Bombardier said it has begun installing semi-automated jigs at its new wing facility in Belfast to support assembly of the advanced composite wings for the CSeries. The jigs are being installed in the second phase of a new 600,000 sq. ft. manufacturing and assembly facility. The first phase, which will accommodate the fabrication of the composite components, was completed at the end of 2010.
AirAsia X selected GE’s CF6-80E1 engines to power three firm and two option Airbus A330-200s ordered in March ( ATW Daily News, March 1). The aircraft, which is scheduled for delivery from 2012, will be operated on the carrier's expanding network, offering low-fare service to destinations in Europe, Asia and the Pacific.
GE Aviation is developing a next-generation regional jet engine to replace the CF34 that could be ready for a 2016 EIS, according to GM-Regional and Large Business Aviation Chuck Nugent.
A Saab 340 (LV-CEJ) operated by Argentine carrier Sol Lineas Aereas crashed Wednesday evening, killing all 19 passengers and three crewmembers onboard the aircraft. According to Bloomberg, which cited an emailed statement from the airline, Sol flight 5428 was enroute from Neuquen to Comodoro Rivadavia when the pilot reported an emergency at 8:50 p.m. local time. That was the last communication between the aircraft and controllers. The aircraft, MSN 025, was built in 1985. The crash site has been reached, Associated Press reported.
Scandinavian Airlines announced Thursday it signed a letter of intent with Singapore Airlines to further develop and enhance their partnership. “This may cover additional codeshare flights, as well as network cooperation on potential new sectors between Scandinavia and Singapore,” SAS said in a statement.
ATR Head of Sales John Moore told ATW that EIS later this year of the ATR 72-600 should enable the turboprop manufacturer to make inroads in North America.
SkyTeam members Delta Air Lines, Air France, KLM and Alitalia announced they will reduce transatlantic capacity between Europe and the US and Canada offered through their joint venture by 7%-9% this fall in response to significantly higher fuel prices "and fluctuating seasonal demand."
AirBaltic President and CEO Bertolt Flick reiterated that the carrier will need to strengthen its capital base if it proceeds with an order for narrowbodies to renew its medium-haul fleet, which he asserts is becoming urgent owing to the high fuel prices.
Air France KLM Group reported a profit for the fiscal year ended March 31 of €613 million ($873.5 million), reversed from a €1.6 billion deficit in its 2009-10 fiscal year, citing a “more favorable economic environment” and cost-cutting controls for the turnaround.
[CORRECTED VERSION] A Saab 340 (LV-CEJ) operated by Argentine carrier Sol Lineas Aereas crashed Wednesday evening, killing all 19 passengers and three crewmembers onboard the aircraft.
Aveos signed a five-year contract with ABC Aerolineas to repair and overhaul all components on its fleet of 24 Airbus A320s, including access to an inventory pool and placement of main base stock in Toluca, Mexico. GE Aviation has a $30 million, five-year OnPoint solution agreement with Linea Aerea del Ecuador for the maintenance of its CF34-10E engine fleet powering three Embraer 190 aircraft.
Boeing and Alaska Airlines are working together to develop a "Component Management Optimization Program" under which the airline has agreed to use its fleet and Seattle-based MRO organization to "develop, test and validate" RFID and "Contact Memory Button" technology that can be used to track parts information such as serial numbers, manufacturing date and maintenance history. Boeing, in partnership with Fujitsu, will provide automated identification technology devices, device readers, software applications and system integration service.
China Southern Airlines signed a cooperation agreement with the Beijing government paving the way for the Guangzhou-based carrier to enhance its position at the new Beijing Daxing airport, which is projected to open in 2016. Construction is set to begin this year. CZ noted that over the next 10 years, it will allocate about 200 aircraft—Airbus A330s and A380s—from Beijing Capital International, which is facing slot shortages, to the new airport.
EasyJet stepped up its campaign to halt what it calls “destructive” government changes to the air passenger duty tax, citing the results of a report it commissioned by Frontier Economics which forecasts the proposals would be “bad for the environment and the economy.” It also called on the government to switch from a per-passenger duty to a per-plane tax.
Bombardier said in its latest Commercial Aircraft Market Forecast released this week that 13,100 new aircraft in the 20-149 seat range will be needed through 2030, an increase of 300 units over its previous 20-year forecast.
US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the Obama administration is "committed" to finding a way to finance equipage of commercial aircraft cockpits with NextGen ATC-capable technology, though he declined to provide specifics and conceded a solution is not likely until after Congress passes an FAA reauthorization bill.
Airbus and Boeing both claimed victory in Wednesday's ruling by the World Trade Organization's Appellate Body, the latest round of their dispute over government support that is in its sixth year.
Includes: World Airline Traffic World Airport Traffic IATA Fuel Prices Aircraft Data Aircraft Values Aircraft Deliveries US Major and National Airline Traffic US Ontime Performance U.S. Fuel Cost and Consumption US Mishandled Baggage US Consumer Complaints
US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the Obama administration is "committed" to finding a way to finance equipage of commercial aircraft cockpits with NextGen ATC-capable technology, though he declined to provide specifics and conceded a solution is not likely until after Congress passes an FAA reauthorization bill.
ECI Partners take 50% stake in Car-Trawler Jetsetter parent raises $138 million OTAs blame their GDS providers for code-share violations Air Canada rolls out new version of its direct-connect API GetThere signs agreement with SilverRail Technologies TRX launches ‘complete’ partner program, product upgrades World news briefing
The U.S. Transportation Department fined several online travel agencies for failure to comply with regulations that require disclosure of the operating carrier of a code-share flight, but the agencies all blamed their GDS providers. At least two GDS companies were involved; TTU has learned that one of them was Amadeus. The online companies and their fines are are Fareportal, which powers CheapoAir.com, $50,000; AirGorilla, $30,000; American Travel Solutions $45,000; Automobile Club of New York, $20,000, and Wholesale Travel Center, $30,000.
