Air New Zealand is doubling the number of premium economy seats on its 777-200ER fleet, with the first of eight aircraft reentering service this week after being refitted by the carrier's Technical Operations division in Auckland. Work on the 777s will be completed in mid-June, with the number of premium economy seats doubling to 36. The change will result in an additional 72,000 Pacific Premium Economy seats on its long-haul network annually.
Emirates will launch thrice-weekly Dubai-Luanda service aboard A330-200s on Aug. 2. The Angolan capital will be EK's 17th African destination. AirAsia launched service from Singapore to Jakarta (twice-daily), Bali, Bandung and Yogyakarta (each daily). AeroMexico launched twice-weekly Mexico City-Montreal service aboard a 737-700. LAN Peru will launch twice-weekly Lima-Cartagena service on April 29 aboard an A319.
Continental Airlines announced the contribution of an additional $50 million to its defined benefit pension plans, bringing year-to-date contributions to $100 million. CO expects to contribute $150 million this year.
British Airways and cabin staff represented by Unite sparred over the carrier's proposed cost-cutting measures last week, with the union proposing Friday a "major package of negotiated efficiencies, temporary cost savings and deferred payments worth millions over the next two years."
Qantas and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau said they will consult with and assist Dutch crash investigators after a QF 737-800 last week suffered a radio altimeter malfunction similar to the one that is suspected of causing the loss of a Turkish Airlines -800 on approach to Amsterdam on Feb. 25.
As airlines around the world shrink capacity in response to the global economic downturn, the need for maintenance is reduced, but Lufthansa Technik said it is well-positioned to manage the decline and hopes to do so without cutting its workforce.
AirTran Airways pilots voted Friday to end their independence and join the Air Line Pilots Assn. The carrier's nearly 1,700 pilots have been represented for 12 years by the independent National Pilots Assn., but 87% voted to merge with ALPA. NPA Interim President Linden Hillman said, "We had a choice to cling to the past, keep complaining about our failures and refuse to accept reality or make a bold decision for our future.
Portugalia Airlines pilots have scheduled one-day strikes for Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, parent TAP Portugal said. The stoppages, which are "over pay and conditions," would "result in severe delays and/or flight cancellations. . .between London Gatwick and Porto," TAP said. Attempts will be made to accommodate customers on TAP flights from London Heathrow if the strikes occur. "TAP senior management is doing all possible to avoid work stoppages by negotiating with the appropriate authorities.
US FAA and CAAC last week signed an MOU "to share best environmental practices at airports in the two countries," according to FAA. The agreement was reached at the US-China Aviation Symposium in Beijing. FAA Acting Assistant Administrator-International Aviation Di Reimold said, "I believe that the United States and China, which represent the two largest aviation systems in the world, have an obligation to the global community to lead the way in aviation cooperation. .
Embraer delivered an E-170 to Australia's Airnorth, which will operate the 76-seat, single-class aircraft under lease with Jescape. The Darwin-based carrier plans to fly up to four E-170s by 2010.
Canada and Japan announced an expanded air services agreement that will grant Canadian airlines unlimited access to cities outside Tokyo and offers access to Haneda "under certain conditions," Transport Canada said.
Boeing yesterday stopped short of announcing the deep production cut anticipated by some but said that monthly 777 production will decrease to five aircraft from seven beginning in June 2010 and that previous plans to increase 747-8 and 767 production have been suspended.
Asiana Airlines, Cargolux Airlines International and Nippon Cargo Airlines yesterday became the latest carriers to reach an agreement with the US Dept. of Justice to plead guilty to conspiring to fix air cargo prices and will pay criminal fines totaling $214 million. Asiana, which agreed to pay a $50 million fine, also will plead guilty to "carrying out [an] air passenger price-fixing conspiracy," according to DOJ. Cargolux will pay a $119 million fine and NCA will pay a $45 million penalty.
Swiss Aviation Training started training pilot crews from Air Dolomiti and Augsburg Airways on its E-190/195 full flight simulator at Lufthansa Flight Training's Munich facility that opened two weeks ago. The Swiss subsidiary said commissions to date ensure that the new simulator will be at least 80% utilized this year with crews from Dolomiti, Augsburg, Flybaboo and Alitalia its principal users.
TUIfly was hit by a wildcat strike yesterday at Hamburg, Hanover and Dusseldorf. Forty flights and 6,000 passengers suffered delays of up to 5 hr. as some 190 employees stopped working, although no flights were cancelled. The ver.di union called the strike and is seeking a 5% pay increase for its members. TUIfly staff has been concerned over job security since the announcement of the carrier's alliance with Air Berlin, which will begin operating 17 TUIfly 737s on scheduled routes ( ATWOnline, March 31).
Fraport Cargo Services yesterday resumed handling for Turkish Airlines at Frankfurt following a six-month gap. FCS MD Winfried Hartmann said the company was "able to restart negotiations under different conditions and could offer [THY] a new service package." The airline will operate passenger service between FRA and six Turkish cities during the summer schedule as well as a four-times-weekly A310 freighter service to Istanbul Ataturk.
Air Tahiti yesterday took delivery a 66-seat ATR 72-500. It now operates three ATR 42-500s and seven 72-500s. It also is one of the launch customers for ATR's new -600 series with an order for three 42-600s and two 72-600s scheduled to start delivery in the spring of 2011 ( ATWOnline, Oct. 3, 2007).
US Dept. of Transportation said airlines cancelled 1.2% of their scheduled domestic flights in February, down from 3.6% in the year-ago month. American Airlines and ExpressJet Airlines had the highest rate of cancellations at 2.2%, while Hawaiian Airlines (0.1%), Frontier Airlines (0.2%) and Northwest Airlines (0.6%) had the lowest. The 19 reporting carriers had an ontime rate of 82.6% in February compared to the 68.6% reported in the year-ago month.
British Airways CEO Willie Walsh told reporters that "BA and Iberia know each other very well, so I don't feel under any calendar pressure" to conclude a merger agreement, according to widespread press reports. BA said one month ago that further details about the potential combination were to be released in late March ( ATWOnline, March 6). Walsh also reiterated that BA shareholders "will not settle for less than 53% of the new group," which is in line with what IB shareholder Caja Madrid predicted in February.
Rex Regional Express announced the sale of two Saab 340As to SprintAir of Poland. Rex is phasing out its 340As as it introduces 25 340Bs. It has one 340A remaining and expects to have offloaded it by year end.
Allegiant Air said it will end Wilmington, N.C.-Tampa service on May 17 and Bellingham-Reno service on May 29 "due to lack of market demand." It will launch twice-weekly Columbia-Fort Lauderdale flights on May 27. AirTran Airways will operate seasonal service from Atlanta to Portland, Maine, and Harrisburg June 11-Sept. 8 aboard 717-200s. Jet Airways will launch daily Chennai-Dubai service and a second daily Mumbai-Dubai flight on April 23 aboard 737-800s. Both Jet and JetLite have started operating daily New Delhi-Srinagar service.
United Airlines said it will complete its transition to a cashless cabin on its North American flights, except for United Express operations, on April 20. It began accepting credit cards for onboard purchases on March 23.
An Aviastar BAe 146-300 en route to Wamena from Jayapura crashed into a mountainside on approach yesterday morning, killing all six aboard. The aircraft reportedly was ferrying food and supplies and was not transporting passengers. According to Flight Safety Foundation's Aviation Safety Network, those onboard comprised a captain, copilot, engineer, loadmaster and two flight attendants.
