NewsChina's Okay firms up order for five 787-9sChinese carrier Okay Airways has finalised an order for five Boeing 787-9s. The agreement, which was first announced as a memorandum of understanding at the Paris air show earlier this year, is valued at $1.4 billion at list prices.
LinkUK restates intent to review airline insolvency laws post-Monarch The UK government has reiterated its intention to review the regulations governing airline insolvencies in the wake of the collapse of Monarch Airlines. In its autumn budget, the Treasury says it plans to appoint an "independent chair" to review "consumer protection in the event of an airline or travel company failure".
LinkRyanair programmes 18 new routes for Italian summer schedule Ryanair will add 18 routes to its Italian summer schedule next year, including 13 from airports serving Milan. The budget carrier says it will operate from Bergamo to Burgas, Frankfurt, Lappeenranta, Plovdiv, Poznan, Tangier and Tel Aviv, and plans to base an additional aircraft at the northern Italian gateway. Ryanair also intends to extend its connecting product at Bergamo such that the number of routes available increases by 31 to 131.
LinkThai Lion Air receives first widebody aircraftThai Lion Air has received its first widebody, an Airbus A330-300. The aircraft is configured with 392 seats, each equipped with an in-flight entertainment system, in two classes, says the low-cost carrier's 49% shareholder Lion Air Group.
LinkBig challenge lies ahead after A350-1000's certification One thousand. It's a number which has literary and poetic power – the symbolism of the beginning of a new cycle – and whose digits resemble, fortuitously, the wheels of a triple-axle main landing-gear. Some of which might have been deliberately considered when Airbus picked the name of its largest twinjet.
LinkUK government must give industry Brexit clarityFor all its corporate reshaping, Airbus is still a highly political animal, and remains attuned to the winds blowing from Berlin and Paris. With that in mind, there can be little question that Katherine Bennett, the head of its UK operation, knew exactly what she was saying when she warned parliamentarians that Brexit risked jeopardising the future of its wing production in the country.
LinkBoeing starts assembling first Max 7Boeing has started final assembly of the third and smallest variant in the re-engined 737 Max family. The first Max 7 flight-test aircraft is now loaded into a final-assembly position inside Boeing's single-aisle production centre in Renton, Washington, the airframer confirmed in a Twitter posting on 22 November.
LinkMC-21 wing box passes latest flight-load testFurther stress testing of the Irkut MC-21 wing box has indicted that the structure will be able to withstand maximum flight loads. Irkut had stated earlier this year that it would need to reinforce the MC-21's wing box because, despite coming close to passing a destructive test, it had not achieved the strength threshold required.
LinkIndian air force test fires air-launched Brahmos missileThe Indian air force test-fired the Mach 2.8 Brahmos cruise missile from an aircraft for the first time on 22 November, moving the anti-ship and land attack capability a step closer to operational use. The test firing announced by India’s Ministry of Defence comes almost 17 months after the air force first flew with Brahmos on board the Sukhoi Su-30MKI in a captive carry test.
LinkCH-53K helicopter to make international debut at ILA Berlin showSikorsky has confirmed that the CH-53K King Stallion will make its air show debut at next year's ILA Berlin event, as the airframer pursues a lucrative export contract with Germany. The manufacturer had previously expressed an ambition to take the new heavy-lift helicopter to the biennial exhibition, but has now been given the go-ahead by the US Marine Corps, Sikorsky's domestic customer for the CH-53K.
LinkEasyJet sees airberlin payoff in 2019UK LCC easyJet, which is taking on aircraft and slots at Berlin Tegel Airport from bankrupt German carrier airberlin, will spend 2018 stabilizing the operation before reaping the initial benefits in 2019.
LinkArab airlines issue resolutions on European competition, global securityArab carriers have joined forces in calling on the European Commission (EC) to respect state sovereignty and prioritize passenger interests as it looks to repeal and replace legislation on airline fair competition. The Arab Air Carriers’ Organization (AACO) adopted a resolution at the close of its AGM in Sharjah Nov. 21 that calls on the EC to take into account five principles of unilateral air transport regulations. These include respecting the sovereignty of other states; not being used as a “pressure tool” to put the interests of one state over another; prioritizing passenger interests; not developing protective measures that promote one party’s competitive position over another; and not becoming a source of disputes with other countries.
LinkDOT cancels AOC for Eastern Air LinesThe Department of Transportation (DOT) has canceled Eastern Air Lines’ air operator’s certificate (AOC), thus bringing to close a long-running—and some say, quixotic—attempt to revive a name storied in aviation history.
LinkLinkAirlines ask Malaysia to drop proposed advanced screening feesAirline industry groups are urging the Malaysian government not to adopt proposals to charge passengers to cover the cost of advance security screening.
LinkAlitalia administration figures show modest lossInsolvent Italian flag carrier Alitalia made a net loss of €31.3 million ($36.9 million) for the bulk of the period in which it has operated in under bankruptcy protection this year, it was announced Nov. 22.
LinkBerlin Brandenburg Airport board to discuss opening dateBerlin Brandenburg International Airport’s (BER) supervisory board will discuss a new startup date for the airport’s much-delayed opening at an extraordinary meeting Dec. 15. Secretary of State Rainer Bretschneider, chairman of the supervisory board, said the primary goal “remains the fastest and smoothest possible commissioning of BER.”
LinkWizz Air launches major expansion at London LutonCentral European LCC Wizz Air plans to increase its presence at London Luton Airport substantially, following a steady rise in the number of passengers using its services from the facility. London Luton, situated around 35 miles north of the capital, is primarily used by LCCs and charter operators.
LinkLufthansa expands 747 use on Frankfurt-Berlin routeLufthansa will expand Boeing 747-400 operations between Frankfurt and Berlin Tegel airports, citing high demand on the domestic route since the closure of bankrupt airberlin. On Nov. 1, Lufthansa launched 747-400 operations and will add 28 747 flights to Berlin in the first three weeks of December.
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