CommercialAirbus Poised To Revamp A330 With Rolls-RoyceAirbus is reported to be close to a decision to upgrade its A330 with engines provided by Rolls-Royce, setting the stage for a new phase in a battle for orders. The move will strengthen a growing strategic pairing between the European companies, with General Electric - the main alternative engine supplier on the existing version of the jet - no longer seen as a contender to take part in the USD$2 billion project, provisionally dubbed "A330neo". People familiar with the matter, asking not to be named, told Reuters news agency the go-ahead with Rolls-Royce as sole supplier for an updated A330, offering up to 14-15 percent in fuel savings with the help of new wingtips, remains subject to Airbus Group board approval.
LinkLATAM Airlines Mechanics In Peru Call Off StrikeLATAM Airlines mechanics in Peru called off a two-day strike scheduled to start on Thursday to consider an offer made by the company in eleventh-hour talks, a union leader said. Union leader, Freddy Nakashima said the 200 members of the mechanics union will gather on Saturday to vote on the proposal made by LATAM's local unit, LAN Peru. "Today work goes on as normal," Nakashima said. Negotiations with LAN Peru, mediated by the labor ministry, started on Tuesday and stretched into the early hours of Thursday, Nakashima said.
LinkRakuten To Buy Into AirAsia Japan JVJapan's biggest online retailer Rakuten plans to buy a major stake in a Japanese budget airline to be established by Malaysia's AirAsia, in a renewed bid to tap one of Asia's most lucrative air markets, Japanese media reported. A foray into the airline business could help the acquisitive Japanese company controlled by Japan's fourth-richest man, Hiroshi Mikitani, boost its online travel site that is already one of the nation's largest. A similar strategy was pioneered two decades ago by travel company HIS, when it set up Skymark Airlines, which has since become Japan's leading discount carrier. For AirAsia, owned by one of Malaysia's wealthiest people, Tony Fernandes, it would be another attempt to expand into Japan after last year pulling out of a joint venture with Japan's biggest carrier ANA.
LinkMH370: Passengers Likely Suffocated, Australia SaysThe passengers and crew of missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 most likely died from suffocation and coasted lifelessly into the ocean on autopilot, according to a new report released by Australian officials. In a 55-page report, the Australian Transport Safety Board outlined how investigators had arrived at this conclusion after comparing the conditions on the flight with previous disasters, although it contained no new evidence from within the airliner. The report narrowed down the possible final resting place from thousands of possible routes, while noting the absence of communications and the steady flight path and a number of other key abnormalities in the course of the ill-fated flight.
LinkMH370: Hunt depending on complex mathematicsDetails of investigators’ analytical techniques to determine the fatal track of Malaysia Airlines’ missing flight MH370 have illustrated the mathematical complexity of the inquiry. But close alignment between predicted and known tracks from other aircraft have reinforced confidence in the modelling techniques. Central to narrowing the search area has been derivation of possible flightpaths using timing and frequency offset of signals between the missing Boeing 777, the Inmarsat-3F1 satellite and a ground station in Perth. Newly-disclosed details of the analysis from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau reveal it has even taken into account temperature effects of a 67min eclipse of the satellite as it passed through the Earth’s shadow.
LinkMH370 inquiry puzzles over initial satcom messageInvestigators are trying to understand the precise nature of the initial satcom log-on from Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, the first of seven exchanges which mark the only trace of the missing aircraft following its disappearance from surveillance radar. The log-on request was initiated by the aircraft at 18:25UTC, just over an hour after the cessation of transponder and cockpit communications. Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigators state, in a detailed analysis to help derive MH370’s subsequent track, that such a log-on was “not common” during cruise flight.
LinkHawaiian Airlines to refine routes to Asia, CEO saysMark Dunkerley, CEO of Hawaiian Holdings, is looking at refining the route network for Hawaiian Airlines routes to Asia. He said the carrier launched service to Beijing in April because "we think China is going to be an important market and we want to get in on the ground floor." Dunkerley said the carrier is looking at adding "a couple of destinations" in Asia, but did not offer specifics.
LinkBlog: United aims to reduce operating costs, use fuel-efficient aircraftUnited Airlines is taking steps to cut non-fuel costs per available seat mile, as well as reduce fuel costs by using more fuel-efficient aircraft. "Overall, we figure gains from these non-fuel and fuel cost initiatives will help improve United's results in the second and remaining quarters of 2014," writes the Great Speculations blog.
LinkFAA proposes policy change on building heights near airportsThe Federal Aviation Administration has proposed lowering the maximum building height of buildings located near 388 airports across the U.S. "We're trying to create a balance of the aviation needs and the development needs in the local community," said John Speckin, deputy regional administrator for the agency. The regulations would not apply to buildings already standing, but would affect new construction and remodeling of existing structures. Airlines and airports are supportive of the proposal.
LinkNew York City-area airports to offer free Wi-FiTravelers using Newark Liberty International, John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia airports will have access to 30 minutes of free Wi-Fi, with the option to pay $7.95 for the day. The new service could be available this fall.
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