Bombardier sees demand taking off in India, China

News Update   24th February 2010

It is no longer the US market that drives the demand for business jets, but it's the demand from the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) that has changed the face of the business jet market.

Boeing’s 787 Loses Engine Thrust On Test Flight

News Update   24th February 2010

Randy Tinseth, Vice President, marketing for Boeing Commercial Airplanes stated on “Randy's Journal” “The first 787 - ZA001 returned from Moses Lake Sunday morning after landing there on Friday. "Our flight test pilots had touched down at the Grant County International Airport after they experienced an uncommanded loss of thrust in one of the engines. It was an opportunity to really see the best of Boeing kick into gear. Teaming with Rolls-Royce, we determined that the issue had to do with a pressure-sensing component within the engine"

Greek Airlines to merge

News Update   23rd February 2010

Greece's two major airlines, Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines SA, are merging to create a “national airline champion,” the companies said in a statement Monday.

Indian domestic giant to join Oneworld

News Update   23rd February 2010

Indian domestic carrier Kingfisher Airlines is poised to join the British Airways-le Oneworld alliance.

Lufthansa Pilots Start Massive Four-Day Strike

News Update   22nd February 2010

A four-day pilots' strike at German national airline Lufthansa began on Monday and is causing massive disruption for travellers, with 800 flights expected to be cancelled per day. It's the biggest strike in German aviation history, and industry chiefs are worried it will damage the economy.

Malaysia Airlines Records Huge Profits

News Update   22nd February 2010

Malaysia Airlines have recorded increased profits for its fourth quarter ending 31 December 2009, with its net profit soaring from RM46 million (£8.74m) to RM610 million (£115.9m) from the same period in 2008.

Newswatch 2010 Issue 7 out now!

Newswatch   19th February 2010

Report confirms issues in AA work

News Update   19th February 2010

A federal investigation has found increasing incidents of aircraft maintenance deficiencies at American Airlines and ineffective and inconsistent oversight of its maintenance programs by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Government approves equity infusion of Rs 800 cr in loss-making Air India

News Update   18th February 2010

The Government today approved a proposal for the release of equity support of Rs 800 crore in two equal monthly instalments to the National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL), formed to run national carrier Air India after its merger with Indian Airlines in 2007.

Flying Kangaroo loses some hop

News Update   18th February 2010

There is little less hop in Australia's flying kangaroo.

Royal Jordanian posts full-year profit of $40m

News Update   17th February 2010

Royal Jordanian Airlines said it has posted full-year profit of JD28.6 million ($40.3m, Dh148m) compared with a net loss of JD24.7m in 2008.

U.S. carriers compete for flights to close-in Tokyo airport

News Update   17th February 2010

American Airlines Inc. and four other U.S. carriers asked permission Tuesday to begin operating between the United States and Tokyo's close-in Haneda International Airport.

Jazeera Airways acquires Sahaab leasing for KD25m

News Update   16th February 2010

In a bid to increase profitability and facilitate growth in the next 24 months, budget carrier Jazeera Airways has fully acquired Sahaab Aircraft Leasing Company (Sahaab), a private aircraft leasing firm established in late 2008.

Comair soars on cheaper oil

News Update   16th February 2010

Domestic and regional carrier Comair posted interim results on Tuesday, showing an increase in profitability despite a significant drop in revenue.

American Airlines enjoys double dose of good news

News Update   15th February 2010

A week ago, American Airlines Inc. faced a lot of doubt about its airline alliance across both the Pacific and the Atlantic.

Low-cost carriers help capacity surge

News Update   15th February 2010

Global airlines recorded a five per cent year-on-year expansion in seat capacity and four per cent increase in frequencies for February compared to February last year, expanding capacity levels for the sixth consecutive month, reveals the latest research from OAG (Official Airline Guide) Aviation.

Newswatch 2010 Issue 6 out now!

Newswatch   12th February 2010

Emirates and Etihad strike deal on Kangaroo Route

News Update   12th February 2010

Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways have been allotted more flights to Australia, boosting their interest in the lucrative “Kangaroo Route” connecting the country with the UK.

