Air Transport World

JetBlue Airways has rolled out a special Embraer E190 livery and a new tailfin design that will appear on multiple aircraft this year.

Chinese carriers transported 488 million passengers in 2016, up 12% from 432.4 million in 2015, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

Europe’s regional airlines face a narrow—and shrinking—window of opportunity in which to make a profit, an industry consultant said in London Feb. 20.

Aeroflot subsidiary Aurora Airline, which serves Russia’s far eastern regions, has increased commuter flights frequencies in Primorsky Krai.

Samara’s Kurumoch International Airport in the Russian Volga region reported handling 28,000 international passengers in January, up 70% year-over-year (YOY).

German aerospace equipment manufacturer Recaro Aircraft Seating delivered over 100,000 seats in 2016, setting a new record across its four production sites.

São Paulo-based low-cost carrier GOL reported a full-year 2016 net profit of BRL1.1 billion ($338.5 million), reversing the airline’s BRL4.3 billion net loss in 2015.

The European Regions Airline Association (ERA) is seeking assistance from the continent’s safety authority for carriers facing heavy compensation costs following flight delays.

Low-cost carrier (LCC) Norwegian is planning to open up transatlantic services from several mid-sized US cities that do not have European flights, the airline’s CEO said Feb.20.

Russia’s United Engine Corp. (UEC), a part of state-owned Rostec, is ready to equip Ilyushin Il-114-300 aircraft with turboprop engine TV7-117ST, UEC said in a statement Feb. 16.

Airline Routes-Feb. 17, 2017

Icelandair is to undertake a modification program on its Boeing 757-200 fleet, through fitting them with Aviation Partners Boeing’s Scimitar Blended Winglets (SBW).

Mexican low-cost carrier Volaris posted a 2016 net profit of MXN3.5 billion ($170 million), up 42.8% over net income of MXN2.46 billion in 2015, on a 29.3% year-over-year rise in revenue to MXN20.8 billion.

Air Canada reported C$876 million ($650.3 million) net profit for 2016, nearly tripling the airline’s C$308 million net profit in 2015.

China Southern Airlines subsidiary XiamenAir has opened a new route from Fuzhou to New York JFK.

Central and Eastern European low-cost carrier (LCC) Wizz Air plans to introduce daily flights from Lufthansa’s main hub Frankfurt to Sophia (Bulgaria) beginning May 22 and Budapest (Hungary) from Dec. 15, using a 230-seat Airbus A321.

Alitalia says it finally expects to have agreed a new business plan by the end of February.

Boeing rolled out the first 787-10, the third and largest Dreamliner variant, from its plant in North Charleston, South Carolina, the exclusive final assembly site for 787-10 aircraft.

UK low-cost carrier (LCC) easyJet expects to finalize plans for a European air operator’s certificate (AOC) over the coming weeks and could place a new AOC in either Portugal or Austria.

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 and a Frontier Airlines Airbus A320 were involved in a ground contact incident at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), the airlines and airport have confirmed.

Virgin Australia will defer its Boeing 737 MAX orders for one year as it confronts weaker demand in the Australian domestic market.

European safety regulator EASA has withdrawn a safety bulletin that focused on the risks of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 mobile phones, following their recall and deactivation.

China’s Juneyao Airlines has finalized order for five Boeing 787-9s, valued at about $1.32 billion at current list prices, according to the US-based manufacturer.

Low-cost carrier (LCC) Norwegian reported a 2016 net profit of NOK1.1 billion ($131.6 million), more than quadrupling its NOK246 million net result in 2015.

People-Feb. 16, 2017