NASA is working to persuade the U.S. Air Force to co-fund a flight demonstrator for an unconventional transport aircraft configuration, possibly a hybrid wing-body design for a commercial freighter or military airlifter.
Pittsburgh International Airport is looking for an airline to test its wayport concept, which is aimed at rebuilding the one-time US Airways hub while relieving congestion at major U.S. East Coast airports.
Low-cost carriers are engaged in a tactical battle over how the FAA would auction off slots at New York LaGuardia and Washington Reagan National if the agency finalizes its approval of the deal between Delta Air Lines and US Airways to swap a large number of their slot holdings at the airports.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has capitalized its new low-cost medium-haul carrier at SG$283 million ($235 million). It has issued and bought 283 shares in New Aviation at SG$1 per share, SIA tells the Singapore stock exchange. New Aviation, a wholly owned subsidiary of SIA, is the name of the company that SIA has registered to house the new low-cost medium-haul carrier, which is due to start service by June using ex-SIA Boeing 777-200s.
Nav Canada says transatlantic flight trials of new air traffic management (ATM) procedures are yielding greater fuel savings and emission reductions than expected.
NASA is working with FAA and the industry to plan an operational demonstration of fuel-saving approach procedures using automatic dependent surveillance–broadcast (ADS-B) at an airport with high air traffic density.
A plan to construct an international airport in Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula, known for its biodiversity and ecotourism, is encountering opposition. A 1,000-acre site on government land is set aside for the $35 million project scheduled to start construction in 2012. Civil aviation authorities have designated the project as the nation’s first “green” airport in the spirit of Costa Rica’s strong adherence to environmental practices. Costa Rica has signed 45 environmental treaties and claims nearly 6% of the world’s biodiversity in both species and nature.
Brazil’s Grupo TAM, citing “uncertainties surrounding the global economy” is dropping four leased Airbus narrowbodies from its 2012 fleet plan and re-evaluating next year’s European schedule. The changes to TAM’s single-aisle program now include the purchase of 13 Airbus A320s in 2012, and the return of 13 leased narrowbodies instead of nine single aisles as previously planned. This will keep the Sao Paulo-based carrier’s fleet at 127 narrowbodies in 2012, the same level as this year.
AviancaTaca and United Continental Holdings on Aug. 29 filed a code-share application related to a broad partnership unveiled at the beginning of the year. The carriers, which had initially planned to commence the code-share in April with Copa Holdings, are asking the U.S. Transportation Department for approval to place United Airlines’ designator code on 15 Avianca services, mostly its U.S. routes, while adding the Colombian operator’s code to five of Continental's domestic services and 23 United routes.
U.S. airlines can begin competing for the right to offer more service to Colombia. In an Aug. 31 notice, the Transportation Department (DOT) invited carriers to apply for new rights available under the amended aviation agreement signed by the U.S. and Colombia in May.
In a White House Rose Garden speech on jobs and the highway bill on Wednesday, President Obama urged Congress to pass a “clean extension” of the FAA bill that would provide back pay for workers laid off during the August shutdown before the current bill expires. Obama, who was joined by Transportation Department Secretary Ray LaHood, also endorsed the idea of getting the private sector “more involved” in transportation projects. The current FAA extension expires Sept. 16. Responding to the president, Rep.
American Airlines has extended its agreement with Sabre to keep its inventory in the global distribution system (GDS) until the antitrust lawsuit against Sabre is resolved. Without the extension, American’s contract with Sabre would have expired at the end of August.
Jaan Albrecht is leaving the Star Alliance after 10 years to become CEO of Austrian Airlines. The move is still subject to approval by Austrian’s board, which is to meet in September. Albrecht will take up his new role in November.
Bombardier faces challenges in its key regional aircraft market as macroeconomic worries continue to put pressure on regional airlines in North America and Europe. The company still expects to deliver a total of 90 Q400 turboprops and CRJ-series regional jets this year and has not changed its production rates for 2011, said Guy Hachey, president of Bombardier Aerospace. Hachey acknowledged in a call with analysts that the company will reassess its production rates for next year.
Pittsburgh International Airport suggests in a 21-page white paper that it serve as a wayport to carry the connecting traffic that can congest four major East Coast airports. The report was issued Wednesday after the Allegheny County Airport Authority counted more than 70 aircraft operating into the airport due to Hurricane Irene. Bradley Penrod, the authority’s executive director and CEO, says taking diverted flights “gives us the opportunity to offer a solution to the issue of East Coast traffic congestion and showcase our capacity.”
With attention focused on how Boeing will schedule production for a family of re-engined 737s, now known as 737 MAX, Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita is facing its own challenges as the largest structural supplier for the new airplane. Spirit builds the aluminum alloy fuselage structure and floor beams for the 737NG, its fan duct thrust reverser, engine pylon, leading edge slats and outboard flap. In fact, the company builds major assemblies for every Boeing airplane and derives more than 50% of its business from the Seattle manufacturer.
Aer Lingus has dropped plans to join one of the global alliances because the costs “outweigh the benefits over the short term,” Aer Lingus CEO Christoph Mueller tells Aviation Week. He estimates that the airline would have to spend €30-50 million ($43.4-$72.3 million), not counting the recurring costs, to be able to join Skyteam, Oneworld or Star.
Hawaii is benefitting from U.S. government efforts to kick-start an advanced biofuels industry and reduce its dependence on imported oil. While Honeywell company UOP has begun construction of a biofuel demonstration plant in Hawaii, which is backed by $25 million in funding from the Department of Energy, a $510 million government initiative to produce aviation and marine biofuels has highlighted the need to create a supply chain in the state.
Lufthansa CEO Christoph Franz points out that the airline is shifting its overall company strategy, albeit in a subtle way. In his view, the airline has been perceived as a company focused on the needs of business travelers. “But the future growth will strongly be linked to private travel,” he told journalists at an event in Frankfurt. Franz pointed out that this will be reflected in fare levels, as well as in how the network evolves.
