Safety, Ops & Regulation

Nigerian airline Dana Air resumed commercial operations Friday with flights operating between Lagos and Abuja.

Air France-KLM said Monday there was no truth in an Italian newspaper story that the Franco-Dutch carrier was in talks to take over Alitalia.

Pilots at Estonian Air have agreed to call off a Jan. 7 strike after laying down the foundations for a new collective agreement.

Air Berlin has named Wolfgang Prock-Schauer as its new CEO, replacing Hartmut Mehdorn, who has been interim CEO since Sept. 1, 2011.

US Airways pilots’ union leadership has backed the merger framework proposal already supported by American Airlines’ pilots.

Saudi Arabia has announced that Qatar Airways and Gulf Air could be operating Saudi domestic flights by the spring, once they obtain the necessary operating licenses.

Xiamen Airlines has reported an operating profit of CNY2 billion ($317.4 million) in 2012, up 17% over CNY1.7 billion in 2011.

Iberia pilots have entered discussions with the company over radical cost-cutting and productivity proposals.

American Airlines chairman, president and CEO Tom Horton said a decision on whether to merge with US Airways is expected “within a matter of weeks.”

Ukraine’s AeroSvit has filed for bankruptcy, but is continuing to operate, according to an airline statement.

Jet Airways has confirmed it is in discussions with Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways to take a stake in the Indian carrier.

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has established new rules to help speed the deployment of Internet services onboard aircraft.

West Yorkshire-based Jet2.com has promoted MD and CCO Steve Heapy to CEO of the airline and Jet2holidays, replacing company founder Philip Meeson who will serve as executive chairman. Heapy joined Jet2.com in 2009. A4A has named former US FAA assistant administrator-Aviation Policy, Planning and Environment, and commercial airline pilot Dan Elwell as SVP-Safety, Security and Operations.

XL Airways Germany, which temporarily suspended operations Dec. 14, filed for bankruptcy Dec. 27.

Austrian-based low-cost carrier FlyNiki founder Niki Lauda has left the Air Berlin board to devote more time to his role as chairman of the Mercedes Formula 1 team.

Lufthansa has canceled one of the 20 Boeing 747-8Is it has on order.

Pinnacle Airlines and its subsidiaries have reached agreements on a plan for emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Etihad Airways flew 10.3 million passengers in 2012, boosting its passenger numbers by 22% and exceeding its 10 million target for the full year.

China Eastern Airlines plans to sell its 51% stake in subsidiary China Cargo Airlines to subsidiary Shanghai Eastern Logistics Co.

CIT Group arranged and syndicated a $125 million senior secured credit facility to A J Walter Aviation, in which AJW will use to support spare parts acquisitions. AAR Corp. announced its 188,000 sq. ft. Duluth MRO facility is now operational and has completed and delivered its first aircraft.

United Parcel Service (UPS) has unveiled a new service that will enable the shipping of heavyweight airfreight on a “day-definite, door-to-door basis.”

Kingfisher Airlines’ operators permit expired Dec. 31 after management failed to come up with a firm revival plan.

The US FAA and US aerospace companies have been temporarily spared from the consequences of steep across-the-board federal government budget cuts that were scheduled to become law Wednesday.

From the January 2013 Issue of ATW

The US FAA has issued a new airworthiness directive (AD) that revises inspection requirements on certain Boeing 737 Classics regarding fuselage skin cracking.