NewsUnited CEO speaks to House panel about airline's new policiesUnited Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz visited Capitol Hill on Tuesday, where he told lawmakers about the steps United has taken to improve customer service, including raising the limit on payments to bumped passengers to $10,000. "It is my mission to ensure we make the changes needed to provide our customers with the highest level of service and the deepest sense of respect," Munoz said.
LinkSouthwest an early adopter of BYODSouthwest Airlines has embraced the bring-your-own device model of in-flight entertainment and still have a "few tricks up [their] sleeve" for catering to business class and other types of customers. "Here at Southwest, our platform is all personal devices. We don't have any overhead screens or seatback screens, so everything is directly to the customer's personal electronic device," Southwest's Tara Bamburg said.
LinkMuscatine airport celebrates renovations, plans for future projects Officials at the Muscatine Municipal Airport said its runway reconstruction project was proven successful last week when seven private jets were able to arrive and depart from the airport on a single day. Airport Administrator and Community Development Coordinator Adam Thompson said the $4.8 million resurfacing project was completed last summer. The Federal Aviation Administration funded 90 percent of the project, with the city of Muscatine providing the rest.
LinkAlaska Airlines woos customers for Visa mileage cardConsumers who sign up for a new Alaska Airlines Visa card in May and June can enjoy a sweet deal for the rest of the year, the airline said.
LinkTitan to acquire all-premium A318 from BAUK charter specialist Titan Airways is to acquire one of British Airways' two Airbus A318s. Titan director Alastair Willson tells FlightGlobal that the narrowbody jet, which BA uses for all-premium transatlantic service from London City, will be transferred on 30 May.
LinkAlitalia bridge loan in line with EU state-aid rulesItaly's government has approved a bridge loan of €600 million ($655 million) for the embattled flag-carrier Alitalia, as the airline prepared to enter extraordinary administration. The Italian council of ministers says it has approved the financing for six months, an urgent measure aimed at enabling the beleaguered carrier to maintain operations.
LinkLeonardo slashes stake in SuperJet InternationalItalian aerospace firm Leonardo has cut its shareholding in the SuperJet International joint venture to a minority. SuperJet International is responsible for selling the Russian-built Sukhoi Superjet 100 to Western markets and offering aftersales service for the type.
LinkComac sets Friday 5 May for C919 first flightComac has set Friday 5 May for the first flight of its C919 narrowbody, with foreign guests already flying into Shanghai for the event. The Chinese manufacturer had previously planned the flight for 6 May, but sources say that this has since been shifted to 5 May. Saturday 6 May now serves as a backup, should the aircraft be unable to fly the day earlier. Weather on both days is forecasted to be sunny.
LinkSlovakia requests Bell 429 light utility purchaseSlovakia has requested a potentially $150 million rotorcraft purchase from the USA, seeking a deal for nine Bell Helicopter 429s. Backed by the US State Department and notified to Congress on 27 April for approval, the possible light utility helicopter order would enable Slovakia to "strengthen its homeland defence and deter regional threats", according to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).
LinkPolish F-16s make Baltic air policing debutPoland's air force has for the first time deployed its Lockheed Martin F-16s to support NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, with the service assuming lead status for the activity on 2 May.
LinkIAI targets engine support work on F-35Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) wants to use its facilities to maintain and overhaul the Pratt & Whitney F135 engines used by the Israeli air force's Lockheed Martin F-35s.
LinkBoom CEO sees market for 1,000 supersonic passenger jets by 2035 Denver-based Boom Technology founder and CEO Blake Scholl believes the company’s first supersonic passenger aircraft can enter commercial service as soon as 2023 and there is a market for as many as 1,000 supersonic airliners to be delivered by 2035. Speaking at the IATA Wings of Change conference in Miami, Scholl said $33 million in funding secured last month—bringing Boom’s total financing to $41 million—removes monetary obstacles for the company, enabling it to build and flight test the “Baby Boom” prototype that will be a precursor to the full-size Boom aircraft. The full-size aircraft will be able to seat up to 55 passengers in an all-business class configuration, according to Scholl.
