NewsFarewell AirBerlin
Later Friday evening, Air Berlin operated the last flight under its own branding, from Munich to the German capital's Tegel airport. Part of the Oneworld carrier's approximately 140-strong fleet will continue to operate: Austrian leisure subsidiary Niki will serve Mediterranean destinations; 13 Air Berlin Airbus A320-family jets are to fly under an existing wet-lease agreement on behalf of Eurowings; and regional unit LGW has also been recruited to serve Lufthansa's budget division. But 80-90 Air Berlin aircraft will stay on the ground from tomorrow, Lufthansa Group chief executive Carsten Spohr estimated during a briefing on 25 October.
LinkLinkDenver plans to add 39 gates in $1.5bn expansionDenver International airport plans to add 39 gates to its three concourses over the next five years, as it works to manage rapid passenger traffic growth and airline ambitions. The $1.5 billion works will add 12 gates to concourse A, 11 gates to concourse B and 16 gates to concourse C by 2023, Denver City Council documents show and the airport confirms. The additional gates will be added to each concourse by extending them to the east and west of their existing footprint.
LinkHawaiian receives first A321neoHawaiian Airlines received its first Airbus A321neo on 27 October, taking delivery of the aircraft from Airbus in Hamburg, Airbus announces. The milestone brings the Honolulu-based carrier closer to making good on a goal to launch A321neo flights to the US mainland early next year.
LinkEthiopian takes delivery of first 787-9Ethiopian Airlines has taken delivery of its first of four Boeing 787-9s, all of which are being leased from AerCap. The aircraft arrived in Addis Ababa after a non-stop 7,270nm (13,440km) delivery flight from Boeing's plant in Everett, Washington. Ethiopian is the first carrier in Africa to receive the larger -9 variant. It already operates 19 787-8s, having been the first in Africa to introduce that version in 2012.
LinkUnion seeks to measure 'dissatisfaction' of Ryanair's UK pilotsPilot union BALPA is conducting a survey to gauge the support of Ryanair's UK-based flightcrew for legal or strike action over working practices. The union says the survey is a response to "growing dissatisfaction with the company".
LinkMeridiana to conclude scheduled MD-80 flights on 31 OctoberMeridiana is to operate its final scheduled Being MD-80 flight at the end of the month. The Italian carrier says the jet will be used to operate a domestic service between Rome Fiumicino and Sardinian city Olbia on 31 October before exiting scheduled operations – though it will remain available for "single specific rotations" until spring 2018, when replacement of MD-80s with Boeing 737 is completed.
LinkKorean Air could order more 787sKorean Air could order more Boeing 787s as replacements for its ageing 777-200ERs. Speaking to reporters recently, president and chief operating officer of the airline, Walter Cho, says that the carrier could order more 787-9s or even the larger -10 to replace its oldest 777s.
LinkJeju Air touts nimble decision making as key to successKorean low-cost carrier Jeju Air has touted its independence and ability to make quick decisions is a key ingredient in its success. "We try to do business differently from other LCCs and full cost carriers," says Jeju Air chief executive Ken Choi.
LinkCFM hits new nine-month production recordCFM International shipped a record number of engines in the first nine months of 2017, delivering a combined 1,333 Leap and CFM56 powerplants, up from 1,326 in the same period a year earlier. Safran, a partner in the CFM joint venture with GE Aviation, says the ramp-up on the Leap programme has continued "as planned"; it is maintaining its target of 450 deliveries this year.
LinkAfter first flight, Airbus must deliver on A330neo promisesAmid the celebrations about another successful Airbus first flight, there was a large, but unmentioned, elephant formating with the A330neo as it swooped over Toulouse. For despite the apparently smooth maiden sortie, the reality is that flight testing should have been nearing completion right now, rather than just beginning.
LinkElderly 767 could offer a mid-market solutionSomething seems wrong with this scenario: an aircraft introduced nearly 30 years ago in a market segment now teeming with new technology could still make a comeback with the same engines and metal wing despite a nearly four-year break in production. But that situation describes the unlikely status of the Boeing 767-300ER and the paradox that now lies at the heart of the small widebody market.
