Air Transport World

By Linda Blachly
Airline Routes-Dec. 19, 2016
Airports & Networks

By Linda Blachly
Aircraft Briefs-Dec. 16, 2016
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Mark Nensel
Airbus will delay delivery of the first A330neo by over six weeks, postponing to March 2018 delivery of the aircraft to launch customer TAP Portugal, as reported by the Wall Street Journal Dec. 16.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Linda Blachly
Mexico City-based Aeromar took delivery of its first ATR 42-600, out of a contract for eight firm ATR -600s (six 72-600s and two 42-600s) and options for six additional 72-600s announced in November.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320neo, which it plans to place into regular revenue service in mid-January.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Mark Nensel
Elected leaders of Alaska Airlines and Virgin America pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), voted Dec. 15 to accept a transition and process agreement (TPA) with Alaska Airlines management to define the process for negotiating a joint collective bargaining agreement.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

By Alan Dron
The Scottish parliament plans to halve the rate of Air Passenger Duty (APD)—a departure tax imposed by the UK parliament in London—by the end of the current parliamentary session, with the longer-term aim of abolishing it completely.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

By Alan Dron
Passengers at 18 UK airports face potential disruption over Christmas weekend, as more than 1,500 check-in staff, baggage handlers and cargo crew, represented by the Unite union, are set to stage a 48-hour strike beginning Dec. 23 after a long-running pay dispute.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

HNA Group subsidiary Yangtze River Airlines looks toward international expansion in 2017 as China’s outbound passenger travel continues to grow.
Airports & Networks

By Polina Montag-Girmes
Thai Airways has relaunched Bangkok Suvarnabhumi-Moscow Domodedovo Boeing 777-200/300 service on Dec. 15.
Airports & Networks

Star Alliance members SAS Scandinavian Airlines and Singapore Airlines (SIA) are expanding their codeshare cooperation as part of a joint venture (JV) agreement that was signed in 2012.
Airports & Networks

Lufthansa and the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) pilot union have agreed to arbitration by the end of January 2017, in an effort to resolve a pay dispute that has resulted in repeated strikes.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

Embraer is in discussions with the Brazilian government about the possibility of challenging the Québec provincial government’s $1 billion investment in Bombardier’s CSeries program through the World Trade Organization (WTO), according to Embraer CEO Paulo Cesar Silva.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Germany’s Lufthansa Group and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Aviation Group have finalized a codeshare deal and wet-lease agreement for 38 airberlin Airbus A319/A320 aircraft operating for Eurowings and Austrian Airlines.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Graham Warwick
The design of Amazon’s delivery unmanned aircraft vehicle (UAV), or drone, has evolved since CEO Jeff Bezos revealed the company’s Prime Air concept in December 2013.
Aircraft & Propulsion

JetBlue Airways is eyeing potential transatlantic route opportunities from Boston, based on comments made by executives during a Dec. 13 investor day in New York.
Airports & Networks

By Linda Blachly
People-Dec. 15, 2016
Airlines & Lessors

Budapest-based low-cost carrier (LCC) Wizz Air plans to open its 27th base at Bulgaria’s Varna Airport, from July 21, 2017, with one new Airbus A320.
Airports & Networks

By Mark Nensel
Bombardier issued the company’s 2017 guidance Dec. 15, aiming for consolidated EBIT before special items in the $530 million-$630 million range, a 50% increase over 2016, in the coming year.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Delta Air Lines is viewing 2017 as a “transition year” in which it will focus intently on returning to positive unit revenue growth, CEO Ed Bastian said.
Airlines & Lessors

By Karen Walker
Egypt is launching a criminal investigation into the crash of an EgyptAir Airbus A320 after stating that traces of explosives have been found on some of the bodies of those onboard.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

Lufthansa Group has taken over 100% of SN Airholding, the parent company of Brussels Airlines, in a deal to fully integrate the Belgian carrier into Lufthansa’s Eurowings Group in 2018.
Airlines & Lessors

By Mark Nensel
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) fined American Airlines $1.6 million Dec. 14, related to excessive tarmac delays involving 27 flights at three US airports in 2013 and 2015.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

By Alan Dron
A UK airline captain has accepted an apology from his employer, which initially sanctioned him for refusing to fly because he said he was fatigued.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has granted final approval to the proposed Delta Air Lines-Aeromexico transborder joint venture (JV), but is continuing to demand divestitures that the airlines have said are objectionable.
Safety, Ops & Regulation