by Hawaiian will begin service in March. The turboprop carrier will debut interisland service between Molokai and the Honolulu Airport on March 12, followed by Oahu and the Lanai Airport on March 18.
LinkDigital technology underscores new NASA, FAA AeroMACSThe Aeronautical Mobile Airport Communications System, or AeroMACS, is a new digitally based, wireless air traffic control system aimed at making airport traffic safer and more efficient and it's a system Behnam Kamali, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Georgia's Mercer University, is helping with his research on the use of electronic repeaters. Kamali presented his findings to NASA in 2010; this year the Federal Aviation Administration will roll out AeroMACS for tests at nine U.S. airports.
LinkBoeing outfits 747-8 with AeroMobile service for Lufthansa Boeing has delivered the first B747-8 fully fitted with the AeroMobile inflight connectivity service, removing the need for the aircraft to be retrofitted after delivery. Lufthansa has taken delivery of the aircraft, which could pave the way for all future B747-8s to be line-fitted with mobile connectivity. Lufthansa has confirmed that it intends to roll out mobile connectivity across its entire long-haul fleet, which will enable passengers to use the connectivity platform to roam on their mobile phones in-flight. The Boeing 747-8 will also be equipped with Lufthansa’s Fly-Net Wi-Fi service. Kevin Rogers, CEO of AeroMobile, said: “It’s great news that Boeing will be rolling out AeroMobile connectivity on their B747-8 fleet and Lufthansa clearly recognises the value of offering this service alongside Wi-Fi and in-flight entertainment.
LinkUnited debuts extra winglets to reduce drag and fuel consumptionUnited Continental Holdings will soon add extra, "split-scimitar"-shaped wings on its passenger service planes in order to reduce drag and thus fuel consumption. The new style of extra winglets can cut fuel use 2% more than the traditional type of extra wings.
LinkReagan National set record for passenger traffic in 2013Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport served 20.4 million passengers in 2013, setting a new record for the Washington, D.C., area airport. Meanwhile, passenger traffic dropped 2.7% at Washington Dulles International Airport for 2013. Traffic also dipped slightly at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport for the year.
LinkAtlanta airport still the world's busiest in 2013Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport served 1.1% fewer passengers in 2013 than the year before, but still retained the title of the world's busiest airport. In 2013, 94.4 million passengers traveled through the Atlanta airport, which saw a 4.1% boost in international passenger traffic for the year.
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