LinkChina to take first 737 Max 'imminently'Boeing has confirmed that its 737 Max has received certification for entry and operations in China, and that first deliveries will soon take place. This follows a bilateral airworthiness agreement signed between China and the US earlier this month.
LinkLockheed struggles with F-35 sustainmentThe Defense Department plans to ramp up production of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter despite serious sustainment issues that have drawn out repair times and grounded jets, according to a recent government watchdog report. Jets could not fly 22% of the time between January and August in 2017 due to spare parts shortages, according to a Government Accountability Office report released this week. Depot repairs are six years behind schedule, precipitating an average parts repair time of 172 days, twice the programme’s objective. Parts procurement takes two to three years, including a lengthy contracting period followed by additional time to produce parts.
LinkEmbraer warns of production dip in 2018 ‘transition year’Embraer is viewing 2018 as a “transition year” in which commercial aircraft deliveries and production will dip as the E190-E2 achieves entry-into-service (EIS) and the Brazilian manufacturer contends with the “learning curve” of a new aircraft rolling off the assembly line. The outlook was presented to investors as Embraer released results for the 2017 third quarter, for which the company posted a net profit of $111.3 million, reversing a $32.5 million net loss in the 2016 September quarter.
LinkIAG reports strong 3Q on high operating profitInternational Airlines Group (IAG) has reported what it described as a strong third quarter, despite disruptions caused by weather and terrorism during the period. Net profit before exceptional items was €1.2 billion ($1.33 billion), up 18.1% on €970 million for the year-ago period. Net profit after exceptionals was €1 billion, compared to €930 million last time.
LinkFinnair’s growth strategy shows renewed benefitsFinnair reported a 2017 third-quarter net income of €93.6 million ($109.3 million), up 6.8% compared to net profit of €87.6 million a year ago as the Finnish national carrier continues expansion plans based on the strong quarterly performance.
LinkAeromexico 3Q profit halves on leasing, fuel costs, earthquake impactGrupo Aeromexico posted a MXP339 million ($18.6 million) net profit for the third quarter of 2017, down 49% from net income of MXP665 million in 3Q 2016.
LinkSpirit 3Q profit falls 26% on storms, pilot slowdownsFort Lauderdale-based ultra LCC Spirit Airlines posted a $60.2 million net profit for the 2017 third quarter, a 26% decline from $81.4 million in 3Q 2016. The airline said the results were attributable to the financial and operational impact from the August-September hurricanes, combined with “revenue overhang” from Spirit pilot work slowdown actions earlier in the year.
LinkSouth African Airways to receive financial supportThe South African government has confirmed that national carrier South African Airways (SAA) will receive recapitalization totaling ZAR10 billion ($700 million) in the 2017-18 financial year. Delivering the government’s Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) Oct. 25, finance minister Malusi Gigaba said that ZAR5.2 billion had already been provided, with the remaining ZAR4.8 billion to be transferred by March 31, 2018.
LinkSouthwest mulls inter-island Hawaii flightsSouthwest Airlines is giving “serious consideration” to operating inter-island flights in Hawaii, chairman and CEO Gary Kelly said.
LinkLuxair eyes future fleet in 2018Luxembourg’s national carrier Luxair will launch a fleet development study in 2018 as it considers its future shape. The airline operates a route network covering much of Europe, using a combination of Boeing 737s (four -700s and two -800s) plus 11 Bombardier Q400 turboprops for regional services.
LinkAir Mauritius CEO: Vanilla Alliance needs leadershipAir Mauritius CEO Somaskaran Appavou believes the Vanilla Alliance, which was established in 2015 by the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) airlines, needs a carrier to take the lead to move it forward.
LinkRussian passenger traffic up 19.7% in January-SeptemberRussian airlines carried 81 million passengers in the first nine months of 2017, up 19.7% year-over-year (YOY). International traffic grew 36.5% to 33 million; domestic traffic was up 10.4% to 48 million. Load factor increased 1.9 points YOY to 84%. Cargo and post traffic grew 19.5% to 819,105 tonnes.
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