Air Transport World

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has advised airlines to avoid the Crimea peninsula as confusion arises over who has control over air traffic control services in the disputed region.

Spanish regional operator Air Nostrum will come under new ownership, after a buy-in from the carrier’s CEO Carlos Bertomeu and local entrepreneurs.

Boeing is outpacing rival Airbus in orders for 2014, logging 275 gross aircraft orders in contrast to Airbus’ 158 during the first three months of the year.

High fuel prices and entry into the international market via its acquisition of AirTran Airways have led Southwest Airlines to fundamentally change its business model from short haul to longer flights.

American Airlines CEO Doug Parker said the company isn’t looking to spin off affiliate American Eagle even after the regional airline’s pilots voted to reject an amended labor contract that would have allowed Eagle to operate Embraer E-175 aircraft.

A delegation from the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) will meet with the US Regional Airline Association in early May in St. Louis, Missouri, to explore potential areas for cooperation.

Nairobi-based Kenya Airways has taken delivery of its first of six Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

Russia’s Aeroflot grounded its aging fleet of six Ilyushin Il-96 aircraft at the end of March.

Russia’s UTair has completed the transfer of 15 ATR 72-500s to subsidiary UTair Express.

Republic Airways Holdings (RAH), parent of US regional carriers Republic Airlines, Chautauqua Airlines and Shuttle America, said its pilots have voted to reject a new labor pact.

Global air cargo FTKs increased 2.9% in February, according to IATA’s global air freight market analysis.

Airline Routes

The Plenary of the European Parliament (EP) on Thursday decided that only intra-European flights would be affected by the controversial European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) through 2016.

US Airways has joined American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia and Finnair Thursday in their transatlantic joint venture.

KLM Cityhopper will decide on the replacement of its 19 Fokker 70s by the end of this year, with ATR, Bombardier, Embraer and Mitsubishi aircraft in the running.

Japan Airlines (JAL) chairman Masaru Onishi said its Boeing 787-8 fleet needs to further improve reliability.

The Lufthansa pilot strike, called by the union Vereinigung Cockpit, has caused major disruptions and affected 425,000 passengers as the strike enters its second day.

India’s Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday asked Chennai-based low-cost carrier (LCC) SpiceJet to stop selling tickets at rock-bottom fares.

A Delta Air Lines McDonnell Douglas MD-88 made an emergency landing at New York JFK International Airport and wound up in a grassy area after an indication of a problem with the aircraft’s hydraulic system.

Boeing will cut its Australian workforce by 300 at its Fisherman’s Bend, Melbourne facility.

AirAsia Berhad group has signed a $33.5 million inflight entertainment (IFE) contract with new Malaysian company Tune Box Avionics Berhad.

China Southern Airlines has reported a net profit of CNY1.89 billion ($307 million) for 2013, down 28% compared to a net income of CNY2.63 billion in 2012.

There was one hull loss for every 2.4 million flights of Western-built jet aircraft in 2013, doubling 2012’s rate.

Qatar Airways has launched its first Doha-Philadelphia service, its sixth North American city in the airline’s network.

MRO News