The chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee latched onto new findings by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to blast the U.S. Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) deployment of new explosives detection systems (EDSs). GAO's report on the matter was issued publicly Tuesday, July 12. “TSA’s delays and poor planning continue to waste our limited resources, threaten transportation security, and weaken our ability to address the latest terrorist threats,” says U.S. Rep. John L. Mica (R-Fla.)
While Qantas has gained a temporary reprieve from serious strike action by its engineers, the engineers’ union tells its members it is taking steps to ensure that strikes can still be held in the near future.
India plans to ease foreign pilots out of the country’s aviation sector within two years, paving the way for the recruiting of more local pilots even though experts feel it will not be feasible in the rapidly growing industry. “The deadline set for the foreign pilots to leave India is December 2013. We hope by then India can do without foreign pilots,” says E.K. Bharat Bhushan, head of the country’s airline regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Thai Airways International has finalized the plan for the phase out of its older aircraft. The Star Alliance carrier says its board has approved the plan, which calls for the phase-out of four Boeing 747-400s in 2012-13; four Airbus A340-500s in 2012-13; six A340-600s in 2015-17; 13 A300-600s in 2011-15; nine 737-400s in 2014-15; five 777-300ERs in 2015; two 777-200s in 2017; three A330-300s in 2017; and two ATR 72-200s in 2017.
FAA is citing maintenance violations in new fines issued to American Eagle Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines. ASA’s alleged breach involves the operations of a Bombardier regional jet on 22 revenue flights in May 2010 without the appropriate maintenance release aircraft logbook entries, while Eagle is blamed for the use of unauthorized and uncalibrated tools by a contractor during line maintenance in Richmond, Va. FAA is proposing a $132,000 fine for ASA and $77,500 for Eagle.
Volaris can operate three U.S. routes assigned to Mexicana de Aviacion until the bankrupt carrier returns to service, the U.S. Transportation Department has ruled. Under the current air services agreement between Mexico and the U.S., only two airlines from each country can serve specific city-pairs. But in late June Volaris argued that the grounding of Mexicana de Aviacion, which retains its rights while in bankruptcy proceedings, allows U.S. carriers to dominate city-pairs.
Etihad Crystal Cargo has extended a wet-lease agreement with World Airways covering two MD-11Fs. The aircraft are used on routes from Abu Dhabi to Africa, Asia and Europe, the carrier says. The two MD-11Fs have been in service at Etihad Crystal Cargo for the past four years. The airline operates its own two A300-600Fs, two A330Fs and one Boeing 777F.
FAA has revoked tiny carrier Bimini Island Air’s (BIA) air operating certificate for allegedly operating scheduled flights with a 30-seat Saab 340A turboprop—an aircraft larger than it is allowed to fly in scheduled service.
Airports face grim financial realities as federal funding dries up, and the need to cope in such difficult circumstances will be a feature of the summer legislative conference of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) July 18-19 in Washington.
Aerolineas Argentinas will now stop in Iguazu in northern Argentina on three weekly services between its Buenos Aires hub and Rio de Janeiro. The airline operates Boeing 737-700s on the route.
The FAA has issued an airworthiness directive (AD) to detect and correct cracks in the horizontal stabilizer upper center skin panels of all MD-81/82/83/87/88 aircraft. The AD was prompted by a report of a crack in the upper center skin panel at the aft inboard corner of a right horizontal stabilizer. The agency warns that uncorrected cracks may lead to the loss of overall structural integrity of the stabilizer.
Click here to view the pdf Top Nonstop Airport Pairs: Asia/Oceania-U.S., 12 Months Ending September 2010, Ranked By ASMs Onboard ASMs % Chg. Seats Per Load Marke
The Australian government is including airlines in its new carbon emission tax plan, and carriers say this would cause a fare rise of more than AU$3 ($3.21) per domestic flight sector.
China’s airline industry needs to consolidate further, with the aim of building only two or three internationally competitive airlines, says the Civil Aviation Administration of China. The remarks, by administration chief Li Jiaxiang, seem to suggest at least one merger among China’s four main airlines—China Southern, China Eastern, Air China and Hainan Airlines.
Pinnacle Airlines hired Edward (Ted) Christie to become its new VP and CFO, which means the former top-tier executives at low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines now are part of the core leadership of the regional airline.
While customer service improvement is a high priority for aerospace and defense (A&D) executives, several industry “disconnects” are making improvements difficult and keeping companies from becoming high performers, a new Accenture survey finds. The disconnects include a lack of collaboration—such as alliances and business partnerships—with other companies; limited integration with sales service operations; and gap between realizing the importance of customer service and steps taken to deliver the service.
Republic Airways Holdings is planning to add a nonstop service between Denver International and Chicago Rockford International Airport in Illinois to its Frontier Airlines subsidiary’s network. The three weekly flights, which is scheduled to begin Dec. 15, will be served with a 138-seat Airbus A319.
Russia is considering phasing out the Antonov An-24 turboprop fleet in the wake of a July 11 crash of an Angara Airlines aircraft in which five passengers were killed. The aircraft was on a domestic flight from Tomsk to Surgut Airport. The pilot reported an engine fire and was attempting an emergency landing when the aircraft went down into the Ob River 14 km southwest of Strezhevov Airport. The accident occurred at 8:55 a.m. Moscow time. Russian aviation officials say 37 persons were onboard, 33 passengers and four crew.
GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes’ proposed BRL311 million (US$196.5 million) takeover of Webjet Linhas Aereas will provide much-needed market dominance for the Brazilian low-cost carrier as rival Grupo TAM finalizes its merger with Chile’s LAN Airlines. The acquisition, which must be approved by regulators, will also give GOL a low-cost operation focused on price-sensitive leisure passengers and a network reflecting the demands of Brazil’s largest tour operator, which is owned by the same holding company that is selling Webjet.
Leading Asian airlines are gaining a valuable competitive advantage from their proximity to China, as this market’s enormous potential transforms into rapid growth. The big question now is how long it will take China’s own carriers to exploit the boom and join the Asian giants in the industry’s top echelon.
Vietnam Airlines plans to add Airbus A380s to its fleet, but remains tight-lipped on when that will be. The carrier’s fleet plan, currently before government for approval, lists the Airbus A380 as a type it plans to acquire, according to local news reports, citing unnamed officials at the Ministry of Transport.
US Airways has bolstered its management team with the appointment of Paul Galleberg as VP-legal affairs and John McDonald as VP-corporate communications, positions that had previously been open. McDonald brings a wealth of industry experience to his role, which includes his entry into the business as a flight attendant, a lengthy tenure in Trans World Airlines’ communications departments and his most recent position as director of operations and hub communications at United Airlines.
