If you disappoint your passengers, "it will be public, and it will live forever," Forrester Research analyst Henry Harteveldt said at the recent SITA IT Summit in Cannes, France. Harteveldt was talking about social media phenomena such as Facebook, YouTube, Flickr and Twitter, which allow travelers to broadcast their experiences immediately to hundreds, thousands, even millions of people.
Airservices Australia and Naverus signed a contract that will lay the foundation for the world's first nationwide Performance-Based Navigation network, which will deliver significant reductions in aircraft emissions and noise, reduced flight miles and substantial fuel savings.
BAA has set targets to reduce its absolute CO2 emissions from fixed sources by 15% by March 2010 and 30% by March 2020 compared with 1990 levels. For 2008, BAA met its target of reducing emissions at London Heathrow by 3% and in fact lowered them by 8.6%, with the additional 5.6% largely due to reduced flying. While BAA conceded that it is not likely to be able to meet next year's target, it is confident that the 2020 target will be met through "focused energy reduction and efficiency strategies" across all of its airports.
The airline industry has weathered a stormy year, marked by the swiftest and broadest economic collapse since at least the early 1970s, a spate of high-profile accidents, soaring jet fuel prices and historic losses by both LCC and legacy airlines.
Boeing and its industry partners released high-level elements at the Paris Air Show of a study that proves sustainable biofuels analyzed in a series of pioneering test flights over the past six months performed favorably in comparison to petroleum-based fuel. According to the study, "Evaluation of Bio-Derived Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (Bio-SPK)," a series of laboratory, ground and flight tests conducted between 2006 and 2009 indicated the test fuels performed as well as or better than typical petroleum-based Jet A.
Israel Aerospace Industries and Airbus signed an MOU at the Paris Air Show to develop and test an innovative pilot-controlled semirobotic towing system. The Taxibot Dispatch Towing system, designed by IAI, can be used by both widebody and single-aisle aircraft to taxi to and from the gate and runway without engine power. Potential fuel savings reductions are expected to be $6 billion along with 16 billion tons of CO2.
A new accreditation plan dubbed Airport Carbon Accreditation was launched last month at the 19th Airports Council International annual congress in Manchester. ACA will "assess and recognize airports' efforts to manage and reduce CO2 emissions within their direct control" while taking into account collaborative efforts with airlines, air traffic controllers, ground handlers and others on the airport site, ACI said.
American Airlines parent AMR Corp. said it plans to issue $520.1 million in 20-year notes to finance the acquisition of 16 737-800s scheduled for delivery by the end of 2010 and to refinance four 777s. Separately, AA said it is closing down its Windsor, Conn., reservations center, according to reports.
Boeing said it completed the joining of the center wing box to the fuselage on the first 747-8 freighter in Everett and the assembly is being prepared to be connected to the forward and aft fuselage sections. "The airplane is coming together well and will be ready to fly later this year as planned," 747 Program VP and GM Mo Yahyavi said. The aircraft has garnered 78 orders.
News from Travel Technology Update: United Airlines told some travel agencies that they would "no longer have continued access to United's credit card merchant agreements," effective July 20. United said agents who received the notice but continued to process transactions using United's merchant facilities would receive $75 debit memos.
Kuwait Airways should be fully privatized by year end, Kuwaiti Minister of Communications Mohammed Al Busairi said, according to the Arab Air Carriers Org. The government will keep 20% while 35% will be made available to a single investor, 5% to airline staff and 40% to the public.
Continental Airlines and United Airlines told ATWOnline yesterday that they remain "confident" their application for antitrust immunity will be approved despite the vehement objections raised recently by the US Dept. of Justice.
Indonesia Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said the EU will lift its ban on Garuda Indonesia, Mandala Airlines, Prime Air and Air Fast this month, according to The Jakarta Post. "The EU judge[s] that our local airlines have fulfilled 62 out of the 69 requirements to fly to the continent," Hassan said during a hearing with the House of Representatives Commission for Foreign Affairs. Indonesian carriers have been on the EU's blacklist for two years ( ATWOnline, July 6, 2007).
