Air Transport World

Spanish flag carrier Iberia has unveiled its first Airbus A340-600 fitted with new premium-economy seats and revealed first routes.

Greece-based Aegean Airlines and subsidiary Olympic Air carried 2.1 million passengers in the first quarter, up 5% compared to 2.01 million the year-ago quarter.

Royal Jordanian’s charter subsidiary, Royal Wings, will reinforce its initial scheduled services from the Jordanian resort of Aqaba, with a second destination.

A US federal bankruptcy judge in New York has approved the reorganization plan of Indianapolis-based Republic Airways Holdings, paving the way for Republic to exit Chapter 11 protection.

Lufthansa Group will take delivery of five Airbus A320neos instead of the 10 originally planned to be delivered this year, Lufthansa spokesperson Joerg Waber confirmed to ATW.

Calgary-based low-cost carrier (LCC) WestJet, Canada’s second largest airline, said it will launch an ultra LCC by the end of 2017.

IT & Distribution-April 20, 2017

Norwegian is continuing its controversial long-haul expansion with the addition of a London Gatwick-Singapore long-haul low-cost route, operated by its new UK airline.

Pratt & Whitney is beginning a fleet-wide retrofit of a more durable air seal on PW1100G geared turbofan-powered Airbus A320neos following certification of the improvement package on April 12.

Mexican ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) Volaris reported a MXP1.4 billion ($72.7 million) net loss for the first quarter of 2017, reversed from a MXP602 million net profit in the year-ago quarter.

Nigerian startup Green Africa Airways has appointed former American Airlines CCO Virasb Vahidi as a senior executive advisor.

St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport’s total traffic in the 2017 first quarter grew 25.3% to 2.9 million passengers, according to an airport statement.

The first Airbus A321neo, the largest and longest-range variant of the Airbus family of re-engined narrowbody aircraft, has been delivered to Virgin America.

Chicago-based United Airlines and Frankfurt-based Lufthansa Cargo have signed a joint venture (JV) agreement for “extensive” cargo cooperation on routes between the US and Europe.

Estonian national carrier Nordica is to add two Bombardier CRJ900 regional jets to its fleet. The Tallinn-based airline currently operates a fleet of four CRJ900s and two CRJ700s.

People-April 19, 2017

Canada’s Transportation Safety Board (TSB) is looking into an incident in which an Air Canada aircraft lost one of its undercarriage wheels prior to takeoff on a transatlantic flight April 16.

Saudi-Arabian hybrid carrier flynas has issued a request for proposal (RFP) to assess options for funding its forthcoming order for Airbus A320neos.

After years of angling to go public, Azul Brazilian Airlines has raised more than $570 million in an initial public offering (IPO) last week.

Qatar Airways said it has become the first airline to comply with IATA’s Resolution 753 at its hub in Hamad International Airport (HIA).

Irish lessor Avolon more than doubled its owned and managed fleet to 565 aircraft in the first-quarter of 2017 compared to the year-ago quarter, the company reported April 18.

Alitalia’s workforce begins voting April 20 on a deal that will decide whether the struggling airline receives a fresh infusion of cash.

Emirates Airline will reduce flights to the US starting next month, citing a “significant deterioration” in demand for travel to the US since President Donald Trump took office three months ago.

Icelandic low-cost carrier WOW Air has detailed plans to add seven more aircraft, growing its all-Airbus fleet from 17 to 24 by end of 2018.

Finland flag carrier Finnair has finalized a sale-and-leaseback agreement with GE Capital Aviation Services for one Airbus A350 XWB.