Air Transport

American Airlines Chairman and CEO Doug Parker is confident the carrier can ride out the current rise in fuel prices and its effect on profits, telling attendees at the Airlines for America 2018 Summit in Washington “the reality is you need to adapt . . . we need, as oil prices rise, to do everything we can to make sure that our earnings stay at the same levels.”

Hawaiian Airlines plans to serve Boston as its second U.S. East Coast destination, making it the longest-ever scheduled U.S. domestic route.

Zimbabwe’s shock decision to acquire four Boeing wide-bodies and set up a new flag-carrier raises more questions than answers, as Martin Rivers reports.

Some inroads are made in employee diversity in aerospace sectors, but more remains to be done.

To attract and retain top talent in light of tempting offers from disruptive innovation markets, aerospace companies are upping offers.

Nominations for the 2019 Laureates Awards close Oct. 18, and submissions to the photo contest are open until Oct. 22.

Italy’s government wants Alitalia to remain at least partly in Italian hands—but European airlines might still have a role to play.

Vertical Aerospace wants to take on the airlines with intercity services using carbon-free eVTOL air vehicles.

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) secretary Elaine Chao called on a cross-section of aviation stakeholders to team up to tackle the ongoing dearth of qualified pilots, technicians and mechanics, saying that solving the aviation workforce shortage goes “beyond what government can do alone.”

A United Airlines Boeing 787 is to fly from San Francisco to Zurich on Sept. 14-15 powered by a blend of biojet fuel derived from carinata, an oilseed crop that can be grown in rotation with food crops.

Air Lease executive chairman Steve Udvar-Házy said Boeing is carefully weighing engine options for Boeing’s new midmarket airplane (NMA) and seems on pace to launch the program in mid-2019.

Nigeria’s Air Peace announced an order for 10 Boeing 737-8s during a signing ceremony in Lagos.

Airbus is facing more leadership turmoil after CCO Eric Schulz resigned Sept. 13 after just nine months in the role.

The FAA issued updated guidance advising U.S. aircraft operators to exercise caution when flying within or adjacent to the Tehran Flight Information Region (FIR) due to military activities in the Middle East region.

Unions representing Ryanair cabin crew in five countries announced a 24-hour strike starting at midnight on Sept. 28—part of ongoing calls for the airline to adhere to local labor laws and contracts.

Spirit AeroSystems is seeking compensation from major suppliers associated with its 737 fuselage deliveries to Boeing over the last year, and the Wichita company expects to pay penalties to Boeing as well, Spirit’s chief executive said Sept. 12.

China Eastern Airlines is urging authorities to let it keep Shanghai services at Beijing’s Capital International Airport after the city’s new airport opens next year, two industry sources said.

Garuda Indonesia’s board has appointed a new CEO as part of a leadership rearrangement, replacing current leader Pahala Mansury.

After months of engine delivery delays to Airbus and Boeing, CFM International says a recent surge in deliveries of raw material and long-lead components has boosted confidence in plans to be back on track with both airframe-makers by year-end.

Some operators of Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-powered A320neos are facing a new snag—unusually high engine vibration in the climb phase. Pratt indicated a fix may be identified by year-end.

The industry needs to do a better job of upgrading commercial aircraft avionics, ensuring pilots are kept in the loop and properly trained.

The Philippine LCC will get its first A321neos in December, so it can upgauge Manila flights, open longer routes and potentially replace older narrowbodies.

Airlines for America (A4A) President and CEO Nicholas Calio has called on Congress to pass multi-year legislation reauthorizing the FAA, adding that failure to do so would jeopardize the agency’s safety mission, as well as the airline industry’s ability to plan for the long-term.

Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg sounded bullish notes Sept. 12 at an investor conference, promising a 737 production recovery by year-end with no effect on the leading aerospace and defense provider’s financial forecasts.

Norwegian Air Shuttle was the most fuel-efficient airline on North Atlantic routes in 2017, according to a new study. The LCC posted a 63% better fuel-burn figure than the worst operator, British Airways (BA).