Meet Ted Vallas, who may be the world’s oldest airline entrepreneur. His life story is fascinating and inspiring. While almost everyone his age is retired, he is starting a new airline. In the United States and of all places, in California. He may be one of the most remarkable people in aviation.
As I'm sure has happened to many other writers, my idea for a clever title (in this case, to commemorate the passing of Alfred Kahn) had in fact been used before (at least once). In a July 24, 2007 article in USA Today, veteran aviation industry journalist Dan Reed provides a succinct summary of what many believe is the gentleman's strongest contribution as an economist: "Wrath of Kahn kept airfares low."
Turkish Technic will provide 10 C checks to Pegasus Airlines' fleet as well as seven redelivery checks including landing gear overhaul and aircraft paint services. It will also conduct five C checks for IZair. Maintenance work for both will be carried out at Turkish Technic's facilities in Istanbul. AFI KLM E&M signed a five-year component and brake support agreement with Martinair covering the carrier's seven MD-11Fs. Contract includes the positioning of spares at Amsterdam Schiphol.
Boeing on Monday began final assembly on the 1,000th 767, a 767-300ER for ANA. ANA has taken delivery of 89 767s. GECAS delivered one new Boeing 737-800 to China United Airlines and one new Airbus A320 to Saudi Arabian Airlines, the twelfth of 15 A320s it has leased to the carrier.
Air Malta'srestructuring plan is now in its "advanced stages" and will be submitted to the European Commission for approval by the end of January, The Malta Independent reported. The restructuring plan, which is being prepared by Ernst & Young, will entail job cut recommendations.
Spirit AeroSystems announced it reached an agreement with Boeing regarding "certain claims associated with" the development and production of the 787-8. Neither company disclosed the precise nature of the claims, though they are believed to be related to the 787 program's continuing delays. Spirit AeroSystems designs and builds the 787's composite forward fuselage, engine pylons and wing leading edge components. Under terms of the agreement, the parties will complete formal amendments to their work agreement in the first half of 2011.
Airbus appointed long-time automotive industry executive Gunter Butschek as its executive VP-operations, effective March 1. He replaces Gerald Weber, who will leave the company "after successfully completing his missions," the company said. Butschek is president and CEO of Beijing Benz Automotive Co., a joint venture between Daimler AG and Beijing Automotive Industrial Holding. He has spent 25 years with Daimler in international automotive production, industrialization and procurement, having begun his career in 1984 at Mercedes-Benz.
Cathay Pacific Airways is facing possible industrial action from its flight attendants after a majority of members of the Cathay Pacific Flight Attendants' Union voted in favor of labor measures, including refusing to work overtime. CPFAU represents 5,800 of 14,000 CX cabin crew. Company insiders suggest that many non-members will also follow the union's directives.
New York-based Buckingham Research Group believes that Boeing will counter the Airbus A320neo with an all-new narrowbody design to be launched later this year or early 2012 for delivery in 2017/2018.
Etihad Airways reported a 29.2% rise in revenue in 2010 to $2.95 billion on a 19.5% increase in capacity to 45.1 billion ASKs and 13.1% growth in passengers carried to 7.1 million.
Boeing is sticking to its expectation that it will be able to announce a revised timetable for 787 certification and first delivery sometime this month, Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Jim Albaugh said Wednesday in Washington.
China Southern Airlines said its 2010 net profit is likely to be around CNY5.01 billion ($757.9 million), fourteen times greater than a 2009 net profit of CNY358 million.
Indian LCC IndiGo on Tuesday signed an MOU with Airbus to place an order for 180 A320s including 150 A320neos, making the carrier the launch customer for the re-engined version of the A320.
Travel Leaders acquires Vacation.com from Amadeus A half-dozen distribution trends to watch in 2011 Delta asks passengers: What’s being bumped worth to you? Saudi Arabian Airlines to join SkyTeam next year New version of Sabre CentralCommand is released In Focus: Corralling the best international fares, wherever they are World news briefing
American Airlines was granted a temporary restraining order to prevent Sabre from biasing the carrier’s displays in the Sabre GDS. American also filed a lawsuit against Sabre in Texas state court in Tarrant County alleging that Sabre’s recent actions “violates agreements between American and Sabre and harms American, the travel agent community, and the traveling public.” The TRO will be in effect until the court considers American’s request for longer-term relief.
Emirates SkyCargo operated its longest-ever non-stop flight, a 17.5 hour trip from Sydney to New York JFK aboard a Boeing 777F. Previously its longest flight was a 16.8-hour passenger flight between Dubai and Houston Intercontinental. Separately, the carrier named Angelo Mule as its new cargo operations manager for Germany.
Aeromexico added a second daily service to its daily San Antonio-Mexico City route. Afriqiyah Airways launched twice-weekly Tripoli-Beijing service aboard an Airbus A330-200. Air China will launch a second daily Beijing-Los Angeles service Sept. 1 aboard a Boeing 747-400.
An AirAsia Airbus A320 skidded off the runway at Kuching in Malaysia during a heavy rainstorm on Monday. According to Ascend, the aircraft veered to the right and ran off the side of the runway onto soft ground where its nose undercarriage apparently collapsed. There were no serious injuries reported among 124 passengers and crew aboard.
Southwest Airlines said Tuesday it is this week commencing Required Navigation Performance procedures for approaches at 11 airports, asserting that "these new efficient flight procedures and enhanced avionics" will save the LCC $16 million annually.
Chinese carriers earned a collective net profit of CNY35.1 billion ($5.28 billion) in 2010 owing in large part to surging domestic growth, according to CAAC Vice Minister Wang Changshun.
American Airlines and Japan Airlines on Tuesday said their transpacific joint venture will commence on April 1 with cooperation on 10 routes initially.
News from Travel Technology Update: American Airlines was granted a temporary restraining order to prevent Sabre from biasing the carrier’s displays in the Sabre GDS. American also filed a lawsuit against Sabre in Texas state court in Tarrant County alleging that Sabre’s recent actions “violates agreements between American and Sabre and harms American, the travel agent community, and the traveling public.” The TRO will be in effect until the court considers American’s request for longer-term relief.
