The Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) program in Europe, which went into effect in 2002, has saved aircraft operators an estimated €3.9 billion ($5.05 billion) annually in cost benefits, Eurocontrol said Monday on the program’s 10th anniversary. The RVSM program, which went live Jan. 24, 2002, increased capacity in the airspace of 41 states by providing six extra flight levels between 29,000 ft. and 41,000 ft., bringing the total to 13, Eurocontrol said in a statement. Between 2002 and 2007, Europe’s upper air space capacity grew by 25%.
Iberia (IB) pilots represented by the SEPLA union plan to take strike action Jan. 25, Jan. 27 and Jan. 30 to protest company plans to create a lower-cost carrier, Iberia Express, for its loss-making medium-haul network.
The US House of Representatives passed an extension of FAA funding through Feb. 17, by which date House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) and other lawmakers believe a full, three- or four-year reauthorization bill can be cleared by Congress.
Turkish Airlines (TK) has equipped its first Boeing 777-300ER with Wi-Fi Internet connectivity in all cabins and plans to expand the service to 11 777-300ERs and 10 Airbus A330-300 aircraft in its fleet “as quickly as possible.” The Istanbul-based carrier added high-speed Wi-Fi broadband Internet access to its existing live inflight television service using Panasonic Avionics Corp.’s IFE platform, Planet. TK launched live television with a variety of programming on its 777-300ER transatlantic flights in September.
New York-based Bernstein Research has cautioned that the Airbus A350 and the Boeing 787 face challenges and that doubts continue on delivery schedules and weight.
Republicans and Democrats in the US Congress said they have cleared the way toward passing a full FAA reauthorization bill (or at least a long-term funding extension) within weeks, potentially breaking a logjam that has lasted for more than four years.
MTU Maintenance Hannover was again selected by Biman Bangladesh Airlines to support its GE CF6-50 engines. The three-year agreement covers 12 engines powering the carrier's fleet of DC-10-30s. A J Walter Aviation won a seven-year contract from Korean carrier Eastar Jet to provide power-by-the-hour support for its fleet of six Boeing 737NG aircraft.
US carriers’ on-time arrival performance in November improved by more than two percentage points over the same period a year ago. According to the US Dept. of Transportation’s (DOT) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), the 16 carriers reporting on-time performance data recorded an overall on-time arrival rate of 85.3% in November, up from the 83.2% on-time rate of November 2010 and almost on a par with October 2011’s 85.5% rate ( ATW Daily News, Jan. 4).
The Assn. of European Airlines (AEA) said its member airlines expect to post a collective €1.5 billion ($1.9 billion) EBIT profit in 2011, up from €0.5 billion in 2010.
The Aviation Industry Corp. of China (AVIC) reported a net profit of CNY12.2 billion ($1.94 billion) in 2011, up 18.8% over a net income of CNY10.3 billion in 2010.
SA MENA Avionics, a subsidiary of MENA Aerospace Enterprises has obtained a certificate of approval from the Saudi Arabian General Authority of Civil Aviation paving the way for expansion into the country.
Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. (HAECO) has signed an MOU with Cathay Pacific Airways for the management of the group’s airframe rotable components. Aeronautical Engineers announced it has been selected by an undisclosed customer to provide one Boeing 737-300SF 10 Pallet Passenger to Freighter Conversion. The aircraft is currently undergoing freighter modification and a dual FMS UNS1FW modification at the AEI Authorized Conversion Center, Commercial Jet in Miami, Fla.
SAS Scandinavian Airlines will lay off 300 administrative staff as part of its 4Excellence program aiming to cut annual costs by 3%-5% ( ATW Daily News, Sept. 15, 2011). According to SAS, these cost-cutting measures will reduce expenses by SEK2 billion ($288 million) for 2012. SAS maintains its forecast of a marginally positive financial result for 2011. However, implementing 4Excellence has become even more crucial in 2012 due to increased economic uncertainty, increased pressure on yields in the airline industry and continued high fuel prices.
Ethiopian Airlines (ET) has refuted the Lebanese Ministry of Public Works and Transport final report into the ET flight 409 Boeing 737-800 crash, which occurred Jan. 25, 2010.
Russian aviation authorities have postponed implementing new regulations requiring all Russian aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of more than 5,700 kilos to be equipped with a traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) and an enhanced ground proximity warning system (EGPWS). The new rules, which were to take effect Jan. 1, were delayed because Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin said during his December trip to the Russian Far East that carriers were not prepared for it.
Iberia (IB) is facing a new wave of strikes by its pilots represented by the SEPLA union, while ground workers and cabin crew have also voted for industrial action, although for different reasons.
Indian civil aviation minister Ajit Singh said Tuesday that he and the country's finance minister back allowing foreign airlines to own up to a 49% stake in Indian carriers "as soon as possible."
Biofuel-powered commercial flights could become standard operations within five to seven years, according to Lufthansa’s (LH) head of aviation biofuel.
Chinese carriers earned a collective net profit of CNY 26 billion ($4.12 billion) in 2011, down 26% compared to CNY35.1 billion from 2010, according to an industry insider.
Bombardier Aerospace named Mike Arcamone, a longtime executive with General Motors (GM) who most recently headed the company's South Korea unit, as Bombardier Commercial Aircraft's new president effective Feb. 1.
Nine African airlines have come together to purchase aircraft fuel jointly, a move the carriers believe will increase their leverage and raise the value and quality of fuel being procured.
PPG Industries’ aerospace coatings group announced it has commercialized Aerocron, the first electrocoat-application primer for global airframe manufacturers and subcontractors. The primer can coat parts for commercial, military and general-aviation aircraft. AFI KLM E&M has signed a contract with Libyan Airlines covering component support (pool access and repairs) and maintenance checks for the carrier’s Airbus A320 and ATR 42-500 fleets.
