NewsEmirates tentatively signs for up to 36 A380sAirbus has secured a crucial preliminary agreement from Middle Eastern carrier Emirates to supply up to 36 more A380s. It covers 20 potentially firm aircraft and options on another 16. Deliveries would commence in 2020.
LinkUnited to introduce premium economy cabin in 2018United Airlines will join its competitors in offering a premium economy cabin on certain aircraft beginning this year. The Chicago-based carrier will offer the new United Premium Plus cabin on "select international flights" from later in 2018, it says in an employee newsletter today.
LinkAmerican cites integration in 52 route growth spurtAmerican Airlines is adding 52 new routes and adding its Chicago-New York flights to its shuttle operation this year, in what it claims is its first truly integrated schedule. "For the first time we can really start thinking about how we plan a single airline and not worry about the next integration milestone," says Vasu Raja, vice-president of network and schedule planning at the Oneworld Alliance carrier, referring to American's integration with US Airways since their December 2013 merger.
LinkHong Kong Airlines gets aggressive on long-haulHong Kong Airlines is pushing ahead with its long-haul ambitions and targeting to launch non-stop services to San Francisco, New York, and London this year. This follows the launch of its daily Hong Kong-Los Angeles service last December, operated using Airbus A350-900s.
LinkFreighter conversions up 7% in 2017 on 767 strengthFreighter conversions rose by 7% to 91 aircraft during 2017, with widebody conversions jumping to their highest level in five years. Widebody conversions rose by more than 50% to 28 aircraft during the year. Of these, 24 were Boeing 767-300s, with demand driven by Amazon's Prime Air unit, which received 16 converted 767s – five -300ER BCFs, and 11 300ERSFs.
LinkRyanair’s UK pilot bases vote to accept pay increasesRyanair said all 15 of its UK pilot bases had voted in secret ballot to accept pay increases of up to 20%, including London Stansted Airport, which had previously rejected the offer of improved pay, with the increases to be paid in its January payroll.
LinkRoyal Jordanian adopts enhanced security measures on US-bound flightsRoyal Jordanian has implemented additional security measures on flights to the US, from Jan. 18. The additional measures—which include interviews with every passenger at check-in or the boarding gate—apply to all international airlines operating direct flights to the US, and include all nationalities flying to the US, with no exception.
LinkIncheon’s new terminal to improve Korean Air connectionsThe opening of a new terminal complex at Seoul’s Incheon International Airport is expected to dramatically improve Korean Air’s connections with prospective partner Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines and other SkyTeam members.
LinkLufthansa implements ‘SmartDepart’ fast lanes in MunichLufthansa has introduced “SmartDepart” gates in Munich Airport to expedite passengers flying to Düsseldorf, Berlin/Tegel, Frankfurt and Hamburg, avoiding long waits before takeoff. The Munich SmartDepart Fast Lane project—which Lufthansa began trialing in July 2017—was originally planned to begin at the end of October 2017.
LinkHawaiian Airlines and Jetstar Group launch interline partnershipHawaiian Airlines and Jetstar Group have initiated an interline partnership that makes it easy for JetStar travelers from New Zealand and Japan to catch connecting flights to Hawaii and the US mainland. "We are thrilled to make our authentic brand of warm Hawaiian hospitality accessible to more New Zealand and Japanese travelers," said Peter Ingram, executive vice president and chief commercial officer for Hawaiian Airlines.
LinkClearing snow from airport runways takes planning, precisionSnow crews at Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport execute a precise snow removal plan for clearing runways between airplane landings and departures. Care must be taken to avoid damage to runway surfaces, so plows feature plastic and rubber blades and salt is forbidden, because it corrodes aircraft parts.
LinkAverage fares at Cincinnati airport, across US at new record lowsAverage fares have fallen from some of the highest in the nation at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport to the 21st lowest among the top 100 airports, with an average fare of $300.65, the airport's lowest recorded since statistics have been gathered. Leisure and business travelers are choosing to fly more frequently from the airport rather than driving to other airports as the trend in lower fares continues across the nation.
LinkAlaska Airlines to unveil new uniformsAlaska Airlines is unveiling its new uniform collection today to 2,000 of its employees. Arriving at the new look was a multiyear project focused on bringing the Virgin America and Alaska Airlines brands together.
LinkShort-term funding could delay B-21 deliveryDevelopment and delivery of the US Air Force’s B-21 stealth bomber could stall if Congress passes yet another short term funding bill that would freeze the Pentagon’s spending limit at previous fiscal year levels, a senior USAF official warns. In a speech this week on Capitol Hill, USAF undersecretary Matt Donovan cautioned against another interim funding measure called a continuing resolution, which would hold funding of the Northrop Grumman programme at fiscal year 2017 levels. That would limit the air force’s ability to execute the programme’s engineering, manufacturing and development phase, he says.
Link PC-21 makes flight debut for QinetiqPilatus conducted the first flight of a PC-21 trainer for new customer Qinetiq on 15 January, edging the single-engined turboprop towards service entry with the UK's Empire Test Pilots' School (ETPS).
LinkJakarta inches closer to Su-35 orderJakarta could finalise its order for 11 Sukhoi Su-35 fighters in the coming months. In an interview with Indoneisan television, the nation's new air force chief of staff Yuyu Sutisna says that concluding the long-awaited acquisition is "something on our plate" and could be formalised in the coming months.
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