U.S. Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) on July 6 introduced a “Pilot’s Bill of Rights” that in the event FAA takes action against a pilot, would provide them with “all relevant evidence” of the administration’s decision to move ahead. It would also alter the appeals process, making changes to how the National Transportation Safety Board reviews FAA acts and would allow a pilot appealing an FAA decision to opt for a federal district court to review the appeal.
Brazilian carrier TAM is restructuring operations at Pantanal, the regional airline acquired early last year for BRL13 million ($8.3 million). The plan, which TAM says was originally scheduled for the end of the month but was implemented without notice July 7, culls the handful of ATR 42-300s operated by Pantanal before its acquisition. The aircraft are being replaced by three Airbus narrowbodies, which join two Airbus A319s and a single A320 subleased by Pantanal from TAM since its acquisition.
Shenzhen Airlines plans to expand to at least 171 aircraft by 2015, ramping up capacity by 10% a year in its role as the Air China group’s challenger in the home territory of rival China Southern. That fleet forecast is conservative, says an airline official. “If possible, it will be more than 180.”
Etihad Airways is asking for government approval to launch a nonstop service between its hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport and Shanghai Pudong International Airport. The airline, which plans to inaugurate Airbus A330-200 service on the route March 1, 2012, says Shanghai will be its 70th destination.
All Nippon Airways’ new short-haul, low-cost carrier, Peach, has received its air operator’s certificate from Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau but will wait until next March to launch operations. The carrier plans services from its base at Osaka Kansai International Airport to Fukuoka and Sapporo in Japan, and in May will start international flights with services to Seoul Incheon International Airport. “This is a significant milestone for Peach Aviation,” says CEO Shinichi Inoue.
The FAA has named Chief Counsel David Grizzle chief operating officer of the agency’s Air Traffic Organization almost three months after Henry Krakowski resigned the position following a series of scandals involving air traffic controllers.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) says last year was the first in which there were no fatal accidents among member state operators for aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of more than 2,250 kg (5,725 lb.) In its newly released annual survey, EASA notes that the number of accidents increased slightly, however, to 26 from 20 in 2009, although it remained between the average recorded in 1999-2008.
Several of the U.S. Transportation Department’s new passenger rights rules threaten the way Allegiant Air and Spirit Airlines do business and ultimately will harm the communities they do and may serve, the carriers argue in a July 6 letter to DOT Secretary Ray LaHood asking him to postpone implementation of the rules while they challenge their legality in federal court.
Driven by a large order intake at last month's Paris air show, Airbus has boosted its order book to 640 net orders at the year’s mid-point, but the aircraft maker continues to receive cancellations, which have now reached 137 units through the first six months.
A federal appeals court has ruled against U.S. airlines which argued the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) owes them hundreds of millions of dollars in security fee reimbursements. In a 2-1 ruling issued July 1 by the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, Judges Brett Kavanaugh and Karen LeCraft Henderson say Southwest Airlines and 19 other carriers that joined them in the appeal failed to make the case that the TSA overcharged them.
American Eagle had 15 tarmac delays in May that potentially could violate the U.S. Transportation Department’s three-hour limit, but American says it has explained to DOT the mitigating factors it believes should excuse the carrier from having to pay fines.
Australian charter carrier Alliance Airlines has secured its first Fokker 70s and plans to use these for nonstop charter flights from Australia’s East Coast to mine sites in western Australia. The Brisbane-based carrier has bought two Fokker 70s from European leasing company Gladiator Leasing, says Managing Director Scott McMillan. Malev Hungarian Airlines previously operated the aircraft, he says, adding that Alliance also bought one spare engine, a Rolls-Royce Tay 620, because its Fokker 100s use Tay 650 powerplants.
Lufthansa will open routes to at least two more second-tier Chinese cities, markets that are attractive because of their populations and rising wealth but present great challenges for business development. The announcement will be made on July 8, says a company official. Among Western airlines, only Lufthansa and KLM are flying into Chinese airports other than the three hubs that dominate the country’s long-haul traffic—Beijing Capital, Shanghai Pudong and Guangzhou Baiyun.
American Airlines is hoping Volaris’ bid for exemptions to the current bilateral air services agreement between the U.S. and Mexico will enable it to open a nonstop service between New York and Mexico City. The current bilateral accord restricts city-pair operations to two carriers from each nation, and most major U.S. cities already have a full allocation from Mexico’s capital.
With the country aiming for double-digit growth, Boeing expects India to order up to 1,320 new passenger aircraft in the next 20 years for as much as $150 billion, stimulating strong demand for new and replacement aircraft. Releasing the latest outlook for the Indian market, Boeing India President Dinesh Keskar says, ”Robust growth with new economic prosperity amongst a massive Indian population, discretionary incomes, business progress and access to airports will increase airplane demand.”
Star Alliance will join rivals SkyTeam and Oneworld in moving into China’s Pearl River Delta with Shenzhen Airlines’ agreement to join the group. The deal also means that Star will add mainland China’s fifth-largest airline to its member list, which already includes Shenzhen Airlines’ 51% shareholder, Air China. Initial network benefits largely will be limited to Asian partners, however, because Star members from farther afield do not fly to Shenzhen, the carrier’s main base. The airline’s second base, Guangzhou, attracts more long-haul traffic.
In a bid to make Dubai International the primary hub for the Middle East, the prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai has endorsed an AED28.8 billion ($7.8 billion) project to boost capacity at the airport.
Etihad Airways intends to make Chengdu in southwest China its 69th destination. UAE-based Etihad says it will inaugurate a four-weekly nonstop Airbus A330-200 service between its hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport Dec. 15 pending government approval. The carrier’s A330-200 will be configured with a two-class cabin—22 business-class seats and 240 in economy.
Pilots at United Continental Holdings are campaigning against a contract proposal publicly issued by the airline which they say misrepresents ongoing talks for a joint collective bargaining agreement.
