NewsScoot 787 door ripped off at ChangiA Scoot Boeing 787-8 had its left-front door ripped from the airframe during preparation for routine maintenance at Singapore Changi airport on 7 January. "During preparation for routine maintenance, a door on a Scoot 787 aircraft sustained some damage and is currently undergoing recovery. No passengers were involved and no injuries were sustained while an investigation has been convened," says Scoot in a statement to FlightGlobal. "Consequently, we do not expect major disruption to our operating network."
LinkRivals Emirates and Etihad tie up over aviation securityMiddle Eastern rival carriers Emirates and Etihad Airways are entering a co-operation pact covering aviation security matters. The agreement, signed in Dubai between Emirates Group and Etihad Aviation Group, takes the form of a memorandum of understanding intended to take advantage of synergies between the two United Arab Emirates companies.
LinkCrashed ATR hit trees less than 500m from runwayCanadian investigators have disclosed that a West Wind Aviation ATR 42-300 struck trees just 1,400ft (430m) off the end of its departure runway during an ill-fated flight in Saskatchewan. The aircraft had been taking off from Fond du Lac airport for Stony Rapids, with 22 passengers and three crew members, on 13 December.
LinkTecnam flies second P2012 TravellerTecnam’s top-of-the-range P2012 Traveller took another step towards certification on 22 December, when the Italian airframer's second flying prototype joined the test campaign. Equipped with seating for nine passengers and a Garmin G1000NXi flightdeck, the production-conforming piston-twin is described by the company as the “template” for all P2012 customer aircraft.
LinkEngine arrival signals China's supply chain progressBy rolling out the first locally designed high-bypass turbofan on 29 December, China joined one of the most exclusive clubs in the global aerospace industry. Only four countries – Japan, Russia, the UK and the USA – have high-bypass turbofan engines in production. In four or five years, China’s CJ-1000A engine for the Comac C919 is expected to join them.
LinkSecretive new Kratos UAS enters productionA new jet-powered unmanned air system developed by Kratos Unmanned Systems Division (USD) will enter production under a $23 million contract awarded by an unidentified customer, the California-based company announced on 8 January. Most of the work under the contract will be completed within a year, but Kratos expects “multiple years of additional production” of the new UAS, the company says.
LinkUS carriers file for new Havana frequenciesSeveral US carriers have filed a flurry of documents with the Department of Transportation (DOT), vying for newly available frequencies to Havana, Cuba.
LinkAlitalia to select bidder soonAlitalia’s special administrators are set to choose the successful bidder with whom they want to begin exclusive negotiations about the bankrupt airline’s future within days, Italy’s economic development minister said.
LinkEL Al to end UP budget brand; names new CEOEl Al Israel Airlines has confirmed it will discontinue its UP budget brand as the company revises its European market business to implement a new economy fare-structure system on European El Al mainline flights. The new product sale to Europe will launch April 30 on departing flights from Oct. 15.
LinkExtreme cold causes weekend delays, cancellations at New York JFKNew York JFK International Airport experienced a cascade of operational calamities in terminals 1 and 4 over the weekend, as it struggled to deal with extremely cold weather and a water main break that caused extensive flooding, flight delays and cancellations. According to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PATH)—which operates NY JFK as well as Newark Liberty (EWR) and LaGuardia (LGA) airports—at approximately 2 p.m. EST Sunday, Jan. 7, a water pipe that feeds Terminal 4’s sprinkler system broke, causing water to flood the T4 passenger arrivals hall. Social media images depicted piles of luggage surrounded by water, as well as passengers walking through the ankle-deep deluge.
LinkLufthansa trials service innovations on A380 FlyingLabLufthansa has trialed a series of innovations aboard an Airbus A380 FlyingLab flight from Frankfurt to Houston following a futuristic travel experience competition—aimed at young developers—which was jointly run by Lufthansa and Deutsche Telekom. “The challenge helps us expand our pool of ideas and gain valuable outside impetus: We can find out what our passengers really want on board. It brings us even closer to the flight experience of tomorrow,” Lufthansa head of Frankfurt cabin crew Kai Duve said.
LinkLATAM predicts surge in international, Brazilian, SSC capacity in 2018Santiago-based LATAM Airlines Group plans to revive domestic capacity growth in its Spanish-speaking country (SSC) affiliates in 2018, projecting a 6%-8% rise in ASK growth for the sector following a [0%] halt in capacity growth during 2017. The company made its projections in preliminary guidance for 2018 released Jan. 5. The South American airline group—which comprises LATAM Airlines and its affiliates in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and LATAM Cargo—estimates the group will see 5%-7% company-wide capacity growth for full-year 2018, up significantly over the 1% capacity growth the company maintained in 2017.
LinkIcelandair rolls out new structureIcelandair Group has simplified its organizational structure, dividing the company into two areas: international flight operations and equity investments.
LinkSouthwest to build new maintenance hangar at Houston Hobby airportSouthwest Airlines is moving forward with plans to build a new 240,000-square-foot maintenance hangar at Houston's William P. Hobby Airport. Construction is slated to begin in the spring and will be finished in the fourth quarter of 2019.
LinkJetBlue Airways adds Syracuse, N.Y.-Boston serviceJetBlue Airways has grown its presence at New York's Syracuse Hancock International Airport by adding daily service to Boston. The carrier already links the airport to New York City; Orlando, Fla.; and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
LinkSouthwest, American Airlines pleased with Boeing's 737 Max 8Southwest Airlines and American Airlines are pleased with the early performance of their Boeing 737 Max 8 passenger jets. Southwest officials say the aircraft is performing as expected and is 14% more fuel efficient than Boeing's 737-800s.
LinkTSA screened a record 42M travelers over the holiday seasonTransportation Security Administration officers screened a record 42,043,588 passengers and 30,611,408 checked bags from Dec. 15 through Jan. 2. The agency reported that 97% of passengers waited in checkpoint lines for less than 20 minutes.
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