Lion Air’s new Thailand-based joint venture carrier has achieved an important regulatory milestone, and it is already starting to build its fleet in anticipation of full approval. Thai Lion Air has been granted its air operator’s license (AOL) by Thailand’s transportation minister, a Lion Air spokesman tells Aviation Week. The carrier is now waiting to receive its air operator’s certificate (AOC), which requires a more technical review by civil aviation authorities. Lion Air hopes to launch the Thai airline by the end of the year.
Under continuing resolution funding levels for fiscal year 2014, the FAA would not see any additional budget impacts from a second round of sequestration cuts set to go into effect in January, but its NextGen program could see impacts from sequestration cuts for the U.S. military.
Airbus A380 operators are facing inspections of specific belly-area fuselage panels after loose panels were discovered on an in-service aircraft, says a draft European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) directive published Oct. 18. EASA’s proposed directive will require detailed inspections around specific belly fairing frames at 1,200 total cycles or 240 cycles after a final rule’s effective date. The checks, based on an Airbus service information sent out in early October, would be required every 1,200 cycles unless an Airbus-suggested modification is made.
Citing the U.S. interstate highway system and the space program of the 1960s, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta in an address last week at Princeton University argued that “only the government” is capable of coordinating the development of major transportation infrastructure projects such as NextGen. However, he also stressed that close coordination across government agencies and with private sector partners will be essential to successful deployment of the system.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carriers: Singapore Changi, October 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMS Top Carriers: Singapore Changi, October 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMS
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Qantas expects to face significant yield pressure due to an influx of capacity in the Australian domestic market, but the carrier is upbeat about the progress of its Jetstar subsidiary and its international transformation. Due to weak demand and competitive pressure, Qantas group yields are forecast to be down 2-3 percentage points in the six months through June 30, which is the first half of the carrier’s 2014 fiscal year.
Facing weakened demand for big passenger and freight aircraft, Boeing has opted to reduce the 747-8 production rate from 1.75 aircraft per month to 1.5 through 2015. The move comes as the company passes the half way point of its accumulated order backlog for the aircraft, the vast majority of which are for the freighter model. To date, the 747-8 has accumulated 107 orders, 56 of which have been delivered.
Airlines expect mobile services will become mainstream and extend across the entire passenger journey by 2016, with 10% of ancillary revenues being generated through by mobile applications. However, airline passengers remain on the edge of really “going mobile” for travel, despite the fact that three-quarters of them carry a smartphone.
Landing gear supplier SPP Canada Aircraft (SPPCA) is forming a business alliance with established maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) companies Lufthansa Technik and its subsidiary Hawker Pacific Aerospace (HPA) in an effort to build its base in the North American market and attract new programs as a Tier 1 supplier.
With only a short reprieve in 2011, European regional airlines have been in crisis mode ever since. The trend continues, but industry officials speak of a renewed sense of optimism, even though figures and individual airline cases hardly justify that mood.
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Philippines-based Cebu Pacific Air is planning capital expenditures of $350 million next year, which will support the airline’s fleet growth plans. The planned spending for next year, which was revealed to local media by airline executives, would represent an increase from the $300 million capital expenditure projected for 2013. Cebu says the 2014 spending is largely related to aircraft deliveries.
The furloughing of FAA inspectors and technical staff delayed routine approvals for a majority of repair stations surveyed by the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA), the trade group reports. Sixty-one percent of respondents to ARSA’s survey report that tasks such as repair station manual approvals were put on hold due to the furloughs. Thirty repair stations participated in ARSA’s survey.
Just months after commencing long-haul operations from its bases in Scandinavia, Norwegian Air Shuttle is taking its venture one step further with the launch of transatlantic services from London Gatwick Airport. The routes, like Norwegian’s other long-haul flights, will be served by the carrier’s growing fleet of Boeing 787-8s. Norwegian took delivery of its first two 787s this year and has six more on order.
Click here to view the pdf Fuel Watch: Global Jet Fuel Prices (midpoint) As of October 16, 2013, compared with previous week and previous year cts/gal prev. week prev.
