Copa Airlines’ travails have little to do with its business strategy and everything to do with the macroeconomic climate in the region it primarily serves.
Franco-Italian turboprop manufacturer ATR achieved record revenue of $2 billion and delivered 88 aircraft in 2015, though demand for the fuel-efficient ATR 72 fell below expectations owing to a steep decline in oil prices and softening of key markets in Asia and Latin America.
European Union Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc promised quick action to support European airlines and improve their competitiveness at the EU Aviation Summit, but industry representatives were highly critical of Brussels’ past initiatives.
Initial prognostications on the 2016 commercial aftermarket are forming a consensus around tempered optimism of mid-single-digit growth, with prime areas to watch including the aircraft retirement rate and how much more efficiency airlines can drive into their MRO supply chains.
Alaska Airlines is planning to purchase new regional jets to replace Bombardier Q400s operated by its subsidiary Horizon Air, management told analysts during a Jan. 21 earnings call.
Cargolux will expand the group’s fleet of full freighters from 25 aircraft to 30 by the end of 2017, with three Boeing 747Fs operated by its planned Chinese venture, Cargolux China.
The aircraft, 1A001, has been under test on the flight ramp at Renton for several weeks following rollout on Dec 8, and is now beginning a set of pre-flight system evaluations.
Canadian ULCC startup NewLeaf Travel Company will delay its launch while the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) reviews licensing requirements for certain types of carriers.
The FAA is searching for companies to develop LED high-intensity runway lights containing a specific type of infrared (IR) energy, a solution that could resolve a clash between two government efficiency-boosting programs—one of which aims to reduce energy consumption, and the other, at removing effects of clouds and fog on airline operations.
The five largest European airlines have established Airlines for Europe (A4E) as the airline industry’s latest and most-powerful lobbying group ahead of the EU Aviation Summit in Amsterdam on Thursday, Jan 21.
A new Chinese state company expected to be announced in late January is likely to be divided into civil aviation, defense aviation and surface-power divisions, incorporating Avic propulsion subsidiary Avic Engine and other government gas-turbine enterprises.
Hexcel plans to build a $20 million, 117,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing plant in Casablanca, Morocco, as part of an effort to create a diversified and global supply chain to support aerospace customers, it said.
Air Canada believes the Bombardier C Series is a “fantastic airplane,” but has not yet found the “proper business case” to acquire it, Air Canada President Ben Smith has said.
Airlines for Europe (A4E), the new association formed by Europe’s five largest carriers, has finally managed to find a managing director (MD) and has named former United Technologies executive Thomas Reynaert to lead the organization, industry sources in Brussels told Aviation Daily.