AirAsia sets up Vietnam low-cost airline

News Update   11th February 2010

AirAsia, a major low-cost airline in Asia, said it has purchased a 30 percent stake in VietJet Aviation of Vietnam to establish a budget carrier based in the country.

Air China to buy 20 Airbus A320s as fleet expands to meet rising demand

News Update   11th February 2010

Air China, one of China's biggest carriers, said Thursday it plans to buy 20 Airbus A320 jets, expanding its fleet to keep up with rising demand.

Ryanair transforms Kaunas airport

News Update   10th February 2010

The expansion of foreign airlines into Lithuania following the collapse of flyLAL took a major turn Tuesday when Ryanair announced that it would start flying nine routes out of Kaunas.

Delta gets limited approval for La Guardia expansion

News Update   10th February 2010

Delta Air Lines won government approval for a slot-swap deal that would strengthen its presence at New York's LaGuardia Airport, but it says conditions placed on the deal by regulators are too onerous and it may ditch the plan.

China Eastern Airlines in search for new investors

News Update   9th February 2010

China Eastern Airlines, the nation's second largest carrier by fleet size, said it has rolled out the red carpet for potential strategic investors after completing a merger with former local rival Shanghai Airlines.

Most airlines see better profits this year: IATA

News Update   9th February 2010

Seventy-six per cent of the world airlines expect profitability to improve over the next 12 months, according to the January Airline Business Confidence Index released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

JAL to keep its partnership with American Airlines rejecting offer from Delta Air Lines

News Update   8th February 2010

Japan Airlines, after declaring bankruptcy last month, has decided to keep its partnership with American Airlines, rejecting offer from Delta Air Lines, according to media reports Sunday.

Turkish Airlines to lease 3 Boeing 777 from Jet

News Update   8th February 2010

Turkish Airlines will lease three Boeing 777 aircraft from Jet Airways as per a latest agreement inked between the two carriers, sources close to the development said today.

Newswatch 2010 Issue 5 out now!

Newswatch   5th February 2010

Republic to shut down Lynx, switch to jets between Wichita and Denver

News Update   5th February 2010

Republic Airways Holdings said today it will shut down the Lynx Aviation regional service it acquired last year as part of its purchase of Frontier Airlines.

Bombardier cries foul over Boeing, Airbus pact

News Update   4th February 2010

Bombardier Inc. is escalating the war of words in a dispute about the financing of sales of its new C Series jet, alleging that Boeing and Airbus and their respective national export agencies are threatening to use anti-competitive practices to harm sales of the plane.

Boeing to deliver first 787 jet by year-end

News Update   4th February 2010

American plane maker Boeing has said that the development of its 787 mid-sized aircraft was back on track.

Air China needs 400 planes in next 5-6 years

News Update   3rd February 2010

Air China expects to expand its fleet by 400 planes in the next five to six years to meet soaring travel demand at home, a company official said Wednesday.

Comac expects 100 C919 orders

News Update   3rd February 2010

Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (Comac), maker of the nation's first narrow-body passenger plane, the C919, aims to win around 100 orders for the aircraft by the year-end as it challenges Boeing Co and Airbus SAS.

Russia to corporatize Rossiya air carrier, merge with Aeroflot

News Update   2nd February 2010

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin agreed on Tuesday with proposals to transform the state transportation company Rossiya into a joint-stock company in 2010 and merge it with the flagship air carrier Aeroflot.

Budget airlines soar even higher

News Update   2nd February 2010

Adel Ali never thought Nagpur would work. It was 2005 and the chief executive of Air Arabia, the Sharjah-based budget airline, was considering opening a route to the central Indian city of 2.4 million residents. But the project had its challenges: the city had only a domestic airport and no foreign airline had ever provided service there before.

Asia now world's biggest air travel market

News Update   1st February 2010

The Asia-Pacific region has overtaken North America as the world's largest air travel market with 647 million passengers in 2009, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said Monday.

Boeing teams to head up 737 and 777

News Update   1st February 2010

Despite a busy year ahead, Boeing Co. executives are not simply focused on the short-term.