The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is reassigning body scanners to airports based on passenger volume as part of an effort to streamline screening processes. The TSA plans to shift smaller, faster Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) machines to busier airports and larger units to airports with less passenger volume, a spokesman tells Aviation Week. The AIT units will take up less space and reduce screening checkpoint wait times at the larger airports.
Indian carrier Jet Airways plans to sell and lease back its aircraft as one of several measures to improve cash flow and profitability. “We are looking at more sale and lease-back options in the current quarter in addition to those done in the previous two quarters. This will result in cash surplus and consequential reduction in the working capital loans, as well as [the] lowering of interest cost going forward,” said CFO Ravishankar Gopalakrishnan during a fiscal second quarter results conference call.
DHL Global Forwarding and LAN Cargo have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen security measures for high-value air freight moving through more than a dozen Latin American countries. Once approved, the deal will formalize LAN Cargo’s relationship with DHL in Latin America, the Chilean operator says in a statement. LAN Cargo has worked with DHL in the region for more than 30 years, but this agreement will enable the two carriers to standardize security procedures for cargo carried on LAN Cargo’s network.
Delta Air Lines is “on course” to begin selling its premium economy seats via Travelport-owned portals in early 2013, a slip from a June announcement from the global distribution system (GDS) that travel agents would have access to this inventory through Galileo, Worldspan and Apollo before year-end.
Ryanair has offered what it calls an unprecedented package of concession to convince the European Commission (EC) to approve the budget airline’s proposed merger with Aer Lingus.
The bankruptcy judge overseeing Mexicana de Aviacion’s restructuring has approved another investor to bid for the airline’s assets. Judge Edith Alarcon Meixueiro has allowed a consortium led by investor Ivan Barona to submit a bid, pending the court’s approval of the consortium’s finances, a source close to the airline tells Aviation Week.
ILFC has or will part out at least 11 of the 54 aircraft that have been returned to the lessor this year by airlines that ceased operations or filed for bankruptcy protection.
Alternative jet fuels research will take on a broader focus as part of a newly defined center of excellence (COE) to be launched by the FAA this fiscal year, while compatible land use management and aviation environmental policy have been dropped from an earlier plan for the COE.
Spirit Airlines hopes to select an engine by year-end for the Airbus A320NEO aircraft it ordered and plans to lease, but may take longer, if necessary, to get the best deal, CEO Ben Baldanza says. “We are going to have to get to a point where we understand the best terms for both providers,” Baldanza told Aviation Week Oct. 31.
American Association of Airport Executives promoted Todd Hauptli to president of AAAE Gov and Spencer Dickerson to president of AAAE Meetings and International, both new positions.
Boeing named Tony Parasida, president of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, to succeed Rick Stephens as senior VP for human resources and administration. Stephens will retire in March 2013 after 33 years with the company.
Canada’s National Research Council (NRC) has flown a Dassault Falcon 20 with one engine burning 100% unblended biofuel produced from carinata, an inedible oil seed crop. Previous biojet flights have used a maximum 50% blend with conventional kerosene, but the fuel’s developers say its hydrocarbon makeup is almost indistinguishable from petroleum-based jet fuel.
