NewsUnited Airlines to offer daily flights from Wash.'s Paine FieldUnited Airlines will next year offer daily flights from Washington's Paine Field, near Seattle, to Denver and San Francisco. "We know our customers value time and convenience when traveling and north Seattle and Northwest Washington area travelers will now have easy access to our hubs in Denver and San Francisco and to opportunities to connect to business centers around the world with just one stop," said United executive Dave Hilfman.
LinkEmployment up at Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska AirlinesHawaiian Airlines had 6,356 workers in June, 6.9% more than last year. Alaska Airlines reported 13,165 employees in June, a year-over-year increase of 10%.
LinkAirlines see demand grow for flights between US and MexicoAirlines are adding routes to serve Mexico as travel demand grows amid a boom in business ties between the two countries and rising international tourism by Mexico's surging middle class.
LinkSouthwest worker entertains flyers with dance routineA Southwest Airlines baggage handler at Denver International Airport entertains travelers every day with an energetic dance routine on the ramp.
LinkJetBlue, Bermuda Tourism Authority join to give away free tripsJetBlue Airways and the Bermuda Tourism Authority set up a storefront in New York City in late July that featured Bermuda-themed graphics, messaging and a phone. The phone rang sporadically through the day and passers-by who answered it received free trips to the island.
LinkReview: United Airlines' premium Polaris programBlake Morgan writes in this review that United Airlines' Polaris-class service offers sleep-friendly features like pillows, mattress covers, pajamas, an amenity kit and do-not-disturb signs. Other perks include lounge access and high-quality food options.
LinkEasyJet A320 damaged after chocks prematurely removedInvestigators have found that undetected release of the parking brake and premature removal of chocks led to an EasyJet Airbus A320's suffering damage as it rolled backwards at London Gatwick. The crew had already carried out cockpit preparation checks, which included checking that the parking brake was on.
LinkUnited redeploying 767 fleet to address crew issuesUnited Airlines will shift its fleet of Boeing 767-400ER aircraft to its Newark Liberty International airport hub from October, to address continuing issues with its flight attendant groups. The Chicago-based carrier operates its 16 767-400ERs from primarily its Newark and Washington Dulles International airport hubs, schedules show.
LinkInquiry probes prolonged 747-8F take-off at NaritaJapanese investigators are probing an unusually long take-off run by a Polar Air Cargo Boeing 747-8F from Tokyo last month. The aircraft became airborne just 85m from the end of runway 16L, according to Japan Transport Safety Board which has only just released details of the incident.
LinkLion Air 737 on landing roll at time of ATR collisionInvestigators have indicated that the Lion Air Boeing 737-900ER involved in a ground collision at Medan had been conducting its landing roll at the time. The accident took place on 3 August after the 737 arrived from Banda Aceh
LinkAlitalia licences restored by Italian regulatorItalian civil aviation regulator ENAC has restored full operating licences of struggling Alitalia and its CityLiner subsidiary. Alitalia is undergoing a sale process and is conducting business under extraordinary administration.
LinkChina Southern completes share issue to American Airlines China Southern Airlines has completed the issuance of 270.6 million Hong Kong-listed shares to American Airlines, making the US carrier an official stakeholder. The HK$1.55 billion ($198 million) transaction, which closed on 10 August, gives American a 2.68% stake in the Chinese state-owned carrier. American will also have an observer on China Southern's board, although they will not hold any voting right
LinkDreamliner break-even remains a moving targetIf industry forecasts are reliable, there are about $5-6 trillion in aircraft deals available for the taking over the next 20 years, but the number that is reshaping the industry right now is a more modest $28.6 billion. That represents the peak of Boeing’s deferred costs on the 787 programme and a number the company must surmount for the widebody to break even.
LinkUSMC orders aviation safety standdown as mishaps spikeThe US Marine Corps is standing down aviation units for 24h each once over the next two weeks as the community copes with a spike mishaps, including two fatal accidents within the last weeks. As each unit observes the 24h standown, operational commitments across the fleet will not be impacted, Commandant Gen Robert Neller says in an 11 August announcement.
