Russian carrier Ural Airlines inked a five-year deal with Lufthansa Technik covering technical support and maintenance of components for its Airbus A320 fleet, as well as airframe-related services, including thrust reversers. Lufthansa Technik plans to supply components at Ural's hub at Yekaterinburg-Koltsovo Airport, and the carrier also plans to participate in a parts pool covering 500 line-replaceable units. The first two Airbus planes are scheduled to join Ural's fleet in September, followed by four additional aircraft in 2007. -LR
British Airways was fined $50,000 by the U.S. Transportation Dept. for inappropriately denying boarding to four qualified disabled passengers on separate occasions within the past three years, a violation of the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). DOT found the airline failed to ask passengers whether they were incapable of evacuating a flight without attendant assistance, the reason British Airways gave to deny them boarding.
Jordan's government sold a majority share of Royal Jordanian Airlines' training and simulation arm to the Oriental Investment group for Tourism and Development. JATS was one of the none-core businesses separated from the carrier to be sold under the government's privatization plan.
Mexico's AeroCalifornia last week resumed operations after being grounded by the government for several months because of technical deficiencies. Mexico's civil aviation department suspended the domestic carrier in the spring for safety reasons (DAILY, April 17 and May 3) but the airline has been working for months to overhaul part of its fleet and improve its maintenance program. On Friday, the airline operated a flight from La Paz to Guadalajara with a stop at Los Mochis Airport.
Boeing and Russian company VSMPO-AVISMA last week created a joint venture to machine titanium forgings for Boeing commercial aircraft, specifically the 787.
Conferences & Exhibitions You can now register online for Aviation Week events. Go to www.AviationNow.com/conferences or contact Lydia Janow, 212-904-3225 or 800-240-7645 ext. 5 (U.S. and Canada only) SEPT. 19-21 -- MRO Asia, Xiamen, China OCT. 24-26 -- MRO Europe, Amsterdam NOV. 13-15 -- Aerospace & Defense Programs, Phoenix
The Ecuador-Colombia market is drawing passengers in record numbers, Ecuador's civil aviation department (DGAC) said. A total of 100,000 Ecuadorian tourists traveled to Colombia last year, and business travelers are estimated to be growing at a fast clip, though no official statistics are yet available, DGAC said.
SAS Group Management executive Hakan Ericson last week resigned from the company to become president of Loomis Cash Handling Services, a Securitas company. Ericson has been a member of SAS Group Management and responsible for the Airline Support Businesses business since Oct. 1, 2005. "Leaving such an exciting company as SAS after a short time is naturally unfortunate, but the offer from Securitas was something I simply could not refuse," Ericson said. He will leave SAS on Aug. 31.
Hawaiian Airlines on Sept. 9 plans to start operating the first of four Boeing 767-300s acquired from Delta in February. "Due to certification issues," the first plane won't have a finished modified interior, but eventually all four planes will have a new two-class cabin and will be modified for overwater operations, says CEO Mark Dunkerley. Four other 767s have already been assigned to previously announced routes.
Northwest is asking for commitment letters from potential debtor-in-possession lenders by the close of business on Thursday, so it can close the deal by Aug. 21. CEO Doug Steenland and CFO Neal Cohen were in New York last week to present the airline's plan and latest financial results to several banks. Northwest claims it is on track to emerge from bankruptcy in the first half of 2007.
Brazil's commercial aviation regulator ANAC last week denied media reports hat it had fined foreign and domestic airlines for dumping by lowering airfares to excessive levels. The agency clarified that the entire issue of airfares, including alleged dumping, is still under review, and added that GOL's ongoing promotional offer of tickets for BRR$1 may not be considered dumping. ANAC President Milton Zuanazzi said, "Consumers may think that punitive action by the regulator in this area bars them from the benefits of lower fares. But dumping has its downside.
New Varig last week submitted to Rio Bankruptcy Judge Luiz Roberto Ayoub its proposed new route structure to be implemented after Aug. 25 to meet requirements by airline regulator ANAC (DAILY, August 10); scheduling details will be released on deadline.
Northwest is operating most of the routes previously flown by Mesaba's Avro jets with Bombardier CRJs and DC9s as the carriers prepare for all the Avros to exit the network by the end of November. Through its own Chapter 11 reorganization, Northwest opted to cut Mesaba's 35 Avros from the regional carrier's fleet. Currently, 13 planes are left in the operation.
Lloyd Aereo Boliviano (LAB) is close to a rescue agreement with British Transatlantic Aviation Ltd. (TAA) by which the latter would take over 50% of LAB's equity shares in exchange for an investment to reactivate the long-ailing carrier, sources report. The amount of the investment was not revealed (DAILY, Aug. 11). TAA would be ready to accept the shares of former President Ernesto Asbun that are being transferred to the workers on condition that legal charges be dropped against him for back salaries and other social benefits.
Residents of the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands, long subject to bitter territorial disputes between Argentina and Britain, are getting a new chance to increase air service to their home country.
More than a year after red flags were raised about the accuracy of U.S. Terrorist Screening Data Base, recommended improvements have still not been completed, GAO says. A record-by-record review of the TSDB to improve the quality of the records was "still ongoing," GAO found in a recent review. This master "watch-list" is viewed as crucial to the Secure Flight passenger pre-screening program being developed by TSA.