LinkAir France pitches Boost subsidiary conditions to pilotsAir France has shared draft terms for its new Boost long-haul operation with pilot unions and set a May 31 deadline for their response. “What is at stake is Air France’s future and its ability to embark on a new phase of sustainable growth and recovery,” Air France chairman Jean-Marc Janaillac said, detailing the draft agreement May 3.
LinkEtihad partner Air Serbia to cut Abu Dhabi in strategy shiftAir Serbia will axe its own flights to Abu Dhabi, the home base of its strategic shareholder Etihad Airways, as it shifts the focus of its five-year plan to denser short-haul flying. Belgrade-based Air Serbia will suspend the Abu Dhabi route from Oct. 29, although Etihad will continue to operate daily codeshare flights.
LinkNew German leisure carrier Azur Air delays launch to June New German airline Azur Air is preparing to start operations in June instead of April as previously announced, a company spokesperson confirmed to ATW. The Düsseldorf-based carrier plans to operate leisure flights. According to its website, Azur Air is owned by Amsterdam-based Holding NW International BV.
LinkIcelandair Group widens net loss in 1Q Icelandair Group reported a first-quarter 2017 net loss of $34.9 million, widened from the $17 million loss for the 2016 1Q. The first quarter of the year is traditionally the weakest of the year for many airlines, but Icelandair’s result was the heaviest 1Q loss it had suffered for several years. Yields dipped 13% compared to 1Q 2016 and the group was affected by adverse currency exchange rates.
LinkLufthansa, Austrian Airlines go live with paid Wi-FiGX Aviation broadband launch customers Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines have completed their four-month Ka-Band internet trial on short- and medium-haul flights and have transitioned over to a paid service.
LinkAtlas Air reports $0.8 million 1Q net loss; Cathay Pacific ACMI dealAtlas Air Worldwide Holdings posted a net loss of $752,000 for the first quarter of 2017, reversed from the company’s $471,000 net profit in the year-ago quarter. Additionally, Atlas president and CEO William Flynn said the company has placed two Boeing 747-8Fs with Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Cargo on an ACMI (crew, maintenance and insurance) basis, with service beginning in May.
LinkCargolux 2016 profit falls to $5.5 million Cargolux Group reported a 2016 net profit of $5.5 million, down 89% from net profit of $49 million in 2015. The Luxembourg-based cargo carrier said even though the year was dominated by low yields, fierce competition and overcapacity in the air cargo industry, it experienced a robust fourth quarter. In November 2016 alone, the airline said it registered over 12,000 block hours flown and in excess of 96,000 tons sold.
LinkTurkish Airlines, Panama’s Copa to codesharePanama-based Copa Airlines has signed a wide-ranging codeshare agreement with Istanbul-based Turkish Airlines. Both carriers are Star Alliance members. Turkish will place its TK designator code on Copa flights between Panama City and David (Panama); Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro, Manaus, Belo Horizonte and Sao Paulo (Brazil); Santo Domingo and Punta Cana (Dominican Republic); Guayaquil and Quito (Ecuador); San Salvador (El Salvador); Asuncion (Paraguay); Lima (Peru).
LinkLOT Polish Airlines launches Newark services LOT Polish Airlines launched 4X-weekly Warsaw-New York Newark services April 28, its fifth North American destination and second new route to the US (Los Angeles, California) within one month. The service will be increased to 5X-weekly starting in August.
LinkTurkish Airlines 1Q traffic down 8%Turkish Airlines carried 13 million passengers in the first quarter, down 8% compared to 14.2 million passengers in the year-ago quarter. Domestic traffic fell 2.9% and international traffic decreased 11.8% year-over-year (YOY) in the first quarter.
Link 
Boeing has taken 642 orders for the 787 as of July 6, selling more planes before rollout than any jet in history. But it has no customers yet on which of these continents?
