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.
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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.
Tiger Airways’ newly acquire Philippine affiliate, Seair Inc., has shifted senior management with Chief Operating Officer Patrick Tan replacing Avelino Zapanta as CEO. Zapanta says he has left Seair Inc. to be president of turboprop start-up Seair International, which was founded by Nick Gitsis and Irene Dornier with proceeds from the sale of their 40% stake in Seair Inc. to Tiger earlier this month (Aviation Daily, Aug. 15).
FAA has no plans to change a cargo flight deck security mandate that allows operators to adopt security procedures rather than install a reinforced barrier to keep intruders out of cargo aircraft cockpits, the agency reports in a draft study completed for the U.S. Congress.
October 9, 2012 Amsterdam, The Netherlands Repair in New Generation Aircraft: Challenges and OpportunitiesLightweight composites will soon rival metals as the primary material for airframes. Are you prepared? This event will highlight the latest developments, challenges and best practices in aircraft composite repair and maintenance technology. It will allow all of the key industry players to discuss best practices and share experiences. Register now! www.aviationweek.com/events/composites
A multi-layered approach to aviation security can lead to diminishing returns if the cost of implementing these measures is not fully examined, warns the Rand Corp. The Transportation Security Administration as well as passenger and cargo airlines often promote layers security as part of a growing consensus to approach aviation security from a risk-based perspective. However, continued investment in redundant or complementary measures are “rewarded by less and less enhancement in the overall system performance,” says the Rand Corp. in a new report.
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