Indonesian low-cost carrier (LCC) Lion Air has boosted its order for ATR 72-600s by 40 aircraft, which the manufacturer says makes Lion its largest-ever customer for the turboprop type. The new deal means Lion has ordered a total of 100 ATR 72-600s, including those already delivered. The carrier says the aircraft will be used to increase its regional network via its subsidiaries. Indonesian rival Garuda is also ramping up its ATR fleet to serve outlying domestic destinations.
The Dutch Safety Board (DSB) says its expects the first several truck convoys carrying the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 to begin arriving at the Gilze Rijen Air Base in the Netherlands the second week of December. The DSB, which is conducting three simultaneous investigations into the accident, plans to reconstruct a section of the aircraft at the air base.
Denim Air ACMI has been sold to its management by Panta Holdings and intends to launch scheduled services, complementing its current activities portfolio of Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance (ACMI) contract flying and ad-hoc charter operations.
LONDON—If new, devolved powers are introduced, the Scottish Parliament could have the right to decide the percentage of Air Passenger Duty (APD) rate levied on flights leaving Scottish airports. The move would be part of a wider package of measures suggested by the Smith Commission, launched by British Prime Minister David Cameron in the wake of the “No” vote in Scotland’s September independence referendum.
Azul Brazilian Airlines has signed a purchase agreement for 35 CFM-powered A320neo-family aircraft and is to lease a further 28 for long-haul domestic and high-density routes. The order comes on the eve of Azul’s U.S. launch, with the carrier poised to begin daily flights from São Paulo’s Viracopos/Campinas International Airport to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Dec. 2. This service is the carrier’s first to the U.S.
Air France is in talks to upgrade its ATR fleet to the latest -600 variant and is looking to replace its Embraer ERJ-145s and Bombardier CRJ700s around 2020. The Air France regional operation comprises three airlines—Airlinair, Brit Air and Régional. Each has its own air operator’s certificates and fleet type, but they all fly under HOP! branding. Together, the three airlines operate a combined fleet of just under 100 aircraft. Airlinair has 24 ATRs--13 ATR 42-500s and 11 ATR 72-500s.
German railway company Deutsche Bahn is seeking more than €2.1 billion ($2.6 billion) in compensation from a group of cargo airlines that have already been fined for price fixing activities by the U.S. government and the European Commission, among others.
The U.S. NTSB has issued 18 recommendations to the FAA, Boeing and lithium-ion battery manufacturer GS Yuasa Corp. following its 23 month investigation into a 787 auxiliary power unit (APU) battery fire on a Japan Airlines Boeing 787 on the ground in Boston on Jan. 7, 2013. A second battery failure nine days later, on an All Nippon Airways 787 in flight over Japan, led to an FAA airworthiness directive on the main and APU batteries (which have identical designs) and grounding of the nascent fleet of 50 aircraft.
International Air Transport Association (IATA) Director General Tony Tyler has reiterated long-lasting calls on European policymakers to deliver a Single European Sky (SES), while vowing that IATA “will never give up” pushing for the overhaul of the continent’s air traffic control (ATC) system.
BEIJING—China’s three largest airlines have ordered or are negotiating deals for more than 100 commercial aircraft from Airbus and Boeing, including re-engined types from the European manufacturer, industry officials say. In contrast to the usual style of Chinese airliner orders as a new economic planning period approaches—in this case, the 2016-20 five-year plan—the deals that have been concluded or are under negotiation appear to be quite fractured, covering mostly small quantities of each aircraft type.
While Lion Air’s leasing unit may eventually be an active player in the third-party leasing market, for now it will concentrate on financing aircraft for and channeling them to the parent carrier. Indonesia’s Lion is one of many low-cost carriers (LCCs) that have set up separate leasing entities. Its unit, Transportation Partners, was set up in 2011 and is based in the financial hub of Singapore.
Malaysia Airlines (MAS) posted a hefty net loss in what could be its last-detailed quarterly-earnings report for some years, highlighting challenges facing the government as it prepares to delist the carrier’s shares. MAS lost RM576.1 million ($167.7 million) for the three months ended September 30, up from a deficit of RM375.4 million in the same period last year. According to MAS, although “declining fuel prices have helped stem losses in our quarterly result, Malaysia Airlines continues to struggle despite efforts to reduce the financial bleeding.”
Irish budget carrier Ryanair has finalized its order for 100 737 MAX 200s and 100 options, confirming its status as launch customer for the high-capacity variant.
Low-cost carrier (LCC) Jetstar Japan is preparing to launch international services early next year thanks to a new capital injection by joint owners Japan Airlines (JAL) and Qantas. The Tokyo-based LCC has concentrated on domestic routes since it launched in 2012, but its owners see international expansion as key to reaching profitability. JAL’s rival carrier, All Nippon Airways (ANA), has launched two LCCs to serve international destinations: Peach and Vanilla.
A month after the sudden departure of CEO Camiel Eurlings, KLM has put an immediate freeze on cabin crew jobs and plans to lower operating costs by €700 million ($870 million) over the next five years to increase competitiveness, abate falling yields and earn decent returns to support the necessary investments. Eurlings was asked to step down as a result of the airline’s disappointing financial performance, and was replaced by Chief Operating Officer Pieter Elbers (Aviation DAILY, Oct. 17).
Lufthansa’s board of directors is expected to emerge from a Wednesday board meeting having signed off on crucial management decisions that are likely to change the airline’s long-term structure.
FAA Nextgen chief Ed Bolton says the agency has a goal of April 2015 for developing a “working-level understanding” of what it wants the National Airspace System (NAS) to look like in the 2030 timeframe “so it can be foundational to the work we’re doing to the build a 2017 budget.”
Allegiant Air will hire 182 pilots this year—six more than it added in the previous five years combined—and is confident that it will have enough pilots to fly the schedule it wants by March.
The U.S. Transportation Department’s (DOT) Office of Inspector General says the FAA has not achieved “large-scale efficiencies, productivity enhancement and cost savings” made possible by reform measures approved by Congress over the past two decades.
BRUSSELS—Aiming to fend off European regulatory attempts that would require airlines to create repatriation funds, International Air Transport Association (IATA) members have agreed on a voluntary arrangement to help passengers affected by airline bankruptcy. Under the new agreement, IATA members flying to, from and within the European Union (EU) will offer so-called rescue fares for the repatriation of passengers unable to return home due to an airline ceasing operations as a result of financial failure.
A working group (WG) of aviation safety and flight operations experts has delivered a comprehensive educational tool and training aid designed to help pilots more effectively monitor the most critical phases of flight.
