AirlinesAirAsia revives Global Express purchaseAirAsia has revived plans to purchase a used Bombardier Global Express business jet from Caterham Jet Global for executive transport use, after a previous deal fell through last year. In a disclosure to the Malaysian stock exchange, the low-cost carrier says that it plans to acquire the aircraft (registered 9M-CJG) for $10 million, which includes a $1.5 million deposit from the previous deal.
LinkAirAsia X plans for more fifth-freedom flightsAirAsia X is planning to add more fifth-freedom flights as it seeks to take advantage of the growth at secondary and tertiary cities across North Asia. Sharing the long-haul, low-cost carrier’s plans was its head of network planning Venggatarao Niadu, as part of a panel at the Routes Asia Strategy Summit in Okinawa.
LinkFlights canceled as French, Italian strikes hitEuropean travelers have been hit by yet another wave of strike action, as Italy’s air traffic controllers and air transport workers, as well as Air France’s cabin crew, stage separate protests. Airlines for Europe (A4E) warned that a four-hour Italian air traffic control (ATC) strike on March 20 was expected to cause more than 500 cancellations, flight delays and “extensive rescheduling.”
LinkDana Air crew failings highlight African safety gapAs IATA stresses a continuing falling accident rate in its annual review of commercial airline safety, the circumstances of the Dana Air crash in Lagos serve to remind that global progress is far from a uniform affair. Nigerian investigators’ newly disclosed narrative detailing the loss of the MD-83 almost amounts to a roll-call of the sort of practices that might tempt IATA’s safety teams to bang their collective heads despairingly against the walls of its Geneva headquarters.
LinkHawaiian Airlines supports formation of state airport authorityHawaiian Airlines is supporting state-level legislation in Hawaii that, if approved, would form an independent airport commission tasked with speeding up infrastructure investment. "An Airport Corporation as envisioned in HB1443 would remove the impediments that have delayed the completion of Honolulu's Airport modernization program for more than a decade, creating a vastly improved transportation experience for residents and visitors alike," said Hawaiian executive Ann Botticelli.
LinkRoyal Jordanian reports new electronics ban on US flightsUS regulators will soon prohibit passengers on some airlines from carrying a range of electronic devices on flights bound for the USA, say Royal Jordanian Airlines and Saudi Arabian authorities. Royal Jordanian says in a tweet that following "instructions from the concerned US departments", passengers on Royal Jordanian's flights to and from the USA are prohibited from "carrying any electronic device on board the flight cabins" effective 21 March.
LinkSichuan Airlines accelerates US expansion pace China’s Sichuan Airlines is applying to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to open two international routes from Chengdu to Shenzhen-New York (twice-weekly), and Zhengzhou-Los Angeles (3X-weekly) in October. According to the CAAC, the Chengdu-based carrier plans to operate either the Airbus A330 or A350 on the routes.
LinkSouthwest reports uptick in RPMs, ASMs for Feb.Southwest saw a year-over-year increase of 1.1% in revenue passenger miles for February, reaching almost 9 billion. Available seat miles increased 1.2%.
LinkPossible fatalities reported in South Sudan turboprop crashPossible fatalities are being reported from a Sudanese aircraft which crashed at the South Sudanese city of Wau. Images circulating on social media show the empennage of a turboprop aircraft, apparently featuring South Supreme Airlines livery.
LinkUnited to retire 747 in OctoberUnited Airlines will retire its last Boeing 747-400 in “late October” after nearly half a century with the carrier. The Chicago-based carrier will “displace” its last 747 pilots on 30 October, it said in a crew resources update to pilots on 17 March. However, it does not set a date for the venerable jumbo jet’s final flight.
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