The Air New Zealand A320 that crashed into the Mediterranean Sea during a Nov. 27 test flight conducted by XL Airways pilots was in the midst of a low-speed test conducted on approach to Perpignan when the cockpit crew lost control, according to a preliminary report issued yesterday by French investigators that raised questions about the test's timing and recommended that EASA develop regulations for "acceptance" flights.
Air Astana transported 2.8 million passengers in 2008, up 8% from the prior year, on a 16% increase in capacity to 7.5 billion ASKs. Load factor was 64%. It took delivery of three A320s last year, raising its fleet to 21 (two 767s, four 757s, two A321s, seven A320s, one A319 and five F50s). It plans to operate 34 aircraft in 2014 and 63 by 2022. Air New Zealand said January yield was up 8.1% year-over-year. It flew 2.35 billion RPKs during the month, down 8.5%, against a 6.6% fall in capacity to 2.82 billion ASKs. Load factor dropped 1.7 points to 83.4%.
Australia and New Zealand authorities are moving toward scrapping customs checks for transtasman flights, which could reduce return fares by approximately A$100 ($64.44) and provide a travel stimulus, airline executives said. Flights between the countries would be reclassified as domestic. Passengers would either partially clear customs before boarding via automated border processing gates or customs checks would be eliminated entirely.
Airbus is seeking further financial help from European governments for aircraft financing, a top company official said over the weekend. In widely reported remarks made at a conference in Dubai, Airbus Middle East President Habib Fekih said €5 billion ($6.4 billion) recently loaned by France's government to French banks to be used to finance aircraft purchases ( ATWOnline, Jan.
Ryanair intends to close all its airport check-in counters by year end in a cost-cutting move. "All we will have is a bag drop where passengers can drop off their luggage, otherwise everything will be done online. Ultimately, we want just one in five people to check in luggage," CEO Michael O'Leary told The Daily Telegraph.
Japanese startup Fuji Dream Airlines took delivery of its first 76-seat E-170. A second will arrive later this year. FDA will be based at the new Shizuoka Airport.
TAP Maintenance & Engineering listed VEM Maintenance & Engineering as an affiliated company extending the scope of its membership in the Airbus MRO Network. Affiliation means TAP will be the first member to offer base maintenance services for Airbus aircraft in South America.
Goodrich Corp. reached a three-year deal with TransAsia Airways of Taiwan to provide MRO on seven A320s. Contract offers flight hr.-based support and includes Goodrich sensors, actuation, engine control and electrical power products. Work will take place in Singapore, Xiamen and Sydney.
Iberia flew 3.83 billion RPKs in January, a 12% decline from the year-ago month. Capacity was down 8.1% to 5.17 billion ASKs and load factor dropped 3.3 points to 74%. Aer Lingus flew 1.01 billion RPKs in January, down 5.6% year-over-year. Capacity fell 6.1% to 1.56 billion ASKs and load factor rose 0.3 point to 64.3%. Norwegian estimated a 16% year-over-year increase in January yield to NOK0.64 (US9.4 cents). Norwegian.no flew 520 million RPKs, up 20%, against a 26% increase in capacity to 734 million ASKs. Load factor fell 3 points to 71%.
Finnair said the Finnish Airline Pilots Assn. rejected a settlement proposed by a state arbitrator but agreed to back off its threat to stage five one-day strikes ( ATWOnline, Jan. 27). An overtime ban will continue, allowing flights to operate "for the most part normally," the carrier said. Finnair said it would have accepted the arbitrator's settlement and that negotiations will continue.
Cyprus Airways said it will lease two A320s for six years. A spokesperson told Reuters that the deal is with an "Irish company" and that the aircraft will be delivered "by March or April." Several lessors, including AWAS, are headquartered in Ireland.
