California-based Lumexis said flydubai is the launch customer of its Fiber To The Screen fiberoptic-based inflight entertainment system. The deal, which was announced at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, covers 44 737-800NGs, the first of which is due to arrive at the Dubai-based low-fare startup in October. Rockwell Collins' dPaves inflight entertainment system was selected by Pegasus Airlines for installation on 31 of the Turkish carrier's 737NGs.
Delta Air Lines said yesterday it has received final Chinese government approval to launch flights between Seattle and Beijing from June 4. It plans to operate the new route five-times-weekly. Alaska Air Group carriers Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air will have access to the flight via a codeshare agreement with DL. The service, originally announced last year, will utilize 216-seat 767-300ERs featuring 35 business-class and 181 economy seats. DL also will launch SEA-Osaka service June 7 aboard a 767-300ER.
Alaska Airlines launched Aircell's Gogo inflight Internet service Tuesday on six 737-800s and plans to expand the service to its entire fleet by the end of 2010. The airline said it is partnering with Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card to offer passengers free Wi-Fi through July 31. Gogo will be installed on its fleet of 737-800s and -900s by the end of the summer, with its 737-400s and -700s equipped later in the year.
Turkish Airlines CEO Temel Kotil said his company has a growing interest in taking over LOT Polish Airlines. "Yes I want to buy LOT," he told the Polish daily Rzeczpospolita. The Polish government, which currently owns 68% of LOT, is believed to have asked THY previously to make a major investment ( ATWOnline, March 8).
Ryanair claimed it did not receive official notification from Italian civil aviation authority ENAC that it was fined €3 million ($3.7 million) for 178 alleged violations of the EU passenger rights regulation between April 17 and April 22 and vowed it will "vigorously" appeal any fines if or when it receives notification of them. ENAC announced over the weekend that it had fined the LCC for failing to provide passengers at Rome Ciampino with drinks, food and accommodation after it cancelled flights owing to volcanic ash-related airspace closures.
British Airways started reinstating some of its previously cancelled flights into and out of London Heathrow after it secured a UK High Court injunction blocking the 20 days of strikes planned by flight attendants represented by the Unite union.
A US federal judge ruled that Delta Air Lines can terminate its contract with Mesa Air Group subsidiary Freedom Airlines covering 22 ERJ-145s, reversing a prior preliminary injunction that had stopped DL from ending ties to the regional. According to media reports, Mesa also was ordered to repay DL $3 million for overbilling the carrier. MAG Chairman and CEO Jonathan Ornstein said in a statement that the company is "extremely disappointed" by the decision and warned that 500 employees likely would have to be cut as a consequence of the ruling.
IATA yesterday reiterated calls for a new approach to managing the continent's volcanic ash crisis, stating that "the current European-wide system to decide on airspace closures is not working" while urging governments and air navigation service providers "to urgently develop more precise procedures to identify ash-contaminated airspace and allow more flights."
Continental Airlines said it is notifying holders of the $174,950,000 outstanding principal amount of its 5% Convertible Notes due 2023 that they have an option under the terms of the notes to require CO to purchase some or all of them on June 15 at par plus any accrued and unpaid interest to June 15. The airline has the option to buy back the notes with cash, stock, or a combination of the two, and has elected to pay in cash.
Copa Airlines took delivery of two new 737-800s as part of its ongoing fleet and network expansion. Copa said including these deliveries, it has received five of the eight aircraft it expects to take in 2010.
Pamir AirwaysAn-24B turboprop crashed in a mountain pass in Afghanistan yesterday morning at approximately 9:30 a.m. local time, killing all 43 passengers and crew on the aircraft, according to the Flight Safety Foundation's Aviation Safety Network. Flight PM112 was en route from Kunduz to Kabul when it went down near the Salang Pass north of Kabul. Heavy fog was reported in the area of the accident, ASN stated.
Air New Zealand General Counsel John Blair said the statement of claim lodged against ANZ yesterday by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission alleging airfreight pricing irregularities is "an obvious jurisdictional and financial grab challenging the right of governments in places such as Hong Kong to regulate their own outbound air services and airfreight markets."
Boeing yesterday announced that it will increase 737NG production from the current 31.5 per month to 34 per month in early 2012. "The planned rate increase is aimed at satisfying continued strong demand," the manufacturer said. "In addition, the company continues to study further potential 737 rate increases, given continued customer demand."
Volcanic ash from Iceland caused further disruptions to air traffic in Europe, mainly in Ireland and the UK, where London Heathrow, Gatwick and London City airports were closed for several hours Monday. Amsterdam Schiphol also was closed for takeoffs and landings for several hours Monday morning. According to Eurocontrol, about 400 flights of the 25,088 scheduled Sunday within the Eurocontrol Central Flow Management Unit were cancelled with another 1,000 cancellations yesterday.
US Air Transport Assn. yesterday filed a lawsuit in US federal court seeking to overturn the National Mediation Board's decision last week to change air and rail union voting rules, alleging that the board overstepped its bounds in reversing more than 75 years of precedent.
Boeing agreed to clean up the Duwamish Waterway JetBlue Airways launched a campaign Continental Airlines took the opportunity on Earth Day Brazilian Alliance for Aviation Biofuels was formed on May 6
ATW's upcoming Eco-Aviation Conference (June 23-25) in Washington will feature a full panel dedicated to exploring advances in engine technology and their role in helping airlines to reduce their environmental impact. The panel will include presentations from CFM International, MTU Aero Engines, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce. Click here for more information.
Intra-EU air passenger travel is the fastest-growing transport sector in the EU, with an increase of 48% between 1997 and 2007, according to a report released late last month by the European Environmental Agency.
