NewsBombardier faces latest setback with trade rulingThe US government's preliminary decision to impose hefty import duties on Bombardier's CSeries could mark a notable setback for the Canadian manufacturer, which had framed a CSeries order from Delta Air Lines as a major win and door-opener to deals with other major US carriers. Though several important steps remain before duties become reality, the initial decision raises questions about additional US sales and has furthered an already fiery trade dispute between the US and top allies.
LinkWestJet brands new ULCC subsidiary SwoopCanadian low-cost carrier WestJet will call its planned ultra low-cost offshoot Swoop, and it will base the unit in Calgary, WestJet announces on 27 September. The company has also revealed the unit's website address --
www.flyswoop.com -- and details about the logo and paint scheme on Swoop aircraft.
LinkRyanair cancels 18,000 winter flightsRyanair will this winter operate 25 fewer aircraft than the 400 it previously planned to, and has cancelled some 18,000 flights across the season, suspending 34 routes, as it seeks to avoid further disruption arising from lack of available pilots. The budget carrier says the cancellations in the November-March period will affect "less than 400,000 customers". These have been contacted today with an offer of alternative flights or refunds along with a €40 (€80 return) travel voucher that can be used from October to book a Ryanair flight in the period through March 2018.
LinkMalaysia Airlines signs LOI with AerCap for six A330-200sMalaysia Airlines has signed a letter of intent with AerCap to lease six Airbus A330-200 aircraft that were formerly in service with Air Berlin. The leases will run from 2018 to 2023, and be used to upgauge high-demand medium haul routes, says the carrier. The aircraft will replace six Boeing 737s that are being returned to lessors.
LinkKLM receives its last 777-300ERKLM has taken delivery of its 29th and final Boeing 777 under existing orders, with the -300ER-model aircraft having been accepted by chief executive Pieter Elbers at the manufacturer's Everett plant in Washington on 26 September. Due to be flown to the Dutch carrier's maintenance facility at Amsterdam Schiphol airport where it will arrive on 28 September, aircraft PH-BVU will conduct its first revenue flight two days later.
LinkEasyJet unveils short-haul electric aircraft ambitionUK budget carrier EasyJet is collaborating with US-based manufacturer Wright Electric with the ambition of bringing to market within the next decade an all-electric airliner with a range of 291nm (540km). EasyJet says such an aircraft would be able to transport 20% of its current passengers.
LinkTru qualifies first China 737 Max full-flight simulatorTru Simulation and Training has completed a Level C qualification of the Boeing 737 Max full flight training simulator (FFS) by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, which is installed at Boeing's Shanghai campus. Globally, this is Tru's fourth qualified 737 Max simulator at a Boeing training campus, and comes weeks after Tru qualified an Airbus A320 FFS for Qingdao Airlines.
LinkUS government recommends 220% import tariff on CSeriesBoeing says the US Department of Commerce has recommended that a tariff of about 220% be slapped on imports of Bombardier CSeries aircraft. The news, though not yet confirmed by the US government, would mark a victory by Boeing, which claims Bombardier's sale of 75 CS100s to Delta Air Lines in 2016 violated trade rules.
LinkUK government 'bitterly disappointed' by CSeries rulingUK government representatives insist they will work to defend jobs in Bombardier's Northern Ireland facility following the adverse US ruling over the Canadian airframer's CSeries jet. Prime minister Theresa May's office states that it is "bitterly disappointed" by the initial ruling by the US Department of Commerce, which found that the CSeries received "countervailable subsidies" of just under 220%.
LinkBAE optimistic about fighter-borne directed energy weaponsThe chief technologist of BAE Systems is optimistic about fighter aircraft carrying directed energy weapons in the not-too-distant future, as he also discusses other emergent technologies. "The amount of power [a directed energy weapon] actually needs isn't as much as you might imagine," says BAE Systems chief technologist, Nigel Whitehead.