Indonesian prosecutors dropped the most serious charge against Garuda Indonesia Capt. Marwoto Komar but still are seeking a four-year prison term for negligence in the 737-400 accident at Yogyakarta that killed 21 in March 2007 ( ATWOnline, July 24, 2008). "As a senior pilot, the defendant was careless and caused an accident that led to a lot of casualties," Chief Prosecutor Mudim Aresto was quoted as saying. Komar is accused of ignoring 15 automated cockpit warnings and landing the aircraft at around 240 kt.
US Airways will return complimentary beverage service to the coach cabin on all mainline and US Airways Express flights beginning March 1. The airline has been charging for nonalcoholic beverages ($2 for soda/juice, $1 for coffee/tea) as part of its transition to a more a la carte business since last August ( ATWOnline, June 13, 2008).
Air France took delivery of its first 777F last week. AF, which placed the launch order for the new factory-built freighter in May 2005, progressively will replace its five 747-400ERFs and four 747-400BCFs with 777Fs. Based on the 777-200LR platform, the GE90-110B1L-powered 777F has an MTOW of 766,000 lb. (347,450 kg.). Range is 4,880 nm. (9,038 km.) with a full payload of 226,700 lb., according to Boeing. A total of 73 777Fs have been ordered by 12 customers.
Gulf Air signed an agreement to lease four 312-seat 777-300ERs from Jet Airways. Three aircraft will arrive next month and the fourth in May and will replace A340s. Gulf currently wet-leases two A300s from Jet.
Austrian LCC Niki was able to increase January passenger volume at its Vienna hub by 42.7% year-over-year, taking advantage of weakened Austrian Airlines Group. Against the current downturn, President Niki Lauda said Niki is targeting expansion. "We are not spending our time complaining about the crisis. . .People and companies are cutting expenses. With our low-cost tickets we are offering them just what they want, which enables us to keep growing," he said, adding that Niki is the only important airline at VIE planning a significant capacity increase.
GKN Aerospace said it completed "on schedule" production of the prototype composite spars for Airbus's A350 XWB wing box demonstrator. Under a work package announced last September, GKN has responsibility for development and supply of the composite spars and fixed trailing edge assemblies for the A350 wings.
CAAC plans to reduce every flight time by 3 min. and will control capacity increases for Chinese carriers in an effort to lift them out of their current financial difficulties. According to Vice Minister Wang Changshun, the 3-min. reduction can save airlines about CNY9 billion ($1.31 billion) annually. In addition, the regulator is committed to optimizing 36 air routes to shorten flight distance by a combined 2,800 km., which will cut costs further.
News from Travel Technology Update: Susan Black's assessment of the opportunities for travel start-ups to obtain outside investment is blunt: "It's dismal." Black, a travel industry veteran who serves as senior adviser for the industry at Chimney Rock Capital Partners, said venture capital and private equity firms that already have invested in travel start-ups are currently vetting their portfolios and "deciding who shall live and who shall die." The money hasn't completely dried up, but it most likely will go toward building on existing investments, Black said.
Royal Jordanian launched OnAir's inflight mobile service onboard A319 aircraft flying to Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and India. Technology allows passengers to use mobile phones and PDAs to make and receive calls and employ SMS and e-mail. Those with laptops fitted with GSM data cards can access the Internet.
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey approved $376.5 million for a runway project designed to help alleviate delays at New York JFK. Work is scheduled to begin in June and be completed in 2011. It will include reconstructing and widening runway 13-31 and revamped taxiways. Runway 13-31 is 14,572 ft. long and handles about one-third of JFK's annual operations, including more than half of all departures.
Virgin Blue Holdings blamed a one-off charge associated with establishment of its V Australia subsidiary and its fuel hedges for a net loss of A$101.4 million ($65.3 million) in the six months ended Dec. 31 compared to a A$113.3 million profit in the year-ago semester.
B/E Aerospace won STC approval from US FAA to provide Japan Airlines with cabin interior retrofit installation on 777-200s. JCAB also validated the STC. Prototype installation was completed in December at JAL's Tokyo facility.
