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Windecker Eagle due for China market resurrection

A Chinese entrepreneur, Wei Hang, is to restart manufacture of the Windecker Eagle, or Eagle AC-7 Eagle 1, nearly 40 years after its US developer Windecker Industries shut down, having only produced eight and delivered one of the piston-singles. Windecker’s demise was triggered by the Western economic recession of the mid-1970s, which hit the light aircraft industry particularly hard. The...

Airbus launches new Ultra-Long Range version of the A350-900

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has selected Airbus’ newly launched Ultra-Long Range version of the A350-900 for non-stop flights to the US. Under an amendment to the carrier’s existing order for 63 A350-900s, seven of the aircraft will now be delivered with an Ultra-Long Range capability for flights of up to 19 hours. In addition, the carrier has placed an additional order for four A350-900s...

Etihad Airways' Hala Abu Dhabi stopover programme guests double in 2015-10-12

Hala Abu Dhabi, the professional conference organiser and destination management company of Etihad Airways, has recorded double-digit growth on its Abu Dhabi's Stopover Programme. The programme welcomes guests from across the globe with Australia, Germany and the UK providing the largest visitor numbers.  To meet the increasing demand, Hala Abu Dhabi Stopover Programme and staff con...

Etihad teams up with Al Ittihad Football Club

Etihad Airways and Al Ittihad Football Club have signed a partnership agreement, naming Etihad as the official airline partner for the Abdul Latif Jameel League club. Ibrahim Al-Balawi, president of Al Ittihad FC, and Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ chief commercial officer signed the agreement at the football club in Jeddah.   Al-Balawi explained the advantages of partnerin...

Pilot Report: Citation M2

Since entering service in 2013, the $4.5 million Citation M2 has garnered a significant share of the light jet market and even of Textron Aviation’s own smaller jet series. The M2 is the newest member of the CitationJet (525) series, and 12 were delivered in 2013, even though certification was not awarded until late that year; during its first full year of production last...

The 100th production Sukhoi SuperJet 100 aircraft performed its maiden flight

Komsomolsk-on-Amur plant (branch of Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company) has completed assembly of the 100th Sukhoi SuperJet 100 (SSJ100) airliner. On October 5th the jet performed a test flight above Komsomolsk-on-Amur and confirmed that the preparation for delivery may be continued.  After all the final modifications, ground and flight tests the 100th SSJ100 will depart from Kha...

Aeroflot won the Russian Business Travel & MICE Award in the “Best Company for Business Travelers” category

Once again Aeroflot won the prestigious Russian Business Travel & MICE Award in the “Best Company for Business Travelers” category. The solemn awarding ceremony was held on October 1st at “President-Hotel” in Moscow, the carrier’s press-service reports. “Thanks to constant improvement of service and implementation of the latest technologies Aeroflot...

New route into China for United Airlines

United Airlines has launched a new bellyhold route into China, which take-off next year as long as it gets the go ahead from regulators. The carrier will fly to Xi’an International Airport and the service will be the first trans-Pacific flights to the destination operated by any airline. United will be the first US airline to serve the city. United says it will...

TNT transport solar car to Australia for World Solar Challenge

TNT has transported a prototype solar car from the Netherlands to Australia for the World Solar Challenge between 18 and 25 October. The car, called Stella Lux, built by students at Eindhoven University of Technology, was transported by road from Eindhoven (the Netherlands) to Liege (Belgium), before flying to Singapore then Melbourne (Australia). The lithium batte...

Pegasus hits 100 route milestone

Pegasus Airlines has reached a milestone of 100 destinations as it launches its latest two new bellyhold routes to Turkey’s Kars and Ordu-Giresun. Flights between Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen Airport and Kars Airport are launching on 9 November, while the Ordu-Giresun route launches on 13 November, with daily return flights scheduled for both destinations. Flights to Kars f...

Brussels Airport growth driven by freighter traffic

Brussels Airport has seen cargo volumes increase by 1.6 per cent in September to 39,533 tonnes, with rises in freighter cargo making up for falls in bellyhold. Freighter cargo rose by 6.5 per cent in September to 28,273 tonnes with full freighter volumes increasing by 8.2 per cent to 11,169 tonnes, helped by Ethiopian Airlines services. Integrator volumes rose by 5.5 per cent to 17,10...

