CommercialSecurity On Electronics Tightened For US-bound Flights The US Transportation Security Administration will not allow cellphones or other electronic devices on US-bound planes at some overseas airports if the devices are not charged up, the agency said on Sunday. The new measure is part of the TSA's effort announced last week to boost security amid concerns that Yemen-based al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and the Islamist Nusra Front, al Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, are plotting to blow up an airliner, US officials said. As part of the increased scrutiny at certain airports, security agents may ask passengers to turn on their electronic devices at checkpoints and if they do not have power, the devices will not be allowed on planes, the TSA said. A US source familiar with the matter said laptop computers are among the devices security screeners may require passengers to turn on. US officials are concerned that a cellphone, tablet, laptop or other electronic device could be used as a bomb.
LinkLufthansa To Sign Air China Deal: ReportLufthansa's new chief executive Carsten Spohr aims to sign a deal with Air China during Chancellor Angela Merkel's state visit to Beijing this weekend, according to a German newspaper report. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung said, citing no sources, that Lufthansa and Air China planned to set up a joint venture which would allow them to share revenue on certain Asian routes by selling tickets for each other's flights. The report did not specify the routes involved. A spokesman for Lufthansa said he could neither confirm nor deny the report.
LinkBoeing 737 Fuselages Damaged In Train DerailmentA train derailment in the US has damaged a shipment of Boeing 737 fuselages and other large parts on its way to factories in Washington state from Spirit Aerosystems. It was not yet known if the accident might affect production of planes, Boeing said. Boeing said a BNSF Railway train loaded with six 737 fuselages and assemblies for 777 and 747 jets derailed near Rivulet, Montana, on Thursday. Boeing said it had experts at the scene "to begin a thorough assessment of the situation." The cause of the derailment was under investigation, it said. Spirit Aerosystems, based in Wichita, Kansas, builds all 737 fuselages and with Boeing currently producing 42 finished 737s a month, it needs a steady supply of fuselages.
LinkAirbus 'Jury Still Out' On A330neo LaunchAirbus has not decided whether it will launch its proposed A330neo at this month's Farnborough Airshow but is confident about the outlook for orders at the gala event, according to strategy chief Marwan Lahoud. Airbus has drawn up plans to update the A330 to preserve a second front in its competition with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in addition to the new A350. Lahoud said "the jury is still out" on whether the A330neo would be launched at the July 14-20 air show. "The subject is still being discussed," he told reporters on the sidelines of an economic conference in southern France.
LinkAirbus books undisclosed orders for 150 A320sAirbus booked undisclosed orders for 150 A320-family jets during June, sourced from two separate deals. The airframer recorded the acquisition of 70 A320neo aircraft as well as an 80-jet order comprising 30 A321neos, 16 A320neos and four A319neos plus 20 A321s and 10 A320s. While Airbus has not identified the customers, China Eastern Airlines stated in February that it intended to take 70 A320neos while China Southern Airlines revealed an agreement to take 50 A320neos and 30 baseline A320s in May.
LinkXian Aircraft rolls out first C919 centre wing boxXian Aircraft has completed the final assembly of the first centre wing box for the Comac C919 program. The completion of the centre wing box is key to whether the mid fuselage can be delivered to Comac in time, says the Chinese manufacturer.
LinkQantas A380 makes air turn back due to water leakA Qantas Airways' Airbus A380 had to make an air turn back an hour after take-off on 2 July because of a "water leak" on board. The aircraft, registered VH-OQD, was operating flight QF94 on the Los Angeles-Melbourne route when the incident happened. When contacted, Qantas would only say that the issue is "being fixed" by engineers in Los Angeles, and that it is working with Airbus to understand what caused the water leak. “There were no safety of flight concerns with the water leak, however the captain decided to return to LA in the interests of passenger comfort,” adds the spokesman.
LinkAnalyst: United should purchase Embraer jets from JetBlueAnalyst Hunter Keay from Wolfe Research has suggested that United Airlines purchase 60 Embraer jets from JetBlue Airways. Christen David, a spokeswoman for United, said the carrier "will continue to make the aircraft investments that provide the company with the best returns and our customers with a superior inflight experience." JetBlue did not comment on the suggestion.
LinkBoeing to display 787-8, 787-9 at U.K. air showBoeing plans to showcase its 787-9 and P-8A Poseidon at the Farnborough International Airshow in the U.K. Boeing will also display a 787-8 Dreamliner at the air show. Ray Conner, president and CEO of the commercial airplanes unit, will look at "current industry and market conditions and provide an update on Boeing commercial airplane products and services, development programs and product investments," Boeing said.
LinkAirbus design moves flight deck to tail of plane Future airliner flight decks may do away with windows and move out of the nose of the aircraft, according to Airbus. The European airplane maker filed a patent application Dec. 23, published June 26, for a flight deck that relies mostly or entirely on electronic viewscreens. The first advantage is aerodynamic, since flight deck windows require interrupting the ideal scalpel shape of the nose, Airbus wrote. Also, big windows and the reinforcement required for them add weight to the aircraft. Putting the flight deck at the front of the cabin takes valuable space away from the cabin, "thereby limiting the financial profits for the airline company exploiting the aircraft," Airbus wrote.
LinkLAX is home to a new premium oneworld loungeThere is a new business- and first-class lounge at Tom Bradley Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport. Qantas has teamed with oneworld alliance partners Cathay Pacific and British Airways to launch the 11,000-square-foot lounge, which has a bar serving cocktails and coffee, as well as a taco stand and showers.
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