NewsRetirement of KLM Fokker ends era that began in 1921The retirement of KLM Cityhopper's last Fokker 70, after final flights on 28 October, marks the end of an era in Dutch aviation history. It was all the way back in April 1921 that KLM put its first Fokker into service, using the aircraft to recommence operations after a winter hiatus.
LinkArgentina's Flybondi unveils first 737Argentina's low-cost start-up Flybondi has unveiled its first Boeing 737-800, which is expected to arrive in the South American country in the second half of November. The aircraft is being leased from SMBC Aviation Capital, and is configured with 189 seats in a single class. Flybondi says the aircraft is in Singapore and will soon depart for Argentina.
LinkAmerican to say adios to MD-80s in 2019American Airlines has set 2019 as the year it will retire its Boeing MD-80 fleet, replacing the venerable rear-engined aircraft with modern Boeing models. While the MD-80 lacks the storied history and iconic shape of the likes of the retiring Boeing 747, it was a workhorse of American and other US carriers' domestic fleets from the 1980s through the early 2000s making it an everyday sight at airports around the country.
LinkBA resolves mixed-fleet pay disputeBritish Airways flight attendants employed under the carrier's mixed-fleet contract have accepted a proposed pay deal, ending a long-running dispute. The Unite union says 84% of mixed-fleet cabin crew members voted to back an agreement previously reached with the airline.
LinkSkyWork to resume flights 'soon'Swiss regional carrier SkyWork Airlines has highlighted its preparations to restart operations. The Berne-based airline says it will "soon" ready documentation intended to show Switzerland's Federal Office of Civil Aviation that it has sufficient financial resources to operate winter's schedule and next summer's.
LinkAmerican orders 10 E175sAmerican Airlines has placed a firm order for 10 Embraer 175 jets, the Brazilian manufacturer has disclosed. The Fort Worth-based carrier is exercising its purchase rights from a 2013 contract with Embraer. The 10-jet order, additional to one placed in April for four aircraft, has a list-price value of $457 million.
LinkExtra security measures add to cost burden: AAPAGovernments need to cooperate more closely with the industry when developing aviation security measures, following a year where various countries implemented new security rules unilaterally, adding heavily to security costs. Security measures should be risk-based, outcome-focused and proportionate to the probable threat, and not about the elimination of every conceivable risk, says Andrew Herdman, director general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA).
LinkRyanair holds profit forecast ahead of second-half slowdownRyanair has turned in a half-year net profit of €1.29 billion ($1.5 billion), up 11% on the previous interim figure, but is leaving its full-year forecast unchanged.
The airline achieved an 11% increase in passenger numbers in the six months to 30 September, partly the result of a strong Easter holiday period, but expects to cut growth in the second half to just 4% as a result of its cockpit crew scheduling crisis.
LinkQatar agrees to take four previously-cancelled A350sQatar Airways has agreed to pick up four finished Airbus A350-900s, four months after the Middle Eastern carrier cancelled delivery of the aircraft. Airbus says the airline has agreed to "continue to take delivery" of the four associated aircraft by the end of the year.
LinkAirbus facing separate US-focused regulatory probeAirbus has disclosed that it is facing a separate probe into business irregularities, centred on US regulatory compliance on defence contracts. The airframer had already been dealing with investigations from the UK's Serious Fraud office and a related probe involving the French Parquet National Financier.
LinkAirbus reports inaccuracies in US arms export filingsAirbus has alerted US authorities about “certain inaccuracies” made in filings with the US State Department that cover commissions and political contributions in international arms exports. The disclosure comes amidst an ongoing investigation by the UK Serious Fraud Office and France’s Parquet National Financier over allegations of improper use of third-party consultants by Airbus in commercial aircraft deals.
LinkAirbus details latest charge against delayed A400MAirbus incurred a fresh charge of €80 million ($93 million) against its A400M programme in the third quarter of this year, as the company remains in discussion with its European customers over delays to the tactical transport. Detailed on 31 October, the new sum – which Airbus says is linked to "the production adjustment and liquidated damages incurred", takes the company's total charges taken against the A400M this year to €150 million.
