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Vietnam Airlines ups Heathrow frequency

Vietnam Airlines has added a sixth weekly flight from Heathrow Airport using a Boeing Dreamliner 787-9 as part of its winter 2015/16 schedule. The carrier will now fly non-stop three times a week to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from Sunday, 25 October. Vietnam Airlines remains the only airline to offer direct flights between the UK and Vietnam. Departure times from Heath...

Rhinos to fly on IAG’s first A380 flight to Miami

IAG Cargo is welcoming six white rhinos on British Airways’ first Airbus A380 flight to Miami (US) on 25 October. The rhinos are embarking on the journey from Johannesburg (South Africa) to Miami to ensure the continued genetic diversity for breeding programmes which are part of a global conservation effort. IAG Cargo product manager for live animals, Gabriella Tama...

Black hole in Heathrow Airport’s runway plan?

Gatwick Airport has accused Heathrow Airport of having a £6 billion ($9.2 billion) black hole in its expansion plans after it was confirmed the UK governement will not pay for required road and rail improvements. The government’s transport minister, Robert Goodwill, told parliament that the airports will be responsible for any surface access improvements required...

Bell Helicopter appoints L.Atherton as executive vice president of military business

Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, announced that Lisa Atherton has been named executive vice president of military business. In this role, Atherton will be responsible for providing strategic direction, overall management and performance for all government programs and business development efforts. Atherton succeeds Mitch Snyder who was recently appointed Bell Helicopter president and...

Lockheed Martin receives $176m from USAF for sensor-enhanced sniper pods

Lockheed Martin received $176.1 million in contracts from the U.S. Air Force for Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod-Sensor Enhancement (ATP-SE) production and upgrade kits that will convert Sniper ATPs to the ATP-SE configuration. Sniper ATP-SE has improved sensors, a two-way datalink and algorithms that increase air-to-ground, air-to-air and maritime targeting capability. Upgrade kits consist of li...

Southwest Airlines, 63.1% increance in net income in Q3, 2015

Southwest Airlines Co. reported its third quarter 2015 results Gary C. Kelly, Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are very pleased to report outstanding third quarter 2015 results marked by a 63.1 percent year-over-year increase in net income, excluding special items. Our record third quarter operating income, excluding special items, of $1.0 billion...

Alaska Air Group, 39% increase in net income in Q3, 2015

Alaska Air Group, Inc., reported third quarter 2015 GAAP net income of $274 million, or $2.14 per diluted share, compared to $198 million, or $1.45 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2014. Excluding the impact of mark-to-market fuel hedge adjustments of $5 million ($3 million after tax, or $0.02 per diluted share), the company reported record adjusted net income of $277 million, or $2.16...

Windup of Jetstar Hong Kong almost complete

No aircraft, no staff and no licence to fly. The wind-up of Jetstar Hong Kong is all but complete. The failed venture has sold all its Airbus A320s and made most of its staff redundant after the three major shareholders cut off any further funding of the proposed airline in response to the Hong Kong government’s rejection of its application for an operating licence. Qantas chief execut...

Qantas expects “significant improvement” in 2015/16 first half

Qantas is expecting to deliver a bumper 2015/16 first half profit as the airline group benefits from lower fuel prices and its cost-cutting initiatives amid modest capacity growth in both the domestic and international market and a mixed Australian economy. The positive outlook statement was provided to shareholders by Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce at the airline group’s annual genera...

Boeing Books 20 737 MAX Orders from Oman Air, Six Cancellations

Boeing Co said on Thursday it booked 20 firm orders for its 737 MAX single-aisle aircraft from Oman Air SAOC, an order that nearly doubles the airline's 737 fleet. Oman Air's order includes conversions of six 737 NG planes to 737 MAX jets, for a net gain of 14 in Boeing's order book. Boeing and rival Airbus are battling for market share in the large single-aisle market. Boei...

