Air France will review its regional hubs this fall, following a lackluster 2012 performance from its domestic and medium-haul operations. In October 2011, Air France announced a “commercial offensive” from the French provinces aimed at challenging its low-cost rivals. This initiative involved the creation of four new regional hubs at Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice and Toulouse. However, a number of routes and frequencies have already been cut, prompting speculation about possible base closures.
UK-based aircraft components-to-energy conglomerate Meggitt has confirmed that the Boeing 787’s battery charger has passed a series of tests by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Ray Conner said the 787 could be flying again “very fast” if FAA approves Boeing’s proposed fix for the grounded aircraft.
AirBalticwill increase weekly Riga-Rijeka service to 2X-weekly June 6. Ethiopian Airlineswill launch 3X-weekly Addis Ababa service to Blantyre and Ndola March 31. Hawaiian Airlineswill increase 4X-weekly Oakland-Honolulu service to daily June 15-Oct. 3. Frontier Airlineswill operate seasonal 3X-weekly Denver-Eugene, Ore. Airbus A319 service starting May 16 and will resume 3X-weekly Denver-Fresno A319 service May 17.
UK air navigation services provider NATS said it is the first operator in the country to have future-proofed its radar against interference from the 4G mobile network.
The share of United Aircraft Corp.’s (UAC) revenue generated from civil aircraft sales grew from 3.6% in 2011 to 10.5% in 2012. UAC’s civil aircraft revenue rose 10% to $5.87 billion in 2012, UAC said in a statement. Sales of played a big part in the rise. By 2015, UAC plans to increase civil aircraft revenue’s share to 20% of its total.
International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC) has entered into an agreement with American Airlines to buy and leaseback an additional 15 new Boeing 737-800s and one new 777-300ER. ILFC last year finished delivering 15 737-800s to American as part of a previous sale and leaseback agreement. The 737-800s included in the new deal are scheduled for delivery between May 2013 and December 2014. The 777 will be delivered later this month, ILFC said.
Turkish Airlines has confirmed to ATW that it remains in continuing negotiations with both Boeing and Airbus regarding a potential order for narrowbody aircraft.
Germany-based Condor Airlines plans to launch long-haul flights from Munich after six years of not operating from Germany‘s second largest airport. Condor will base two Boeing 767-300ERs in Munich.
Qatar Airways has reported further effects from the grounding of its Boeing 787-8s, announcing frequency reductions on one new route and a launch postponement on another. The 787 has been grounded worldwide since Jan. 16.
Iberia said it has found alternative flights for about 38,000 of the 40,000 passengers booked on flights cancelled by the second in a series of three week-long strikes by the airline’s ground staff and cabin crews that began Monday and will last all week. The airline said it would offer new travel dates or full refunds to the 2,000 passengers it was unable to accommodate.
Korean Air has taken delivery of the first Boeing 777 built at the manufacturer’s increased production rate of 8.3 per month, or 100 aircraft per year. JetBlue Airways has signed a letter of intent with Airbus to acquire 110 ship-sets of retrofit Sharklets for the airline's in-service A320 aircraft. Deliveries are scheduled to start in 2014.
Pan-African air navigation services provider ASECNA has been given the go-ahead to start work preparing for the future deployment of Global Navigation Satellite System/European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (GNSS/EGNOS) in the region.
Belgian leisure carrier Jetairfly has taken delivery of the first of two new Embraer E-190s, which it has secured on lease from Singapore-based BOC Aviation.
