Boeing is moving "far more aggressively" toward a 180-250 seat twin-aisle replacement for the 737, according to company insiders. It would continue production of the 737-800/900ER for airlines that still want the standard offering.
Boeing is moving "far more aggressively" toward a 180-250 seat twin-aisle replacement for the 737, according to company insiders. It would continue production of the 737-800/900ER for airlines that still want the standard offering.
Mechtronix Systems will produce a flight simulation training device for the Cessna Grand Caravan on behalf of Indonesia's Susi Air, which operates more than 30 of the type. The FFT X FSTD will be installed at the airline's training facilities in Pangandaran in the 2011 fourth quarter. The center will also be equipped with an Ascent Flight Trainer C172 Garmin 1000.
AVISA Aviation Safety Systems announced a strategic partnership with Fokker Services through which the two companies will introduce EASA Part M-approved Continuing Airworthiness and Maintenance Management Services to the FLYFokker program.
Goodrich announced its electric brake system has completed all required dedicated flight test conditions, incorporating the latest iteration of its Duracarb carbon heat sink material. The braking system has to date been selected by the majority of Boeing's 787 customers, including launch customer ANA.
The European Commission appointed Matthew Baldwin director-air transport, replacing Daniel Calleja, who last month became deputy director general the EC’s Directorate General Enterprise and Industry. Calleja was EC director-air transport from November 2004 to February 2011, and was instrumental in negotiating the historic open skies agreement with the US.
A number of Delta Air Lines flight attendants who previously worked for Northwest Airlines have sued DL in US federal court alleging "discrimination based solely on their status as former union members," said the Assn. of Flight Attendants, which is assisting in the lawsuit. DL's more than 19,000 cabin crew last year voted to reject unionization; the 7,500 who previously worked for NWA had been represented by AFA ( ATW Daily News, Nov. 4, 2010).
Southwest Airlines apologized for two technical problems that on Tuesday caused disruptions on its website and slowed flight operations. The first problem related to the switchover to SWA's revamped Rapids Rewards frequent flyer program ( ATW Daily News, Jan. 7), which led southwest.com to experience "intermittent issues regarding functionality and accessibility," the carrier explained on its blog.
Ryanair on Thursday confirmed to ATW it may consider ordering United Aircraft Corp.’s single-aisle MS-21 or COMAC’s C919 aircraft to support fleet expansion. Negotiations with Boeing for additional 737s broke down in late 2009 ( ATW Daily News, Dec. 9, 2009).
Brussels Airlines took delivery of the first of two ex-Mexicana Airbus A319s it is slated to receive as part of the renewal of its short- and medium-haul fleet.
Delta Air Lines told employees it has reached an agreement to buy nine Japan Airlines MD-90s for delivery beginning in January 2012 to replace retiring DC-9s and 50-seat regional jets.
TAP Portugal said it achieved “the best result ever in the history of the company,” reporting a net profit of €62.3 million ($86 million) for 2010, up from income of €59 million reported in 2009.
Lufthansa Italia named Michael Kraus CEO from April 1. Kraus is currently CEO of LH subsidiary Air Dolomiti, a position he will continue to hold. Finnair Group announced Deputy CEO Lasse Heinonen will leave on May 15. Heinonen joined AY as CFO in 2004 and has served as deputy CEO and executive VP since 2009.
Lufthansa said it has so far equipped 17 of its long-range aircraft (20% of its long-haul fleet) with FlyNet. It began offering the inflight broadband connectivity in partnership with Panasonic Avionics and Deutsche Telekom in November ( ATW Daily News,Nov. 30, 2010). It plans to deploy the service throughout its entire intercontinental network by the end of 2011.
US Air Transport Assn. named Christopher Brown VP-legislative & regulatory policy. He will "focus on outreach to key stakeholders to advance policy and legislative issues," ATA said. The move is part of the ongoing staff shakeup that has taken place at ATA since new President and CEO Nicholas Calio replaced James May in January ( ATW Daily News, Feb. 17).
Wizz Air announced it will this year open its fourth Romanian base in Tirgu Mures. It will initially deploy one Airbus A320 at TGM to serve Barcelona, Rome Fiumicino, Paris Beauvais, Milan Bergamo, Madrid, Dortmund and Bologna Forli. It already operates to TGM from Budapest and London Luton. CEO Jozsef Varadi said,"This is another milestone in our Romanian operations that indicates our commitment to the Romanian passengers in offering truly affordable fares and a fast-growing network."
Japan Airlines officially unveiled the reintroduction its iconic crane livery on a Boeing 767-300ER at its maintenance center at Tokyo Haneda on Monday. The change in logo was announced Jan. 19 to emphasize JAL's “new philosophy and corporate policy underscoring a re-commitment to provide the highest levels of service to customers.”
Edelweiss Air COO Peter Spring told ATW in Zurich that the airline took delivery of a 332-seat Airbus A330-300 last week and is endeavoring to grow international flying.
Two US airmen were shot dead and two were wounded Wednesday aboard a bus parked curbside outside Frankfort Airport's Terminal 2. Kosovo Interior Minister Bajram Rexhepi confirmed that German police had arrested a 21-year-old Kosovo citizen in connection with the shooting.
Citing rapidly rising oil prices, IATA on Wednesday trimmed its 2011 earnings forecast for the world's airlines by 5.5% to $8.6 billion from $9.1 billion projected in December.
