Airlines'More comfortable' economy middle seat to be unveiledMolon Labe has teamed up with BMW’s Designworks and Panasonic Avionics to create an economy-cabin design that would make the middle seat wider and more attractive. A concept model of the novel design will be unveiled at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, April 4-6.
LinkAir Astana seen to inch closer to Star Alliance A codeshare agreement between Air Astana and Lufthansa, beginning in March, advances Star Alliance efforts to develop a relationship with the well-located Kazakhstani carrier. The two airlines have agreed to begin selling tickets on each other’s flights between Frankfurt and the largest cities in Kazakhstan. The agreement applies to flights to and from the Kazakhstani capital, Astana, and its business center, Almaty, Air Astana said.
LinkCrashed 747's crew aware of excessive height: inquiryRussian investigators indicate that the crew of a Turkish-operated Boeing 747-400F knew the aircraft was too high on its approach before it overflew Bishkek airport and crashed far beyond the end of the runway. But the low-visibility approach was belatedly aborted, and a go-around only executed after the aircraft had descended below a 100ft decision height – too late to clear terrain.
LinkDelta to launch New York JFK-Rio de Janeiro 767 flights in DecemberDelta Air Lines will launch daily New York JFK-Rio de Janeiro service starting Dec. 21, pending US Department of Transportation (DOT) approval. The Atlanta-based airline will use a Boeing 767-300 featuring 35 lie-flat business-class seats, 32 Comfort+ seats and 143 economy seats on the Rio de Janeiro route. It will be Delta’s second daily nonstop to the city, joining the airline’s existing service between Rio and Atlanta.
LinkEl Al Israel Airlines posts $81 million 2016 net profitEl Al Israel Airlines reported $81 million in full-year net profit for 2016, down 24.3% from $107 million net income in 2015. “[El Al’s] 2016 results were affected by the pilots’ crisis that reached its peak in the fourth quarter of the year,” El Al CEO David Maimon said. “The main impact was on operating expense items.”
LinkEthiopian Airlines adding four routes in three daysEthiopian Airlines is adding four new destinations March 26-28, according to the Addis Ababa-based carrier. Ethiopian Airlines will launch services from Addis Ababa to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe; Antananarivo, Madagascar; and Oslo, as well cargo services to Ahmedabad, India.
LinkFiji Airways reports $40 million operating profit for 2016Fiji Airways Group reported FJD84.5 million ($39.7 million) in 2016 group operating profit before tax, up 20.4% from FJD70.2 million in 2015. Total revenue for the year was FJD825.3 million, up 1.2% over FJD815.3 million in 2015. The company did not release net profit/loss results for the year.
LinkHawaiian Air Pilots Ratify ContractHawaiian Airlines pilots have ratified a new contract due to take effect from April 1, the ALPA union said. The Air Line Pilots Association said 76 percent of the vote approved the contract on a 97 percent turnout. The agreement will run for five years and three months from April 2017 to July 1, 2022.
LinkIran Air receives second A330Iran Air has taken delivery of a second Airbus A330-200, two weeks after its first of the type arrived in Tehran. The flag-carrier says it received the Rolls-Royce Trent 700-powered aircraft at the capital’s Mehrabad airport on 25 March, five days into the Iranian new year.
LinkQatar gets EC go-ahead for Meridiana stakeQatar Airways’ plans to take a 49% shareholding in Italy’s Meridiana fly have been approved by the European Commission (EC). The approval by the EC’s competition authorities removes the last obstacle to the Middle East carrier taking a stake in Sardinia-based Meridiana fly. The deal is expected to close in April, a Meridiana fly spokeswoman said.
LinkVirgin Australia extends Mainland China networVirgin Australia’s launch of a flight to Hong Kong will dramatically expand its Chinese mainland network thanks to its prospective partnership with China’s HNA Group.
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