Rockwell Collins has made significant improvements to its fully automatic MultiScan weather radar in a new product now available on the Boeing 737NG, which should help airlines avoid not only tough weather but the diversion costs that go with it. Called ThreatTrack radar, the system includes a binary classification of convective-related turbulence to give pilots a graphic denotation of “ride quality” versus severe turbulence out to 40 nm. ahead of the aircraft.
Following what the airline describes as overly high costs and low yields, Malaysia Airlines (MAS) plans to stop flying its Kuala Lumpur-Los Angeles route. The move, effective from April 30, is described as “route rationalization” by the airline’s CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya. He says the route is no longer economically viable, and he pins the blame on over-capacity and competition, plus high operational costs for the Boeing 777 service.
Bombardier continues to sign up smaller orders for the Q400 regional turboprop as it works to finalize an agreement to assemble the aircraft in Russia. The latest deal is with Middle East lessor Palma Holding, which has firmed up a letter of intent (LOI) signed in November for four aircraft to be leased to existing Q400 operator Ethiopian Airlines.
Pins critical to the correct operation of Boeing 777 escape slides are turning up corroded or broken, leading FAA to propose giving operators three years to replace them. Boeing has received reports of at least 23 “corroded, migrated, or broken” girt bar floor fitting spring pins, FAA says in a draft airworthiness directive (AD) set for publication Feb. 6. In at least one case, discovered during a maintenance test, a failed pin prevented a door escape slide from deploying.
At least a few Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) slot pairs destined for new ownership as part of the American Airlines/US Airways merger may still be up for grabs, and if so, WestJet—shut out of the bid process so far—is interested. Ten slots remain unaccounted for from a set of 104 at DCA and 34 more at New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) that American is being forced to sell as part of its merger. Some of them may already be sold to unannounced winners, but indications are that at least a pair are still available.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carrier: Istanbul - Izmir, January 15-21, 2014, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Top Carrier: Istanbul - Izmir, January 15-21, 2014, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Daily Each Way Departures Share ASKs (000) Share Seats/Dept.
LOT Polish Airlines is preparing for a fresh barrage of criticism, after the European Commission released details of its restructuring plan as part of a state-aid probe. Last November, the Commission said it was launching an in-depth investigation into LOT’s PLN804 million ($255.4 million) restructuring package. The Commission has now formally opened the probe and called on LOT’s rivals and analysts to scrutinize the plan and reply within the next month.
Air France has launched initial studies into how to retrofit its Airbus A380 with its newly unveiled business-class cabin, but the effort is unlikely to be launched this year. The airline decided to introduce the product on its largest aircraft after having initially put it on the 777 fleet, but the timing is unsettled and the latest seats may never be installed on other aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and the Airbus A340, which are to be retired in the medium term.
Malaysia-based AirAsia X’s Thai joint venture recieved its air operator’s certificate (AOC), clearing the way for it to launch operation. It’s another major regulatory milestone AirAsia X’s efforts to set up its first two offshore joint venture affiliates, in Thailand and Indonesia. Thai AirAsia X got its Air Operator’s License in October. It plans to begin service from Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport with two Airbus A330s, but has not set a date for its first flights.
Struggling to replace the declining aftermarket revenue from a shrinking Fokker fleet, Fokker Services (FS) will cut about 20% of its staff as part of a restructuring effort aimed at reversing the unit’s declining revenue trend. After showing no growth in 2012, FS — the aftermarket arm of Fokker Technologies — saw revenue decline 8% in 2013 to €202 million ($299 million), the unit reported Feb. 3. While the company is rolling out non-Fokker support services, the new work isn’t coming quickly enough to keep revenues from sliding.
Jetstar Airways is introducing Boeing 787s on more routes between Australia and Southeast Asia leisure destinations as it begins the process of phasing out its Airbus A330 fleet. The airline has announced plans to operate the 787 on some of its flights between Melbourne and Phuket, Thailand, beginning Feb. 9, which will be its fourth route using that model. The carrier introduced the 787 on routes from Melbourne and Sydney to Bali in December and January, respectively, and on its Sydney-Phuket route on Feb. 3.
FedEx plans to finish installing an active fire-suppression system in the “Class E” cargo space on the main decks of its long-haul, over-ocean fleet by August. The patented system, built by Ventura Aerospace, is already installed on FedEx’s 64 McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighters and on 14 of its Boeing 777 freighters, with 11 more 777s to complete.
American Airlines later this month will take delivery a Boeing 737NG factory-equipped with a new Rockwell Collins weather radar that distinguishes between “ride quality” and severe turbulence, a first in the industry. American is the launch customer for the ThreatTrack radar, which Boeing recently certified on the 737NG. All of American’s new 737NGs will be delivered with the upgraded radar.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carriers: Doha - Dubai, January 15-21, 2014, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Top Carriers: Doha - Dubai, January 15-21, 2014, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Daily Each Way Departures Share ASKs (000) Share Seats/Dept.
Flybe Group will ground 10 aircraft from April onwards and a further four aircraft by the end of the summer as part of its restructuring drive, which looks to be starting to deliver results. Its UK regional airline division saw a 2.3% increase in passenger revenue per seat to £48.46 in the third quarter of its current fiscal year and cost per seat (excluding fuel and restructuring costs) fell 5.2% to £41.58.
Thai Airways plans to operate its first Boeing 787-8 on its Bangkok-Perth route in July, and the carrier will likely select Tokyo as its second route for the new aircraft.
Ryanair will hold another round of talks this month with Boeing on a 737 MAX order, but the Ireland-based low-cost carrier has extended its order deadline and now does not expect to announce any new aircraft acquisitions for the next six, “maybe even 12 months,” Chief Executive Michael O’Leary says. The airline said at the Paris air show in June it expected to sign a deal by the end of 2013 or early 2014 for more than 100 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
Sabreliner Corporation’s business leaned heavily on military contracts that disappeared during sequestration, forcing the company into default on its bank loan and leading to the bank’s sale of the company to an investment firm.
Toronto’s city council is expected to postpone until March an executive committee meeting to review Porter Airlines’ request to operate Bombardier CSeries airliners from the city’s downtown island airport, which could lead to a full city council vote on April 1. But city staff are pushing to delay to March 2015 a decision on the proposal to extend the runway and lift the ban on operating jets at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (BBTCA). Porter placed a conditional order for 15 Bombardier CS100s in September, and plans to begin operations early in 2016.
