NewsCommercial
Airlines were prepared for massive snowstorm
Airlines were prepared for the East Coast storm over the weekend that dumped two feet or more of snow in New York City and other locations. "Airlines had the benefit of knowing about this storm and the potential impact several days in advance and as such alerted passengers and gave them options to rebook or change their travel plans at no additional cost," said a representative from Airlines for America. The group added that airlines could "proactively cancel flights to minimize the impact to customers and crew," and were able to "resume operations quickly once it was safe to fly."
LinkAirlines
China Southern Sees 2015 Profit Doubling
China Southern expects its net profit to have more than doubled in 2015 due to increased overseas travel by the Chinese, weak oil prices and lower forex losses as the yuan depreciated. Chinese carriers, such as Air China, China Southern and Spring Airlines, have given positive guidance on profit this week ahead of final annual results due to be announced in March.
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easyJet Demand Softened After Paris Attacks
easyJet said demand was dampened by security fears in the final weeks of 2015 but a recovery in bookings and ticket prices put it on track to meet annual forecasts. Attacks in November that killed 130 people in Paris, further slowed demand for leisure travel after a plane crash over Egypt in October had halted flights from Britain to a popular winter sun destination.
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IndiGo profit up 23.7% for 3Q 2016
Indian low-cost carrier IndiGo reported a 3Q 2016 net profit of INR6.57 billion ($96.6 million), up 23.7% compared to INR 5.31 billion in the year-ago period. CEO Aditya Ghosh said factors that helped the uptick included an increase in fleet size, robust passenger demand and low fuel prices had helped propel the carrier to the record result.
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JetBlue refreshes cabins on A320 fleet
JetBlue Airways plans to refresh its cabins for its fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft. "Travel preferences have changed in the last 15 years, and we're investing in what customers want today," said Jamie Perry, vice president of brand and product development for JetBlue. Updates include free gate-to-gate Wi-Fi, as well as new seats and in-flight entertainment systems.
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JetBlue loyalty program exceptional value for frequent travelers
JetBlue Airways received high marks for its loyalty program for frequent travelers, according to a report from Card Hub. The carrier's TrueBlue program offered the best value for travelers who spend $5,743 or more per year.
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Strike Disrupts Some LATAM Argentina Flights
Striking aviation workers forced LATAM Airlines to ground flights out of Buenos Aires' Ezeiza Airport on Tuesday. The workers, who belong to Argentina's Union of Commercial Airline Senior and Professional Personnel (UPSA), walked out over stalled pay negotiations, state-run news agency Telam reported.
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TAM operates A350 on first revenue flight
Brazil's TAM has operated its first Airbus A350-900 on revenue service, with a flight from Sao Paulo Guarulhos to Manaus on 25 January. The A350, registered PR-XTA, was welcomed with a water cannon salute at Manaus. TAM received the aircraft on 18 December 2015.
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Tigerair doubles net profit for 3Q 2016
Singapore-based low-cost carrier (LCC) Tigerair reported a 3Q 2016 net profit of S$6.8 million ($4.75 million), more than doubled compared to a S$2.2 million profit in the year-ago period. CEO Lee Lik Hsin said low fuel prices helped the carrier’s performance and he expects further benefit from the cost of jet fuel.
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Vietjet Air reports 34.5% revenue increase in 2015
Vietnam-based low-cost carrier (LCC) Vietjet Air reported a 2015 revenue of VND10.9 trillion ($490.7 million), up 34.5% from VND8.1 trillion in 2014. The airline said the revenue increase was achieved “despite increasing challenges in the wake of the ASEAN Open Skies policy.” The result was lower than the VND13.8 trillion forecast at the start of 2015, and came during a year when the carrier added 11 Airbus A320s and A321s to its fleet and increased passenger numbers by 66% to 9.3 million passengers during the 12-month period, compared to 2014.
LinkAirports
Dayton, Ohio, airport to receive $130 million upgrade
Ohio's Dayton International Airport will undergo a $130 million renovation, with work beginning this year on installing a new terminal facade and upgrading a parking lot. The entire renovation is expected to take 10 years.
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Oslo Airport first to offer mains-supplied biofuel
Oslo Airport has started supplying Air BP Biojet via its regular fuel hydrant system, naming KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa Group and SAS Scandinavian Airlines as launch customers. “This is the first time aviation biofuel is being delivered through the normal supply mechanism, thus reducing logistics costs significantly. We want to demonstrate that airports can readily access biofuel with relative ease, utilizing existing physical infrastructure,” Air BP CEO David Gilmour said.
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Military
Bahrain considering F-16V order, fleet upgrade
Bahrain is nearing a decision on whether to launch a major program to modernize its Lockheed Martin F-16s and acquire an additional batch in an advanced V-model configuration. Facing increased operational demand due to its involvement in the coalition campaign against Islamic State militants in the Middle East, the Royal Bahraini Air Force is looking to boost capabilities, says Rick Groesch, regional vice-president, Middle East for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.
LinkRegulatory
Shuster: FAA incapable of modernizing ATC system
A report by the Inspector General for the Department of Transportation concluded that operational productivity has dropped over the last two decades at the Federal Aviation Administration. "This report shows that the FAA simply isn't suited to successfully modernize our nation's antiquated air traffic control system," said Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa., chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. "Over two decades of FAA personnel, organizational and acquisition reforms have failed to slow the agency's cost growth, improve its productivity, or improve its performance in modernizing the system.
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Coalition opposing US ATC privatization makes case
Two Democratic members of the US Congress and several public advocacy groups came together to express their strong opposition to privatizing US air traffic control (ATC), though it is unclear whether the coalition—particularly the two Congressional Democrats—would oppose every potential plan to separate ATC from FAA. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Maryland) and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-Washington DC), who are both on the US House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee, joined with a coalition calling itself Americans Against Air Traffic Privatization (AAATP) on a Jan. 26 conference call with reporters to oppose what they said is a plan by T&I Committee chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pennsylvania) to privatize ATC.
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Aviation Quote
Great pilots are made not born. . . . A man may possess good eyesight, sensitive hands, and perfect coordination, but the end result is only fashioned by steady coaching, much practice, and experience.
— Air Vice-Marshal J. E. 'Johnnie' Johnson, RAF.
Daily Video
Editor’s Choice
Trivia
Aerolineas Argentinas Destination Scramble
1. IZGUAU
2. DZNOMEA
3. RSOIROA
4. TSAAL
5. HIUASAU
6. DSNYEY
7. RIALSIBA
8. GBOAOT
9. RANOBCLEA
10. DMRADI
ShanwickOceanic wrote:Thanks for the Editor's Choice
JLAmber wrote:What's known as a sympathy vote
For a little P&S camera it didn't do terribly, and the light was lovely that evening.ShanwickOceanic wrote:can't believe you missed BARCELONA!
