NewsAzul proposes JV with TAP to shareholdersBrazil’s low-cost carrier Azul has proposed to shareholders a joint venture with Portuguese flag carrier TAP Air Portugal as it looks to gain a greater foothold in the transatlantic travel market, the company says in its investor update on 7 November. While the two airlines have spoken of plans for a joint venture as early as 2017, they had yet to take steps to formalise the alliance. David Neeleman, Azul’s founder and chairman, says the company is excited to bring the collaboration between the two airlines into a new phase which will benefit both the airlines as well as its passengers across the vast South American country.
LinkAlaska Air's Beck becomes COO, Minicucci remains presidentAlaska Air Group has made several high-level management shifts, including splitting the president and chief operations officer (COO) role into two positions. Ben Minicucci, who formerly was Alaska's president and COO, has now taken the single title of president, Alaska says. The company's new COO is Gary Beck, who formerly was president and chief executive of Alaska's regional subsidiary Horizon Air.
LinkAirbus logs 12 A330neos as part of October order haulAirbus has recorded an order for 12 A330neos from an unidentified customer, all of them the -900 variant, part of an agreement for 25 aircraft which includes 13 A321neos. The agreement features in the airframer's latest backlog revision.
LinkUnited offers to rebook Max passengersUnited Airlines will offer alternative flights to any passengers uncomfortable with flying on the Boeing 737 Max once the narrowbody returns to the skies. “We are going to make it very transparent to our customers [that their trip is on a Max],” chief executive Oscar Munoz said at an Aviation Club luncheon in London today. “If they are not happy, we will offer to rebook them, even if they take that decision at the gate.”
LinkLufthansa ramps up group cost-cutting measuresLufthansa Group is accelerating restructuring efforts at its cargo division and subsidiaries Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines as the company faces pressure on earnings, particularly in Europe, and increased fuel costs. Austrian will close its bases outside Vienna and "focus solely" on flights to and from the country's capital, Lufthansa says.
LinkGear-up 727 captain pressed on with landing despite alertsCockpit-voice recordings from a Boeing 727-200 which landed with its nose-gear retracted in Alabama captured the captain admitting that he should have executed a go-around, after an unsafe gear warning and automated 'pull up' alerts. As the Kalitta Charters II aircraft (N720CK) descended towards Tuscaloosa, on 28 January this year, the captain called for a 'flap 15' configuration and deployment of the landing-gear.
LinkEmirates' airline profits jump in first half on lower costsLower fuel costs and higher passenger loads helped profits at Emirates' airline operation jump back for the six months to 30 September 2019, though one-off items hitting Dnata's performance resulted in only relatively small gains in group profits over the comparable period. Emirates' first-half net profit of Dhs862 million ($235 million) compares with Dhs226 million at the same stage last year. While a sharp improvement, it remains at about half the level of the airline's profits at the same stage two years ago, as difficult market conditions persist.
LinkRolls-Royce to take £1.4bn charge as Trent 1000 fix delayedRolls-Royce is expecting to take a £1.4 billion ($1.8 billion) exceptional charge this year in relation to the continuing Trent 1000 engine problems, after increasing its cost estimate of fixing the problems. Its charge for 2019 will be nearly double the £790 million figure absorbed in 2018. Trent 1000s power the Boeing 787 fleet.
LinkRolls-Royce confident on A330neo despite blade fix delayRolls-Royce is confident that its postponed introduction of a redesigned Boeing 787 engine blade will not affect similar powerplants which are fitted to the Airbus A330neo. The manufacturer has been forced to delay implementation of a high-pressure turbine blade fix for the Trent 1000 TEN.
LinkRolls-Royce delays Trent 1000 TEN blade fix to 2021Rolls-Royce is to delay introduction of a redesigned high-pressure blade for the Trent 1000 TEN, after discovering that it will not be as durable as initially expected. The Boeing 787 engine manufacturer says that the revised blade is "unlikely" to be ready before the first half of 2021.
LinkSocial unrest disrupts flights in Latin AmericaSocial unrest has been disrupting flights in Chile and continues to result in massive cancellations in Bolivia, as protesters block access to local airports. While the situation in Chile is now back to normal, Bolivia continues to suffer massive flight cancellations and significant delays as protestors against alleged electoral fraud in the re-election of president Evo Morales have now been blocking roads and occupying major infrastructures for over a week.
LinkBamboo Airways receives first A320neoVietnam’s Bamboo Airways is CDB Aviation’s newest customer, having taken delivery of its first Airbus A320neo aircraft. Cirium’s fleets data shows that MSN 9306 is powered by CFM International Leap-1A engines and was delivered at the end of October.
LinkBoeing insists it addressed 787 oxygen bottle concernsBoeing is pushing back against allegations that faulty emergency oxygen systems on 787s pose a threat to aircraft safety. The company says its oxygen systems undergo thorough testing before and after aircraft are delivered and that federal regulators determined that recently reported issues with the 787's oxygen system do not threaten safe flight.
LinkAir Macau considers adding Airbus widebodies to fleetAir Macau is studying the feasibility of introducing Airbus A330 or A350 widebodies into its fleet, according to Chinese media reports. The widebodies would be used for network development and the launch of long-haul routes to Europe or the United States.
LinkAustrian Airlines retrenches in face of ‘brutal’ LCC competitionFacing intense competition from LCCs in Vienna and rising fuel prices, Austrian Airlines saw a steep drop in earnings for the first nine months and warned of a possible loss for the financial year. The Lufthansa Group subsidiary reported adjusted earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of €17 million ($18.8 million) for the first three quarters, down 85% from €110 million in the same period a year ago.
Link SWISS nine-month earnings down on fuel, maintenance costsSwiss International Air Lines (SWISS) posted adjusted earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of CHF490 million ($493.5 million) for the first nine months, down 11% from CHF549 million a year ago. “Higher fuel and maintenance costs were key contributors to the lower earnings result, which was further reduced by a decline in demand for cargo services and continuing pressure on yields in the passenger segment,” the Lufthansa Group subsidiary said Nov. 7.
LinkRyanair grounds three 737-800s after finding pickle fork cracksIrish low-cost carrier Ryanair has withdrawn three of its Boeing 737-800 aircraft from service after the discovery of cracks located between the aircraft’s fuselage and wing. An investigation by UK news outlet The Guardian said three of the aircraft, which are part of its all-737-800 fleet of around 450 aircraft, had “pickle fork cracks” of the airframe structure designed to strengthen the connection between the aircraft’s wing and body.
LinkNorway reaches IOC milestone with F-35Norway has declared initial operating capability (IOC) status for its Lockheed Martin F-35As, with the milestone having been reached on 6 November. The achievement followed a deployment to Rygge air station to check that the aircraft could be successfully operated away from its home base of Orland.
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