Mexican low-cost carrier (LCC) VivaAerobus has decided on its fleet renewal plan, signing a purchase agreement with Airbus for 52 A320-family aircraft, including 40 A320neos and 12 A320ceos. The Airbus narrowbodies will replace the operator’s entire fleet of Boeing 737-300s, as well as support future growth. According to the Aviation Week Intelligence Network Fleets database, VivaAerobus currently operates a single-type fleet of 22 737-300s with an average age of 22 years.
A softening of purchase expectations in several regions led Honeywell Aerospace to scale back its 10-year forecast for new aircraft deliveries, but the increasing preference for large-cabin, long-range aircraft is keeping the anticipated dollar value of those deliveries at the same level as previous forecasts.
Airbus is targeting early September 2014 as the entry into service date for the A350-900. A350 program chief Didier Evrard says that the company has set that goal on the assumption that the flight-test program and production ramp-up proceed without serious unforeseen events.
The American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) board of directors has named Todd Hauptli as the association's next president and CEO, effective Dec. 1. Hauptli, who heads up AAAE's legislative affairs group and has been with AAAE since 1991, succeeds Chip Barclay, who is retiring after leading the association for 30 years.
Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and AirAsia have formally protested the hefty fines proposed by Malaysian authorities over alleged violations of the country’s competition law, and at least one carrier also has asked for a hearing so it can argue its case.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carriers: Buenos Aires - Madrid, November 20-26, 2011, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Top Carriers: Buenos Aires - Madrid, November 20-26, 2011, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Daily Each Way
The FAA has given Applied Research Associates Inc.’s (ARA’s) Nighthawk IV micro-unmanned aircraft system (UAS) a special airworthiness certificate, which will allow potential customers to apply for agency approval to operate the 2-lb. aircraft in the national airspace. “This special airworthiness certificate is supported by extensive safety, manufacturing, inspection, maintenance and crew training procedures that were reviewed and accepted by the FAA as part of a recent visit to witness post-certification maiden flights,” ARA says in an announcement.
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
Introducing the Aero 100 Airfare Benchmark Index 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.
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.
