Air Transport

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.

The European Union and Qatar have finalized negotiations on a “comprehensive air transport agreement” aimed at ensuring transparency and fair competition between the Gulf nation and the 28-country bloc.

Operators of Rolls-Royce-powered Airbus A330s face more frequent inspections of engine inlet cowls following an EASA mandate based on revised recommendations from Airbus.

After months of increasing financial difficulties, German leisure carrier Germania filed for bankruptcy Feb. 4 and halted flight operations the same evening.

Ticking policy boxes helps Chinese airlines on their way to starting operations. Three new ones will operate Comac regional jets.

As HNA has struggled with debts, cities have upped investment in its airlines. Now Xian is also buying more of a turboprop operator.

Joby’s quiet S4; Fuel cell UAV, TriFan ready for flight; Bell flies APT70; Jaunt’s Carter eVTOL.

Improving the safety of Part 135 air carrier operations by holding them to the same requirements that apply to airlines is one of the NTSB’s top safety priorities, the board announced Feb. 4.

A revised capacity-purchase agreement (CPA) with Air Canada gives Chorus Aviation long-term stability for its Jazz regional feeder and boosts its effort to diversify revenue streams by increasing its leasing income.

UK regional carrier Flybe has agreed to a board meeting demanded by several shareholders over the airline’s proposed takeover by Stobart Group-backed consortium Connect Airways.

Irish LCC Ryanair has posted a €20 million ($22.9 million) third-quarter net loss and announced plans to transition to a group structure, similar to that of International Airlines Group (IAG), with Michael O’Leary as group CEO.