NewsEasyJet opens Bordeaux Airport baseUK LCC easyJet has opened its 30th base, at France’s Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport in the south west of the country, underlining the importance of France, its largest market in Europe. The carrier began flying from London Luton to Bordeaux in 2006 and has carried 10 million passengers to and from the airport since. It now has a market share of nearly 30% at the airport, easyJet said.
LinkFinnair brings in capacity supportFinnair has contracted two northern European airlines to provide additional capacity over coming months. The Finnish flag-carrier is leasing an Airbus A320 from Lithuanian airline GetJet from summer 2018 to early 2019, to support the growth in Finnair’s traffic. It is also bringing in a Boeing 737-700 from Danish charter and ACMI specialist Jet Time between Mar. 25 and June 7, to cover for changes to the maintenance schedules of Finnair’s own fleet over that period.
LinkKorea gives go ahead for Korean-Delta JVSouth Korean authorities have approved a joint venture (JV) between Korean Air and Delta Air Lines, clearing the way for an expanded partnership of the two SkyTeam alliance carriers, but approval comes with some restrictions.
LinkANA Group: LCCs Peach, Vanilla to retain respective hubsJapan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) Group has confirmed it will retain the main hub operations of both its LCC subsidiaries Peach Aviation and Vanilla Air after the airlines are merged.
LinkFinnair to accelerate A350 deliveriesFinnair is speeding up the arrival of two of its remaining Airbus A350s to support its continued growth push toward Asia. Speaking following a recent general meeting, Finnair CEO Pekka Vauramo said the airline’s Asian strategy—which has been accelerated over recent years—“has been the right choice.”
LinkLaudaMotion, Ryanair outline joint operations New Austrian carrier LaudaMotion and Irish LCC Ryanair have outlined details about their new partnership, which was announced March 20.
LinkObligation driving Aer Lingus membership in transatlantic JVAer Lingus is slowly moving towards joining the transatlantic joint venture with British Airways, a step that it was "obligated" to take when it was purchased by International Airlines Group (IAG). Terms of the Dublin-based carrier's membership are finalised and it is applying the necessary antitrust approvals to join the immunized partnership with American Airlines, BA, Iberia and Finnair, says Stephen Kavanagh, chief executive of Aer Lingus, at a Wings Club luncheon in New York on 29 March.
LinkLufthansa Group eyes new Asia-Pacific routesLufthansa Group is looking to add more capacity into Asia-Pacific as demand for air travel grows in the region. "We are focusing on the development in Asia-Pacific. China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India will be the main drivers for growth," Lufthansa's vice-president of sales for Asia and Pacific Dieter Vranckx tells FlightGlobal.
LinkBOC Aviation orders six Boeing 787-9sLessor BOC Aviation has signed a purchase agreement with Boeing for six 787-9s, in a deal valued at $1.69 billion at list prices. The company says in a stock exchange disclosure that the aircraft are expected to be delivered in 2018 and 2019.
LinkNew Delhi to sell 76% stake in Air IndiaThe Indian government has decided to sell a 76% stake in Air India under the carrier's privatization program. A preliminary information memorandum shows that Air India, Air India Express and a 50% stake in Air India SATS Airport Services will be sold as a combined entity.
LinkBoeing Defense reorganizes by adding two new divisions and eliminating another Boeing plans to launch two new divisions within its Defense, Space & Security business starting next week – a Commercial Derivative Aircraft division, and a Missile and Weapon Systems division – as part of an ongoing reorganization effort by the business unit’s chief executive, Leanne Caret.
LinkMelrose wins shareholder support for GKN takeoverGKN shareholders have voted to accept a takeover bid by turnaround specialist Melrose Industries. Melrose says that 52.43% of GKN shareholders had voted in favour of its revised offer – which valued the UK aerostructure specialist at £8.1 billion ($11.4 billion) – when a deadline expired earlier today.
LinkRolls-Royce to update Trent 7000 parts in wake of Trent 1000 issuesRolls-Royce expects the Trent 7000 engines powering the in-development Airbus A330neo to require modification as a result of the technical issues seen on Trent 1000s. The Trent 7000 – set to enter service in mid-2018 as the sole engine available for the A330neo – is derived from the Trent 1000, an option on the 787.
LinkBoeing suffers "limited" malware intrusionA malware attack struck Boeing computers on 28 March, but the company insists the impact is contained. “Our cybersecurity operations center detected a limited intrusion of malware that affected a small number of systems,” Boeing says.
LinkANA signs bizjet partnerships with Sojitz and Honda AircraftANA Holdings will establish a new business jet operation in partnership with Sojitz, while also signing a separate support deal with Honda Aircraft. Tokyo-headquartered ANA Business Jet will be established during the northern summer, and be 51% owned by ANA with the remainder held by Sojitz.
Link Brimstone deal to support MBDA sales offensiveMBDA has received a long-term contract from the UK Ministry of Defense that will extend the production and sustainment of its improved Brimstone air-to-surface missile into the 2030s. Announced on 27 March and valued at £400 million ($563 million), the capability sustainment program deal will provide weapons for the Royal Air Force's Eurofighter Typhoons, and potentially also equip rotorcraft and unmanned air vehicles.
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