Airbus has been quick to dismiss the merits of Boeing’s new 787-10 since its launch at the Paris air show in June, a sure sign that the European airframer considers the new aircraft a serious competitor. Another sure sign is this: Airbus plans to launch a new A350 version to go head to head with the -10.
Negotiations between Air France and the six member states of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (Cemac)—Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon—on the establishment of Air Cemac are still ongoing, but no concrete results have been achieved. “The extent and form of the partnership with Air France, the timeframe on when Air Cemac would launch as well as the share of Air France in the capital of the new airline are being analyzed and are being discussed with the Air Cemac partners,” Air France tells Aviation Week.
Prospects for abundant and inexpensive natural gas have aircraft manufacturers reassessing the options for future fuels, particularly for the military where both energy security and affordability could trump any desire to reduce emissions by moving away from fossil fuels.
Designed for anyone with risk on the future level of airfares – for example Airlines, Banks/Credit Card Companies, Corporate Travel Managers, etc. The Aero 100 Airfare Benchmark Index tracks daily airfares within the domestic airline market. The Aero 100 delivers financial risk mitigation and protection against constant fluctuation of airline ticket prices by providing the price settling mechanism for Commodity Futures Contracts. -- Largest 100 domestic routes, by revenue, using DOT data.
New airline rules for first officers instituted Aug. 1 will increase pressure on flight-training providers to devise more innovative and affordable solutions to building hours. At a minimum, freshman first officers will need 1,500 hr. flight time for an Air Transport Pilot rating, up from 250 hr. and a commercial rating, with fewer hours required for military pilots or those with an aviation degree.
The prospects for widebody fleet renewal and growth at Iberia—including 44 new-generation aircraft—have improved, after the airline significantly reduced its second-quarter operating loss. The Spanish unit of International Airlines Group (IAG) reported an operating loss before exceptional items of €35 million ($46.5 million) in the quarter ended June 30, an improvement on the €93 million posted in the same period last year and reversing the negative trend of the last 11 quarters.
The Irish government has begun the process of adopting Alternative A of the Cape Town Convention into Irish law, in order to enhance and protect the country’s position in aircraft finance and leasing. Ireland was one of the first signatories of the Cape Town Convention and the Aircraft Equipment Protocol, which came into force in 2006.
Lufthansa’s CFO Simone Menne says Europe’s biggest airline currently sees “no softening of the trends,” as “forward bookings indicate further passenger growth.” The statement applies to the carrier’s long-haul business as well as European services, large parts of which were transferred to lower-cost subsidiary Germanwings on July 1.
Airframe OEMs are seeing new business opportunities and aftermarket revenue streams for their next generation of commercial jets, but customer support will not be business as usual.
Designed for anyone with risk on the future level of airfares – for example Airlines, Banks/Credit Card Companies, Corporate Travel Managers, etc. The Aero 100 Airfare Benchmark Index tracks daily airfares within the domestic airline market. The Aero 100 delivers financial risk mitigation and protection against constant fluctuation of airline ticket prices by providing the price settling mechanism for Commodity Futures Contracts. -- Largest 100 domestic routes, by revenue, using DOT data.
Click here to view the pdf Fuel Watch: Global Jet Fuel Prices (midpoint) As of Aug. 1, 2013, compared with previous week and previous year cts/gal prev. week prev.
Daher-Socata is encouraged by an uptick in orders for its TBM 850 single turboprop, selling out all but one delivery slot this year and building a backlog to 39 aircraft. The company credits the improved results in part to its “Elite” version of the 850, which incorporates a tailored cabin with flexible seating arrangements, and the incorporation of the L-3 Avionics Trilogy ES-2000 electronic standby instrument.
Airbus has received preliminary European Aviation Safety Agency certification for its runway overrun protection system (ROPS) for the Airbus A320 family, in another step to make the system available across the entire Airbus product range.
Italian aerospace and defense conglomerate, Finmeccanica is continuing to negotiate the sale of non-core businesses in a bid to cut its burgeoning debt. The company is putting a stronger focus on its aerospace and defense businesses, which have had a relatively comfortable first half of 2013, compared to its struggling transport and energy businesses that have, according to CEO Alessandro Pansa, frustrated investors and resulted in the downgrade of the company’s credit rating.
Etihad Airways plans to buy a 49% stake in Serbian national carrier Jat Airways and rebrand the operator Air Serbia under a five-year management contract that proposes sweeping changes to the company’s structure and network. Air Serbia will be Etihad’s sixth affiliated equity partner, including Air Berlin (in which Etihad has a 29% stake), Air Seychelles (40%), Virgin Australia (10.5%), Aer Lingus (2.99%) and Jet Airways (24%).
Bombardier’s CEO Pierre Beaudoin says “a lot of small stuff” has led to the most recent delay in the first flight of the CSeries prototype FTV1. “Wires have been plugged in upside down. It is nothing significant, but we need to learn. Sometimes what we thought would take half a day takes two days,” he said Aug. 1 during the company’s second quarter earnings call.
German light-sport aircraft (LSA) manufacturer Flight Design continues to make progress on its first Part 23-certified aircraft with the selection of a Garmin avionics package, negotiations for a diesel engine and plans to assemble the C4 in both the U.S. and China.
