US Transportation Security Administration said it will launch a pilot program this fall to test new airport screening strategies that aim, among other goals, to provide "trusted travelers with expedited screening."
Finnair said it will operate a scheduled flight partially powered by biofuel between Amsterdam and Helsinki next week, and will ultimately operate at least three biofuel flights on the route.
Ft. Lauderdale-based Bimini Island Air overstepped its bounds as an on-demand charter operator by offering and flying scheduled flights using a 30-seat Saab 340, stated US FAA, which has revoked the carrier's operating certificate.
News from Travel Technology Update: Among all the marketing concepts that have arisen in the airline industry, perhaps none has created more buzz than ancillary revenues.
US FAA proposed a total of $275,500 in civil penalties against two regional airlines and an MRO provider. The agency called for a $77,500 fine against Dallas-based American Eagle Airlines because its line maintenance contractor at Richmond, Va., allegedly used uncalibrated tools to test the anti-freeze used for de-icing aircraft. Also, FAA alleges the tools were not specified for use by the airline’s FAA-approved general maintenance manual and its ground de-icing program. The alleged violations took place between Feb. 13 and March 9, 2010, FAA stated.
Qantas’ long-haul pilots on Monday voted overwhelmingly for industrial action—expected to take place in early August—to drive home demands for higher wages, re-grading and job security.
The Australian government’s carbon dioxide tax announced Sunday will cost Qantas up to A$115 million ($124 million) a year and passengers will foot the bill; the airline said Monday it will raise fares by up to A$8.
Lufthansa plans to start its scheduled biofuel flights Friday, launching a six-month trial in which an IAE V2500-powered Airbus A321 will operate on the Frankfurt-Hamburg route.
Qantas’ long-haul pilots on Monday voted overwhelmingly for industrial action—expected to take place in early August—to drive home demands for higher wages, re-grading and job security.
US FAA proposed a $689,800 civil penalty against FedEx Corp. for allegedly violating US hazardous materials regulations. The agencyalleged Friday that in 89 instances from June 13-Sept. 4, 2009, "FedEx failed to provide pilots-in-command with complete, accurate information on the nature, quantity and weight of hazardous materials loaded on their aircraft. Pilots-in-command must be given this information under hazardous materials regulations."
Virgin Atlantic Airways pilots represented by the British Airline Pilots' Assn. withdrew their threat of a strike after reaching a last-minute pay deal with management. Pilots had voted to strike for the first time in the airline's history as part of their ongoing dispute over pay and conditions with management ( ATW Daily News, May 18).
Swiss International Air Lines reached a tentative agreement on a new labor contract with its pilots, avoiding a strike that had been threatened for this week.
US FAA said Thursday that David Grizzle, the agency's chief counsel who had been serving as acting Air Traffic Organization COO, will take over the top ATO post on a permanent basis. Grizzle became acting ATO COO suddenly in April when the controversy over sleeping controller incidents forced Hank Krakowski to resign as head of the FAA unit overseeing the US's ATC system ( ATW Daily News, April 15).
On the heels of the recent ASTM International Committee on Petroleum Products and Lubricants' approval of bio-derived jet fuel for commercial use, Santa Barbara-based BioJet International announced it will release one billion gallons of renewable jet fuel priced at $2.97 a gallon to airlines to "aid in the development" of biofuel in the commercial aviation market.
UK air navigation services provider NATS, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary as a public-private partnership, paid £40 million ($64 million) in dividends to its shareholders after posting a pre-tax profit of £106.1 million for its fiscal year ended March 31, a 37.3% increase over £78.3 million earned in FY2009-10.
Singapore-based Tiger Airways Holdings said former SilkAir CEO Chin Yau Seng would take over as acting CEO to allow the company's head, Tony Davis, to focus on overseeing subsidiary Tiger Airways Australia's recovery from its grounding by regulators over safety issues.
UK air navigation services provider NATS, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary as a public-private partnership, paid £40 million ($64 million) in dividends to its shareholders after posting a pre-tax profit of £106.1 million for its fiscal year ended March 31, a 37.3% increase over £78.3 million earned in FY2009-10.
SR Technics signed a five-year contract with Swiss International Air Lines to extend its cooperation for comprehensive aircraft maintenance and component services, covering heavy maintenance, A and C checks. The agreement also incorporates full integrated component services for the carrier’s Airbus fleet and includes a hangar space sublease in Zurich.
Royal Jordanian has signed an agreement with Spanish Aertec and local Consolidated Consultants for Engineering and Environment, on a joint venture for the design and supervision of the airline's new hangar, being built at Queen Alia International Airport.
Hadid International Services has reinforced its leadership as the premier provider of flight support services across the Middle East and Africa with the opening of its new branch office in Niger, Africa.
Airbus flight operations services subsidiary Quovadis said it will help develop a Performance-Based Navigation network at 11 airports in the Philippines in cooperation with the French Civil Aviation Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.
