FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt called for increased cooperation between the US and China on runway safety, airworthiness, aircraft emissions and next-generation air traffic control. In remarks prepared for the China Civil Aviation Development Forum in Beijing, Babbitt said the two countries with the largest aviation systems, the US and China, need to be world leaders on these important issues. He noted that measures taken in the US to improve runway safety contributed to a 63% drop in the number of runway incursion incidents between 2000 and 2008.
The UK's new coalition government indicated it will cancel plans for a third runway at London Heathrow and refuse additional runways at Gatwick and Stansted, stating that it is committed "to implement a full program of measures to fulfill our joint ambitions for a low carbon and eco-friendly economy."
Emirates Group reported net income of AED4.2 billion ($1.14 billion) for its fiscal year ended March 31, a substantial increase over a AED1.49 billion profit in 2008-09, marking its 22nd consecutive profitable year despite what it described as "a year fraught with worldwide market instability and economic uncertainty."
A nearly new A330-200 operated by Afriqiyah Airways crashed on final approach to Tripoli early Wednesday, killing 103 of the 104 people aboard, including 11 crewmembers. The accident was the deadliest so far in 2010. A boy from the Netherlands reportedly was the lone survivor. The crash occurred as Flight 8U771, en route from Johannesburg, was attempting to land at Tripoli International at about 6 a.m. local time. All but 11 of the passengers were continuing onward to European destinations, according to a statement from the airline.
ICAO's European and North Atlantic Regional office yesterday held an initial meeting to begin the process of amending its volcanic ash contingency plan, while EASA proposed adoption of the US practice of a 120-mi. no-fly zone around an ash plume, according to published reports.
Boeing said India's domestic freighter airline Blue Dart Aviation selected its Maintenance Performance Toolbox for its 757-200 freighter fleet. The software-based productivity tool unifies airline maintenance data, streamlining the documentation process.
Kale Consultants will provide its Revera passenger revenue accounting system and its Amber cargo revenue accounting system to Vietnam Airlines, which will deploy the solutions on a licensed basis. Travelport GDS signed a five-year, full-content agreement with Emirates providing Galileo, Apollo and Worldspan-connected travel agents with access to the airline's full inventory of flights and fares.
China Eastern Airlines signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with the Henan provincial government under which it agreed to launch more international routes from Henan's capital Zhengzhou, boost flight frequencies of domestic routes to/from Zhengzhou and start air shuttle service between Zhengzhou and Shanghai. It earlier launched a daily Zhengzhou-Shanghai-Kuala Lumpur routing aboard an A320 and plans to start Zhengzhou-Shanghai-Nagoya service later this year. Henan lies in the middle part of China.
Embraer announced that LOT Polish Airlines converted orders for four E-175s into the larger E-195 with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2011. Aircraft are part of a follow-on order for a dozen E-175s placed in late 2007 at a time when the carrier already operated six E-170s and four E-175s. Four E-170s from the 2007 order were delivered in 2009 and four more will be delivered this year. LOT holds two options and 10 purchase rights for the E-175 as well. It took its first E-170 in March 2004, becoming the first European airline to operate a member of the E-Jet family.
News from Travel Technology Update "Would you like fries with that?" McDonald's built an empire by offering something to consumers that would complement their purchase of a hamburger. It was offered to the right customer at the appropriate time, and it was not a complicated proposition. That is merchandising done right, Timothy O'Neil-Dunne said in his keynote address at the OpenTravel Alliance Advisory Forum in Seattle.
A senior US lawmaker is warning that the National Mediation Board exceeded its legal authority with a new ruling that strengthens air and rail union organizers.
EasyJet narrowed its net loss for its fiscal year first half ended March 31 to £58.9 million ($87.9 million), a 31.4% improvement over an £85.9 million deficit in the year-ago period, but lowered its profit expectations for the full year ending Sept. 30 owing to volcanic ash-related airspace closures.
Kayak buys German travel search site Social media company adds investors Travelport plans Q3 launch of Universal Desktop Saudi Arabian Air completes migration to Amadeus Altea CMS Carlson to test Sabre Hospitality's XML connection In Focus: GuestCentric helps hoteliers navigate social media World news briefing
"Would you like fries with that?" McDonald's built an empire by offering something to consumers that would complement their purchase of a hamburger. It was offered to the right customer at the appropriate time, and it was not a complicated proposition. That is merchandising done right, Timothy O'Neil-Dunne said in his keynote address at the OpenTravel Alliance Advisory Forum in Seattle.
