To list an event, send information in calendar format to Donna Thomas at [email protected] . (Bold type indicates new calendar listing.) Dec. 4-5—ACI-NA 2014 International Aviation Issues Seminar, Washington, DC, http://www.aci-na.org/event/3222 Dec. 8-10—MEBA, Middle East Business Aviation, Dubai World Central, Dubai, UAE, www.meba.aero
For a complete list of Aviation Week’s upcoming events, and to register, visit www.aviationweek.com/events Jan 13-14, 2015—MRO Latin America, Buenos Aires, Argentina Feb. 2-3, 2015—MRO Middle East, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai, UAE Mar. 5, 2015—Laureate Awards, Washington, D.C. Apr. 14-16, 2015—MRO Americas 2015, Conference and Exhibit Hall, Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami, Florida
ZHUHAI, China—Avic is delivering its first composite parts for the Comac C919 airliner based on technology from its Austrian subsidiary, Fischer Advanced Composite Components (FACC). The parts are coming from a new plant that another Avic unit, Fesher Aviation Component, has established in Zhenjiang, in eastern China with help from FACC. Avic’s Xian Aircraft bought a controlling stake in FACC in 2009.
TOKYO—Mitsubishi Aircraft expects to achieve its new target for full-rate production of 10 MRJ regional jets a month about five years after beginning deliveries. The ramp-up plans were revealed by Mitsubishi Aircraft President Teruaki Kawai at a meeting of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) this week, and provide good indication as to how many production slots the company has available between 2017 and 2022.
TOKYO—Cathay Pacific Airways doubts the low-cost long-haul business model is sustainable over the long term and does not intend to change its full-service model to compete with the proliferation of low-cost carriers (LCCs) in the Asian market. Cathay Pacific Chief Operating Officer Rupert Hogg spoke about evolving airline strategies in the Asian market as a panelist at the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) meeting here.
WASHINGTON—FAA organizational and funding reform is again emerging as a central theme among industry stakeholders as lawmakers begin to craft a comprehensive FAA reauthorization bill, though no specific proposals--such as user fees--have been proposed.
Copa Airlines is planning 2015 capacity growth to reach 7% above that of this year, marking a significant slowing in growth for the historically rapidly expanding Panamanian carrier.
Southwest Airlines could be planning a competitive response to Spirit Airlines’ recent decision to add seven new routes to Mexico and Central America from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, one analyst said in an interview. “What’s noteworthy about Spirit is that I think it is a very deliberate move to [enter the market] before Southwest has the ability to fly to Mexico and South America,” said Henry Harteveldt, co-founder of Atmosphere Research Group. “Spirit wants to beat Southwest to the punch.”
Aer Lingus shareholders will decide in early December whether to accept a critical pensions deal. Aer Lingus is seeking shareholder approval to plow €190.7 million ($238.3 million) into its pension plan to resolve a deficit, which represents “a real and significant risk to the success of the company.” The airline believes the proposed solution, which has been under negotiation for four years, will help avoid labor conflict, give financial and legal clarity, and stabilize staff costs.
Airlines for America (A4A), together with a large regional consortium of airport service providers, filed suit in federal court Thursday against Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) over a new regulation that airport contractors allege illegally favors labor unions.
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Norwegian Air Shuttle CEO Bjørn Kjos, speaking at an industry gathering in Washington, D.C., remained adamant that Irish labor laws played no role in the decision to base long-haul subsidiary Norwegian Air International (NAI) in Ireland, prompting a fierce response from a coalition of unions, who say the U.S. airline industry would be imperiled if NAI’s application to serve the U.S. is approved.
Despite the recent spate of large widebody aircraft orders by Japanese carriers, there still are opportunities for new contracts with these airlines, a senior Boeing executive says.
