Air Transport
News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.
Airlines
Citilink to Launch First Indonesia-Cambodia Service in 51 Years
A route beween Jakarta and Phnom Pehn will connect the capital cities for the first time since the start of the Cambodian civil war.
Airlines
Belgian Airspace to Close for Inbound and Outbound Traffic
All flights to and from Belgium will be suspended for 24 hours due to a national strike affecting staffing levels at the ANSP.
Airlines
African Commission Pushes Nations to Join Single Market
Sixteen African states have removed all restrictions from air service agreements, but more needs to be done.
Airlines
China Airlines Pilot Strike Enters Fifth Day
Negotiators fail to break an impasse over staffing levels and work rules at Taiwan’s flag carrier.
Aircraft
Embraer Meets E-Jet Delivery Target for 2018
The Brazilian manufacturer ships 90 airliners following busy fourth quarter.
Airlines
Nigeria Revives Plans for a National Carrier
The establishment of a West African MRO hub accompanies plans to launch a Nigerian flag carrier.
Aircraft
Britain’s Aerospace Industry Declines On Brexit Uncertainty
UK aerospace industry production fell in 2018 in spite of record global aircraft deliveries.
Airlines
Alitalia Stresses Continued Improvement in Passenger Revenue
Progress on the sale of the Italian flag carrier remains unclear, as Air France-KLM weighs withdrawing from a rescue deal.
Airlines
Thomas Cook Looking To Exit Airline Business
The European travel group seeks to sell all or some of its airlines, including Condor in Germany, to shore up its finances.
Aircraft
Qantas Order Cancellation Strikes Latest Blow to A380
The Australian flag carrier confirms that its fleet and network planning has not considered the order for eight airplanes “for some time.”
Aircraft
Norwegian’s Talks To Spin Off Leasing Arm Include Airbus
Plans call for Norwegian Air Shuttle to form a leasing joint venture with a “very strong” Asian company.
Aircraft
Delta Air Lines’ First A220s Enter Service
The first of the Airbus narrowbodies to carry paying passengers in the Americas flew from New York to Boston.
Airlines
Spirit Airlines Planning for Midyear Order Decision
Manufacturers have sent the first responses to an RFP Spirit issued in late 2018.
Aircraft
Pemco Launches Full Conversion Program for 737-700
Bahrain’s Texel Air plans to fly the first example of the Boeing narrowbody cargo mod.
Aircraft
Bombardier Launches Three-class 50-seat CRJ
United Airlines plans to deploy at least 50 of the reconfigured CRJ700s with regional partner GoJet by the summer of 2020.
Aircraft
Germania Halts Operations and Files for Insolvency
The Berlin-based airline is the latest on a growing list of recent airline failures in Europe.
Airlines
Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary To Become Group CEO
Europe’s largest low-cost carrier overhauls its corporate structure in an effort to deliver cost and operating efficiencies across its subsidiaries.
Airports
Canada Issues Recommendations Following Incursion Study
A Transportation Safety Board of Canada investigation into 27 runway incursions at Toronto Pearson Intl. Airport has led to four recommendations.
Aircraft
Moscow Commits To Reviving Cubana Fleet
The Kremlin agrees to provide most of the funding to resuscitate Cuba’s airliners.
Airlines
Air France-KLM Further Consolidates Airline Brands
The group abandons Hop! brand and livery to integrate it into Air France.
Airlines
Air Italy Scales Back Intercontinental Network
The airline will end services to Delhi and Bombay, postpones launch of controversial Chicago route.
Aircraft
ATR Surveys Growth Prospects in U.S. and China
The Franco-Italian airframer sees a bright future for turboprops, as it finalizes STOL and pure freighter variants.
Aircraft
Airbus in A380 Talks with Emirates
The European airframer confirms reports of negotiations but declines to get specific.
Maintenance and Modifications
Thailand Partners With Industry in MRO Training Pact
Airbus leads a group of four companies that aim to nearly double the country’s output of aviation technicians.
Airlines
India’s Jet Airways In Dire Financial Straits
The country’s oldest privately held airline has entered talks with lessors to avoid aircraft repossession.
Aircraft
Boeing Dispatches Team to CFM to Speed 737 Recovery
Leap-1B supply deficit continues to hamper Max ramp-up effort.
Airlines
ANA To Ink Narrowbody Deals, Take Stake in Philippine Airlines
Japan's largest carrier is moving quickly to fulfill a five-year growth plan.
Aircraft
Kremlin Boosts Funding for MC-21
Western sanctions help drive up costs of the Irkutsk-built narrowbody program to more than triple its original estimate.
Aircraft
Mitsubishi Countersues Bombardier in Trade Secrets Spat
U.S. subsidiary Mitsubishi Aircraft America claims Bombardier engaged in “anticompetitive behavior.”
Regulations and Government
In Shutdown Wake, NATCA Remains Wary of Future Funding
NATCA, A4A, and TTD also urged leaders to avert another shutdown in mid-February.
