China Eastern Airlines later this week could announce an order for 100 Airbus A320-family aircraft. The order is part of an effort by China’s airline industry to prepare for the country’s next five-year national economic planning period, which starts in 2016. China Southern also is considering a narrowbody order of about the same size, but is still negotiating with Airbus and Boeing, according to a manufacturing source who also detailed the pending China Eastern order.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carrier: Cape Town - Johannesburg - August 15-21, 2012, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Top Carrier: Cape Town - Johannesburg - August 15-21, 2012, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Daily Each W
A congressionally-mandated Government Accountability Office review of alternative air traffic controller training could not determine if the alternative would be more cost-effective than the current approach. The review, required by the FAA reauthorization bill enacted into law in February, also failed to gauge the impact the alternative would have on the quality of training.
The FAA has detailed new guidelines to improve signage and graphics to help passengers navigate airport terminals, although some provisioins calling for mandatory applications are being opposed by the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA). An extensive agency draft advisory circular (AC) outlines recommendations for uniform signage systems and other means of helping passengers find their way to their intended destinations across several areas.
Lufthansa is facing severe operational disruptions after its cabin crew union announced unlimited strike action following the collapse of contract talks. The union, UFO, is not saying when the strikes will start or how it will affect operations. The airline, meanwhile, says it will do its utmost to limit cancellations and delays.
Air France next year expects to start its new African joint venture Air Cemac, but has yet to commit to a firm launch date. The new airline initially will operate a fleet of two Airbus A320s, and further expansion will be based on how demand develops, Air France-KLM’s Senior VP Africa and Middle East, Pierre Descazeaux tells AviationWeek.
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has placed an order for 54 Airbus aircraft, including 10 A330-300 widebodies and 44 A321 narrowbodies. The deal exactly matches details contained in an exclusive report by AviationWeek released Aug. 24. PAL yesterday also unveiled that the first deliveries of the A321s will be in the second half of 2013 and that they will be used on domestic and short-haul international routes. Airbus says 34 of the A321s on order are from the current model, while the remaining 10 are re-engined A321NEOs.
Papua New Guinea’s (PNG’s) national carrier Air Niugini is embarking on a major fleet expansion that will bolster its domestic and short-haul international networks. The carrier has purchased two previously owned Bombardier Q400s that it will receive in the next two or three months, Colin Lyttle, the airline’s executive manager sales tells AviationWeek. These additions will increase Air Niugini’s Q400 fleet to five aircraft.
Bankrupt Mexicana de Aviacion could now resume service as soon as the first week of October, one month later than the most recently revised relaunch schedule for an airline that is entering its third year out of operation, says a source close to the airline. This new schedule comes as the bankruptcy court overseeing Mexicana’s restructuring assures the carrier’s pilots union that prospects for the airline’s return to service are good because Mexicana’s assets remain valuable, according to an internal message from union leadership to members.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carriers: Doha - Dubai - August 15-21, 2012, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Top Carriers: Doha - Dubai - August 15-21, 2012, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Daily Each Way De
Allegiant Air, which currently operates U.S. domestic services, could begin flights to Mexico as early as February, Wall Street analysts say after meeting the low-cost carrier’s management team. Raymond James analysts James Parker, Savanthi Syth and Krisztina Katai in an investor note say the new markets could consist of flights from about 10 Mexican cities to McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, as well as operations from Western U.S. cities with U.S. Customs facilities to Cancun International Airport.
AMR Corp., the parent company of American Airlines and American Eagle Airlines that is restructuring under Chapter 11 protection, ended July with about $4.8 billion in unrestricted cash and short-term investments, just $143 million less than at the end of June. The airline’s cash increased from $371 million at the end of June to $444 million by the end of July, due in part to a $59 million influx of positive cash flow from its operations, the company disclosed in the monthly operating report it is required to file with the bankruptcy court.
Airbus has entered a cooperation agreement with China’s Tsinghua University to explore local biofuel production. Results from preliminary trials to determine what feed stocks are suitable are expected before the end of the year. Used cooking oil and algae are possible candidates. According to Airbus, the initial investigation will be followed by concrete steps to build biofuel production. Airbus has established similar projects in Latin America, Europe, Australia and the Middle East.
If Southwest Airlines’ May 2011 acquisition of AirTran Airways is going to have a big influence on the competitive dynamic in the Atlanta market it has yet to show, with the most recent data available indicating that Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport hub operator Delta Air Lines is holding its own market share, and perhaps enjoying an improvement, all while average fares rise.
Low-cost operator AirAsia is committed to launching a Singapore based affiliate and will again try for an air operator certificate (AOC), but the airline is unsure authorities will grant approval. “[We are] always serious but not sure we will get one,” AirAsia Group CEO and Co-founder Tony Fernandes tells AviationWeek. AirAsia first applied for a Singapore AOC in February 2004. Although AirAsia has no Singapore airline operation, it has established a company in the city-state under the name AirAsia Singapore.
