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IATA predicts airline profits to rise again in 2019
Supported by strong demand for travel and a decline in fuel costs, IATA expects airline industry profits to rise again in 2019 following a dip this year.
“Globally we still see robust, slower [air travel] growth in 2019,” IATA chief economist Brian Pearce said at the organization’s annual media day Dec. 12.
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Mitsubishi's aircraft engine shop assembles first PW1200G
Mitsubishi Aircraft's Japan-based engine-manufacturing affiliate has completed its first assembly of a Pratt & Whitney PW1200G turbofan, another milestone along Mitsubishi Aircraft's journey toward beginning full-scale MRJ production.
The engine, assembled by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Aero Engines (MHIAEL) in a facility outside Nagoya, has since passed P&W's production acceptance examination and will now enter the MRJ flight-testing programme, says P&W in a media release.
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Rolls-Royce admits Trent 1000 disruption still 'high'
Rolls-Royce admits that the number of Trent 1000-powered Boeing 787s remaining on the ground as a result of regulatory maintenance demands is still “high”, in spite of its rectification efforts.
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ANALYSIS: Asia-Pacific November 2018 deliveries report
Airlines in the Asia-Pacific took 88 of the 177 commercial airliners delivered in November 2018, well ahead of European airlines, which took 35.
So far, November was the year’s biggest month for deliveries, surpassing the 175 deliveries in June, according to Flight Fleets Analyzer. Following Asia-Pacific’s 88 deliveries and Europe’s 35 were North America with 27, the Middle East with 13, Latin America with 11, and Africa with three.
LinkAirlines
Avianca Brazil files for bankruptcy; judge halts aircraft repossession
Avianca Brazil reportedly filed for bankruptcy protection Dec. 11, stemming from a potential repossession of 21% of its leased fleet.
On Dec. 10, US-based lessor Aircastle issued an SEC filing that it had terminated the lease and had begun repossession processes for 10 Airbus A320-200s and one A330-200 operated by Avianca Brazil.
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Munoz: US carriers ‘strongly opposed’ to Air Italy’s US expansion
US carriers American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are preparing a “strong retort” to Air Italy’s service additions, calling the Italian carrier’s recent and planned moves into US gateways a “clear violation” of an agreement between US and Qatari government officials, Chicago-based United Airlines’ top executive said.
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Air New Zealand, engineers reach tentative labor deal to avoid strike
Air New Zealand has reached a tentative deal with its engineers’ unions that will avert a planned pre-Christmas strike.
The agreement was achieved after three days of negotiations. Prior to this round of talks, the two unions representing engineers and other related workers had announced they would strike on Dec. 21, 22 and 23.
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Air France appoints first female CEO
Air France has appointed Anne Rigail as its new CEO, taking over from Air France-KLM Group CEO Benjamin Smith who temporarily led the French unit following the resignation of Franck Terner in September.
Air France’s board of directors approved the appointment Dec.12. Rigail, formerly EVP-customer at Air France, will assume her new role Dec. 17.
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Royal Air Maroc takes first Boeing 787-9
Moroccan carrier Royal Air Maroc (RAM) has taken delivery of its first Boeing 787-9, which will be deployed on routes such as Paris Orly, New York and Sao Paulo.
“The choice of this airplane forms part of our strategy to continuously expand and modernize our fleet, and comes just a few days after the announcement of the invitation made to Royal Air Maroc to join the highly prestigious oneworld alliance,” RAM chairman and CEO Abdelhamid Addou said.
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CEO: Hawaiian Airlines’ fleet transition plan ‘well underway’
Hawaiian Airlines said its fleet refresh is making good progress despite Airbus A321neo delivery delays earlier this year, and the carrier is already looking to the next stage when its Boeing 787 deliveries begin in 2021.
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United expands San Francisco with four new international points
United Airlines continues responding to strong demand at its San Francisco hub with international growth, planning four new routes in 2019.
The Star Alliance carrier will add daily service to Amsterdam from 30 March; three-times-weekly service to Melbourne, Australia from 29 October; daily seasonal service to New Delhi from 5 December; and twice-daily service to Toronto from 31 March, it announces today.
