Xiamen Airlines received a CNY810 million ($121.5 million) capital injection from majority owner China Southern Airlines to fund a rapid fleet expansion. CZ, which currently holds 51% of Xiamen, said in a statement that Xiamen Construction & Development Co., which owns 34% of the carrier, additionally injected CNY540 million into the airline. Meanwhile, more money was raised when Hebei Aviation Investment Group invested CNY1.46 billion to purchase a 15% stake in Xiamen.
In observance of the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays, ATW Daily News returns Jan. 5. In the meantime, our Daily News e-mail subscribers will enjoy a collection of our most commented-upon news articles in 2010. Best wishes for a joyous holiday season!
US Dept. of Transportation Inspector General Calvin Scovel left a lump of coal in FAA's Christmas stocking, asserting this week in a letter to Congress that the agency "faces several organizational, policy, logistical and training challenges" in implementing the NextGen satellite-based ATC system that tops FAA's agenda.
(Corrected Version) Transaero Airlines is planning to purchase four more Boeing 777s that are operated by Singapore Airlines and come off lease in 2011 and is increasing its commitment from nine to 12 747-400s, a spokesperson confirmed to ATW.
London Heathrow, hard hit by the severe winter weather that significantly disrupted air traffic in Europe this week, was open Thursday with "most flights operating," airports operator BAA said.
London Heathrow, hard hit by the severe winter weather that significantly disrupted air traffic in Europe this week, was open Thursday with "most flights operating," airports operator BAA said.
Air Arabia will launch thrice-weekly Sharjah-Sohag service Dec 27. Sohag is Air Arabia's fourth destination in Egypt. Qatar Airways will begin operating its Boeing 777 for the first time to Spain Jan. 1 on its daily Doha-Madrid service. The carrier begins flights to Bucharest and Budapest Jan. 17, Brussels from Jan. 31, and Stuttgart beginning March 6.
Bombardier Aerospace confirmed Wednesday that US FAA awarded aircraft type certification approval to the 100-seat CRJ1000 NextGen on Dec. 17. US approval follows type certification by Transport Canada and EASA ( ATW Daily News, Nov. 11). The first two CRJ1000NGs have been delivered to launch customers Air Nostrum and Brit Air, Bombardier said. Air Nostrum has firm orders for 35 while Brit Air has firm orders for 14.
Qantas is believed to be closer to restarting Airbus A380 service on the Los Angeles to Sydney and Melbourne routes after regulators eased engine inspection rules. According to The Australian, Qantas is in discussions with Rolls-Royce about how it can lift restrictions on Trent 900 engines that prevent the aircraft flying from the US with a full payload. EASA this week relaxed its requirement of a Trent 900 inspection every 20 flights, designed to detect oil leaks, to an inspection every 200 flights.
United Continental Holdings, following a review of technology used by United Airlines and Continental Airlines as well as solutions used by neither currently, this week informed employees which systems will be used by the merged airline in the future. "After a thorough study, we have made the technology systems decisions that will create the best technology platform for the new United," EVP Technology Keith Halbert said in a communication with workers.
US FAA on Wednesday proposed a $330,000 civil penalty against American Airlines regional subsidiary American Eagle Airlines for operating an Embraer E-135 jet on 12 revenue passenger flights “when it was not in compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations.” The civil penalty is in addition to the $5.4 million in fines it earlier this year proposed against the carrier (ATWOnline, Feb. 18).
Negotiators representing the US, EU, Brazil and Canada have "agreed in principle" on a new Aviation Sector Understanding on export credits that aims to bring more uniformity to the financing of new commercial aircraft, OECD said in statement. The organization oversaw the negotiations in Paris.
American Airlines revoked the ticketing authority of Orbitz.com and Orbitz for Business after a Chicago judge denied a request by Travelport for a preliminary injunction to prevent the move. Orbitz had refused to connect directly with American via the carrier’s XML technology.
Air New Zealand is examining “a host” of fleet options, including the Boeing 777-200LR, to mitigate the expected further delay in the 787 program owing to the inflight fire sparked by a power board short circuit during a test flight last month.
Air New Zealand received and unveiled its first Boeing 777-300ER on Wednesday in Seattle, claiming it has redefined air travel by including "beds" for economy passengers among a string of industry firsts on the aircraft.
Air Austral took delivery of one new 737-800NG from Boeing, the first of two it ordered to replace one 737-300 and one 737-500 in its fleet. Veling purchased four 777-200ERs from Emirates for leaseback. The Mauritius-based aircraft leasing company purchased two 777s from Emirates in February. Alitalia announced ittook delivery of three new A320s, bringing its total operating fleet to 150 aircraft.
India's Ministry of Civil Aviation reported that the country's airlines carried 18.9% more domestic scheduled passengers in the first 11 months of 2010 compared to the corresponding period in 2009. As of Nov. 30, Jet Airways mainline had the highest share of the fragmented Indian domestic market at 19.2%, followed by Kingfisher at 19.1%, IndiGo at 17.3%, Air India at 17.1%, Spicejet at 13.2%, Jet affiliate JetLite at 7% and Go Air at 6.9%, the ministry stated.
British Airways cabin crew represented by the Unite union on Tuesday started voting on whether to take fresh industrial action in their long-running dispute with the airline ( ATW Daily News, Dec. 15). Ballot papers were sent to more than 10,000 cabin crew at BA as the confrontation between the parties “deepens,” according to Unite.
WestJet said Tuesday it will wet lease a Boeing 757-200 from North American Airlines to be used on Calgary-Honolulu-Maui and Edmonton-Maui routings from Feb. 12-April 30, 2011, subject to Canadian government approval. NAA will operate the aircraft on behalf of WS, providing pilots, flight attendants and maintenance personnel. WS operates an all 737NG fleet comprising 91 aircraft.
