AirlinesAirAsia X posts $64 million loss in 3QMalaysian long-haul low-cost carrier AirAsia X has reported a 2015 third-quarter net loss of RM288 million ($64.4 million), deepened from a RM210 million loss in the year-ago period. AirAsia X CEO Benyamin Ismail said the results were due primarily to a slump in exchange rates for the Malaysian ringgit. “The USD:MYR depreciation of 36% year-on-year has caused us a substantial forex loss of RM241 million in 3Q15,” he said.
LinkApp from American Airlines helps passengers navigate airportsA mobile application from American Airlines provides information about navigating airports for passengers looking for anything from Advil to hot dogs. "Airports are stressful, especially for people who don't travel all the time," said American's Kevin McFarland. "It's reassuring to know you're not that far from the gate or not that far from security."
LinkAustrian Airlines' Fokker fleet goes Down UnderAustrian Airlines will sell its entire fleet of Fokker 70 and 100 short-haul airliners to Australian carrier Alliance Aviation Services Ltd (AAS). AAS is a prominent player in the fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) market, where personnel working at remote sites in enterprises such as mining or construction are transported by air to and from their workplace.
LinkKyrgyz’s Avia Traffic Co. 737 crashes on landing Kyrgyz’s Avia Traffic Co. Boeing 737 ran out of runway while landing at Osh Airport in Kyrgyzstan on Nov. 22. Ten out of 160 people on board were hurt. The carrier—en route from Krasnoyarsk (Russia) to Osh, was forced to land at Bishkek Manas International Airport due to bad weather conditions at Osh, Kyrgyz's public prosecution office said in a statement. After refueling and weather conditions improved, the flight to Osh resumed.
LinkCargolux pilots: Strike action can no longer be avoidedLuxembourg-based Cargolux pilots, represented by the ALPL and the LCGB unions, are ready to take industrial action if a new collective agreement cannot be reached by Nov. 30, when the current contract expires. Strike action could start as early as December. Discussions on a new labor contract between the pilot unions and the Luxemburg-based cargo carrier have been ongoing since September 2014.
LinkCebu Pacific reveals first US flights to Guam, HawaiiCebu Pacific Air has committed to its first service into US territory with a 4X-weekly flight to Guam in March 2016. The Filipino low-cost carrier was granted Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards (ETOPS) clearance by FAA in April, and said at the time it would be starting flights to Guam and Honolulu, Hawaii before year-end.
LinkEtihad launches A380 service to New York JFKEtihad Airways began Airbus A380 Abu Dhabi-New York JFK service Nov. 24, its first US A380 destination. The airline has 2X-daily service on the route, one flown with the A380 and the other operated with a Boeing 777-300ER. The Etihad A380 offers different service level options including The Residence by Etihad, which is located on the forward upper deck. The three-room suite features a living room with a 32-inch LCD monitor, bedroom with a double bed, separate en-suite shower room and a dedicated butler. The revolutionary cabin also comes with a private chef to prepare custom orders. The Residence on Abu Dhabi-New York is $32,000 one way for single or double occupancy.
LinkHawaiian Airlines plans brand reviewHawaiian Airlines is hinting at a potential brand makeover soon, including an update to the carrier's uniforms. "In the next 12-18 months, we will look at our logo, livery and uniforms," said Hawaiian's Avi Mannis.
LinkIATA to install ticket financial system in Cuba IATA plans to start operating a Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) banking system in Cuba in 2016, helping to facilitate ticket transactions between airlines and travel agents. The BSP system would be an important step in the gradual opening up of Cuba’s travel and tourism business as relations between Cuba and the US thaw. Ultimately, a bilateral air agreement is expected to be formed, enabling direct scheduled air links between the two countries.
LinkJetBlue makes Amazon Prime content available on two-thirds of its fleetJetBlue Airways is providing access to Amazon Prime video content aboard most of its fleet. "The Amazon partnership is the cornerstone of our initiative to keep the fastest in-air Wi-Fi free for our customers," said JetBlue's Doug McGraw.
LinkJetBlue pays homage to Fenway's Green MonsterJetBlue ticketing kiosks in Boston are featuring a "Blue Monster" design in honor of the Green Monster at Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox. "Certainly Boston is a big, important city for us," said JetBlue's Morgan Johnston. "It's our second largest city. ... We love being able to reference the team."
LinkLufthansa cabin crew suspend strike threatLufthansa’s Independent Flight Attendant’s Organization (UFO) has lifted the immediate threat of yet another bout of industrial action. It has agreed with management at the German flag carrier to call off strikes due to take place Nov. 26-27 and Nov. 30 after progress was made in talks with the company. Cabin crew have only just ended a week-long strike that brought considerable disruption to Lufthansa’s schedules.
LinkSouth African Airways announces new CEOSouth African Airways (SAA) has appointed Musa Zwane as temporary acting CEO, its seventh executive to hold the top post in less than four years. Zwane is the head of the airline’s maintenance division. SAA spokesman Tlali Tlali said the latest appointment is part of a “rotation” of senior executives into the CEO’s chair on an acting basis. He said the South African carrier is seeking a permanent holder of the position and would be appointed “as soon as the process has been finalized.” He could not give any timescale for when this would happen.
LinkDenver's Southwest Rink opens for sixth yearThe Southwest Rink in Skyline Park in Denver is celebrating its sixth year by welcoming families from the Children's Hospital Colorado to the ice skating rink. Since 2010, Southwest has donated more than $200,000 in patient travel to the hospital.
LinkUnited To Offer 13 Pct Pay Increase To Pilots - ReportUnited Airlines is offering pilots a 13 percent pay increase in 2016 in a contract that would put them at or near the top of the US airline industry's pay scale, according to a media report. The 2016 increase would be followed by annual increases of 3 percent and 2 percent, Bloomberg said, citing two people briefed on the plan.
LinkUTair to get capital injection from regional governmentsUTair Airline will receive a RUB11.5 billion ($175 million) capital injection from the government of Russia’s Khanty-Mansi autonomous area. According to the government, the decision was made “to support the regional airline routes development steadiness.” Last year, UTair launched a cost-cutting program, Impulse, and grounded part of its fleet due to economic turbulence, currency exchange rate increases and declining passenger numbers.
LinkWizz Air begins A321 servicesLow-cost carrier (LCC) Wizz Air has begun Airbus A321ceo operations. The first of the 230-seat aircraft is initially being deployed on Budapest-London Luton route. A second aircraft will follow in December, with nine due for delivery in 2016 and the remainder of the 26-strong order through 2018. The first four A321ceos will be based in Budapest and subsequent deliveries will be deployed on the most popular routes in the Wizz Air network, which is focused around Central and Eastern Europe.
LinkMitigating the insider threat to aviationRussia has said that the downing of a Metrojet airliner over the Sinai was the result of an insider putting an explosive device on board the aircraft. ISIS, the terrorist group claiming responsibility for the attack, has a propensity for radicalizing using the internet, which presents significant challenges for the aviation community in mitigating a threat of this nature. First, the enormity of the problem is sheer numbers. Globally, millions of employees have access to the secure areas of airports, more than a million alone in the US.
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