Air Transport World

Emirates Airline would consider ordering more A380s if Airbus revamps its existing A380-800 with improved fuel efficiency and newer engines, much like the A320neo.

Delta Air Lines will add its first nonstop Los Angeles (LAX)-London Heathrow (LHR) service, while Virgin Atlantic will add a new link with Delta’s Atlanta (ATL) home hub, following a swap between the joint venture (JV) partners.

Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways has increased its stake in Virgin Australia to 21.24% from 19.9%, following approval from Australia’s Foreign Investment Review Board.

Malaysia’s AirAsia X reported a first-quarter net loss of MYR11.3 million ($3.5 million), reversing a net profit of MYR50.2 million for the year-ago period.

Singapore Airlines regional affiliate SilkAir has retired two Airbus 320 aircraft, marking the next phase of its transition from an all-Airbus to an all-Boeing 737 fleet.

Russian aviation authorities have denied an air operator’s certificate (AOC) to regional Air Samara.

Amerijet International will begin new Boeing 767 cargo service from Rickenbacker International Airport in Columbus, Ohio and Reno-Tahoe International in Nevada July 7.

Airline Routes

Briefs from the May 21, 2014 issue of ATW’s MRO Digest

Pratt & Whitney will expand its third-party logistics relationship with United Parcel Service (UPS), which will open a 600,000-sq.-ft. Northeast Logistics Center in Londonderry, New Hampshire.

Iberia has extended a contract with Airbus Defence and Space to transform three more Airbus A330s into Multi Role Tanker Transports.

Canada’s Flying Colours—which performs completions, refurbishment and MRO—has completed the first of a three-phase expansion plan in Peterborough, Ontario.

Werner Aero Services has positioned Airbus A320 line replaceable units and rotables in Turkey.

Lufthansa Technik (LHT) Shenzhen has opened two new buildings with workshops, warehouse, offices and training rooms covering 16,000 sq m.

Pratt & Whitney has delivered the first PW1100G engines designated to power the Airbus A320neo to Airbus, which is expected to begin flight testing the re-engined narrowbody later this year.

Airbus has predicted German airlines will operate a collective fleet of 1,821 aircraft by 2032, according to its latest Global Market Forecast (GMF).

The European Commission said there is increased consultation and transparency in the setting of airport charges in Europe, but insists more needs to be done to ensure a level playing field across the region.

In response to the European Commission’s (EC) report on the application of the airport charges directive, four European airline associations said they are “deeply disappointed” the EC does not propose enough concrete steps to address the failings identified in the report.

Aer Lingus has warned its forward bookings have been “considerably damaged” by an industrial action planned by cabin crew union IMPACT for May 30.

Aeroflot’s new low-cost (LCC) subsidiary Dobrolet Airline has received its air operator’s certificate (AOC) and plans to launch operations in June, according to Aeroflot CEO Vitaly Saveliev.

Indian low-cost carrier (LCC) SpiceJet reported a net loss of Rs10 billion ($167 million) for its fiscal year ended March 31.

Airbus president and CEO Fabrice Brégier has again lashed out at Boeing, criticizing its rival for receiving subsidies for the 777X program.

Qatar Airways has announced Paris Charles de Gaulle as its second Airbus A380 destination after London Heathrow.

Timisoara-based startup Fly Romania has begun operating domestic and international flights with services from Timisoara to Bucharest (6X-weekly) and Verona (3X-weekly).

Etihad Regional, operated by Swiss carrier Darwin Airline, will add five more destinations from Zurich as part of its rapid expansion plans.