GA Telesis, one of the world’s largest aircraft parting-out companies, will disassemble at least a half-dozen aircraft this year that were built since 2000. Abdol Moaberry, GA Relesis’ CEO, president and founder, is unsure if the early retirement of such low-usage aircraft is a permanent trend, but he says demand of some used aircraft remains low despite bargain prices.
Etihad Airways’ expected investment in Jet Airways has the potential to fundamentally change India’s air transport industry. Struggling Indian carriers are hoping other foreign investors will follow. Several international airlines are showing an interest in Indian carriers, especially low-cost airlines, such as SpiceJet, GoAir and IndiGo. Unconfirmed reports indicate that Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) is in talks with at least two Indian carriers.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) once again is criticizing the “painfully slow” progress in Europe’s air traffic management reform, and has issued its own plan for increasing ATM efficiency and lowering cost. IATA unveiled its blueprint at the Civil Air Navigation Organization (CANSO) World ATM Congress in Madrid. Among the recommendations are a drastic cut in the number of en-route control centers, and new ways to enforce cost-efficiency targets.
The European Parliament expects the world’s airlines to commit to a draft emissions trading plan in September to avoid having the European Union restart the clock on its own system, the chairman of the legislative body’s Transportation Committee says. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly is scheduled to meet in September.
Barring an unexpected setback, AMR Corp. and US Airways midday will convene an announcement at Dallas/Forth Worth International Airport's Terminal D to unveil a merger agreement that could create the world's largest airline. The new airline is expected to be led by US Airways Chairman and CEO Doug Parker, who initiated the merger after AMR entered Chapter 11 protection.
Aeronautical Engineers (AEI) has received a supplemental certification from the FAA for its program to convert MD-80s to freighters, and soon will reveal four more customers.
The NTSB is investigating if the recent Boeing 787 battery issues could be linked to the formation of small build-ups, known as dendrites, inside lithium-ion batteries.
Boston Logan International and Lambert-St. Louis International will be the first airports in the U.S. to use a new ITT Exelis situational awareness and runway incursion prevention tool for vehicles. Called the vehicle movement area transmitter (V-MAT), the portable vehicle-mounted system is designed to broadcast Wide Area Augmentation System-based GPS positions on the airport surface, using universal access transceiver (UAT) equipment, a form of automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) available in the U.S.
Aeromexico has a new chairman after a consortium of investors headed by Eduardo Tricio acquired a 20.2% stake in the carrier. Tricio, who is the only board member to hold more than a 10% stake in the airline, takes the chairman role held by Jose Luis Barraza Gonzalez for the past five years, while Diez-Morodo has been named vice chairman.
Industry has 30 more days to comment on proposed new requirements for air carriers that contract out maintenance, as FAA granted an extension requested by the Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association.
With the move to the new Al-Makhtoum International Airport still far in the future, Dubai International is struggling to accommodate the escalating amount of traffic. The goal of allowing unlimited growth is at risk.
Click here to view the pdf Aircraft Operating Statistics, 12 Months Ended September 2012, Turboprops and Regional Jets (Sorted By Seats Per Departure) Aircraft Operational Statistics
Hawaiian Holdings has branded its new inter-island, turboprop subsidiary Ohana and reaffirmed that the first ATR 42 services will be to Molokai and Lanai. The new operation will begin this summer with daily flights to both destinations out of Gates 49 and 50 at Honolulu International Airport. Idaho-based charter operator Empire Airlines, which also flies for FedEx and UPS, will operate the flights for Hawaiian Holdings, which also is parent company of Hawaiian Airlines.
AMR Corp. and US Airways is increasingly likely to unveil a merger agreement on Thursday. The boards of directors of the two operators are expected to meet today to vote on the merger, according to two sources close to the negotiations. Should the separate meetings proceed as expected, the boards will approve the deal, which would allow the companies to announce the accord at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport the next day, the sources said.
The average retirement age for turboprop aircraft is creeping up and the pace of retirements is decelerating, an Aviation Week Intelligence Network fleets database analysis shows. High fuel prices are a contributing factor, but the duration of the trend could depend on the flood of used regional jets that will hit the market in the next few years.
Click here to view the pdf Aircraft Operating Costs, 12 Months Ended September 2012, Turboprops and Regional Jets (Sorted By Seats Per Departure) Cost Per Block Hour
A formal rejection of Ryanair’s proposed takeover of Aer Lingus is not expected until March even though the Irish carrier has publicly announced that the European Commission (EC) intends to prohibit the deal. According to Europe’s largest low-cost carrier, the EC’s decision is not based on competition law but on political grounds to “meet the narrow, vested interests of the Irish government.”
Korongo Airlines has reduced its fleet to one Boeing 737-300 aircraft after returning its second aircraft, a BAe 146-200, to Brussels Airlines, casting doubt on its survival. The carrier, based at Lubumbashi Luano International Airport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), however, denies that it is in financial difficulty, with CEO Christophe Allard saying that Korongo reported a 20% monthly growth in 2012, “both in terms of seat load factor and yield.”
Turkish Airlines wants to expand its network to about 300 destinations and is searching for additional interim leases to continue growing, CEO Temel Kotil tells Aviation Week. Ataturk International Airport-based Turkish has a fleet of 202 aircraft flying to 217 destinations. The number of destinations is expected to rise to 250 by the end of this year. “We are not the largest airline in the world, but we go to many different places,” Kotil says.
The future of the Tupolev Tu-204 narrowbody looks ever more uncertain after Russian authorities suspended the air operator’s certificate of the largest operator, Red Wings. The program is already in limbo and has no firm orders.
