Emirates (EK, Dubai Int'l) is planning to conclude commercial A340 operations later next year in line with its fleet renewal strategy. In a statement, the Dubai-based carrier said it would retire its four remaining A340-300s and lone A340-500 alongside twenty-one other ageing aircraft including twelve A330-200s, six B777-200(ER)s, two B777-300s, and one B777-300(ER). Emirates currently u...
More than 200 pilots of the operational-tactical, transport and army aviation of the Western MD have upgraded their skill category. Six pilots and air navigators have reached the “pilot (air navigator) sniper”, 68 – “first class pilot”, others – “second and third class pilot” skill categories. During the qualifying standard tests, officers p...
Russia’s UTair Airline has completed the sale of its Katekavia subsidiary. The carrier was rebranded to Azur Air as a result of the deal, but continues using an air operator’s certificate with the Katekavia name,ATW reported. According to Russia’s Federal Tax Service registry, 100% of Azur Air is owned by One2fly. The register states 80% of One2fly bel...
The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee December 9 approved by voice vote a compromise version of the Pilots Bill of Rights 2 that addressed concerns raised last month during initial consideration of the measure. The bill, S.571, a follow-on to the original Pilots Bill of Right that would ease certain current third-class medical requirements and strengthen pilot protections during enforc...
Textron's successful integration of its Beechcraft acquisition and new lineup of business jets is improving Wall Street’s view of the company. Ratings agency Moody’s Investors Service this week changed its rating outlook for Textron and Textron Financial to “Positive” from “Stable.” “With stability in core business conditions, sound investment...
In what is becoming a holiday tradition, New Hampshire-based fractional aircraft provider PlaneSense flew one of its Pilatus PC-12s filled with donated food to Manchester Boston Regional Airport yesterday for the New Hampshire Food Bank. While last year’s contribution totaled 800 pounds, this year saw the company’s charitable effort amass more than 7,000 pounds of food, exceeding...
Pilots responding improperly to midair-collision alarms pose one of the top safety risks for airline passengers across Europe, according to studies by the regional authority that show little improvement in addressing the danger. One-quarter of cockpit crews who received such computer-generated emergency warnings failed to take the correct evasive action, according to data from some 800 inc...
Air China has touched down in New Zealand for the first time with the arrival of flight CA783 in Auckland on Thursday evening. The Airbus A330-200, B-5932, landed a little after 1830 local time on Thursday following its 12 and a half hour journey from Beijing. The reciprocal, CA784, took off at about 2020 bound for the Chinese capital. Air China is operating a daily Beijing-Auckland service...
The worst day to buy a plane ticket is a Friday, according to analysis of worldwide ticket prices. The study revealed plane tickets bought on Fridays are 13% higher than those on Sunday. The reason behind the spike in ticket prices is believed to be that those taking holiday tend to book discount trips on weekends, while those flying for business purposes tend to book at the end of the worki...
Low oil prices and healthy demand for travel, despite recent terror attacks hurting some destinations, will boost airline profits again in 2016, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Thursday. IATA, which represents almost 260 airlines accounting for 83 percent of global air traffic, said net profit would reach record levels of US$36.3 billion, after US$33 billion in 2...
Boeing Co booked 11 new jetliner orders worth about US$1.1 billion at list prices on Thursday, leaving it with about 180 more sales to land this month to meet its 2015 target. The world's largest plane maker also affirmed that orders will roughly equal the 755-760 jetliners it had expected to deliver to customers this year. European rival Airbus said this week it had booked 1,007 net ord...
Emirates airline is optimistic about meeting its rising demand for pilots after 80 Emirati pilots graduated from its national cadet pilot programme. It was the largest graduating class in the programme’s 23-year history. Emirates also said that it would open the Emirates Flight Training Academy by the end of next year. The Dubai airline, which aggressively keeps on adding routes and fr...
Emirates is offering special pre-launch fares for its Dubai to Panama route, which will start from February 1. The route, operated by a Boeing 777-200 LR, will take a whopping 17 hours and 35 minutes, making it the longest in the world. Emirates said that fares would start from Dh7,205 in economy class and Dh20,250 in business class when booked for travel between February 1 and March 23....
Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic Airways said it raised 220 million pounds (EUR304 million) from Europe's first-ever bonds secured against airport operating slots. The issue, backed by scarce take-off and landing positions at London's Heathrow airport, will help finance long- term investments including the purchase of new aircraft Virgin said. The deal is the company...
A decline in aircraft orders this year shows the order cycle is peaking after five years of torrid growth, industry experts said on Thursday, raising speculation that Boeing Co and Airbus may be forced to scale back higher production rates planned for coming years. "Orders have a history of very high peaks and very low troughs," said Edmund Greenslet, an independent analyst who p...
Thailand's airlines have been spared a ban from European skies despite concerns over flight safety in the country. Last month the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which regulates U.S. air safety, downgraded all Thai airlines to "category 2". While no Thai airlines currently fly to or from the States, the move prevents them from establishing new routes. In March Thai airli...
The three largest U.S. airlines are banning hoverboards because of the potential fire danger from the lithium-ion batteries that power the devices. Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and United Airlines said Thursday they are banning hoverboards in checked or carry-on luggage. JetBlue Airways has already prohibited them. Hoverboards are motorized, two-wheel, skateboard-sized scooters th...
Japan's revised civil aviation law that regulates the use of drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles came into effect on Thursday. The new regulations require operators to get government approval to fly such aircraft in areas designated as densely populated, at events, and near airports, public broadcaster NHK reported. Permission is also required for flying out of the operator's s...
David Cameron delayed once again the decision he has been putting off for more than three years: whether to allow another runway at Heathrow Airport, and in so doing break a promise he made in 2010. The prime minister swerved the decision in 2012 by asking Howard Davies to investigate the options for expanding airport capacity in southeast England, and ordering him not to report back until afte...
Norwegian Air Shuttle, Europe's third largest low-cost carrier, flew its last Boeing 737-300 from Lasham in the UK to the small town of Bodo in Northern Norway. With all of Norwegian's Boeing 737-300s no longer in operation, the airline's fleet now has an average age of 3.6 years making it one of the most modern and environmentally friendly in Europe. Norwegian has given the reti...
As many as 284 foreign pilots were employed by domestic aviation companies at the end of September, with IndiGo having the highest number of overseas pilots at 94, according to the government. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma today informed the Lok Sabha there were 284 foreign pilots at various aviation companies as on September 30. Out of them, no-frills carrier IndiGo had...
