AirlinesA380 does not work for United: CFOUnited Airlines chief financial officer John Rainey says the Airbus A380 “doesn’t really work” for the airline’s network, driving its preference for smaller widebodies like the Boeing 787. “We’ve looked at that and we are looking at it right now [but] it just doesn’t really work for us,” he says on the European superjumbo in an exclusive interview with Flightglobal in Chicago today.
Link787 'perfectly designed' for Air Canada: executiveAir Canada executives on 2 June praised the performance of its Boeing 787s, calling the type a perfect fit for the long-haul routes that compose the foundation of the Montreal-based airline's expansion plan. "This airplane is perfectly designed for everything that we want to do," Air Canada's president of passenger airlines Benjamin Smith says during the company's 2015 investor day. "If you go back through all the jet aircraft that we have had in the fleet since the early 1960s, I would guess that this is going to be the most successful airplane in our fleet."
LinkFrench 777F probe details 100t take-off weight errorFrench investigators have detailed a weight data error which resulted in a Boeing 777 freighter commencing an underpowered take-off at Paris Charles de Gaulle last month. The Air France aircraft weighed 343t at the time of departure but investigation authority BEA states that the crew carried out performance calculations using a weight of only 243t. These speeds, used by the flight-management system, resulted in insufficient power being applied during the take-off roll.
LinkAlaska to exercise E175 options with SkyWestAlaska Air Group will exercise its eight options for the Embraer 175 with SkyWest Airlines, says chief executive Brad Tilden. The Seattle-based carrier will use the aircraft to replace the eight 70-seat Bombardier CRJ700s that the Utah-based regional airline currently operates for it over the next 15 months, he says on the sidelines of the Airports Council International (ACI) North America Jumpstart conference in Seattle today.
LinkAustrian Airlines approves used E195 purchaseThe supervisory board of Austrian Airlines has approved a plan to buy 17 used Embraer 195s to replace a fleet of Fokker 70 and 100 jets. The acquisition by the Luthansa subsidiary replaces the 80 to 100-seat jets with the Brazilian-made aircraft in a 120-seat lay-out.
LinkCebu Pacific unveils new logoCebu Pacific Air has unveiled a new logo, which it says symbolizes the airline’s growth and evolution from a low-cost pioneer to its larger operations today. The airline says its new blue and green logo is inspired by Philippines’ land, sea, sky and sun.
LinkDelta Air Lines files for approval to fly to BrazilDelta Air Lines has applied for permission to fly from Orlando, Fla., to Sao Paulo, Brazil. The flights will run four times a week.
LinkFrontier orders 12 more A320 family jetsDenver-based Frontier Airlines has ordered 12 Airbus A320 family aircraft, comprising 10 A321 and two A320 current generation jets. “This announcement paves the way for us to grow, modernize and renew our fleet while helping us build a strong foundation for the future,” says Barry Biffle, Frontier's president. “We remain focused on our low fares done right business model for long-term success and we look forward to working with Airbus to achieve it.”
LinkTop chefs deliver first-class cuisine to Hawaii Airlines passengersHawaiian Airlines launched its Featured Chef Series on Monday, bringing cuisine created by some of Hawaii’s best-known chefs to first-class passengers on flights to the continental United States. Jon Matsubara of Japengo, Lee Anne Wong of Koko Head Cafe, Wade Ueoka of MW Restaurant, Andrew Le of The Pig and The Lady and Sheldon Simeon of Mala Wailea and Migrant will work on a six-month rotation, starting with Matsubara. Chef Chai Chaowasaree of Chef Chai offers menus on returning flights.
LinkShenzhen Air To Buy 46 Boeing 737s For USD$4.3 BlnShenzhen Airlines has ordered 46 Boeing 737s for USD$4.3 billion, as it seeks to grow the number of routes served in China's booming air travel market. The new planes, to be delivered between 2016 and 2020, are expected to increase Shenzhen Air's capacity by 6 percent.
LinkSouthwest Airlines launches three-day sale on flights this fallSouthwest Airlines is offering extra-low prices on fall flights for the next three days. Fares start as low as $49 though the peak times are excluded from the sale.
LinkUnited, Air China add 22 code share flightsUnited Airlines and Air China have expanded their partnership, according to an announcement Tuesday. United will carry Air China passengers to 12 new locations in the U.S. and will enjoy code share options on flights to 10 new locations in China.
LinkVietnam Airlines in big-twin double debutFlight-testing is under way in the USA and Europe of two new-generation widebody twinjet types for Vietnam Airlines. Airbus began testing the first A350-900 for the Vietnamese carrier on 1 June from Toulouse (below), while the airline’s initial 787-9 flew from Boeing’s Everett plant on 14 May (above). Both types are due to be delivered in the coming months, making Vietnam Airlines the first airline to operate both the larger Dreamliner variant and the new Airbus twinjet.
Airbus began testing the first A350-900 for the Vietnamese carrier on 1 June from Toulouse (below), while the airline’s initial 787-9 flew from Boeing’s Everett plant on 14 May (above). Both types are due to be delivered in the coming months, making Vietnam Airlines the first airline to operate both the larger Dreamliner variant and the new Airbus twinjet.
LinkEtihad Cargo teams up with WCAEtihad Cargo is offering World Cargo Alliance (WCA) members special rates for certain destinations when they use the Worldwide Information Network (WIN) booking platform. WCA members who are participants in Etihad's loyalty programme, CargoConnect, and who also use the WIN for booking and air waybill transactions, will qualify for special rates on selected origins and destinations on the Abu Dhabi-based carrier's network.
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