Six Hong Kong carriers, including Cathay Pacific Airways and Dragonair, will cut fuel surcharges on international and domestic routes by 10% and 15% respectively through October and November. Surcharges will be HK$832 ($106.97) on long-haul flights and HK$196 on short-haul. The decision, as well as cuts implemented by some foreign carriers, have put pressure on airlines from the Chinese mainland.
Gulf Air yesterday signed a deal with Bahrain Real Estate Investment to build a maintenance hangar at Bahrain International. Slated for completion in 2011, the facility will accommodate three widebodies.
Boeing announced successful completion of the "high blow" high-pressure test on the 787 static test airframe at its Everett factory Sunday. It is one of three static tests that must be cleared prior to first flight. During the high blow test, air pressure in the airframe increased to an internal pressure of 150% of the maximum level expected in service--14.9 lb. per sq. in. (1.05 kg. per cm.) gauge (psig).
Aeroflot posted a RUB2.25 billion ($90.1 million) first-half profit, its board of directors announced. The result represents a 29.7% drop from earnings of RUB3.2 billion in the year-ago semester. Revenue in the six months ended June 30 rose 39.4% to RUB42.98 billion while expenses were RUB41.11 billion. SU said fuel costs were 21.3% over budget.
Assn. of Asia Pacific Airlines members flew 52.4 billion RPKs in August, down 1.2% from the year-ago period, as traffic in the region continued to soften. Passenger boardings declined 3.7% to 12.3 million. Capacity continued to rise, however, with ASKs up 2.4% to 68.3 billion. As a result, load factor fell 2.8 points to 76.7%. AAPA international air cargo traffic was down 6% to 4.4 billion FTKs. For the first eight months of 2008, traffic rose 2.5% to 408.6 billion RPKs against a 3.6% climb in ASKs to 534.5 billion. Load factor dipped 0.9 points to 77.3%.
Boeing recorded orders for 24 aircraft last week, the largest weekly haul since July. Orders are for 11 737s, four 777s and nine 767s. The company listed all as unidentified, but ATWOnline understands that the nine 767s are the aircraft announced by ANA last week ( ATWOnline, Sept. 26). The 24 orders take the company's yearly total net of two cancellations to 610: 467 737s, two 747s, 11 767s, 52 777s and 78 787s.
Boeing said last week that AeroLogic selected its Maintenance Performance Toolbox and Airplane Health Management Web solution for its 777 freighter maintenance documentation platform. Technology is expected to streamline management of technical publications, training and customization of online maintenance manuals.
AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes said the airline is "much closer to achieving our dreams of boosting the growth of Kuala Lumpur as the low-cost hub in Asia" as the LCC announced the addition of four additional daily KUL-Singapore flights beginning Dec. 1.
Foreign ownership rules and cabotage rights were key topics of discussion during EU-US Phase Two open skies negotiations last week in Washington, according to European Commission Director-Air Transport Daniel Calleja. Briefing reporters before departing Washington, Calleja said the second-stage air transport services agreement being negotiated "is about unfinished business" from the first-stage EU-US accord that kicked in on March 30 ( ATW, March 2008).
Russian Federal Air Transportation Agency last week temporarily suspended flights by 737-500 aircraft, which are equipped with the same navigation system used by the Aeroflot Nord 737 that crashed in Perm two weeks ago ( ATWOnline, Sept. 16). Six carriers operate the plane, according to RIA Novosti, which reported that the ban will remain in force until pilots from those airlines undergo additional training.
Delta Air Lines will offer a first class on its MD-88 shuttle service beginning Dec. 1. Each aircraft will feature 14 first class seats and 128 in economy and the shuttle will continue to feature open seating. DL said first class customers will "enjoy an expanded selection of snack options, a more expansive offering of complimentary cocktails and wider, more comfortable seats." By next spring the shuttle fleet will be equipped with Aircell's Gogo inflight broadband service. Delta Shuttle operates 30-times-daily from New York LaGuardia to Washington National and Boston.
Rockwell Collins reached a deal with Airbus to provide side displays and docking stations for the new Class 2 electronic flight bag on A320s for production and aftermarket applications. System is designed to enhance efficiency by electronically connecting airline and pilot operations.
Embraer delivered the first E-190 to Virgin Nigeria. The aircraft is configured for 96 passengers, 12 in first class and 84 in economy. All seats feature the Thales i4500 IFE system. VK has ordered three E-190s and seven E-170s.
SITA said Boryspil International selected its AirportConnect solution to support its goal of processing 18 million passengers by 2020. Solution enables faster check-in and easier adoption of self-service technology. The airport anticipates 20% growth this year to some 6.7 million passengers. Deal also includes SITA AirportHub, a shared wide area network offering high-resiliency and cost-effective in-airport connectivity.
Qantas Group named Jetstar Airways GM Bruce Buchanan to take over the CEO role on Oct. 1, replacing Alan Joyce, who will take over the reins at Qantas Group in November ( ATWOnline, July 29).
AVIC I is ramping up efforts to manufacture large commercial trunk aircraft as some of its subsidiaries are beginning to make big investments in expanding production capabilities.
CTT Systems announced that Air New Zealand ordered 42 Zonal Drying Systems to be installed in 13 A320s, five 767s, 16 737s and eight 777s. The systems, which eliminate condensation in the aircraft, are scheduled for installation starting in November.
Alitalia's pilots and flight attendants still have not signed on to the revived AZ rescue plan backed by the airline's other major unions, stalling its re-launch even as Lufthansa became a possible investor.
Assn. of Flight Attendants-CWA said that 1,550 United Airlines flight attendants accepted voluntary furloughs in increments of six, nine, 12, 18 and 21 months beginning Oct. 31, eliminating the need for involuntary furloughs ( ATWOnline, Aug. 29).
US FAA yesterday announced that Croatia has been designated Category 2 and "does not comply with international safety standards" set by ICAO. FAA assessed Croatia's civil aviation authority in January. It said the Croatian government is "working diligently to correct all areas of concern," without elaborating.
Kenya Airways will launch thrice-weekly Nairobi-Guangzhou on Oct. 28 using a 777-200ER. AirBaltic will launch flights from Riga to Amsterdam (daily), Hannover (five-times-weekly), Tampere (twice-daily) and Dubai (twice-weekly) on Oct. 26. It will offer 49 routes from Riga and 14 from Vilnius during the winter schedule.
Gol and VRG parent Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes said yesterday that Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency has approved its request to integrate Gol and VRG into a single airline company ( ATWOnline, Aug. 1). "The reorganization aims at improving operational structure," Gol said.
