News from Travel Technology Update: Even people with creative jobs occasionally wonder what they might accomplish if work didn't get in the way. SITA, the airline-owned information technology company, is unleashing the power of "What if?" with SITA Lab, a new research and development facility based in Geneva, Switzerland, that is liberated from day-to-day product development. The company said the goal of the SITA Lab is "to drive innovation for the air transport industry working both independently and in partnership with others."
Boeing has begun final assembly of the fourth 787 and second flight test aircraft. Ships two and three are static and fatigue test aircraft. According to VP-787 Final Assembly and Change Incorporation Steve Westby, there is "significantly less traveled work on this [fourth] airplane." He added in a statement: "The degree of completeness of sections at the partners is significantly better than Airplane 1. Condition of assembly is much better and we will see continued improvements on the condition of each assembly shipped.
AviIT reached agreement with Etihad Airways to support all ACARS services across the carrier's fleet. Contract includes implementation of AviIT's Archimedes and Airboard system, flight operations log transmission services and integration of ACARS data with engineering fault diagnostic, crew planning and fuel planning systems. ACARS technology provides two-way messaging between aircraft and ground stations via VHF, HF or satellite.
Korean Air placed a firm order for three additional A380s, bringing its commitment to the jumbo jet to eight, Airbus announced yesterday. The newly ordered aircraft are scheduled to arrive in 2012-13. KE expects its first A380 in 2010, when it will introduce the plane on routes to the western US. The A380 program now boasts 192 firm orders from 16 customers.
Hamilton Sundstrand will provide the electric power generation system for the forthcoming A350 XWB under a deal with Airbus announced Monday. EPGS includes four 100 kVA, 230-volt variable frequency generators and four generator control units. Estimated program revenue is $1 billion.
El Al said yesterday that it has signed a letter of intent to buy three new 737-800s from an unidentified Spanish airline for $145 million, Reuters reported. It will take delivery in 2009.
China Eastern Airlines will be the first of the country's big three carriers to expand into the niche regional market following CAAC's approval of its joint venture with AVIC I, Happy Air ( ATWOnline, Feb. 5). AVIC I will be Happy's controlling shareholder with a 60% stake, while CEA will put in CNY400 million ($55.7 million) for the remaining 40%. The new venture will be based in Xi'an and use Chinese-built aircraft for its fleet, specifically the MA60 and ARJ21.
Iraqi government said yesterday that it has agreed to purchase 40 new and four used aircraft from Boeing and an additional six units from Bombardier for Iraqi Airways, according to widespread press reports from Baghdad citing statements from Deputy Transport Minister Bangeen Rikani and a government spokesperson. Neither manufacturer confirmed the deal.
Garuda Indonesia orders 35 Boeing aircraft valued at $4.76 billion Lion Air orders 56 more 737-900ERs valued at $4.4 billion Goodrich to unveil maintenance and repair site next to Changi today IATA backs solar-powered flight prototype ATR: Earlier turboprop demand forecast was too low Additional stories Singapore News from February 19.
North American Airlines will discontinue scheduled service to Lagos, Accra and Georgetown on May 20. Chief Commercial and Planning Officer Rob Binns said the markets were performing as expected on a revenue basis but that rising fuel prices rendered them "untenable." NAA will redeploy the aircraft on charter services. Lufthansa will launch thrice-weekly Munich-Mumbai passenger service on May 3 with an A340-300 and increase thrice-weekly Frankfurt-Kolkata to five-times-weekly on June 3, when it will operate 50 weekly flights to six Indian destinations.
Singapore Airlines canceled an A380 flight to Sydney Monday night owing to a fuel pump defect, according to a statement provided to the Associated Press. A replacement pump did not solve the problem and a 747-400 was used on the flight as SIA's other A380 was undergoing maintenance. "Airbus and our own engineers have dedicated teams to try to address these issues quickly, but last night's fuel pump defect took much longer to fix," SIA told AP.
Bisignani critical of 'failed' US-Europe liberalization effort, challenges Asia to take lead Airbus, Boeing expected to announce more than $20 billion in orders in Singapore Newer Asian airport hubs may not serve region's needs Additional stories
Mesa Air Group's go! subsidiary announced the launch of a Hawaiian-language website. Go! operates approximately 60 daily flights on inter-island routes aboard CRJ200s and as a codeshare partner of Mokulele Airlines.
FAA Air Traffic Organization CEO Hank Krakowski told the US House of Representatives aviation subcommittee last week that the agency is making progress on reducing runway incursions, insisting that "serious" near misses on the ground are down significantly.
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways reached an approximately $200 million settlement last week on a class action suit filed on behalf of some 8 million US and UK passengers who purchased long-haul tickets from Aug. 11, 2004, through March 23, 2006, when the carriers were found to have colluded on fuel surcharges
GKN Aerospace said CAAC extended its MOC covering MRO of various engine fan blades and components for Airbus and Boeing aircraft until Dec. 31, 2009. MOC validates maintenance operation compliance with CAAR part 145.
Boeing named Matthew Ganz president of its Phantom Works research and development unit. Ganz was president, CEO and GM of HRL Laboratories, which is owned by Boeing and General Motors. He succeeds the retiring Bob Krieger.
Turkish Airlines flew 2.31 billion RPKs in January, a 7% rise from the year-ago month. Capacity was up 3.6% to 3.43 billion ASKs, lifting load factor 2.2 points to 67.5%. JetBlue Airways flew 2.08 billion RPMs in January, up 7.2% from the year-ago month. Capacity rose 8% to 2.75 billion ASMs and load factor slipped 0.5 point to 75.6%. Aer Lingus flew 1.07 billion RPKs in January, a 16.4% increase over the year-ago month. Capacity climbed 25.9% to 1.67 billion ASKs, lowering load factor 5.2 points to 64%.
A turbulent year for Brazilian commercial aviation and the acquisition of floundering flag carrier Varig hit hard at Gol's bottom line as the LCC's Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes parent reported an 82% plunge in full-year profit to BRL102.5 million ($58.6 million) from the BRL569.1 million earned in 2006, plus an operating loss.
Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore will spend S$500 million upgrading Changi's 27-year old Terminal 1. Work will start in May and be completed by 2011. Upgrade will reflect features of the newly opened Terminal 3 ( ATWOnline, Jan. 10).
Rolls-Royce announced that Singapore Airlines ordered Trent 900s for nine additional A380s along with an accompanying TotalCare services agreement. SIA already had ordered the powerplant for its original 10 aircraft, two of which have entered service. Financial terms were not disclosed.
SkyEurope Airlines conceded that it will not be profitable this financial year, which ends Sept. 30. Management told a shareholders meeting in Vienna last week that the LCC is working on maintaining its financial viability ( ATWOnline, Feb. 6). CFO Nick Manoudakis said it will continue to work on cutting costs and has asked pilots to reduce aircraft speed to save fuel. SkyEurope also is open to investment from other carriers, he said.
