Air Transport

Testing of new flame suppressants to assess their effectiveness against lithium battery fires is needed, the FAA says.

Electric light aircraft manufacturer Pipistrel leads European-funded project to develop and test modular hybrid-electric propulsion architecture.

Despite Airbus’ new orders and commitments for about 475 commercial aircraft gained at the Farnborough Airshow, the Toulouse-based manufacturer registered just one firm booking—for eight A350-900s—in its July orders and deliveries report released Aug. 6.

Air France-KLM and fellow SkyTeam member Air Europa intend to extend their existing codeshare into a joint venture (JV), covering flights between Europe and Central and South America.

International Airlines Group (IAG) CEO Willie Walsh has said the group has no plans to retain its shares in Norwegian, should it fail to acquire the LCC.

Chinese maintenance operator Ameco, owned by Air China and Lufthansa, is operating normally, a month after the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) ordered it to suspend most activities because of alleged safety violations.

Oman Air said that its upgraded cargo hub facility at the new Muscat International Air Cargo Terminal is already seeing a significant uptick in business.

Ethiopian Airlines and freight specialist DHL Global Forwarding have agreed to form a new Ethiopia-based joint-venture (JV) company, with the aim of creating the leading cargo logistics JV in Africa.

Korean Air is boosting its already extensive U.S. network with a new route to Boston next year, which will also strengthen its transpacific joint venture (JV) with Delta Air Lines.

Star Alliance opened its passenger and baggage expedite service at Toronto Pearson International Airport last month, bringing personalized and streamlined transfer handling to passengers with tight connections between two Star Alliance member airline flights to its fifth network hub.

Double-digit orders from American Airlines and Delta Air Lines have pushed Bombardier’s CRJ backlog to 60 for the first time in nearly two years, even after the OEM removed a six-aircraft commitment from dormant Felix Airways.

Having received all required regulatory approvals, Airbus, Bombardier and Investissement Québec (IQ) have agreed to close the C Series transaction to become effective on July 1, 2018.

Industrial action by air traffic controllers and airline workers has led to disruptions, flight cancellations and now financial fallout.

Erik Lindbergh-founded VerdeGo looks to develop hybrid-electric distributed propulsion systems for the eVTOL market.

Italian airline Alitalia said its strategy of investing in improving passengers’ digital experience was paying off, with a double-digit increase in digital revenue in the first half of the year, even as uncertainty reigned over the carrier’s future.

Luxair Group is to make extensive additions and changes to its route network over the coming northern winter season and into summer 2019.

Brazilian manufacturer Embraer posted a second-quarter 2018 consolidated net loss of $124.7 million, a reversal from the company’s $72.1 million net profit showing for 2Q 2017.

Flair Airlines, seemingly betting on its ULCC cost advantage against more traditional mainline carriers, will consolidate its southern Ontario flying out of Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), pulling out of Hamilton’s John C. Munro International (YHM).

The small south-eastern European state of Moldova has put the national carrier, Air Moldova, up for privatization. The airline is one of 12 state-owned enterprises that have been offered for sale.

Air Austral said it would ground the second of its Boeing 787-8s, registered F-OLRB, for three months from Aug. 24, as part of broader inspections of 787-8s fitted with Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines.

São Paulo-based LCC GOL reported a BRL1.3 billion ($329.1 million) second-quarter 2018 net loss, deepened from a BRL409.5 million net loss a year ago, largely attributable to a steep 16% drop in the monetary exchange rate between the Brazilian Real and the U.S. dollar during the three-month period ending June 30.

Swoop, WestJet’s new ULCC, has unveiled its first five U.S. destinations and will launch transborder services on Oct. 11, connecting Edmonton and Abbotsford with Las Vegas.

Spanish pilots’ union SEPLA has filed a lawsuit against Ryanair in a bid to get the LCC to apply Spanish labor law to its members’ contracts.

International Airline Group (IAG), the parent company of British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling and LEVEL, reported strong half-year profits Aug. 3, despite the dual headwinds of rising fuel prices and continuing strikes by French air traffic controllers.

Hawaiian Airlines intends to use the Boeing 787s from its latest order to up gauge high-demand routes in its existing network, as well as opening new long-haul destinations, according to CEO Peter Ingram.