NewsAir Berlin confirms deadline for bidsPotential buyers of Air Berlin have until 15 September to submit their offers, the carrier has confirmed. "Air Berlin will complete the investor process quickly," says the Oneworld member, which filed for insolvency earlier this month after shareholder Etihad signalled it was ending financial support.
LinkChina Eastern to add 191 jets by end of 2019China Eastern Airlines expects to add 191 aircraft to the group's fleet by the end of 2019. The SkyTeam carrier specifies that it will add 50 aircraft in the second half of 2017, comprising 30 Boeing 737s, 15 Airbus A320-family jets, four A330s and a single 777. During the same period, it will also retire six aircraft.
LinkFailed tire tread penetrated wing of Jetstar 787-8A Jetstar Boeing 787-8 suffered damage to its left wing and flap system after one of its main landing gear tires delaminated while taking off from Singapore Changi International airport on 13 May. As the aircraft, registered VH-VKA, was climbing through 3,000ft enroute to Melbourne, the captain set the aircraft’s flap setting to flaps 1. That triggered a ‘Flaps Drive’ caution alert, indicating a fault with the system.
LinkSouthwest takes delivery of first 737 MaxSouthwest Airlines has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737 Max 8, ahead of the type's first revenue flights on 1 October. "We will continue our work to get the aircraft ready to enter the Southwest schedule on Oct 1. More delivery details will be available this week," says a Southwest spokesperson.
LinkMC-21 stabiliser passes initial life-cycle load testsInitial testing of the Irkut MC-21-300's horizontal stabiliser has demonstrated that the design can withstand stresses over a 60,000-cycle operating period. The durability tests have been conducted by the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute in Moscow.
LinkMRJ FTA-2 returns to Moses Lake, test fleet remains groundedThe Mitsubishi Aircraft MRJ regional jet prototype that suffered an engine flameout last week has returned to the manufacturer's test base at Moses Lake, after replacement of the troubled engine. Mitsubishi, however, says that its test fleet remains grounded as investigations continue to determine the cause of the flameout. The aircraft is powered by the Pratt & Whitney PW1200G.
LinkP&W focused on resolving India PW1100G issues by end-2017Pratt & Whitney says that it is on track to introduce improvements to the PW1100G engines that power Airbus A320neo aircraft in India by the end of the year. A P&W spokesperson said that the "early distress" on the PW1100G engine combustor panels were primarily located in India, due to the country's "challenging operating environment" and that modifications were implemented in mid-2016.
LinkFedEx to donate $1M, help transport medical aid and suppliesFedEx will donate $1 million to organizations helping people affected by Hurricane Harvey. The carrier will also help transport medical aid and needed supplies to areas affected by the storm.
LinkAmerican Airlines may offer steep discounts on flights to EuropeAmerican Airlines is considering deeply discounted, no-frills ticket options for flights to popular European destinations. The economy fares would be designed to compete with discount carriers like Norwegian Air and Wow Air.
LinkJetBlue founder joins charter startupDavid Neeleman, founder of JetBlue Airways, has joined a startup company that aims to offer charter services on two Bombardier CRJ-200 regional jets.
LinkUnited Airlines CEO pledges up to $1M to help carrier's workersUnited Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz will personally match up to $1 million in donations to the company's employee relief fund, to help United workers affected by Hurricane Harvey. United has 11,000 employees based in Houston.
LinkCincinnati airport launches $6M modernization projectCincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport has begun a $6 million improvement project that is expected to be finished by spring 2018. Planned upgrades include new lighting and carpeting in the baggage claim area, new carpeting in the ticketing and ground transportation areas and new curbside signage.
LinkPurdue U. airport looking to land commercial airlineIndiana's Purdue University Airport is looking to attract a commercial carrier and has begun assessing improvements that could make the facility more attractive to airlines. "Obtaining a level of commercial service is very possible at our airport," said airport manager Adam Baxmeyer.
LinkLuke AFB lifts altitude restriction on F-35AsF-35As are flying high again at Luke AFB, Arizona, though the US Air Force has not identified the root cause of physiological events that provoked the base’s decision to restrict its F-35 squadron’s flying operations. Luke AFB lifted the 25,000ft altitude restriction on its Lockheed Martin F-35As, first put in place 20 June, on 30 August, says the base in a statement.
LinkBoeing outlines India F/A-18 E/F offeringBoeing is actively promoting its F/A-18 E/F fighter for a future Indian naval requirement, with promise of a major industrial program. The US airframer recently discussed its bid for an Indian navy requirement for 57 fighters at a media event in New Delhi.
LinkRyanair calls on authorities to block Lufthansa-airberlin takeoverIrish LCC Ryanair has urged German competition authority (Bundeskartellamt) and the European Union (EU) Commission to block the “stitch-up” between the German government, Lufthansa and airberlin to carve up airberlin’s assets, saying it excludes major competitors and ignores both competition and state aid rules
LinkAirAsia 2Q net profit down 53% on one-off tax chargeAirAsia Group reported a 2017 second-quarter net profit of MYR140 million ($33 million), down 53% from net profit of MYR298 million in the year-ago period. The company said the decline was mainly because of a one-time tax charge of MYR212 million “from the group’s participation in the Indonesia tax amnesty program.” The group’s operating profit increased 37% year-over-year (YOY) to MYR517 million and revenue rose 19% YOY to MYR2.4 billion. Revenue growth was supported by a 10% increase in passengers carried alongside a two percentage point increase in load factor to 89%, AirAsia Group said in a statement.
LinkPassenger growth boosts Aeroflot Group 1H net profit 17%Russia’s Aeroflot Group has reported a 2017 first-half net income of RUB2.9 billion ($48.9 million), up 17% compared to the year-ago period.
LinkAir Tahiti Nui to replace A340s in 2018French Polynesian carrier Air Tahiti Nui is preparing for a major upgrade of its long-haul international fleet in 2018, when it will begin the replacement of its Airbus A340s with Boeing 787-9s. The carrier has four 787s on order—two leased and two purchased. These will replace four A340-300s it operates on flights to Auckland and Tokyo, and on a route to Paris via Los Angeles.
LinkRockwell Collins to provide US CBP with passenger data processing systemCedar Rapids, Iowa-based Rockwell Collins has won a contract from US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for Rockwell’s ARINC Border Management Solutions platform to process Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) data from airlines serving the US.
LinkSingapore Airlines expands Virgin America codeshare to Alaska AirlinesSingapore Airlines has reached an agreement with Alaska Air Group to extend a codeshare agreement it had with Virgin America and expand it to include Alaska Airlines. Seattle-based Alaska Air Group acquired San Francisco-based Virgin America in late 2016 and is in the process of merging Virgin America and Alaska Airlines. Singapore Airlines has been placing its SQ code on Virgin America flights serving 19 US destinations since 2013. That codesharing will continue and be expanded to include placing the SQ code on Alaska flights serving 18 destinations in the US and Mexico.
LinkFinnair to boost summer 2018 capacity 14%Helsinki-based Finnair plans to increase capacity by 14% on popular European and Asian routes from summer 2018, according to CCO Juha Järvinen. The Finnish flag carrier will begin Helsinki-Nanjing (China) services from May 13, 2018. The new route will use Airbus A330s, 3X-weekly during the summer and 2X-weekly in the winter season.
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