The first Boeing 787 to be produced under the 10-aircraft monthly rate has been rolled out at Everett, Wash., in readiness for delivery to International Lease Finance for eventual operation by Aeromexico.
Southwest Airlines Monday revealed its first international destinations, confirming strong hints from CEO Gary Kelly that the carrier’s first year of international service will see it gradually assuming AirTran’s existing footprint. Southwest will begin international service on its aircraft on July 1, connecting Atlanta, Baltimore, and Orlando with both Aruba and Montego Bay, as well as operating between Baltimore and Nassau.
Reports from United Technologies (UTC) of increasing spares sales continued in the fourth quarter, but the company’s Pratt & Whitney (P&W) subsidiary delivered even more encouraging news for those awaiting an upswing in heavy engine overhaul visits.
Lufthansa is facing the increasingly serious threat of a potentially lengthy and expensive pilot strike, as the company tries to negotiate terms for a new collective bargaining agreement and new rules for retirement benefits.
Feb. 4-6—MRO Middle East, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai, UAE Feb. 10—Air Transport World’s 40th Annual Airline Industry Achievement Awards, Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel, Singapore Mar. 4-5—Defense Technology & Affordability Requirements, Hilton Arlington, Arlington, Va Mar. 6—57th Annual Laureates Awards, National Building Museum, Washington, D.C. Apr. 8-10—MRO Americas 2014, Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, Ariz. Apr. 9—MRO Military 2014, Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, Ariz.
Rising demand for heavy maintenance and modifications helped boost the global aftermarket service sales outlook to a 5.7% increase in the first half of 2014, a healthy bump over the half-year outlook from just three months ago, Canaccord Genuity reports in its latest quarterly Commercial Aerospace MRO Survey.
Low-cost leisure carrier Transavia France is planning to grow its fleet to 30 Boeing 737-800s by 2017, nearly triple the figure it operated in 2013. Last year Paris Orly-based Transavia France’s passenger numbers swelled by 38.7% to hit 2.7 million, after it shifted its focus from tour operator work to direct-sell flying. Transavia France added three aircraft to its fleet to support this growth, taking it from eight to 11 aircraft in 2013, but it will need more aircraft this year as it prepares for a further 25% hike in passenger numbers.
Horizon Airlines and Republic Airlines have asked the FAA for three more months to comply with new filtered flight data requirements, because challenges encountered by supplier Honeywell mean necessary upgrades can’t be completed on their Bombardier Q400s by the rule’s April 2014 deadline.
A sharp rise in fourth-quarter maintenance costs didn’t keep Delta Air Lines from reducing full year-over-year maintenance expenses, despite growing its fleet—a notable achievement for a carrier that minimizes new aircraft expenditures in favor of squeezing the most out of its older airframes.
U.S. majors – with one notable exception – have reported few major wrinkles as they work to comply with FAA’s new pilot flight and duty time rules. The rules, finalized two years ago and in force starting Jan. 4., set new requirements for passenger carrier scheduling. Carriers that are providing feedback say a combination of more pilots, increased productivity and more efficient scheduling is helping them to comply.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carriers: Beijing Capital - Shanghai, January 15-21, 2014, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Top Carriers: Beijing Capital - Shanghai, January 15-21, 2014, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Daily
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The merged American Airlines will combine its two operations centers into American’s existing facility in Dallas Fort/Worth (DFW), shuttering the US Airways flight operations center in Moon Township, just northwest of Pittsburgh. The move, announced in a letter to the affected staff from American Senior VP-Air Operations Tim Campbell, is not a surprise. American CEO Doug Parker has said that the larger DFW facility makes sense as a combined home for the merged carrier’s operations center functions.
Click here to view the pdf Fuel Watch: Global Jet Fuel Prices (midpoint) As of January 22, 2014, compared with previous week and previous year cts/gal prev. week prev.
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U.S. private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts (KKR) has invested $100 million in the Ireland-based helicopter leasing subsidiary of LCI, LCI Helicopters (LCIH). KKR will receive a minority stake in LCI Helicopters’ common equity, while LCI will use the injection to expand its fleet and position in the rapidly growing helicopter leasing business.
Regional aircraft manufacturer ATR says 2013 was a record year for deliveries, though the joint venture between Airbus and Finmeccanica’s Alenia Aermacchi division fell short of a goal to deliver 80 aircraft this year. CEO Filippo Bagnato said ATR sold 89 aircraft in 2013 and delivered 74 units during the year, beating the previous year’s record of 64. Firm orders were valued at $2.1 billion, with total sales volume amounting to $4.65 billion, including 106 options.
Surplus parts, already well-established in the engine aftermarket, are becoming more prominent in the components world and may be responsible for smaller across-the-board OEM spare parts price increases, a Canaccord Genuity survey of maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) service providers reveals.
