A group of 10 airlines—eight based in the US, plus Air Canada and Lufthansa—have signed letters of intent with Washington-based Solena Fuels to acquire a future supply of jet fuel derived exclusively from waste biomass.
Air Canada’s 3,800 customer service and sales workers, represented by the Canadian Auto Workers union, returned to work Friday following tentative agreement on a new labor pact ( ATW Daily News, June 16).
Boeing's 747-8 freighter is scheduled to land at the Paris Air Show Monday after crossing the Atlantic Ocean partially powered by biofuel. Boeing pilots Capt. Keith Otsuka and Capt. Rick Braun and Cargolux Capt. Sten Rossby were slated to fly the aircraft with each of its GE GEnx-2B engines powered by a blend of 15% camelina-based biofuel and 85% traditional kerosene fuel (Jet-A).
Etihad Airways has appointed Jettainer, the Unit Load Device (ULD) Management Company to supply, manage and maintain its ULD fleet at Etihad destinations across the world through to 2016.
US FAA said it is proposing a $425,000 civil penalty against Atlanta-based Atlantic Southeast Airlines, a SkyWest Inc. subsidiary, for allegedly operating two Bombardier CRJ regional jets when they were not in compliance with FAA regulations.
About 700 Frontier Airlines pilots voted this week on whether to ratify a tentative agreement that would give them an equity stake in the airline in exchange for reductions in pay and benefits. Ratification would potentially drop parent Republic Airways Holdings' stake in the carrier to below 50% while allowing it to raise $70 million. It would also clear the way for a restructuring plan aimed at cutting more than $100 million from Frontier's annual costs.
Airline service in Australia returned to normal Thursday as the ash cloud from Chile’s Puyehue-Cordon Caulle Volcano, which has played havoc with the travel plans of tens of thousands of passengers, cleared the continent ( ATW Daily News, June 16).
European Commission officially closed its infringement procedure against the Republic of Ireland for levying what it called “discriminatory aspects of its air travel tax,” following the Irish government’s modification of the tax to a single rate of €3 ($4.30) per passenger on all European routes.
The debate and lobbying on the controversial Air Passenger Duty in the UK intensified this week with the government’s consultation on ADP reform due to close Friday.
European pilots and their unions will demonstrate Thursday in Luxembourg outside an EU transport ministers meeting to rally against a regulatory proposal on pilot fatigue drafted by EASA in December. Pilots claim the EASA proposal does not take into account scientific evidence on pilot fatigue and that the planned proposal will reduce safety standards currently in place in many EU countries.
Air Canada customer services and sales members, represented by the Canadian Auto Workers union, set up picket lines at AC-serviced airports across the country Wednesday to rally against threatened back-to-work legislation by Federal Labor Minister Lisa Raitt. CAW’s 3,800 AC members went on strike Tuesday after the two sides could not reach a tentative agreement regarding the existing pension plan. AC says it is maintaining its schedule with the help of supervisory staff.
The ATW Mobile App is now available for the iPhone and iPad. The app features articles from commercial aviation’s leading global airline industry magazine, Air Transport World, plus breaking news, a daily airline industry news feed, and newsletter content covering airports, the environment and route developments.
Australian and New Zealand air travelers faced another day of travel disruptions as Perth Airport on the west coast was affected by the ash cloud from Chile’s Puyehue-Cordon Caulle Volcano.
Virgin America, which operates a fleet of CFM56-5B-powered A319s and A320s, selected CFM's next generation Leap-X engine to power 30 Airbus A320neo aircraft it has on order with deliveries beginning in 2016, becoming the first to choose the CFM offering for the re-engined narrowbody.
Concur to acquire U.K. competitor Cendyn buys meetings technology firm Expedia to provide Groupon Getaways Jetsetter offers its travel writers for help in trip planning Western Union, eGlobalfares to create payment solution In Focus: VIA Rail poised to launch interline deals with airlines World news briefing
Rail companies and airlines compete. But they also can complement each other. That is a concept that VIA Rail Canada has taken to heart. Working with airlines to create relationships much like the carriers’ code-sharing agreements is an integral part of VIA Rail’s intermodal strategy. Mohamed Bhanji, director of marketing technologies for the rail company, would like to take it a step further: He envisions a network of partnerships similar to that of the Star Alliance.
The ATW Mobile App is now available for the iPhone and iPad. The app features articles from commercial aviation’s leading global airline industry magazine, Air Transport World, plus breaking news, a daily airline industry news feed, and newsletter content covering airports, the environment and route developments.
Virgin Atlantic Cargo won a contract from Brisbane-based Strategic Airlines under which it will manage Strategic's long-haul cargo activity and apply the Virgin brand to its twice-weekly Brisbane Airbus A330-200 service to Phuket, as well as twice-weekly Melbourne-Phuket and twice-weekly Brisbane-Bali service. World Airways and Finnair Cargo signed an agreement to operate twice-weekly Finnair MD-11F Helsinki-Shanghai-New York cargo service beginning June 15 using World's traffic rights.
Ryanair vowed it will “not allow its passengers to be blackmailed” by the UGT union, which confirmed a work stoppage by baggage handlers will take place at Girona airport Wednesday. The LCC said it will operate a full schedule. Baggage handlers represented by the UGT also called for strikes June 17-19. GRO is one of Ryanair’s largest bases in Spain with some 50 routes.
The ash cloud from the Nabro volcano in Eritrea, which erupted in the early hours Monday, affected flight operations in Northeast Africa on Tuesday. The Toulouse-based Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre, which monitors volcanic activity in Africa, sent out its first VAA messages relating to the Nabro eruption Sunday and has been updating the ash concentration charts on its website since.
Australian and New Zealand air travelers endured more disruptions Tuesday as several areas of dense ash from Chile’s Puyehue-Cordon Caulle Volcano continued to complicate flight routes.
Australian and New Zealand air travelers endured more disruptions Tuesday as several areas of dense ash from Chile’s Puyehue-Cordon Caulle Volcano continued to complicate flight routes.
Khalid Almolhem, director general of Saudi Arabian Airlines has said an initial public offering of its catering unit estimated to be worth up to $540m is expected to be delayed for the second time, Reuters has reported.
News from Travel Technology Update: Rail companies and airlines compete. But they also can complement each other. That is a concept that VIA Rail Canada has taken to heart. Working with airlines to create relationships much like the carriers’ code-sharing agreements is an integral part of VIA Rail’s intermodal strategy. Mohamed Bhanji, director of marketing technologies for the rail company, would like to take it a step further: He envisions a network of partnerships similar to that of the Star Alliance.
