Luxembourg has moved a step closer to selling its 35% Cargolux stake to China’s Henan Civil Aviation and Investment Co. (HNCA), after the all-cargo carrier’s board approved a commercial tie-up with its would-be owner. “This resolution paves the way for a close and mutually beneficial partnership between Cargolux and the airline’s future Chinese investor,” said Cargolux in a statement.
Comac has decided or is close to deciding to use large amounts of aluminum-lithium alloy in the structure of its C919 narrowbody airliner, maintaining a quota of advanced materials despite the decision not to use carbon fiber for the center wing box.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carriers: Paris Orly - Toulouse, December 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Top Carriers: Paris Orly - Toulouse, December 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Daily Each Way Departures Share ASKs (000) Share Seats /Dep
Jazz Aviation parent Chorus Aviation, looking to diversify a revenue stream almost entirely dependent on Air Canada, has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with GA Telesis to launch a regional aircraft component and spares support venture. The deal, announced Dec. 13, would combine Jazz’s experience supporting its own fleet with GA Telesis’s expertise in providing components and spare parts to maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) companies. The venture would start out focusing on Q400s but has eyes on backing legacy Bombardier Dash 8s as well as CRJs.
China Airlines will set up a budget airline with the brand of Singapore Airlines affiliate Tigerair, with the aim of beginning operations at the end of 2014. “The network will cover major destinations in Northeast and Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Macau, China and Taiwan,” China Airlines says.
Stop Guessing What the Future Holds With Aviation Week’s Commercial Fleet & MRO Forecast. This 10 year, year-over-year forecast provides an in-depth understanding of what’s to come so you can locate new business opportunities. To schedule a personal demo, call 866.857.0148 or +1.515.237.3682 Click here to view the pdf
U.S. senators Tuesday morning approved a key procedural move that clears the way for the upper chamber to pass the so-called Ryan-Murray budget compromise and — assuming there are no differences from the House's version — allow th measure to go the White House to become law.
Australian regional carrier Brindabella Airlines has gone into receivership and suspended flights indefinitely, a collapse prompted by safety authorities grounding most of its fleet last week for inspections. KordaMentha, the company appointed receiver on Dec. 15, says it is “calling for immediate expressions of interest in the sale of the business,” although it stresses that the carrier will not operate while the sale is conducted. Based in the Australian capital Canberra, Brindabella operates a fleet of 12 turboprops.
London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports have been identified as possible sites for new runways to boost airport capacity around London. In an interim report, published Dec. 17, the Airports Commission put on ice options for a new-build airport in the Thames Estuary due to the high cost — beginning at £112 billion ($182 billion) — and because it presented “many challenges and uncertainties.”
India’s low-cost airline SpiceJet Ltd. and Singapore’s largest budget carrier Tigerair have signed a three-year connectivity agreement, in a major boost for business travel and tourism between the two countries. As part of the inter-line agreement, in which each carrier will issue and accept tickets for flights that are operated by the other partner, SpiceJet travelers across 14 Indian cities will have uninterrupted connection to Singapore-bound flights of Tigerair via Hyderabad airport in south India.
As the world’s air carriers battle over which will dominate the international marketplace, we must reject business models premised on scouring the globe for cheap labor no matter the consequences, and not pretend this is somehow acceptable competitive behavior. (Image: Boeing)
Finnair has signed a memorandum of understanding with GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) on the sale and leaseback of two Airbus 330s and two Airbus 350s, valued at €320 million (US$440 million).
French Caribbean carrier Air Caraibes has firmed plans to take six Airbus A350s— three direct from Airbus and three from lessor ILFC—for its long-haul fleet renewal. Air Caraibes inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Airbus for three A350-1000s in September 2008. On Friday, an Airbus spokesman declined to comment on the status of the deal, but Aviation Week affiliate Air Transport World understands it has now been converted into a firm order.
A commission set up to examine U.K. airports’ capacity limitations is set to report its preliminary findings tomorrow. The Airports Commission, headed by Sir Howard Davies, is expected to report on short-term changes to Britain’s airports in order to deliver improvements in airport capacity as well as reducing noise and pollution.
A major development project is underway at Honolulu International Airport that will add capacity and allow Hawaiian Airlines to dramatically improve the efficiency of its main hub. The multi-phase project involves the construction of new cargo and heavy maintenance facilities for Hawaiian Airlines, with their relocation allowing for taxiways to be widened. This in turn will improve access for larger aircraft to a new passenger terminal that will be built when the other facilities are finished.
The low-cost carrier market in Thailand continues to grow more crowded, with local airline Nok Air and Singapore’s Scoot revealing plans to launch a new Bangkok-based LCC. The airlines have signed a memorandum of understanding to set up a joint venture called NokScoot, which they say will operate widebody aircraft on medium and long-haul international routes. Nok will control a 51% stake, and Scoot will have 49%. The initial investment will be THB 2 billion ($62.3 million).
AerCap’s deal to buy International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC) was motivated in large part by the chance to acquire an enticing order book at a great price, creating an efficient aircraft management “platform” that dovetails well with its own strategy, AerCap CEO Aengus Kelly says.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carriers: New York, Newark, December 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMs Top Carriers: New York, Newark, December 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMs
Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia Group will initially import 10 aircraft for its India-based operations, which are likely to begin in March. AirAsia, which has already won approval for its joint venture airline in India, was initially planning to begin operations in the country in December with three Airbus A320 aircraft, and then add 10 Airbus aircraft each year to expand its operations in the country.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carriers: Dallas/Fort Worth, December 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMs Top Carriers: Dallas/Fort Worth, December 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMs
FAA and airport funding are already emerging as key issues as Congress begins initial preparations for the next FAA reauthorization bill. Airport groups are urging a $4 increase in the passenger facility charge (PFC), airlines are appealing to Congress to refrain from looking at them as a piggy bank and business aviation groups are stressing the importance of retaining current fuel taxes.
