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.
Aircraft
Sukhoi Inspects 48 Superjets for Cracks in Uncertified Titanium
Endoscope examinations show no sign of cracks in suspected parts.
Maintenance and Modifications
Asia-Pacific Ripe for OEMs’ Burgeoning Services Business
Boeing’s Keskar characterizes MRO and related services as more competitive than aircraft sales.
Regulations and Government
Thailand Accelerates Push To Regain FAA Category 1 Rating
The most recent FAA review raises 26 “issues” with Thai safety practices and oversight.
Aircraft
Britten-Norman Expands Manufacturing Footprint
UK's aircraft manufacturer is keen to grow its upgrades and modifications business, while new aircraft manufacturing continues at a low level.
Airlines
Air France-KLM To Launch Medium-Haul Tender This Year
The Franco-Dutch airline group will allow leases to expire on three A380s by 2021.
Aircraft
Avianca Hangs On as Brazil's Air Transport Market Heats Up
Fleet repossession involving Brazil’s fourth-largest carrier threatens travel chaos.
Aircraft
Southwest Airlines Launches Probe into Flight Disruptions
An unusual number of maintenance-related flight cancellations and delays continue to dog the U.S. low-fare carrier.
Airlines
Air France-KLM Strengthens Group Structure
A new governance structure includes the reappointment of Pieter Elbers as CEO of KLM.
Aircraft
CityJet, Russians Differ on Reasons for Superjet Shuffle
The Irish carrier disputes Sukhoi’s claims of changes to its business model or ‘ongoing discussions’ over the fleet.
Airlines
Indian Air Transport Growth Threatened by Pilot, Slot Shortages
CAPA-Centre for Aviation estimates a 15- to 20-percent shortfall of captains in India.
Airlines
Lawmakers Rebuff Bid To Cap UK Fights to Europe Post-Brexit
The European Commission had sought to freeze UK airline capacity at this year’s levels and prohibit code sharing.
Airlines
Tunisair’s Outlook Brightens Amid Restructuring Exercise
The Tunisian flag carrier sees modest growth despite geopolitical difficulties.
Aircraft
Comac Plans to Fly Three More C919s This Year
The next indigenous Chinese airplane scheduled to fly has nearly reached final assembly.
Aircraft
Airbus Terminates A380 Program
The last two A380s, for Emirates Airline, will roll off the assembly line in 2021.
Aircraft
Etihad Restructures Airbus, Boeing Widebody Orders
The Abu Dhabi-based airline tempers its ambitions to compete globally with high-powered Gulf neighbors.
Aircraft
EASA Personnel Perform First MC-21 Certification Flights
The Russian narrowbody flew sorties as long as four hours in duration at altitudes as high as 32,000 feet.
Aircraft
Boeing, Safran Name APU Venture Initium Aerospace
Design work on new Initium auxiliary power units has begun in San Diego.
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.
