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Mitsubishi Aircraft to open Montreal office as MHI nears CRJ buy
Mitsubishi Aircraft is opening a SpaceJet development office in the Montreal region, a move the airframer says reflects continued global expansion and an effort to capitalise on Montreal's aerospace strength.
The company's 19 September announcement of its Montreal expansion comes as M90 certification continues and as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) finalises a planned acquisition of Bombardier's CRJ programme, which is based in Montreal.
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Airbus keen for A220 demonstration tour in China
An Airbus A220 could be making its way to China for a demonstration flight, as the airframer works to get its latest narrowbody certified by Chinese authorities.
Airbus China chief executive officer George Xu, speaking at a press briefing at the Beijing Aviation Expo, gave no definitive timeframe when the A220 would embark on the flight, but hinted at it being “in the near term.”
LinkAirlines
PICTURES: SAS unveils new livery ahead of A350 arrival
Scandinavian carrier SAS has overhauled its livery ahead of the arrival of its first Airbus A350-900, opting for a modernised stylish appearance based on its signature blue colouring.
SAS says its entire fleet will receive the new scheme by 2021.
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Air France, Groupe Dubreuil withdraw Aigle Azur joint offer
Air France and Groupe Dubreuil, the parent company of Air Caraibes and French Bee, have withdrawn their joint offer for Aigle Azur, saying the French carrier’s social liabilities mean they could not envision an economically viable plan. Aigle Azur went into receivership Sept. 2 after encountering operational and management issues linked to its long-haul expansion plan, halting flights a few days later leaving thousands of passengers stranded and its 1,150 employees facing an uncertain ...
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CEO: Air Arabia nears decision on 120-aircraft narrowbody order
Gulf LCC Air Arabia expects to make a decision soon on an order for either 120 Airbus A320neo family or Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, Air Arabia Group CEO Adel Al Ali said. Air Arabia’s current fleet comprises 52 A320-family aircraft and two A321neoLRs. Speaking exclusively to ATW in Vienna, Al Ali confirmed the Sharjah-based carrier is negotiating with both manufacturers for the 120-narrowbody aircraft order.
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Corsair accelerates all-Airbus fleet transition
French long-haul carrier Corsair is speeding up plans to transition to an all-Airbus fleet as it seeks to grow its fleet and network with the backing of its new shareholder.
German airline investment group Intro Aviation, which became Corsair’s majority shareholder in March when it bought TUI Group’s stake, said at the time it wanted to revamp Corsair’s fleet.
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Qantas: Perth-Paris flights unlikely to begin before 2022
Qantas said an ongoing feud with Perth Airport will likely push back plans for a second direct flight to Europe for at least two years.
The Australian flag carrier launched a nonstop flight from Perth to London in March 2018 and has signaled that a Paris flight is its next priority.
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Aegean 2Q net income up 30% on consistent growth, extended season
Greek carrier Aegean Airlines reported a 2019 second-quarter net income of €22 million ($25 million), up 30% from €17 million in the year-ago period, as a result of consistent growth and efforts to extend the tourism season.
The airline and its Olympic Air subsidiary saw consolidated revenue rise 20% year-over-year (YOY) to €347.4 million.
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Vietnam Airlines to begin Bali flights, boost Thailand presence
Vietnam Airlines will start flights to Denpasar and Phuket and resume Da Nang-Bangkok services from 27 October.
The carrier will begin three-weekly Ho Chi Minh City-Phuket and five-weekly Ho Chi Minh City-Denpasar, with plans to raise this to daily at a later stage. Its daily Da Nang-Bangkok service will also resume at the same time.
LinkAirports
Moscow Sheremetyevo opens third runway
Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) opened a third runway Sept. 19, which will nearly double the number of possible takeoffs and landings from 55 to 90. The runway—3,200 m (10,500 ft.) long and 60 m wide—gained an ICAO ranking of 4F and 4E for length and corresponding width. SVO said in a statement the airport is now able to “accommodate the landing of all types of aircraft and takeoffs of 80% of both Russian and foreign aircraft [takeoff weight restrictions ...
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San Francisco runway 28L scheduled to reopen Thursday
San Francisco International airport plans to reopen runway 28L at 21:00 local time on 19 September after a two-week reconstruction project that was completed a week ahead of schedule. Construction crews have installed a new base layer and repaved and repainted the surface.
The runway, which is San Francisco’s busiest and, at 3,469m (11,381ft), its second-longest, was closed on 7 September.
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ANALYSIS: Australia's airports in growth mode
As delegates gather in Adelaide for the World Routes convention, several of Australia's airports will be highlighting their major investments in infrastructure, but may also face questions about the slowing rate of travel and disputes over charges.
Major airports at Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide are now reaching 30 years since they were privatised.
LinkMilitary
Romania orders three EMS-configured H135 helicopters
Romania's interior ministry has ordered three Airbus Helicopters H135s for aero-medical and search and rescue missions.
Acquired as part of a framework agreement signed at the end of July, the pact covers the purchase of up to 10 examples of the German-built light-twin.
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USAF to order 10 Sikorsky Combat Rescue Helicopters
Sikorsky expects the US Air Force (USAF) to make a Milestone C decision for its Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) on 24 September, paving the way for a low rate initial production contract worth more than $500 million for 10 aircraft to be signed shortly thereafter.
The first production helicopter is scheduled for delivery in April 2021, says Sikorsky.
LinkAviation Quote
“Thousands of volumes have been written about aviation, but we do not automatically have thousands of true and special friends in their authors. That rare writer who comes alive on a page does it by giving of himself, by writing of meanings, and not just of fact or of things that have happened to him. The writers of flight who have done this are usually found together in a special section on private bookshelves.”
— Richard BachDaily Video
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