LinkSeoul to add more T-50s to meet training requirementsSeoul looks likely obtain additional Korea Aerospace Industries T-50 advanced jet trainers (AJT) to support its future fleet of advanced fighter aircraft. The new aircraft are necessary owing to incoming types such as the Lockheed Martin F-35 and, in the 2020s, of the KAI KFX fighter, says the defence ministry.
LinkRAND raises spectre of hypersonic proliferationA prominent Washington think tank is urging the US, China and Russia to curb the proliferation of hypersonic weapons over the next decade, before the missiles jeopardize national security for the three nations. The US, China and Russia are leading development of hypersonic missiles, an emerging weapon capable of flying five-times faster than a conventional cruise missile, though technology is already spreading throughout Europe, Japan, Australia and India.
LinkCirrus ramps up Vision Jet productionCirrus Aircraft has ramped-up production of the SF50 Vision Jet to 1.5 aircraft a week, as it seeks to clear the 600-strong order backlog it has for the single-engined personal jet. Since the six-seat aircraft entered service in December 2016, the airframer has been producing units at a low rate while seeking to iron out any snags in the manufacturing process, says Matt Bergwall, director of the Vision Jet production line.
LinkViking secures Chinese approval for float-equipped Series 400Viking Air has secured Chinese approval for its float-equipped Series 400 Twin Otter, opening the door for the Canadian airframer to exploit the growing demand for seaplanes within the country’s commercial, charter and sightseeing communities. Viking describes the approval of the Wipline 13000-equipped twin-engined turboprop as “a major milestone”, providing an alternative to the smaller and more restrictive single-engined platforms that are typically used by China’s seaplane operators.
LinkSouthwest apologizes after passenger is removed from flight, arrestedSouthwest Airlines has publicly apologized to a passenger who was physically pulled off a Boeing 737 by law enforcement officers at Baltimore/Washington International Airport over a pet-allergy dispute. “We are disheartened by the way this situation unfolded and the customer’s removal by local law enforcement officers,” Southwest said in a statement. “We publicly offer our apologies to this customer for her experience and we will be contacting her directly to address her concerns.”
LinkJetBlue is launch customer for Airbus Airspace A320 cabin Airbus revealed JetBlue Airways as the launch customer for its new Airspace A320-family cabin Sept. 26 at the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) expo in Long Beach, California, and unveiled a mock-up of the interior.
LinkHow Amazon is changing air cargo businessFor Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, it is still “Day 1” at the online retail giant.
LinkWOW Air looks at Asia amid new narrowbody shake upIcelandic LCC WOW Air sees potential to serve Asia using the latest longer-range narrowbodies, although they also threaten to undermine Reykjavik’s role as a hub.
LinkLufthansa, Eurowings to take over several airberlin long-haul routesLufthansa will expand its long-haul network from Berlin and Dusseldorf from Nov. 8, as insolvent airberlin ceases long-haul flight operations by Oct. 15, as leasing companies gradually withdraw their A330 fleet. Lufthansa plans to launch 5X-weekly Berlin Tegel-New York JFK Airbus A330-300 service; this will be the first time since 2001 the German airline has based long-haul aircraft in Berlin. The Star Alliance carrier also plans to launch new 3X-weekly Dusseldorf-Miami A330-300 services from Nov. 8. These two routes will be transferred to Eurowings in summer 2018.
LinkUnited seeks daily Houston-Havana route; touts trade potentialChicago-based United Airlines is looking to increase its service between Houston, Texas and Havana, Cuba from Saturday-only to daily flights, and on Sept. 26 filed an application for US Department of Transportation (DOT) approval. United is pushing the trade potential for the route, citing “Houston [as] a large exporter of raw materials that are high in demand in Cuba, including building materials, drainage and water supply systems, and parts and services related to the oil and gas industry … the Port of Houston exports grains, soybeans, corn and chicken to Cuba, and Houston’s central US location makes the city a prime location for further trade development.”
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