NewsCommercial
Boeing plans additional 777 production rate cut in 2017
Boeing has informed employees that the 777 production rate will be reduced from seven per month to five per month in August 2017, meaning the program’s production rate will be cut twice in 2017. The manufacturer had previously decided to lower 777 production from the current rate of 8.3 aircraft per month to seven monthly starting in January 2017.
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Sustained safety effort pulled Kazakhstan off EU blacklist
Kazakhstan’s removal from European Commission blacklisting has followed a sustained effort to modernise and revamp its air safety oversight. All Kazakh carriers were blacklisted under a blanket ban in 2009, with the sole exception of Air Astana, which was permitted to continue operating to Europe albeit with restrictions.
LinkAirlines
PIA ATRs grounded for inspection
Pakistan International Airlines’ remaining fleet of ATR aircraft will be suspended pending inspections by the country’s aviation authorities following a recent accident. PIA says the move affects its fleet of five ATR 42-500s and five ATR 72-500, which in-turn will affect its services to smaller airports. It did not give a timeframe for how long the inspections will take.
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Qantas Adds Perth-London Non-stop in 2018
Qantas will launch non-stop flights from the West Australian city of Perth to London from March 2018. The 17 hour, 14,498 km (9,060 mile) flight will operate with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and will be the third longest flight in the world.
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Singapore clears Lufthansa-SIA joint venture
The Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) has approved a proposed joint venture (JV) between Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines (SIA), subject to certain voluntary conditions. On Feb. 5, Lufthansa and SIA sought permission to cooperate on routes between the Asia-Pacific region (Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore) and Europe (Austria, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland).
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Southwest Airlines launches Havana service
Southwest Airlines began inaugural flights to Havana, Cuba Dec. 12 from two Florida gateway airports, Tampa International and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International. Southwest will operate 1X-daily Tampa-Havana service and 2X-daily Fort Lauderdale-Havana services. The Dallas-based airline flew to its first Cuban destination, Varadero, on Nov. 13. The airline will launch service to a third Cuban city, Santa Clara, Dec. 13, with 1X-daily service from Fort Lauderdale.
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United's Polaris service targets Feb. launch
United Airlines will roll out its Polaris Business class offering in February after unveiling the new cabin and features this past summer. Polaris will be available on domestic US flights initially.
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United offers flexibility, efficiency with basic economy
Next year, United Airlines will ramp up its budget offering dubbed "basic economy," enabling the carrier to better compete with low-cost airlines such as Allegiant, Spirit and Frontier. "We will not only be more flexible when it comes to price, we'll also be more efficient operationally by foregoing pre-assigned seating, priority boarding, upgrading the option for last minute changes," says CEO Oscar Munoz.
LinkAirports
Midwest snow storm grounds hundreds of Chicago flights
Hundreds of flights into and out of Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports were canceled on Sunday as a winter storm system dumped moderate to heavy snow on the Upper Midwest and Lower Great Lakes regions before heading toward the U.S. Northeast. A winter storm warning was in effect in the Chicago area on Sunday afternoon, with total accumulations of up to 10 inches (25 cm) expected by midnight CST (0600 GMT), the National Weather Service said.
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Heathrow Airport to apply for third runway in 2019
London's Heathrow Airport will submit a planning application for its controversial third runway in 2019, after the project secured government backing in October. “Heathrow is to commence the preparation of a planning application to expand the airport with a new runway. The application is intended to be formally submitted in 2019, after the government has designated the National Policy Statement,” Heathrow Airport said Dec. 12.
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Military
Air Force study finds operational lasers for AC-130 demo
Solid-state slab lasers have already evolved to a point of maturity where they could soon be demonstrated on an Air Force Special Operations AC-130 gunship, a US Air Force study finds. As part of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board’s (AFSAB) 2016 studies, the board examined fielding a high energy laser on an AFSOC gunship.
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Trump tweet takes aim at F-35
With another tweet heard around the world, President-elect Donald Trump sent Lockheed Martin’s stock diving after singling out the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. Trump criticised the F-35 during his candidacy, but with five weeks to go before he takes office, his 12 December tweet sunk Lockheed’s stocks by more than 3%.
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F-35 brings game-changing capabilities to Israeli air force
The F-35 will be a game-changer for Israel's air force as it prepares for delivery of its first F-35Is. Israel has the most powerful air force in the Middle East.
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Aviation Quote
If the pilot survives the accident, you'll never find out what really happened.
- Doug Jeanes
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