Jade Cargo Airlines Chinese airfreight operator will permanently shut down and plans to file for bankruptcy. “Due to the continuing weak demand for air cargo services to and from China, the restructuring of Jade Cargo could not be successfully concluded,” the airline says in a statement. “In view of the latest developments, the board of directors has decided to voluntarily dissolve the company.”
Shifting demand for air cargo services in North America has prompted FedEx to expand a fleet retirement program to include 18 Airbus A310-200s, six MD-10-10s and 43 engines. Most of these aircraft, which are in addition to 26 Boeing 727-200s already scheduled to be cut through fiscal 2013, are parked, and their departure will be aligned with the introduction of Boeing 767-300s and 757-200s. The announcement comes days after The International Air Transport Association reported a 6.4% drop in cargo demand in April for North American operators on a 2.9% cut in capacity.
The two founders of Philippine airline Seair, who were instrumental in managing the carrier, have decided to sell their stakes to Tiger Airways and form a new domestic turboprop operator that will target VIP passengers with a small fleet of aircraft. Singaporean carrier Tiger in 2010 launched a bid to purchase a 32.5% in Seair for $6 million, with CEO Tony Davis saying the holding was limited so Seair’s founders, Irene Dornier and Nick Gitsis, could remain active shareholders in the business.
A recently created committee of public and private sector stakeholders is planning to develop recommendations by year-end to improve the FAA’s ongoing problems with rule interpretation at its various Flight Standards District Offices (FSDOs) and Aircraft Certification Offices (ACOs). The Aviation Rulemaking Committee, co-chaired by Flight Standards Director John Allen and National Air Transportation Association (NATA) VP Eric Byer, last week met for the first time to discuss the problem.
VivaColombia, a low-cost carrier based in Medellin, Colombia, expects to take delivery of three more Airbus A320s by year-end, bringing its total of the type to five, two of them on lease.
Air Canada remains committed to launching a low-cost division despite fervent opposition from its unions, and may even consider long-haul operations for the proposed unit. The carrier for more than a year has advocated the creation of a low-cost operation to mitigate what it says is the increasing loss of market share to rivals with lower operating expenses. That message was repeated again this week by CEO Calin Rovinescu during the carrier’s annual shareholders meeting, where he called for a transformation of Air Canada’s business model.
The tough budget environment on Capitol Hill makes it highly unlikely that Congress will provide assistance for NextGen equipage beyond the approval for FAA to create a public-private loan guarantee program, a Senate aide told attendees of the RTCA 2012 Symposium. Rich Swayze, a staff member on the Senate aviation operations, safety and security subcommittee, notes the loan guarantee program measure–included in the most recent FAA reauthorization bill– as “very difficult” politically because lawmakers had to justify any costs that may come with it.
JetBlue Airways’ international network, which has blossomed in recent years as the low-cost carrier expanded into the Caribbean and Latin America, could eventually account for as much as 40% of the airline’s total capacity, Scott Laurence, VP-network planning and partnerships, tells Aviation Week. This would be a sizable increase on the 27% share international services currently provide.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carriers - Atlanta, May 15-21, 2012, Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMs Top Carriers - Atlanta, May 15-21, 2012, Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMs Departures Airport Share ASMs (mil) Airport Share Seats/Dept.
October 9, 2012 Amsterdam, The Netherlands Repair in New Generation Aircraft: Challenges and Opportunities Lightweight composites will soon rival metals as the primary material for airframes. Are you prepared? Aviation Week’s Aircraft Composite Repair Management Forum will highlight the latest developments, challenges, and best practices in aircraft composite repair and maintenance technology.
Etihad Airways will take some of the Airbus A320s it has on order with winglets the airframer is developing for the narrowbody. Deliveries of A320s equipped with the devices, which Airbus calls “sharklets,” are planned to start this year, and Etihad is due to receive its first unit in the third quarter of 2013. Of the 20 A320s the Abu Dhabi carrier has ordered, 17 will have the device. Airbus has promised winglets will improve fuel burn by about 3.5% on long-range flights, although flight testing suggests the benefit may be slightly higher.
Uruguayan carrier Pluna is facing “severe turbulence” from the combined forces of slowing regional economic growth and restrictive government policies, says the carrier’s President Matias Campiani.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carriers - San Francisco, May 15-21, 2012, Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMs Top Carriers - San Francisco, May 15-21, 2012, Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMs Airport ASMs Airport Seats
Etihad Airways is pursuing a stake of up to 10% in Virgin Australia, taking advantage of a recent restructuring of the Australian carrier that is aimed at allowing more overseas investment. Etihad has acquired a 3.96% share of Virgin Australia’s domestic entity on the stock market in recent weeks, and CEO James Hogan says his intention is to take the stake up to 10%. He did not say how much he will invest for the stake.
Finnair is trimming its Asian services because of delays in heavy maintenance and a lack of overflight rights. The decision is prompted by heavy checks on three Airbus A340-300s in Finnair’s fleet that require more work than anticipated, an airline official tells Aviation Week. No details are being provided by the airline, and it is unclear what the problem is or when it will be resolved. Finnair also refuses to name the provider performing the maintenance work.
While a number of technology issues are still problematic, the largest obstacles facing NextGen progress are procedure and policy issues, government and industry leaders agree. Speaking yesterday during the RTCA 2012 Annual Symposium, Vicki Cox, FAA assistant administrator for NextGen, says policy issues are “huge” for industry. Government and industry leaders must clarify concepts such as “best capable, best serve” and best means to equip for NextGen to reap its full benefits, Cox says.
Brazilian operator Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras is planning to operate an Embraer 195 with its General Electric CF34-10E engines burning a renewable fuel produced by biotechnology company Amyris that is based on sugarcane. Pending authorization from Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency, the flight is planned for June 19, to coincide with the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro.
Bombardier Aerospace’s Northern Ireland subsidiary Short Brothers has been selected by Pratt & Whitney and Irkut to supply the nacelle for the PW1400 engine on the Russian manufacturer’s planned MC-21 narrowbody airliner.