United Airlines' acting CEO aims to reassure investors amid strong results

United Airlines on Thursday tried to dismiss concerns that executive shake-ups have left an amateur team running its business, promising better service for travelers and moderate expansion in 2016 for investors worried about weak demand. Shares of parent United Continental Holdings Inc. rose more than 2 percent after it forecast a pre-tax profit margin of up to 11.5 percent in the fourth q...

Exclusive: Birmingham Airport Loses Out to Manchester on China Flights

Birmingham Airport has lost out to Manchester Airport in securing direct scheduled flights to China, ITV News Central has learned. The Chinese President will announce the deal today. Birmingham Airport has been talking to Hainan Airlines for some time about starting a scheduled service but the airline has decided to go to Manchester. The news comes after the Chancellor George Osborne...

Airport Extension Would Link Wellington with Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai

Direct flights to Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai could be on the cards for the capital if an extension to WellingtonAirport's runway goes ahead, the council has heard. But any decision to proceed with the NZ$300 million move will have to be made without an airline being locked-in to start operating the long-haul flights. Wellington City councillors were told on Thursday that the city wou...

CAAC Punishes Shanghai Pudong, Hangzhou and Tianjin Airports over Flight Delays

China's aviation regulator said it will withhold approvals of new air routes, chartered services and additional flights at Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH) and Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN) for October, due to major flight delays in August 2015. According to data released by the Civil Aviation Administration of Chin...

Swiss Man Jailed for Molesting Attendants on Cathay Pacific Flight to Hong Kong

A Swiss man was jailed for 30 days on Thursday after admitting to molesting three attendants on a Cathay Pacific flight. Rolf Rimann, 46, pressed the lower part of his body against flight attendant X and touched flight attendant Y's buttock when he was flying from Zurich to Hong Kong in September, Tsuen Wan Court heard. After molesting the two, Rimann grabbed the waist of a third flight...

First C919 to Roll Off Production Line in November - Sources

China's first home-made C919 prototype aircraft will official roll off the final assembly line at COMAC's Shanghai factory on November 2 and show to the world, people familiar with the plan said Wednesday in Nanjing. According to the new plan, the C919 could make its first test flight in Shanghai around the third quarter of 2017, with probability of another delay in 2017, said Wang...

Airbus Awards Eight Best in Class Suppliers of the Year

Airbus acknowledged eight suppliers’ outstanding contribution and presented them with Best in Class 2015 Partner Awards. The awards, split into three categories - Best Performer, Innovation and Support - distinguish the outstanding contributions from the selected partners in the areas of aerostructure and material, systems & equipment - cabin and propulsion and general procurement. Th...

Japan Airlines to Serve Champagne Salon 2004 in First Class on Its International Routes

Japan Airlines (JAL) announced today that it will be serving Champagne Salon 2004 in First Class on all international routes from November 16, 2015, which is in advance of Champagne Salon's own global distribution planned to start from next spring. Japan Airlines has been offering Champagne Salon to its First Class customers since December 2007, and JAL is the only airline in the world...

DOT Orders Kuwait Airways to Stop Discriminating Against Israelis

The Transportation Department threatened legal action Thursday against Kuwait Airways for refusing to sell tickets to Israelis. The department ordered the airline to "cease and desist from refusing to transport Israeli citizens between the U.S. and any third country where they are allowed to disembark," according to a letter from Blane Workie, the department's assistant gener...

Europe Issues Action Plan Following Germanwings Crash

The European Commission has released an action plan, prepared by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), aimed at tackling issues raised by the Germanwings accident on March 24. The Germanwings A320 was on a scheduled flight from Barcelona to Düsseldorf when it crashed, killing all 150 people aboard. A preliminary report on the crash by the French air accident investigation agency...

Quest Kodiak 100 Substantially Damaged in Takeoff Crash

The sole-occupant pilot sustained minor injuries when his Quest Kodiak 100 stalled and crashed during a dayVMC takeoff at Sheridan County Airport, Sheridan, Wyo., on October 9 at about 12:30 p.m. MDT. Registered asN153RW, the single-engine turboprop was substantially damaged in the accident. According to the preliminary NTSB report, the pilot, who is also the...