Delta Air Lines announced the following new routes: Five-times-weekly Seattle-Beijing beginning June 4 aboard a 767-300, daily SEA-Osaka Kansai on June 7 aboard a 767-300, five-times-weekly Detroit-Hong Kong on June 2 aboard a 777-200, five-times-weekly DTW-Incheon on June 1 aboard a 777-200, daily flights from New York JFK to both Copenhagen and Stockholm Arlanda on May 27 aboard 757-200s, thrice-weekly Atlanta-Accra on June 1 aboard a 767-300, thrice-weekly JFK-Abuja on June 1 aboard a 767-300.
The US National Transportation Safety Board said both pilots from the Northwest Airlines A320 that "overflew" Minneapolis-St. Paul by 150 mi. on Oct. 21 claimed in interviews with board investigators over the weekend that they "lost track of time" while having an extended discussion regarding "the new monthly crew flight scheduling system" implemented as part of the carrier's merger with Delta Air Lines.
British Airways said it is "extremely disappointed" by the Unite union's decision to ballot 14,000 cabin crew regarding strike action. "We have put together a package of changes, which despite the unprecedented financial circumstances facing the company, not only protects current cabin crew but also offers many new benefits," the airline said, noting that those changes are effective from Nov. 16 ( ATWOnline, Oct. 21).
Assn. of Asia Pacific Airlines' 17 members transported 10.8 million international passengers in September, a figure "effectively matching" the year-ago month for the first time in more than a year, the group said. International RPKs fell 0.9% but capacity was cut 6.1%, boosting load factor 4.1 points to 76.4%. The 6.5% year-over-year decline in FTKs was the smallest this year, AAPA said. Freight capacity was down 11.2% and load factor climbed 3.4 points to 68.7%.
Airbus said EASA certified brake-to-vacate and runway overrun warning and protection systems for the A380. BTV and ROW/ROP were trialed on the aircraft for the first time in May 2008 and will be added to the first A380s delivered to Air France and Lufthansa.
The Japanese government and Japan Airlines reportedly will unveil a new turnaround plan for the troubled carrier later this week that will include slashing 13,000 jobs and giving a new government-backed agency control over JAL's restructuring process.
Southwest Airlines revealed in a regulatory filing that it has settled a shareholder lawsuit related to safety issues for $3.5 million. The lawsuit stemmed from SWA's $7.5 million fine paid to US FAA for operating 46 737 Classics for nine days in March 2007 after it had disclosed to the agency that the aircraft were in noncompliance with an airworthiness directive ( ATWOnline, March 3).
Air France launched its new premium economy product, Premium Voyageur, on Sunday's 777-200ER flight from New York JFK to Paris Charles de Gaulle. Aircraft featured 24 Voyageur seats ( ATWOnline, March 23).
Czech government rejected the CZK1 billion ($57.8 million) bid for CSA Czech Airlines from Unimex and Travel Service ( ATWOnline, Aug. 20). "There will be a hard restructuring, namely to the expense side," Prime Minister Jan Fischer told reporters, according to Dow Jones.
Ryanair said it notified Shannon Airport that it will reduce the number of based aircraft to one from three if the Irish government does not repeal its €10 ($15) passenger tax by Feb. 1 or if the airport does not extend the LCC's cost base "on a competitive basis for a further five-year period." Ryanair said it has lost money in each of the five years it has operated at SNN and it announced a cutback over the summer ( ATWOnline, June 18).
AirTran Airways said mechanics and inspectors represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters ratified a new 48-month collective bargaining agreement. Contract covers around 400 employees at seven US airports.
Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings reported third-quarter net income of $14.7 million, a nearly threefold increase over $5.2 million earned in the year-ago period and its third quarter of strong earnings growth this year.
FAA has talked a great deal about transitioning to a satellite-based NextGen ATC system, which would allow carriers to use RNP procedures supported by ADS-B and other technology to operate more direct flight paths, increasing system efficiency and reducing airline fleets' fuel burn and carbon dioxide emissions. But the US Congress repeatedly has stalled trying to determine how the $45-$75 billion transition to NextGen will be funded.
Describing the current situation as "unsustainable," Iberia's board last week approved a strategic plan that includes creation of a new short/medium-haul carrier, long-haul expansion (mainly to/from Latin America.), an additional €37 million ($55.5 million) annual reduction in overhead costs over the next two years and a "radical" change of approach designed to generate more revenue.
Garuda Indonesia will reinstate daily Jakarta-Amsterdam service via Dubai June 1 aboard an A330-200 following "much improved business and economic relations between Indonesia and the Netherlands," it said. Garuda was removed from the EU's list of banned airlines in July ( ATWOnline, July 27). United Airlines will launch twice-daily Washington Dulles-Pensacola flights on Feb. 11 aboard a Mesa Airlines CRJ. It also will operate twice-weekly PNS-Chicago O'Hare service Feb. 13-June 6.
Thales announced that its Head-Up Display was certified by EASA on the A380 in single (left seat only) and dual configuration (left and right seats). Air France is launch customer.
Dublin Aerospace was issued EASA Part 145 certification by the Irish Aviation Authority. Its MRO facility is based at Dublin Airport at the former SR Technics (Ireland) site. Hangar can accommodate three narrowbody aircraft. It currently performs heavy MRO on 737NG and A320 family aircraft, as well as 737 landing gear and Honeywell APU overhaul. It expects A320 landing gear capability to come online next year.
Seagle Air of Bratislava suspended operations Friday after failing to receive funds from partner SkyOne Italy Airlines, Seagle CEO Peter Hanak said in a statement. Seagle's charter and cargo operations could restart if financing is secured. It operated three 737-300s and two A320s. The CTK Czech news agency reported that Bratislava's Milan Rastislav Stefanik Airport lost 34% of its traffic when SkyEurope Airlines folded last month and could lose an additional 25% with the loss of Seagle. Ryanair now is BTS's largest carrier.
Brussels Airlines is "set and ready" to enter the Star Alliance, with the formal accession scheduled for Dec. 9 in Brussels, MD Bernard Gustin told ATWOnline last week. "We performed out last IT tests yesterday in Frankfurt and we expect a green light," he said. "When we were formally invited to join Star Alliance in December in Chicago, I was cautious and expected the integration could take between 12 and 18 months. We did it in less than a year." Lufthansa, a 45% shareholder in the carrier, assisted SN with the integration.
Hamilton Sundstrand signed a 10-year agreement with Air Canada to provide component and repair services on AC's 18 777s under HS's Comprehensive Accessory Repair and Exchange aftermarket program.
Air Astana is expecting a record profit this year, surpassing the $35 million earned in 2007, thanks to cost-cutting measures implemented before the global economic crisis hit both the airline and Kazakhstan last autumn. "KC was very affected. Our traffic collapsed. But all this happened during a time when KC's cost-cutting program already was in progress," President Peter Foster told ATWOnline last week in Almaty. Astana cut capacity by 33% compared to 2008 and it faces a 15% decline in revenue.
