Air Transport

UK LCC easyJet has detailed the steps it has taken to Brexit-proof its operations and says it has a plan in place to ensure it meets European Union (EU) ownership and control regulations, regardless of whether or not airlines are given an adjustment period after the UK departs the bloc.

Emirates Airline Chief Digital and Innovation Officer Christoph Mueller resigned from the company and plans to return to Europe, the group said Feb. 7.

Cebu Pacific confirms it has begun the process for deciding on a new widebody aircraft order, a move it has often discussed in recent years.

Spanish charter and wet-lease carrier Wamos Air has been operating flights from the UK on behalf of Turkmenistan Airlines, which was recently suspended from flying to and from the European Union for safety reasons.

LCC Norwegian will slash capacity and divest 13 additional aircraft this year in a bid to stem spiraling losses, which widened to NOK3 billion ($350 million) in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Lufthansa Group has shown an interest in buying Condor’s Frankfurt-based long-haul operation, industry sources said Feb. 7.

Qantas has finally canceled its remaining eight Airbus A380 orders, after stating for years that it did not intend to take delivery of these aircraft.

Airbus has signed a five-year memorandum of agreement (MoA) with Dassault Systèmes to cooperate on the implementation of a full suite of software tools expected to bring digital continuity to the airframer’s operations.

Boeing is launching its latest round of flight-testing to assess new technologies that could address real-world challenges for aircraft operators and passengers — from enhancing safety and sustainability to improving the flying experience.

Transport Association (IATA) announced global passenger traffic results for 2018 showing that demand (revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose by a healthy 6.5% compared to full-year 2017.

The investment casting process is pivotal to aeroengine manufacturing, which is why it may soon become a vulnerability.

United Airlines has unveiled a major increase to its premium-cabin inventory that includes introducing reconfigured Bombardier CRJ700s as 50-seat, two-class aircraft.

Global air cargo demand weakened in 2018, pressured by a slow-down in freight volumes in the final months of the year.

Lufthansa Group subsidiary Austrian Airlines will wet lease two Bombardier CRJ900s from Slovenia-based Adria Airways from Mar. 31 to secure and stabilize operations for the summer 2019 season.

Aerospace and defense supplier Arconic on Feb. 6 appointed new leadership, for the second time in as many years, and will unveil a new business strategy Feb. 8 after recently turning down private equity interest for a buyout.

Canada’s Chorus Aviation confirmed Feb. 6 an order for nine Bombardier CRJ900s that will help support its recently-announced extension as an Air Canada regional-feeder partner.

Baltic maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) firm Magnetic MRO has raised €8 million ($9.1 million) from a bonds issue, which it plans to use to acquire one of its competitors.

LCC Norwegian plans to raise $26 million in fresh liquidity from the sale of two Airbus 320neos and is moving to a paid model for faster inflight connectivity.

Virgin Australia has selected an executive from outside the airline to replace long-time CEO John Borghetti, who will leave the company in March.

Movement of officials between the CAAC and the industry that it oversees underlines the essentially governmental and party nature of the companies.

Fuzhou posts its subsidy offer for 2019, exemplifying the national habit of buying air connections.

WestJet’s focus on emphasizing unit revenue growth over capacity additions is showing signs of paying off, giving carrier executives confidence that 2019 will not be a repeat of 2018.

Austrian Airlines has sold its remaining 8.31% stake in Brisbane, Australia-based charter and regional carrier Alliance Airlines, according to an Australian Securities and Investments Commission notice dated Feb. 1.

With the sale of its ExpressJet Airlines subsidiary and a continuing fleet upgrade, SkyWest Inc. is looking toward more focused operations in 2019.

Dublin-based Stobart Air—the regional operator involved in an attempted Virgin Atlantic-led takeover of UK regional airline Flybe—has won a contract to operate flights to Amsterdam Schiphol on behalf of KLM Cityhopper.