LinkUK extends support helicopter training dealThe UK Ministry of Defence has signed an eight-year contract extension to its long-standing support helicopter synthetic training deal with CAE, ensuring training continuity until at least October 2025. Announced on 24 October, the deal, worth more than £90 million ($119 million), will continue the work performed at the Medium Support Helicopter Aircrew Training Facility (MSHATF), at the Royal Air Force's Benson base in Oxfordshire. This has been in use since 1997, under a potentially 40-year private finance initiative arrangement between the MoD and CAE.
LinkUSAF estimates F-22 updates could cost $1.7 billionThe US Air Force estimates it would cost more than $1.7 billion over 11 years to upgrade 34 Lockheed Martin F-22s from a training configuration to a fully modernised, operational status, according to a USAF report sent to Congress. The August report, recently obtained by FlightGlobal, outlines the estimated cost and schedule to bring 31 Block 20 Raptors supporting pilot training and another three Block 20 aircraft supporting flight test to the combat-coded Block 30/35 configuration.
LinkBelgian industry pact key to Eurofighter sales campaignBAE Systems has stepped up its campaign to sell Typhoon combat aircraft to Belgium, with the company and its Eurofighter consortium partners pledging to establish new innovation centres with local industry if the type is selected to replace Brussels' Lockheed Martin F-16s.
LinkSlovakia receives first C-27J SpartanSlovakia has received the first of two Leonardo Aircraft C-27J Spartan medium transports, with the initial aircraft arriving in Kuchyni on 24 October. It was ceremonially handed over the country's air force on 31 October.
LinkSupersonic test keeps Gripen E on targetSaab's Gripen E remains on track for delivery to the Swedish and Brazilian air forces from 2019, with the Swedish company's first prototype having recently passed a significant performance milestone. Aircraft 39-8 was flown at supersonic speed for the first time on 18 October, with test pilot Marcus Wandt describing its performance as "very smooth" during a sortie flown over the Baltic Sea. "The aircraft sustained supersonic speed for a number of minutes, whilst carrying out manoeuvres," the company says.
LinkThird quarter deliveriesGulfstream delivered 30 business jets during the third quarter, one more unit than the same period last year, and is on track to hand over 120 aircraft in 2017 – a modest increase on the previous 12 months, driven by an increasingly active market.
LinkAirbus looks to 700 deliveries by year-end; A320neos to fall shortAirbus Commercial Aircraft recorded an EBIT (adjusted) of €591 million ($697.4 million) in the third quarter of 2017, up 4.2% compared to €567 million in 3Q 2016.
LinkSkyWest: 3Q profit, revenue up on fleet transitionSkyWest Inc., parent of regional carriers SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet Airlines, again cited the company’s ongoing fleet transition as the primary source of improved revenue and profits, posting $53.7 million in net profit for the 2017 third quarter, up 30% from $41.3 million in 3Q 2016.
LinkChina’s big three reports 3Q profits up on market demand growth China’s big three carriers—Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines—have all reported third-quarter profit increases as a result of continuous market demand growth.
LinkRussia’s UTair Aviation rebrands to ‘Utair’Russia’s Utair Aviation unveiled a new corporate identity on a Boeing 737-800 at Moscow Vnukovo Airport Oct. 31. The new design, which features a lower-cased “t” in Utair, was developed by Friends Moscow agency. Utair plans to rebrand the whole fleet before the end of 2018, in addition to its website, mobile app and crew uniform.
LinkLOT to take first leased 737 MAX 8 in DecemberLOT Polish Airlines expects to receive its first leased Boeing 737 MAX 8 in early December and launch scheduled services on the Warsaw-London Heathrow route in the same month. In October 2016, LOT agreed to lease up to 11 737 MAX 8s from US lessor Air Lease Corp. for delivery from 2017-2020.
LinkHong Kong Express names new presidentHNA Group LCC Hong Kong Express has named a senior executive from its sister carrier Hong Kong Airlines as its new president. Li Dianchun took over the new role Oct. 31.
LinkGermania expands Berlin operationsBerlin-based Germania will expand operations in Berlin by 400%, responding to market changes and a greater presence at Berlin’s Tegel and Schönefeld airports, Germania COO Clauspeter Schwarz said in a statement. ATW understands Germania is using this window of opportunity following airberlin’s insolvency to fill a void in the German air travel market. The carrier ceased operations Oct. 27.
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