Air Transport World

Virgin Australia has chosen Chicago-based aviation broadband specialist Gogo for satellite connectivity service across its fleet, the two companies announced March 30.

The first Airbus A319neo performed its maiden flight March 31, Airbus announced in a statement.

Boeing’s 787-10, the third and largest Dreamliner variant, took off on its first flight March 31 from North Charleston, South Carolina. ATW Americas editor Mark Nensel was onsite to bring you exclusive video footage.

The first Boeing 787-10, BOE1, completed its first flight from the Boeing facility in North Charleston, South Carolina, on March 31.

Lufthansa Cargo (LHC) reported an adjusted EBIT loss of €50 million ($52.5 million) for 2016, reversed from a net profit of €74 million in 2015.

What once were primarily large shelters in which a variety of different operations, maintenance and support functions took place have now become highly sophisticated, well-conceived and carefully designed spaces. FBOs, MROs and private corporate aviation operations are demanding more.

Cabin Interiors-March 30, 2017

Latin American airlines will take delivery of 2,570 new passenger and freighter aircraft worth $350 billion over the 2016-2035 period, according to Airbus, which has slightly increased its forecast for 20-year demand in the region from 2,540 aircraft a year ago.

Spanish regional airline Binter Canarias will expand its network with Bombardier a CRJ1000 aircraft under a leasing agreement with Valencia, Spain-based regional Air Nostrum.

Alaska Air Group has dramatically boosted the cost and revenue benefits it expects to realize from the integration of Alaska Airlines and Virgin America.

Aeroflot low-cost subsidiary (LCC) Pobeda Airlines plans to increase domestic regional flights frequencies 47% during the 2017 IATA summer season.

JetBlue Airways launched service between Boston and Atlanta March 30, directly taking on Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines on the US east coast pairing.

Luxembourg flag carrier Luxair will delay making a decision on new regional aircraft until 2018, a senior official said March 30.

Qatar Airways will offer business-class passengers complimentary laptop computers to use on US-bound flights starting next week.

Faroese national carrier Atlantic Airways anticipates a move into the ACMI market as it attempts to offset the effect of new competition on its primary route.

Greek regional airline Sky Express is gearing up for a major expansion in passenger traffic as it moves away from public service obligation (PSO) routes to a normal commercial business model.

China’s Hainan Airlines (HNA) reported a net income of CNY3.1 billion ($45 million) for 2016, up 4.5% over a net profit of CNY3 billion in 2015.

Aircraft/Manufacturer Briefs-March 29, 2017

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) wants US President Donald Trump to exempt aviation safety and security rules from his administration’s new, so-called “two-for-one” deregulation effort.

Aegean Airlines Group hit €1 billion in full-year revenue for the first time in 2016, up 6% over $983 million in revenue for 2015.

The Embraer E195-E2, the largest next-generation E-Jet variant, has completed its first flight from São José dos Campos, Brazil.

Latvia’s national carrier airBaltic saw its net profit for 2016 drop sharply to €1.2 million ($1.3 million) in 2016 from €19.5 million in 2015 as the carrier encountered falling yields.

KLM Cityhopper, the Dutch flag carrier’s regional arm, expects to have disposed of its remaining Fokker 70 jets by October this year, CEO Boet Kreiken said March 29.

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways will make iPads available for first- and business-class passengers to use on US-bound flights starting April 2.

Winning the 2017 ATW Airline of the Year Award was a “really big deal,” American Airlines chairman and CEO Doug Parker said as he received the trophy at a gala dinner in New York Tuesday.