Emirates Airline (EK) has begun to outfit its Airbus A380 aircraft with OnAir Wi-Fi Internet connectivity. The new Wi-Fi service will initially launch on 11 of its 19 A380s in service, though the system is scheduled to be installed across its entire fleet of 71 A380s on order. The airline began trialing the service on certain A380 flights last year ( ATW Daily News, July 21, 2010).
Governments may target the aviation industry to support the Green Climate Fund (GCF), which was set in motion at the17th Conference of the Parties ( COP17) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) ( ATW Daily News, Dec. 13).
Delta to invest $100 million in GOL Agilaire to incorporate AirCore modules Expedia shareholders approve TripAdvisor spin-off Uruguay carrier drops out of Sabre Rearden tool refines choices, enables easier collaboration Ornagh Hoban of Datalex talks about product personalization World news briefing
Travelport executives have been saying for some time that the GDS model is evolving: Agency incentives will still be a part of it, but the technology that Travelport provides will become more important to agencies’ success. Travelport made a move toward that model with a new package of solutions called Agility, available on Jan. 1. The bundle, called Travelport Agility, combines existing stand-alone solutions and services, some of which have been free and some that have incurred fees, with new solutions.
If you’re looking to have your company seen by all of ATW’s readers and be known in the industry as an eco-expert, then consider becoming a sponsor for ATW’s 5 th Annual Eco-Aviation Conference and Awards Ceremony on June 20-21, 2012. This conference will again be held at the eco-friendly Renaissance Arlington Capital Hotel, across the street from Reagan National Airport.
In an interview with National Public Radio, Richard Branson has cited the fact that there are only 1,700 aviation jet fuel pumps in the world as a positive for converting airlines to new biofuels. “The exciting thing about the breakthrough with clean fuels for the airline industry is there are only 1,700 pumps in the world that fill up the airlines. So, unlike having to convert all the cars’ or all the lorries’ petrol stations, once you've actually got the clean fuels, it's relatively easy to get it to the airplanes.”
The UK could become the first country to require airlines to publish data that would let passengers choose between carriers based on carbon emissions and other environmental factors, according to the Financial Times.
As the rhetoric continues to build over the EU’s ETS, IATA DG Tony Tyler has warned that airlines can't ignore EU regulations. Addressing a roundtable discussion of the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Assn. (ALTA) Airline Leaders Forum in Rio de Janeiro, Tyler said that "if nothing changes [by January], airlines will have to comply.” He added that it "would be crazy" for US carriers to scrap transatlantic flying over the ETS.
As the deadline for the start of the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme looms, the chorus of criticism is reaching a crescendo. Last month there were calls for the EU to withdraw plans to impose a unilateral ETS on non-EU airlines from the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO) at its annual meeting in Abu Dhabi.
Germany's state-owned air traffic service Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS) is preparing to make a bid for a stake in its British counterpart National Air Traffic Services (NATS), according to the UK’s The Sunday Times.
The Assn. of European Airlines (AEA) predicts its member airlines will post a €1 billion ($1.3 billion) to €2 billion EBIT loss for 2012 and is urging European institutions and the EU's 27 member states to take concrete action to improve this outlook.
No agreement was reached on how to deal with carbon dioxide emissions from aviation and shipping at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that concluded Sunday in Durban, South Africa.
The Hungarian Ministry of National Development has denied that Malev Hungarian Airlines (MA) is nearing bankruptcy as was reported by several media outlets last week.
Two Cargolux Airlines International (CV) executives, including its former CEO, have entered into a plea agreement with the US Dept. of Justice (DOJ) in which they agreed to serve 13 months in prison for fixing surcharge rates on air cargo shipments.
US trade representative Ron Kirk adamantly rejected the EU's recent contention that it has taken appropriate action to comply with the World Trade Organization's (WTO) ruling earlier this year that Airbus benefited from illegal subsidies.
Estonian Air (OV) has joined the European Regions Airline Assn. The carrier operates two Boeing 737-500s, two Bombardier CRJ900NextGens and two Saab 340s. This month, OV will add the third CRJ900 NextGen. In 2010 the airline carried 582,320 passengers. Etihad Airways announced a reciprocal frequent flyer agreement with codeshare partner Malaysia Airlines.
In one of the most significant industrial votes in the history of Boeing, members of the International Assn. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) approved a four-year labor contract extension ( ATW Daily News, Dec. 1) . The agreement covers 28,000 employees represented by IAM in Washington State, Oregon and Kansas, and extends the machinists' contract to September 2016.
Iberia (IB) pilots, represented by the SEPLA union, announced one-day strikes Dec. 18 and Dec. 29 to protest the company's plans to create Iberia Express.
Opposition from governments against the inclusion of aviation next year in the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is growing and could result in a trade war, IATA warned.
Turkish Technic inked base a maintenance and services agreement and paint services agreement with SmartLynx Airlines for one C check on an Airbus A320. Air Berlin Technik said it will perform a transit check on an Emirates Airbus A380 each day it is in Munich.
Pratt & Whitney, which said it sees its future inextricably linked to the development of alternative fuel sources, has participated in the publishing of “The Path to Fuel Readiness," along with the rest of the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) R&D committee made up of representatives from FAA, GE, P&W and Boeing.
IATA lowered its global airline earnings forecast for 2012 to a net profit of $3.5 billion, 28.6% below its previous forecast, and warned of a possible net loss of $8.3 billion if the Eurozone crisis deteriorates into a renewed banking crisis and worldwide GDP growth slows to 0.8%.
A day after being placed on administrative leave, Randy Babbitt submitted his resignation as FAA administrator to US transportation secretary Ray LaHood, who accepted it.
Cathay Pacific Airways, Tradelink and Global Logistic System Co. announced a joint effort to promote an end-to-end, paper-free air cargo process flow. The move supports the implementation of the e-freight project, an industry-wide initiative facilitated by IATA, involving carriers, freight forwarders, ground handlers, shippers and customs authorities.
