COMAC signed an LOI with Moog to co-develop the high-lift system including flap/slat actuation, pilot interfaces, electronic controls, power drive units, wingtip brakes, gearboxes and miscellaneous components for the C919. It also selected Parker Aerospace, in a joint venture with AVIC Systems, to supply the fuel, inerting and hydraulic systems. Honeywell was selected to supply 131-9(C9C) APUs and associated equipment.
IATA reported that the number of premium passengers traveling in first and business class seats on international flights grew 5.9% in February compared to the same month in 2009, marking the third consecutive month of year-over-year increases
Turkish Airlines, which has been touting its fast pace of expansion as contrasting to the lack of capacity increases by many airlines around the world, posted impressive growth numbers again in March. It transported 6.16 million passengers for the month, up 25.5% from the year-ago month. RPKs climbed 35% to 10.17 million against a 26.9% lift in capacity to 14.46 million ASKs. Load factor lifted 4.2 points to 70.3%. The carrier reported a $369.5 million profit in 2009 ( ATWOnline, April 7).
China Eastern Airlines signed a letter of intent Friday in Shanghai to join SkyTeam, a move industry analysts said would allow it to establish a closer relationship with China Southern Airlines and better position it to compete against Air China. CEA is expected to sign a formal alliance agreement with SkyTeam in June setting its official entry into the airline grouping for mid-2011. Its decision to join SkyTeam is a disappointment to Star Alliance and oneworld, both of which had been wooing CEA, seen as a valuable partner owing to its 50% market share at its Shanghai base.
Fewer than two years after Southwest Airlines called WestJet "the perfect fit" for a codeshare partnership that promised to expand its reach outside the US, the Dallas-based LCC said Friday it will "terminate" the relationship with its Canadian counterpart before the agreement ever gets implemented.
Air France Industries and KLM Engineering & Maintenance signed a one-year deal with Pegasus Airlines for maintenance of nine CFM56-7Bs on a turnkey basis.
Lufthansa Cargo said it no longer transports dogs or cats intended for use in animal experiments, a policy it implemented April 1. A self-imposed embargo for the transport of apes, whales and dolphins has been enforced by Lufthansa Cargo for "many years," it said, adding that "on principle" it does not transport any captured wild animals.
Gol and Delta Air Lines reached a codeshare agreement under which DL will place its code on more than 45 Gol flights from Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Registered frequent flyers from both airlines will be able to earn miles in both Gol's Smiles and Delta's SkyMiles programs on eligible flights. Alaska Airlines will launch daily Portland-Honolulu service Sept. 20 aboard a 737-800. Bulgaria Air will start twice-weekly Sofia-Skopje service in June, increasing to thrice-weekly in July.
Saudi Arabia will begin construction of its own flight academy at Thumamah near Riyadh. The Saudi Aviation Flight Academy is being developed in cooperation with the Saudi Aviation Club and the Saudi Binladin Group, according to the Arab Air Carrier Org. It said the academy will aim to have the capacity is to train up to 200 cadets to international standards. Campus facilities will include all training, residential housing, recreational and administrative offices.
ANA President and CEO Shinichiro Ito questioned whether public aid for bankrupt Japan Airlines distorts Japan's competitive environment. Testifying before a government committee, Ito said JAL's turnaround program is progressing "haphazardly," according to a Nikkei report. JAL is receiving around ¥900 billion ($9.6 billion) in government support to ensure its survival as it navigates through a court-monitored bankruptcy restructuring.
AirBridgeCargo Airlines said it took delivery of its sixth 747-400 freighter this week. The Volga-Dnepr scheduled service subsidiary, which now operates nine 747Fs, said the latest -400F is being leased from Air France. ABC earlier this month added its fifth -400F, saying the fleet expansion was necessitated by the delay in delivery of its first new 747-8F that was due to join its fleet this year
UPS, considered a harbinger of global economic performance, said its adjusted first-quarter earnings per share to be announced later this month will be up 37% year-over-year owing to a stronger revenue environment than anticipated, and the express delivery giant considerably heightened its outlook for the remainder of the year.
