To list an event, send information in calendar format to Donna Thomas at [email protected] March 4-6—SpeedNews 27th Annual Commercial Aviation Industry Suppliers Conference, Beverly Wilshire, Beverly Hills, Calif., www.speednews.com/ConferenceInfo.aspx?conferenceID=21 March 5-6—Airports Council International-North America, 2013 Public Safety & Security Spring Conference, St. Petersburg, Fla., www.aci-na.org/event/2411/
Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI), betting that freight-hauling economics will differ significantly from the passenger-hauling returns that are driving 50-seat regional jets from airline service, has given the go-ahead to its Bombardier CRJ100 and 200 passenger-to-freighter (PTF) conversion program. AEI, which has been studying the CRJ conversion market for some time, says it is “fully funding” the program’s development costs. It will convert the regional jets (RJs) under a supplemental type certificate (STC) licensed from Bombardier.
Australia’s Regional Express Group (Rex) is blaming new government policies for contributing to a 33% decline in profits for the six months through Dec. 31. Rex has been a vocal critic of several measures that went into effect last year, including a carbon tax and the elimination of certain subsidies; it also has feuded with local authorities over their efforts to introduce security fees.
The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace’s (Speea’s) Technical Unit leadership is scheduled to meet today to approve a second vote on a contract offer from Boeing rejected by members early last week. The meeting follows talks with Boeing that failed to produce any changes to the airframer’s previous contract offer. If the union leadership approves a second ballot, mailing will begin Tuesday; vote counting is expected March 15.
Air New Zealand plans to add two more Boeing 777-300ERs in 2014, and their arrival is expected to coincide with other major fleet moves. The leased 777s are due to be delivered in June and September next year, while Air New Zealand’s Boeing 787-9s are expected to begin arriving in the middle of 2014. At about the same time, the carrier intends to retire the last two of its Boeing 747-400s. The airline is not yet revealing the lessor of the 777-300ERs, although a deal will be announced soon, an airline spokeswoman tells Aviation Week.
Boeing is preparing to install a modified battery system for flight tests in a 787 in anticipation of the FAA approving its redesign plan, which the manufacturer hopes could come by March 6. At the same time, the airframer is steeling itself for a lengthy test and qualification period, with regulators already emphasizing the need for extensive trials. Testing and certification of the battery fix now may mean the first 787 does not return to service until late April or May.
The EU is banking on the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to create a global, market-based system to combat aviation’s greenhouse gas emissions and believes the next six to eight months will be sufficient time for the U.N. body to do so, says Connie Hedegaard, European commissioner for climate action.
At first glance, you would think logistics at PDQ Air Spares would be fairly simple. The Hampshire, England-based distributor of spare parts does very little outbound shipping. Its airline customers use their own freight agents to manage order shipments. Nor does PDQ handle its own inbound shipments; it outsourced that function to B&H Worldwide. The third-party logistics provider negotiates rates and schedules shipments with carriers such as FedEx, DHL and UPS for PDQ.
A regional feeder contract between Republic Airways Holdings and American Airlines is facing increased pressure from American Eagle Airlines’ labor unions. Union opposition already has prompted American Airlines to drop six aircraft from Republic’s 12-year capacity purchase agreement, Republic President and CEO Bryan Bedford said during the operator’s fourth-quarter earnings call.
Manchester Airports Group (MAG) has finalized the purchase of London Stansted Airport. Under the £1.5 billion ($2.38 billion) deal, first announced in January, operation of the airport will transfer from Heathrow Airport Ltd. to MAG, which also owns Bournemouth, East Midlands and Manchester airports. The deal was completed on Feb. 28.
Click here to view the pdf Fuel Watch: Global Jet Fuel Prices (midpoint) As of February 27, 2013, compared with previous week and previous year cts/gal prev. week prev.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carriers - Los Angeles, Feb. 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMs Top Carriers - Los Angeles, Feb. 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMs Departures Airport Share ASMs (mil) Airport Share Seats/Dept.
Malaysian low-cost carrier Malindo Air has received its air operator certificate (AOC) from Malaysia’s Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) and plans to start flying next month. The DCA granted the AOC on Feb. 26, says Malindo CEO Chandran Ramamuthy, adding that the carrier still aims to launch operations in mid-March. It will begin with domestic flights from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to East Malaysia and later launch international services, he says.
Airbus might need more production capacity for the A350 but has not yet made a decision, EADS CEO Tom Enders said yesterday at the company’s annual news conference in Berlin. “If we see the need for additional capacity, we will look at the business case and then decide.”
The effects of sequestration will be drawn out over months and could irreparably cripple the national airspace system, says National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) President Paul Rinaldi.
The European Commission (EC) yesterday prohibited the proposed acquisition of the Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus by Ryanair because “the most likely outcome of this transaction would have been quite simple: when flying to and from Ireland, passengers wouldn’t have been able to choose between as many options as they can today, and they would have ended up paying higher fares,” says Commission VP-Competition Policy Joaquin Almunia.
United Airlines has expanded the baggage delivery service it launched last month to 30 additional airports across the U.S. The Chicago-based airline will offer the service to passengers departing from any U.S. airport and arriving in the newly designated destinations, including Newark Liberty International Airport, Honolulu International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport. United intends to roll out the service to 100% of its domestic passengers at more than 190 U.S. airports but has no plans to expand the service internationally.
EADS CEO Tom Enders has given up the once important target of balancing civil and defense revenues. “Maybe it is not a bad time to have a smaller rather than larger defense business,” he said at the EADS annual press conference Feb. 27 in Berlin. The plan to increase defense exposure faltered when the merger with BAE Systems collapsed last year and important potential military contracts, such as the U.S. Air Force tanker program, were lost.
