NewsBritish Airways refreshes cabins of Gatwick-based 777sBritish Airways (BA) has refreshed the cabins of its 10-strong Boeing 777 fleet based at London Gatwick Airport with World Traveller Plus and World Traveller seats. The World Traveller Plus cabin in the fleet’s three-class 777s will double seat capacity from 24 to 52, while the Club World cabin will be reduced from 40 to 32 seats. The World Traveller Plus cabin in the fleet’s four-class 777s will see an additional 12 seats added.
LinkRyanair: Good progress in union talks, but strike risk remainsIreland-based LCC Ryanair has reported generally good progress in its negotiations with organized labor, following its December 2017 recognition of trades unions, although the risk of industrial action from some national groups cannot yet be ruled out, the airline’s COO said in London March 7. For years, Ryanair conducted pay and conditions negotiations with representatives at its bases throughout Europe (87 currently) and had set its face against dealing with union.
LinkCEO: Air France to decide on narrowbody fleet in 2018Air France will decide on its future narrowbody fleet this year and wants to take delivery of its first new aircraft from 2021.
LinkNorwegian applies for Canadian serviceA procedural ruling by the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) has revealed that Norwegian Air has applied to serve Canada starting this summer. The CTA ruling, published March 5, gives Norwegian the green light to sell tickets flights to and from Canada before receiving all necessary Canadian government approvals.
LinkEuropean airline CEOs see further consolidation Airline CEOs attending the Airlines for Europe (A4E) Aviation Summit believe there is scope for further European consolidation, with Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary predicting that “the next downturn is imminent.”
LinkRyanair has brighter Brexit outlookIrish LCC Ryanair is more optimistic that flights between the UK and the European Union (EU) will not come to a grinding halt when the country leaves the bloc (Brexit) in March 2019. Speaking in London March 7 as he unveiled Ryanair’s new environmental policy, chief marketing officer Kenny Jacobs said progress has been made in Brexit negotiations in recent weeks.
LinkSpain reduces route charges for airspace usage In an opening address at the World ATM Congress on March 6, Spanish minister of public works Íñigo de la Serna announced that Spain will reduce the route charge airlines pay to use its airspace by 3% this year and 12% in 2019. With the reduction, Spanish air navigation service provider (ANSP) ENAIRE, a public entity attached to the ministry, will have one of the lowest route charges of major European ANSPs, according to the ministry. De la Serna estimates airlines will save €25 million ($31 million) this year and €130 million ($161 million) in 2019.
LinkNorwegian Air Argentina unveils first aircraftNorwegian Air Argentina has presented formally its first Argentina-registered Boeing 737-800 (LV-HQH) at Buenos Aires Ezeiza International airport. The aircraft was unveiled in a ceremony attended by King Harald V and Queen Sonia of Norway, Norwegian chief executive Bjørn Kjos and Norway's commerce and industry minister Torbjørn Røe.
LinkAsiana conversion erases last A350-800 orderAirbus has eliminated the A350-800 order backlog after the final customer, Korean carrier Asiana Airlines, migrated its agreement for eight of the twinjets. Asiana has converted the aircraft to eight of the larger A350-900. It has also opted to switch one of its 10 A350-1000s to a -900.
LinkAir Canada stock rises with reveal of new Hawaii serviceAir Canada shares rose Wednesday as the carrier revealed plans to use its new, fuel-efficient Boeing 737 MAX-8 fleet to offer new service to the Hawaiian island of Kauai. The carrier will also increase the frequency of its service to other Hawaiian islands.
LinkUPS names new chief operating officerUPS has promoted longtime employee Jim Barber to chief operating officer, responsible for small package, freight, supply chain and freight forwarding units and engineering. Barber started with the company in 1985 as a delivery driver and had been president of UPS International since 2013.
LinkHawaiian Airlines announces $23.8M in profit-sharing paymentsHawaiian Airlines said it distributed $23.8 million to employees as part of its profit-sharing program. Combined with bonuses, the profit-sharing was equivalent to about 5% of workers' 2017 pay.
LinkAtlas buys B777 freighter pair from LATAMUS-based aircraft lessor Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings has acquired two Boeing 777-200 freighters from LATAM Airlines, South America’s biggest cargo airline. Both aircraft will operate in ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance) service for DHL Express through Atlas’ Southern Air subsidiary, with the first starting service this month (March) and the second expected to begin service at the end of the second quarter of 2018.
LinkBrazil's senate approves Open Skies treaty with USThe Brazilian Federal Senate has approved an Open Skies agreement that would allow unlimited flights between Brazil and the US, potentially lowering airfares and clearing the way for a partnership between American Airlines and LATAM Airlines. Brazil's President Michel Temer is expected to sign the bill.
LinkUS and Brazil airline JVs to progress with senate approvalUS and Brazilian carriers are eager to move ahead with joint venture plans, following the approval of the US-Brazil open-skies deal by the Brazilian senate on 7 March. The accord, which now has to be signed into law by Brazil President Michel Temer, will pave the way for airlines in both countries to apply for US anti-trust immunity in order to launch joint ventures.
LinkSims succeeds Saretsky as chief of WestJetWestJet executive vice-president of commercial Ed Sims has succeeded Gregg Saretsky as president and chief executive of the Calgary-based airline, effective immediately. Saretsky, who has headed WestJet since 2010, will retire. "Gregg Saretsky, president and CEO, has advised the time has come for him to retire from the company. Having found his successor, he has agreed with the company that his retirement will be effective immediately," the airline says.
LinkEmbraer working 'very hard' to conclude Boeing talks: CEOEmbraer says it is working "very hard" to conclude talks with Boeing, even as the Brazilian manufacturer cautions that a deal might not even materialize. "We are working hard to have an outcome very soon," says Embraer chief executive Paulo Cesar Silva on an earnings call, adding that Embraer does not want to spend "too long" in talks on the potential tie-up.
LinkWhere does Hawaiian switch leave A330-800?It is too early to determine whether the decision by Hawaiian Airlines to ditch its A330-800 order in favor of the Boeing 787-9 is a critical moment for the Airbus twinjet, but it certainly creates some headaches for Toulouse.
LinkEmbraer to deliver five to 10 E190-E2s this yearEmbraer expects to deliver between five and 10 E190-E2s in 2018, refining its delivery target for the recently certified aircraft. The manufacturer had earlier said that E190-E2s will form about 10% of its expected commercial aircraft deliveries this year.
LinkEmbraer reports slight rise in 2017 defense revenueRevenue generated from Embraer’s defense and security division rose 1.9% to $951 million in 2017. The increase in defense-related sales for the Brazilian airframer came as the firm posted declining revenue from its commercial aircraft and executive jet divisions. The company generated $5.84 billion in revenue in 2017, a 6.1% drop from when it generated $6.22 billion in 2016. It reported an operating profit of $329 million last year, and an operating margin of 5.6%.
LinkBrexit throws Anglo-French FCAS program into doubtA three-year-old Anglo-French bid to define the future of unmanned combat aircraft looks to be falling foul of Brexit, as “political and budgetary uncertainty” in London have left the launch of a demonstrator program in doubt. Dassault Aviation chief executive Éric Trappier says the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program is now just “marking time”.
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