LinkUS special forces detail requirements for light attack aircraftAs the US Air Force wraps up its OA-X light attack demonstration this week, US Special Operations Command released its own solicitation for a separate special operations light attack aircraft. Late last month, the USAF unveiled plans to pursue an open-ended technology hunt called light attack support for special operations (LASSO).
LinkLockheed denies report on F-16 tech transfer to IndiaA recent report claiming the US denied critical F-16 technology to the government of India is erroneous, the US Air Force and F-16 manufacturer Lockheed Martin say. New Delhi is searching for a new single-engine fighter to recapitalise the Indian air force’s aging fighter fleet. The report from Defenseworld.net quoted the Indian Minister of State for Defence saying the US has not agreed to transfer F-16 technology and production to India.
LinkRAF Typhoons impress on Romanian air policing dutyThrough a shimmering heat haze, the pilots of two sleek combat aircraft run to their jets, armed and ready beneath makeshift sun shelters on a Romanian base near the Black Sea coast. These are not the crews of the home nation's Aerostar-adapted MiG-21 Lancer interceptors, however, but of Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4s, deployed to help safeguard NATO territory.
LinkQatar eases visa requirements for 80 nationsQatar, embroiled in a diplomatic stand-off with four Middle East nations that have seen severe restrictions on its access to neighboring airspace, has waived entry visa requirements for 80 nations. The air blockade was not directly referenced in the announcement of the move to ease visa requirements, but will be seen as the oil-rich Gulf state attempting to head off any reductions in passenger numbers for Qatar Airways from potential customers uncertain about whether to travel on the carrier.
LinkAir Europa pilots ask to avoid layovers in Venezuela Air Europa pilots, represented by the Spanish pilots trade union SEPLA, have requested layover alternatives on its 3X-weekly Madrid-Caracas services because of safety concerns. According to an Aug. 10 statement, SEPLA recommends avoiding overnight crew-stays in Venezuela’s capital of Caracas because of escalating violence.
LinkMalaysia Airlines boosts Australasian servicesMalaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) has seen a dramatic improvement on its Australasian services, thanks to the carrier’s efforts to boost demand in this market.
LinkLessor Avolon says MAX 10 launch will cannibalize part of line-upOne of the world’s largest lessors believes that Boeing’s recent launch of the 737 MAX 10 will significantly improve the manufacturer’s share of the narrowbody market, but probably at the cost of limiting sales of the smaller MAX 9. In an assessment of the MAX range, Ireland-based Avolon said Boeing’s MAX product strategy decisions had been reactive, “resulting in lower market share and a plethora of variants which do not all reflect actual market demand.”
LinkIreland’s FLY Leasing builds toward $750 million acquisition goalDublin-based FLY Leasing continued to boost its fleet and shore up equity in the second quarter, aiming to meet its $750 million acquisition goal by the end of 2017. FLYacquired five aircraft during the quarter, including four that were new deliveries from manufacturers, a $290 million investment.
LinkLoftleidir Icelandic to manage TACV Cabo VerdeIceland-based capacity solution provider Loftleidir Icelandic is to undertake a management contract with TACV Cabo Verde Airlines, as the archipelago’s government seeks to restructure and privatize the national carrier. Cabo Verde (Cape Verde in English) is a cluster of islands off the northwest coast of Africa that has become an increasingly popular holiday destination in recent years, especially for European tourists seeking to escape the continent’s winter months.
LinkAir Lease Corp. bookings boost Boeing’s July orders above $4 billionAir Lease Corp. (ALC) provided the bulk of Boeing’s commercial aircraft* orders in July, as the US manufacturer booked firm orders for 14 aircraft from the Los Angeles-based lessor, valued at approximately $1.8 billion at list prices. Originally announced at the Paris Air Show in June, ALC ordered five 737 MAX 7s, seven 737 MAX 8s and two 787-9s.
Link 
