FAA and several contractors in March will begin testing a prototype communications scheme that theoretically could save millions of dollars per year for airlines and possibly give them some extra revenue to boot. The concept, called Aerosat Airborne Internet, calls for using the thousands of en route aircraft in the skies at any moment to create a communications "mesh" that proponents say could increase bandwidth dramatically and reduce the cost of existing communications pipes.
Vietnam Airlines said Thursday that its revenues for the first 11 months of 2005 totaled VND22 trillion ($1.38 billion), according to Vietnamese media reports. It flew 6.8 million passengers during the period.
Airbus last week laid the first stone in its new delivery center on a 40-hectare site near Toulouse-Blagnac International Airport. The four-building complex will be equipped to handle the deliveries of all aircraft leaving Toulouse including the A380. The facility is due to be completed in October 2006. Separately, Airbus announced that the PW6000-powered version of the A318 was granted type certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency following a year-long test period. The A318 was powered originally by CFM56-5Bs.
Volvo Aero was selected by GE as a component supplier for the GE90-115Bs used on the 777-200LR and 777-300ER. The 10-year deal is worth SEK2 billion ($251.3 million). Volvo will manufacture fan hub frames, low pressure turbine cases and turbine rear frames.
Delta Air Lines asked the US Bankruptcy Court last week for permission to shut down 16 of its 24 gates at Orlando International Airport, breaking a lease due to expire at the end of 2008. The carrier's sway over Orlando began to erode earlier this year as Southwest Airlines took the lead in market share there, but a Delta spokesperson said the company has no intention of reducing its commitment to the market, according to media reports. It will maintain its average of 115 flights per day although capacity will decrease by about 6%.
Sosoliso Airlines and Chanchangi Airlines, grounded earlier this month by the Nigerian government ( ATWOnline, Dec. 14), were granted permission to resume flying Friday. Sosoliso will be allowed to fly two of its four aircraft and Chanchangi six of its eight. A Sosoliso DC-9 crashed Dec. 10, killing 109 people.
Singapore Airlines hosed down media speculation that it is about to order 80 aircraft from Boeing made up of 777-200LRs, 787s and 747-8Fs. SIA has issued three RFPs--one for 19-hr. nonstop capability, one for A350/787 regional capability and the third for high capacity in the A380/747-8 range.
Transaero is considering adding eight 737-800s for charter operations. Zadar Airlines, a Croatian charter carrier, plans to start operating with two 737-500s by spring.
Alpine Air announced it was awarded contracts to fly cargo routes between Honolulu and Kamuela and Honolulu and Lanai-Kalapapa-Molokai. SAS Cargo received its Cargo 2000 certification last week.
AirTran Airways said its customer service, ramp and reservation agents rejected representation by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in an election conducted by the National Mediation Board. The Teamsters received 36% of the vote. Ballots were mailed to 2,353 employees. "We are pleased with the confidence expressed in our leadership team," AirTran Chairman and CEO Joe Leonard said.
Royal Jordanian added its second leased 72-seat Q400 last week. BAE Systems Regional Aircraft leased and delivered a second BAe 146-100 to Air Botswana, which will use it mainly on its Gaborone-Johannesburg route. The carrier also signed a JetSpares agreement with BAE covering both of its 146s.
Slovakian Privatization Commission announced it will recommend the 66% sale of Bratislava Airport to the TwoOne consortium comprising Vienna Airport, RZB Bank and Slovakian investment company Penta. The deal is worth €368 million ($436.5 million) and includes Kosice Airport for €34 million. The government will vote on the deal in January.
Pratt & Whitney Canada appointed Lufthansa Aero as the first independent MRO facility for its PW150 turboprop engines. The work will take place at LH's facility in Alzey, Germany.
Jeppesen and Airbus finalized an agreement bringing the former's electronic flight bag applications and data to the A320, A330, A340 and A380 families. Jeppesen is a subsidiary of Boeing Commercial Aviation Services. The pair had been operating for more than a year under an MOU. The first entry into service of an Airbus EFB with Jeppesen applications will be an A330 in spring 2006. "Jeppesen is committed to meeting the needs of the entire aviation industry because we serve customers from every segment of the market," President and COO Mark Van Tine said.
Heico Corp. reported net income of $6.6 million for the fourth quarter ended Oct. 31, a 28.2% increase over profits from the year-ago period. The Florida-based aerospace technology and services company increased sales by 25.5% to $76.5 million and reported a 28% rise in operating income to $12.8 million. Expenses climbed 25% to $63.7 million. FY profits totaled $22.8 million, a 10.6% increase from $20.6 million.
Northwest Airlines received approval from the US Bankruptcy Court for its aircraft financing deal with Airbus and Pratt & Whitney ( ATWOnline, Dec. 12). Airbus will finance 85% of soon-to-be-delivered A319s and 10 A330s scheduled for delivery in the next two years, according to media reports. Prepayments of approximately $100 million made by NWA prior to its entry into bankruptcy will be allocated to the aircraft costs.
United Airlines bid to buy an unspecified portion of FLYi, parent company of bankrupt Independence Air. The bid was filed under seal in US Bankruptcy Court, according to media reports. FLYi still is seeking damages from its former Washington Dulles partner but does not have precedence over other unsecured creditors. It will put its assets up for auction on Jan. 3 unless an investor is located. Mesa Air Group also is reported to be a bidder.
Turkish Airlines is looking into launching a low-cost carrier by next year. According to several Turkish media reports, THY plans to use its older aircraft for the operation, likely its 737-400 fleet. The new airline would offer 20% lower fares.
Boeing enjoyed another bumper week last week with an additional 64 orders logged in its order book. Net of cancellations, the airframer has chalked up 870 orders for the year with more expected to be signed off this week. The 870 total is just shy of the record of 877 set in 1988, which included McDonnell Douglas orders.
Azerbaijani aircraft operated by flag carrier Azerbaijan Airlines crashed near the Caspian Sea shortly after takeoff from Baku Friday, reportedly killing the 18 passengers and five crewmembers onboard. The aircraft was an An-140 twin-engine turboprop.
Asiana Airlines said it will place cabin staff on Turkish Airlines aircraft on its twice-weekly codeshare flights between Incheon and Istanbul. Two Asiana flight attendants will work each flight to "provide more convenient service to Korean passengers who make up 80%" of the route's traffic. Asiana added, "such attendant detachment is a unique kind of cooperation in the worldwide airline industry."