Finnair and NORRA choose LTAA for CF34-10 maintenance

Finnair and Nordic Regional Airlines (NORRA) have signed an exclusive long-term contract with Lufthansa Technik AERO Alzey (LTAA) for maintenance of Nordic Regional Airlines’ CF34-10 engine fleet. Jari Huhtinen, VP technical operations at Finnair said "The CF34-10 MRO agreement will provide Finnair and Nordic Regional Airlines with pre-defined engine shop visit packages which support...

Singapore Airlines selects Amsterdam as its first Airbus A350-900 destination

Singapore Airlines (Singapore) has announced Amsterdam will be the inaugural destination for its new-generation Airbus A350 fleet, with services expected to begin by April 2016. Singapore Airlines has 63 A350-900s on firm order, the first of which is due for delivery in January 2016. Prior to the introduction of Amsterdam services, the aircraft will be operated on select Jakarta and Kuala Lumpu...

Boeing Optimizes Maintenance Record Keeping for Airlines

New digital airline maintenance records tool increases operational efficiency Boeing introduced today a digital records management capability to its Maintenance Performance Toolbox suite of products that will optimize maintenance operations and reduce costs for airlines. The Maintenance Performance Toolbox Records module provides an industry standard platform to manage scanned and digit...

Etihad awards cloud computing contract to IBM

Etihad Airways has signed a US$700 million deal with IBM to provide cloud computing services that the airline says will make air travel easier for passengers. The 10-year technology services agreement will mean IBM provides new information technology services to Etihad and its partner airlines via a new cloud data centre in Abu Dhabi. Etihad said the centre – which IBM will develop and...

Bangkok Airways begins new domestic service

Bangkok Airways on 11 October began daily flights on the 264-kilometre route between Phuket (HKT) and Hat Yai(HDY). The airline will use its 70-seat ATR 72-500s and -600s on the route, which is not served by any other carrier. This becomes the airline’s fifth route from Phuket and first to Hay Yai. Mr. Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, President of Bangkok Airways said, &ld...

Boeing to Support United Airlines 787 Dreamliners with Component Services

Boeing announced yesterday a new services contract with United Airlines that is expected to reduce costs and increase efficiency for the airline by providing high-value, mission-critical rotable parts. Boeing will support United Airlines’ entire fleet of 787 Dreamliners through its Component Services program under the 10-year agreement, enabling the airline to greatly reduce its inventory...

Tankering Benefits Tangible and Achievable

Although jet-fuel prices are lower because of the dramatic drop in the price of oil, operators of airplanes that can carry large loads of fuel, especially the increasingly popular ultra-long-range Globals and Gulfstreams, may benefit from tankering low-cost fuel instead of carrying just the amount of fuel and reserves needed for a particular flight. For many business jet owners, it is precisely th...

Caribbean Airlines confirms it will end B767, European ops

Caribbean Airlines (BW, Port of Spain) is proceeding with plans to phase out its only widebody equipment while simultaneously abandoning transatlantic flights to London Gatwick with effect from January 10 of next year. In a statement, the Trinidadian carrier said it had taken the decision following a detailed review of its network which took into consideration the current competi...

Low emission ground services: „Green Gate“ at Frankfurt Airport opened

From „Airport to E-PORT“: The E-PORT AN initiative partners are driving electric mobility on the apron forward and making projects visible to passengers The E-PORT AN initiative partners; Fraport AG, Lufthansa Group, the State of Hesse and the Rhine-Main model electro-mobility region, opened the first "Green Gate" at Frankfurt Airport today. At Lufthansa Gate A15 passenger...

US airlines said to hit Justice Department hurdle in Gulf airline dispute

The US Justice Department has raised concern about demands by US airlines that the government limit flights of three Middle Eastern rivals to the United States, three sources familiar with the matter have said. Justice Department antitrust officials warned of higher fares and fewer choices for consumers if the Obama administration blocks new flights by Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways...