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Analysts: Late MAX deliveries will increase European overcapacity in 2020
European airlines face a worsening capacity glut in 2020 as narrowbody deliveries, already approaching record numbers, are boosted by late deliveries of Boeing 737 MAXs, analysts warn. “The flood of planes is in full swing in Europe as narrowbody deliveries are set to reach record highs in 2020,” Bernstein Research analyst Daniel Roeska wrote in a July 1 report. European airlines are scheduled to take delivery of about 300 narrowbodies this year, rising to 400 in 2020.
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Belgium extends 737 MAX operations ban to end of 2019
The Belgian CAA has issued a NOTAM (notice to airmen), prohibiting Boeing 737-8 MAX and Boeing 737-9 MAX operations in the country’s airspace until the end of 2019. The NOTAM, which took effect on June 27 and remains in force until 2359 EST on December 30, is essentially an administrative procedure so that the Belgian CAA does not have to keep re-issuing NOTAMs until the MAX is recertified, which now seems unlikely before September.
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Airbus stops publishing aircraft list-price data
Airbus’s new commercial chief Christian Scherer has dropped the long-held policy of publishing catalogue prices for its product line due to their relative irrelevance to real-world deal values.
The European manufacturer, like its US counterpart Boeing, has traditionally provided annually the pricing range for each of its current types by variant. Although Boeing has published its 2019 data, Airbus decided not to.
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Sabena Technics wins 787 C-check deal from Air Europa
Air Europa has selected Sabena Technics to complete C-checks on two of the Spanish carrier's Boeing 787s later this year.
Sabena Technics says the aircraft will be serviced at its Bordeaux facility.
LinkAirlines
American Airlines gives up Chicago-China frequencies
American Airlines has returned 14 weekly frequencies it used for flights between Chicago and both Beijing and Shanghai, citing an inability to restart the economically challenging services “in the near future” after suspending them last year. “American is unable to resume its two services in the near future,” the airline told the US Department of Transportation (DOT) in a June 28 filing.
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EVA Air cabin crew strike continues as talks reach impasse
The strike by Taiwan’s EVA Air cabin crews continued into the 11th day July 1 after a tentative agreement collapsed when the airline refused to withdraw potential punitive measures against the striking employees.
The Taoyuan Flight Attendants Union voted June 29 to accept the airline’s initial offers, but the following day negotiations reached an impasse over the retaliatory measures.
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Turkish Airlines takes first 787-9 as fleet, routes expand
Turkish Airlines took delivery of the first of 25 Boeing 787-9s the Istanbul-based carrier has on order. The Star Alliance member also has options for five more.
Originally, Turkish Airlines agreed to buy 40 787-9s in an LOI signed in September 2017, but reduced the number to 25 in March 2018.
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Kenya Airways to launch Beijing flights
Kenya Airways plans to launch Nairobi-Beijing flights in 2020, an addition made possible by slots the SkyTeam alliance carrier says it will gain at the new Daxing International Airport.
CEO Sebastian Mikosz said Kenya Airways’ turnaround plan was progressing, with financial improvements seen in its 2018 results.
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SAA to lease A350s as A340 replacement
South African Airways (SAA) has detailed plans to lease in Airbus A350-900s to operate its non-stop Johannesburg-New York JFK flights, replacing the A340-600s currently serving the route. While SAA did not specify the number of aircraft, several media outlets report that the Star Alliance carrier will take two A350-900s.
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China Southern seeks cooperation with LCC Spring Airlines
China Southern Airlines is exploring low-cost aviation development with LCC Spring Airlines, to decide which company is suitable for developing a new LCC model in China.
According to Civil Aviation Resource Net of China (CARNOC), China Southern vice chairman Ma Xulun said the airline is now in consultation with local provincial governments, especially in areas with a large population base and little access to the high-speed rail network.
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Finnair will operate to both Beijing airports
Helsinki-based Finnair plans to operate to Beijing Daxing International Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport from Nov. 3.
The oneworld member will launch 3X-weekly Helsinki-Beijing Daxing Airbus A330 services, in addition to its daily Helsinki-Beijing Capital flights.
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PICTURES: KLM receives first 787-10
KLM took delivery of its first Boeing 787-10 on 30 June.