Travelport GDS announced a new multiyear, full-content agreement with Porter Airlines, giving all Galileo- and Worldspan-connected travel agents access to the airline's full published fares and inventory, including Web fares. Access will be implemented in a phased approach, with Apollo customers gaining access June 30 followed by Worldspan and Galileo in August, according to Travelport.
AWAS delivered a 737-700 to Aerovias de Integracion Regionales, the first of two winglet-equipped 737-700s that Colombia-based AIRES will take from AWAS this year.
Iberia will not be required to launch a full bid for Vueling Airlines following its merger with Clickair, Spanish stock market regulator CNMV ruled. Iberia will own 45.9% of the merged entity, exceeding the 30% threshold that normally triggers the obligation to make a full bid under domestic regulations. Completion of the two competitors' merger is expected in mid-July ( ATWOnline, June 29).
American Society for Testing and Materials approved a new specification that "details the properties and criteria necessary to control the manufacture and quality of alternative fuels for safe use in aviation," US FAA said. The effort was supported by the FAA/industry-sponsored Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative. FAA Acting Assistant Administrator for Policy, Planning and the Environment Nancy LoBue said the step could lead to approval of a number of alternative fuels in the next few years.
Fokker Services said a change in the F100 flight manual now allows for just two cabin attendants in aircraft seating 100 passengers or fewer. Previously, three were required unless an operator received specific permission from local aviation authorities. Fokker said the adjustment could result in €150,000 €200,000 ($210,790-$281,050) in annual savings per aircraft.
London Heathrow Terminal 5's baggage system was operational again yesterday following a mechanical glitch that resulted in a shutdown lasting several hours Sunday. British Airways was forced to close check-in desks at midday and then reopen them about an hour later for passengers with carry-on bags. Flights continued to depart without passengers, with some 5,000 stranded, according to reports ( ATWOnline, May 4).
Tailwind Technologies of Ohio announced the formation of Hartzell Aerospace "to serve as the consolidating platform for the aerospace companies Tailwind holds, apart from its general aviation business, Hartzell Propeller." These companies include Industrial Tube Co., Electrofilm Manufacturing Co. and AcousticFab.
Air India will pay about half of its employees their June wages on July 3 rather than July 15, Aviation Industry Employees' Guild General Secretary George Abraham told Mint. AI had planned to defer payment owing to a cash shortage but relented after negotiations and a strike threat ( ATWOnline, May 4). A meeting regarding payments to remaining employees is scheduled for July 4.
Yemenia Yemen Airways A310-300 with more than 150 people onboard crashed late last night in the Indian Ocean. Flight IY626 was on its way from Sanaa and was due to land at Moroni, the Comoros capital. Reports early Tuesday indicated that one five-year-old child was found alive, but that no other survivors had been located. Yemenia operates four -300s, as well as two A330-200s and four 737-800s. Airbus said the aircraft involved in the accident was built in 1990 and had been operated by Yemenia since October 1999.
The US House of Representatives on Friday passed by a vote of 219-212 the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act, which now moves to the Senate for consideration and could, if passed, prove to be an onerous financial burden on airlines, according to the US Air Transport Assn.
OzJet Airlines of Australia announced its acquisition by Strategic Airlines, a charter and ACMI operator. Strategic said it will introduce an A320 on OzJet's Perth-Derby service by the end of September, replacing a chartered F100. Strategic ED Michael James said it will "retain some of the existing [OzJet] employee base for future company operations." In May, Strategic placed an A320-200 into service with Solomon Airlines on a Brisbane-Honiara flight. It reached agreement to lease an A330-200 from Swiss International Air Lines in April and will begin operating the aircraft in October.
US Dept. of Justice strongly opposed extension of antitrust immunity to Continental Airlines when it joins Star Alliance this October, arguing that the immunity request is "unprecedented in scope and breadth" and would "sanction collusion" between current Star member United Airlines and Continental "on all international service."