AirBaltic next month will start evaluating an order for up to 30 new narrowbodies to replace its current fleet comprising 10 737-500s, eight 737-300s and two 757-200s, VP Corporate Communications Janis Vanags confirmed to this website.
Airlines cancelling or delaying flights at EU airports as a result of airborne ash from the Icelandic volcano are required to "provide assistance and care" to stranded passengers including "meals, refreshments, hotel accommodation [and] telephone calls," the European Commission appeared to say yesterday in a statement.
Volcanic ash from a Wednesday eruption in Iceland drifted over much of western and northern Europe, rendering airspace unfit for aircraft and forcing airlines to cancel thousands of flights. At London Heathrow alone, 399 departures and 412 arrivals were cancelled Thursday, and UK airspace was expected to remain closed through all of Friday. Flybe said that all 71 of its aircraft were grounded by midday Thursday and Ryanair confirmed it cancelled more than 600 flights, approximately 40% of its scheduled services.
Southwest Airlines Executive VP and COO Michael Van de Ven will deliver the opening address at ATW's Third Annual Eco-Aviation Conference June 23-25 at the Capital Hilton in Washington. Van de Ven will deliver his remarks on the morning of June 24. Later in the day, SWA Senior Director-Flight Operations Jeff Martin will give conference attendees a close-up and in-depth look at developments with the airline's ongoing RNP initiative, the largest such project in the industry.
The Air Transport Assn. and the Defense Logistics Agency's Defense Energy Support Center last month signed a strategic alliance agreement designed to spur the development and deployment of alternative aviation fuels. The airline industry and the US Dept. of Defense collectively require more than 1.5 million barrels of jet fuel per day.
Air France and American Airlines separately conducted the first "next-generation technology and procedures" on transatlantic flights in April as part of the Atlantic Interoperability Initiative to Reduce Emissions. The AF flight was operated by a 747-400ER from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Miami on April 6 while the AA flight was a 767-300ER the next day in the reverse direction.
Air New Zealand CFO and Group GM Rob McDonald says the carrier aims to be recognized as "the world's most environmentally sustainable airline." It has 40 environmental projects underway at the moment.
Some exciting new feedstocks for biofuels are on the horizon while development of existing sources is moving ahead, according to Boeing MD-Environmental Strategy Billy Glover. A new--to-aviation potential feedstock is tallow, or animal fat. Tallow (triglyceride) has been used for years as a raw material for biodiesel and as a metal lubricant. A significant amount of tallow goes to waste and it is "a significant feedstock. We are talking about large quantities," Glover said. Trials on conversion to jet fuel have been completed, although no test flights have been conducted.
Governments around the world need to a take a leading role in shaping and accelerating biofuel development, according to Boeing MD-Environmental Strategy Billy Glover. Speaking with ATW's Eco-Aviation Today in Sydney this week, he said that while he does not favor mandates, government incentives and loan guarantees for feedstock production and development are "essential" if the airline industry is to achieve the goal of 25% of fuel from biofuels by 2030.
Patni Computer Systems won a contract from the US Air Transport Assn. to develop, implement and maintain the "next generation" of the ATA Aviation Marketplace over the next year, ready for hosting by "early 2011." It is the first upgrade for the aviation parts sourcing resource since its redevelopment nearly 10 years ago.
Lufthansa introduced a mobile-friendly version of its MySkyStatus social networking tool, which automatically sends flight status updates to users' Facebook and Twitter accounts as well as through personalized e-mails. IBS Software Services said Japanese regional carrier Amakusa Airlines implemented its passenger reservation system iFly Res for integrated reservations, ticketing and departure control aplications.
Curtiss-Wright said it was selected by Boeing to manufacture leading-edge rotary actuators for the 747-8, with deliveries beginning in January 2011 and extending through December 2012.
