NewsBoeing delivers first 737 Max Boeing has delivered the first 737 Max 8 to launch operator Malindo, handing over the fourth generation of the 50-year-old single-aisle design to a customer. As Boeing’s response to the re-engined Airbus A320neo family, Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and chief executive Kevin McAllister says the 737 Max is now ready to “change the face of the single-aisle market”.
LinkAmerican Airlines Cargo expands US-Europe connectionsAmerican Airlines Cargo is expanding its network in Europe with new connections from Dallas/Fort Worth to Amsterdam and Rome. The carrier is also expanding seasonal capacity to Ireland with a Dublin-Charlotte, N.C., route, and one between Shannon and Philadelphia.
LinkO'Keeffe tapped to oversee HR functions at American AirlinesAmerican Airlines has named Patrick O'Keeffe to a senior vice president role, in which he will oversee human resources functions, including training, talent recruitment and compensation.
LinkBerkshire Hathaway keeps buying airline stockBerkshire Hathaway has increased its holdings in Southwest Airlines and American Airlines. The company became one of the largest investors in American, Southwest and United Airlines last year after determining airlines had become more efficient.
LinkAirlines' tactics prove successful in attracting customersAmerican Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines have all been successful in attracting traffic to their websites and booking engines using a variety of tactics. Southwest, for example, uses promotional fares, while JetBlue is described as a "master of email marketing."
LinkJetBlue's new LAX terminal will have twice the check-in spaceJetBlue Airways' move to Terminal 5 at Los Angeles International Airport will greatly cut down on lines as JetBlue eventually doubles its number of check-in slots. The move is expected to be completed this week.
Link$45M terminal expansion planned for Mont. airportMontana's Billings Logan International Airport is expecting to spend $45 million over four years to expand its terminal building as American Airlines looks to establish its new direct service between Billings and Dallas in June.
LinkJetBlue rolls out Mint service on Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-San Francisco routeJetBlue Airways is now serving up its premium Mint class service on another nonstop route from Fort Lauderdale to the West Coast: San Francisco. The launch came Monday with Mint passengers settling into lie-flat seats with 15-inch TVs or private suites. Once aboard, they received personal care amenity kits by New York-based Hayward and Hopper. As part of the culinary in-flight journey, travelers were offered cocktail beverages and espresso, a tapas-style menu, and dessert from New York-based bakery Milk Bar as well as locally-sourced specialty ice cream from The Frieze Ice Cream Factory.
LinkUSAF lifts ban on lightweight pilots for F-35A ejection seatThe US Air Force has removed a nearly two-year-old restriction in the Lockheed Martin F-35A cockpit that banned pilots lighter than 61.9kg (136lb) over concerns that an ejection could cause a severe neck injury.
LinkAT-6, Scorpion invited to challenge A-29 for USAF demoTextron Aviation has confirmed the US Air Force will invite the AT-6 turboprop and Scorpion twin-jet to face off against the Sierra Nevada/Embraer A-29 Super Tucano in a demonstration of close air support capabililty in August called the Light Attack Experiment.
LinkHAL Tejas successfully fires Derby BVR missileThe Hindustan Aernautics (HAL) Tejas light combat aircraft has successfully fired the Rafael Derby beyond-visual-range (BVR) missile. The aircraft released the weapon in "lock-on after launch" mode, and successfully destroyed an aerial target, says India's defence ministry in a statement.
LinkIran Air receives its first ATRs Iran Air has taken delivery of its first four ATR 72-600 turboprops. Earlier this year, the carrier finalised a deal spanning 20 firm ATR 72-600s plus options on another 20.
LinkEasyJet foresees opportunities from Alitalia's woesEasyJet chief executive Carolyn McCall believes the UK carrier could gain from Alitalia's uncertain future, though she acknowledges that "it's very hard to read what's going to happen there".
LinkEasyJet opts to take A321neoUK budget carrier EasyJet has finally opted to take the Airbus A321neo, by converting orders for 30 of the smaller A320neo which the airline has on order. It says in a half-year financial statement that "increased flexibility" in its arrangements with Airbus will mean the agreement will be "neutral" to current capital expenditure commitments for the fleet.
LinkAirAsia knocks on China's doorAt the 2016 Farnborough air show, AirAsia talked about setting up a China subsidiary to capture the market's booming demand for air travel. Then, its newly appointed north Asia president, Kathleen Tan, told FlightGlobal that the goal was the venture within 24 months, but warned that Chinese regulations "may take a while".
LinkFAA defends response to Allegiant 2015 rudder jamA Federal Aviation Administration investigator had recommended the "maximum" sanction against AAR following the 2015 jam of an elevator on an Allegiant Air McDonnell Douglas MD-83, according to a recently-publicised FAA report.
LinkBedek tests its first 737NG converted freighterIsrael Aerospace Industries' Bedek Aviation Group division is nearing approval for its passenger-to-freighter conversion programme for Boeing 737NGs. The maintenance and conversion specialist is flight testing a 737-700 that has undergone the modification programme, and expects to gain a supplemental type certificate in the coming months.
LinkUPS chooses Honeywell for A300 cockpit modernisationUPS has announced a major upgrade to the cockpit technology in its Airbus A300 Freighters to ensure the aircraft have technology needed to remain in service until 2035. The carrier's 52 A300s will receive new Honeywell integrated avionics and several other new systems, UPS says.
LinkEASA certifies SSJ100 B100 variantThe European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has granted type certificate approval to Russia’s Sukhoi Superjet 100 B100 aircraft, Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Co. announced May 16. The new SSJ100 version, designated as B100, is equipped with higher thrust SaM146 engines, which also are installed on the SSJ100 Long Range aircraft.
LinkAir Zimbabwe among four airlines added to EU blacklistThe European Commission (EC) has added four airlines to the European Union (EU) Air Safety List, including Air Zimbabwe, but at the same time lifted an earlier ban on all carriers from Benin and Mozambique. In the May 16 update, all airlines certified in Benin and Mozambique were cleared from the list, following safety oversight improvements.
LinkSuperJet International appoints new CEOSuperJet International has named Stefano Marazzani as CEO, succeeding Nazario Cauceglia who has been appointed president and chairman of the board. Cauceglia had been CEO since January 2012.
LinkKuwait Airways names new CEOKuwait Airways has appointed Ebrahim Abdullah Al-Khuzam as its new CEO, succeeding Rasha Al-Roumi, who resigned in April. Al-Roumi also held the post of chairwoman. Al-Khuzam was appointed to the airline’s board in April and has now assumed the additional role of CEO.
LinkInmarsat launches fourth Global Xpress satelliteGlobal mobile satellite communications services provider Inmarsat launched the fourth high-speed broadband communications satellite in its Global Xpress program, Inmarsat-5 F4 (I-5 F4). According to Inmarsat, the Boeing-built I-5 F4 satellite was launched May 16 by SpaceX on a Falcon 9 rocket at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
LinkLondon’s Gatwick Airport to maximize existing capacityLondon Gatwick Airport is preparing to invest £240 million ($309 million) in 2017, as part of a five-year development plan, after London hub Heathrow won government support for expansion. Under the airport’s five-year planning framework, it wants to grow using its existing infrastructure. Gatwick currently handles 44 million passengers a year, a figure the airport said is “way ahead of predictions,” boosted by low-cost carriers easyJet and Norwegian.
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