The Dutch carrier will be the first European operator of the variant, it states.
The twinjet – with registration PH-BKA – was greeted by a water cannon salute at Amsterdam Schiphol airport.
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PICTURES: Air Baltic paints A220 in colours of Estonian flag
Air Baltic has painted one of its Airbus A220-300 aircraft with a special livery representing the colours of the Estonian flag.
The Riga-based operator unveiled the new livery days after its sole remaining Baltic-based competitor – Estonian carrier Nordica – announced that it was shifting its strategy towards nonscheduled services.
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PICTURES: A380 engine parts found under Greenland snow
Investigators searching snow-covered areas of Greenland for crucial engine parts from an Air France Airbus A380 have managed to recover some of the missing components.
The A380 suffered a serious failure to its outboard starboard Engine Alliance GP7200 while en route to Los Angeles on 30 September 2017.
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SpiceJet Q400 overshoots runway in India
A SpiceJet De Havilland Dash 8 Q400 carrying 43 passengers and 4 crew members suffered a runway excursion while landing.
The turboprop was operating flight SG3722 from Bhopal to Surat in India on the evening of 30 June when the incident occurred.
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Air India Express 737 in Mangalore taxiway excursion
An Air India Express Boeing 737-800 was involved in a taxiway excursion at Mangalore International airport on 30 June.
The low-cost arm of Air India says the aircraft registered VT-AYA had veered off the taxiway, just as it was vacating runway 24. At the time of the incident, the aircraft was operating as flight IX384 on the Dubai-Mangalore route.
LinkAirports
Czech Budweis Airport begins test and audit phase
Budweis International Airport, located in the South Bohemian region of the Czech Republic, has opened its terminal as part of an audit-and-test phase that will lead to flight operations starting in spring 2020.
Budweis head of airline marketing and aviation development Dieter Pammer confirmed the 2020 schedule, but said the airport was not yet revealing its first airlines.
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Dublin celebrates launch of new Aer Lingus service to MSP
Dublin Airport is celebrating the launch of Aer Lingus’ new direct service to Minneapolis-St Paul in Minnesota.
The airline will utilise Boeing 757 aircraft on the new six times weekly service to Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport (MSP), increasing to a daily, year-round service from this August.
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Green light for new hotel at Glasgow airport
Planning approval has been granted for a DMA-designed hotel next to the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel at Glasgow Airport Business Park.
The new five-storey block will provide 196 guest rooms, public areas adding vibrancy on the ground floor, and 52 additional car park spaces.
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Milestone event for Budapest's BUD Cargo City
In a few months time this building will become the largest complex in Budapest Airport’s dedicated freight terminal, BUD Cargo City.
Today marked the completion of the construction of the external structure of the larger of two warehouse buildings, which between them cover an area of 21,600sqm.
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Gatwick recognised for improving services for passengers with reduced mobility
Gatwick’s recent award recognises its investment into staff training as the airport focuses on giving every passenger an equal opportunity to fly.
ACI Europe has awarded Gatwick Airport the Accessible Airport Award.
The award was given in recognition of the airport’s work to help remove barriers that people with reduced mobility face when travelling.
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Fraport Greece reveals new design of Mykonos Airport
Due to be completed by 2021, the €25 million investment in Mykonos Airport combines traditional Cycladic architecture with a modern airport environment.
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Aviation Quote
Who was the best pilot I ever saw? You're lookin' at 'im.
- Gordon Cooper in the 1983 movie The Right Stuff.
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Trivia
General Trivia
1. How was milkweed used to save pilots and crewmembers during World War II?
2. While in the traffic pattern, you overhear a pilot "requesting the option." The controller tells this pilot that he is "cleared for the option." This means that the pilot may execute his choice of five maneuvers. What are they?
3. What was so unusual about the first fighter aircraft used by the Israeli Air Force?
4. To what does the north pole of a magnetic compass point?
1. The north magnetic pole
2. The south magnetic pole
3. The geographic South Pole
4. None of the above
5. The world's first man-carrying airplane powered by jet propulsion flew in
1. October 1910.
2. November 1920.
3. December 1930.
4. January 1940.