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PICTURES: Lufthansa A380 arrives in new colour scheme
Lufthansa has revealed the first Airbus A380 to carry the German airline’s recently-revamped aircraft livery.
The aircraft (D-AIMD) is stationed at the carrier’s Munich hub. Lufthansa has 14 A380s in its fleet, five at its Munich base.
LinkAirports
IATA: Cancellation of Mexico airport construction to cost over $5 billion
The decision by Mexico’s newly installed government—led by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador—to cancel further construction of its new international airport will cost over MXP100 billion ($5 billion), according to estimates cited by IATA.
IATA regional VP-The Americas Peter Cerda described the decision, approved by a public referendum held at the end of October, as “one of the biggest challenges for our industry.”
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Amazon Go in Airports Could Be a Traveler's Saving Grace
We all know the struggle of having too little time to grab a snack or drink before we have to board our flight, but Amazon may soon help with that.
According to Reuters, Amazon is considering placing Amazon Go stores in airports. These stores would allow travelers to scan their smartphones at a turnstile upon entering the store, grab whatever they need off the shelves – like a bottle of water or bag of chips – and then be charged automatically on their phones when they leave the store.
LinkMilitary
First flight of Sikorsky-Boeing SB-1 Defiant delayed until 2019
The Sikorsky-Boeing SB-1 Defiant’s first flight will not happen before the end of 2018, and will likely be delayed until sometime in early 2019 after “minor” problems were discovered within the aircraft’s testbed.
Until a few weeks ago, the SB-1 Defiant demonstration helicopter was on track to achieve first flight this year, says the joint Sikorsky-Boeing team. However, discovery of unnamed issues on the powertrain system test bed, which must be fixed before the aircraft takes to the skies, caused the delay.
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US Navy to buy two E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft
Northrop Grumman was awarded a $49.9 million contract by the US Navy for long-lead parts and associated support for the production of two E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft.
The aircraft are expected to be completed by December 2023 and will be funded with fiscal 2019 procurement funds, according to a Department of Defense notice online. Some 29% of the work on the aircraft will be performed in Syracuse, New York; another 29% will be performed in El Segundo, California; 14% will be done in Melbourne, Florida; 7% will be done in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, and the rest spread throughout the country.
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Aviation Quote
Are we going to lose one of these [planes] sometime? Probably. But it's like the Indy 500. Is someone going to go into the wall at Indy? Probably. Is that dangerous? Yes. Could we make it safer? Yes. But would anybody watch it, then? No.
- Kirby Chambliss, five time US National Aerobatic Champion, regards flying in the Red Bull Air Races. Flying magazine January 2006.
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Trivia
Famous Names, Famous Airports
1. Where in the world can you find Juan Santamaria International Airport?
Panama
Spain
Thailand
Costa Rica
2. In which of these Italian cities would you find an airport named after Leonardo Da Vinci?
Florence
Rome
Pisa
Venice
3. After which of these historical figures is the airport in Paris, France, named?
Charles De Gaulle
Thierry Henry
Napoleon Bonaparte
Johannes Kepler
4. In which of these U.S. cities is the William P. Hobby Airport located?
Austin
Dallas
El Paso
Houston
5. Where in the world would you find Benito Juarez International Airport?
Buenos Aires
Madrid
Montevideo
Mexico City
6. Which of these famous people has an airport in Chicago named after him?
Alexander Hamilton
Edward O'Hare
John F. Kennedy
Dwight D. Eisenhower
7. Where in the world can you find an airport named after Nikola Tesla?
Belgrade
Moscow
Belfast
New Delhi
8. Where in the world would you find the Jorge Chavez International Airport?
Bogota
Brasilia
Lima
Sucre
9. Where in the United States would you find an airport named after Fiorello La Guardia?
Newark
New York City
Atlantic City
Boston
10. In what city would I find an airport named after famous soccer player (footballer) George Best?
Rio de Janeiro
Istanbul
Belfast
Stockholm
