Airbus has introduced the second CFM International Leap-powered A320neo into the type’s flight-test campaign. The aircraft performed its maiden flight on 29 September, operating from Hamburg to Toulouse, the airframer confirms. Its initial sortie came just over four months after the first Leap-1A aircraft joined the campaign. The second aircraft (D-AVVB) brings to four the...
China’s flag carrier Air China has taken delivery of its 50th A330 in Toulouse, France. The aircraft, an A330-300 is the first 242 tonnes maximum take-off-weight (MTOW) version to be operated by a Chinese airline. The increased MTOW allows airlines to operate longer range at improved operating costs. Displaying a special livery to celebrate the “50th A330 for Air China&rdq...
At this year's Helitech International exhibition, Airbus Helicopters will expand on how its focus on customer satisfaction, quality, safety and competitiveness is driving its company transformation, further supporting its vision of creating the benchmark in the helicopter industry. 'The entire industry is looking for efficient ways of moving forward in the current fast-changing market e...
Air France and its trade unions will reach a deadline Sept. 30 on whether cuts to its long-haul services can be averted. The loss-making airline said Sept. 8 that it could drop 10% of its long-haul services and proceed with redundancies if it does not reach an agreement with all its unions over implementing itsPerform 2020 turnaround plan. The airline’s Central Works Council...
Welcoming the inaugural Chalair flight crew in Luxembourg were: Johan Vanneste, CEO Luxembourg Airport (left); Jérôme Latrasse, Commercial Director Chalair (centre); and Jérôme Le Bris, Commercial Director Luxembourg Airport (right). The service from Lyon will operate five times weekly. Chalair starts its third route from France’s second city on 28 Septe...
The Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLT) has approved an Air France-KLM 3X-weekly direct cargo service between Amsterdam and Busan, starting at the end of October. MOLT has also upgraded Gimhae International Airport’s certification to allow Korean cargo operators to perform up to seven reciprocal cargo flights between Busan and Amsterdam from the end of October....
Pilots flying on medium-haul projected to increase from 585 hours to 690 hours per year (+ 18%) and on long-haul, from 685 hours to 780 hours per year (+ 14%). As for hostesses and stewards, the efforts demanded by management are quite similar. Air France management stated: to return to profit growth, pilots and flight attendants will have to fly more without earning more. We hav...
Cannes Mandelieu has lifted its weight restrictions, allowing larger heavier aircraft to use the airport. Effective October 1, the airport will be able to accept aircraft weighing up to 35 tonnes. With the weight restrictions lifted, the airport will be able to handle large, long range jets. Thierry Pollet, director of Cannes Mandelieu Airport said, “This victory is the result of di...
Airbus is pressing suppliers on its A320 aircraft to reduce prices by at least 10 percent by 2019 in order to make the company's main earner more competitive. The enhanced efficiency plans echo Boeing's cost-cutting Partner for Success initiative, which has redrawn the relationship between suppliers and the plane maker as the industry gears up for record output. Airbus's cuts are...
French aerospace supplier Zodiac has confirmed it faces court action and the possible loss of some business from American Airlines over delays in aircraft seat production, but said it was seeking a negotiated solution. The company said American Airlines had filed a petition in the District Court of Tarrant County in Texas asking judges to allow it to share a contract to buy business class seats...
Airbus began fuselage assembly of the largest member of the A350 family at its Hamburg and Saint-Nazaire plants. Germany-based subcontractor Premium Aerotec handed over the first complete front fuselage section for the first A350-1000 on Sept. 16 and it has now been delivered by air to Hamburg where it will be equipped before being flown to Saint-Nazaire on board one of Airbus’s...
Ruslan International has transported Rolls-Royce’s new Trent XWB-97 engine from East Midlands Airport to the Airbus testing facility in Toulouse. The engine is the highest-thrust production engine the manufacturer has ever made from the UK to South West France. where it will undergo extensive testing. Ruslan used an Antonov AN-124 heavylift aircraft, which was needed ta...
