Philippine Airlines, a longtime General Electric customer, will switch to Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce engines for its recently ordered Airbus fleets.
While the focus in Washington has remained on possible $1 trillion across-the-board budget cuts, business aviation advocates are concerned that negotiations to avoid those measures could open the door to user fees, extended depreciation or other proposals.
American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines and United Airlines are competing for a single available route for daily service to Tokyo’s close-in Haneda Airport. The route became available because of Delta’s request for U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) permission to switch one of its two Haneda routes from Detroit to Seattle. Rather than grant that request, the DOT decided to hold a new route selection proceeding, for which Delta or any other U.S. carrier could apply.
With markets in Europe imploding and the U.S. economy looking shaky, Singapore Airlines is expanding its business by focusing on Asian markets, and in particular by growing its short-haul narrowbody operation, SilkAir.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carriers: Istanbul - Izmir - August 15-21, 2012, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Top Carriers: Istanbul - Izmir - August 15-21, 2012, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Daily Each Way
China Southern Airlines, struggling to find a suitable route for its Airbus A380s, is considering a proposal from Air China to fly the aircraft jointly between Paris and Beijing. The proposal faces likely opposition from Air France-KLM, a partner of China Southern in the SkyTeam alliance that competes with Air China’s Boeing 777-300ER service on the route, say Chinese airline industry sources.
Sri Lanka’s government plans to build eight new commercial airports and upgrade the domestic Ratmalana Airport in the nation’s capital, Colombo. A Sri Lankan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) official, speaking to AviationWeek on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Airline Training Symposium in Singapore, says new airports are planned for Ampara, Batticaloa, Kandy, Koggala, Nuwara Eliya, Palaviya, Sigiriya and Trincomalee.
The European Commission (EC) is investigating the proposed takeover of Aer Lingus by Irish rival Ryanair, and from comments made yesterday by the commission it appears there is a concern the deal could be anti-competitive.
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.
