All Airframers articles – Page 1376
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News
Routes, Europe
Eight more for Ryanair Low-cost airline Ryanair has announced eight new services from this summer - seven from Stansted and one from Prestwick. The Stansted routes include twice-daily services to Hamburg and Nimes and a daily connection to Perpignan from June. The following month will see a significant increase ...
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Raising the meal ticket
DENNIS BLANK ORLANDO After a lean few years in which US majors slashed catering costs, feeding passengers is back on the menu in the hope that a decent meal will win back customers Spending on onboard food service by the major US carriers is up and the trend is expected ...
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MiG 1.44 undergoes high-speed runs as MAPO prepares for maiden flight
Alexander Velovich/MOSCOW MAPO's experimental MiG 1.44 advanced fighter is closer to achieving its first flight. The aircraft was airborne for several seconds as it underwent high-speed runs on the runway of LII Gromov Flight Research Institute at Zhukovsky, near Moscow, this month. In line with standard pre-maiden ...
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Airbus accelerates plans to bring A330-100 into service
Airbus Industrie has brought forward its target entry-into-service date for the A330-100 to 2003. The move is an apparent effort to accelerate development of an A300/A310 replacement to meet Singapore Airlines' aircraft requirement, dubbed "W". Speaking at the show, Airbus senior vice-president commercial John Leahy confirms that the shortened, ...
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F-16 upgrades herald business boom
The fast-developing market for updating cockpits of early model Lockheed Martin F-16s sparked two leading upgrade companies to display programmes at the show. Singapore Technologies Aerospace's (STAe's) Falcon ONE package made its debut and Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) displayed its Air Combat Enhancement (ACE) package. Meanwhile. Lockheed Martin is developing ...
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Airbus stands by timetable for A3XX commercial launch
Airbus Industrie is sticking to its claim that it will be able to generate enough airline interest in the A3XX to achieve a commercial launch by mid-year, despite sceptical comments by some key potential customers and a pessimistic forecast from the US consultancy, the Teal Group. The consortium plans ...
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LMAAS makes bid for A300 cargo conversion work
Guy Norris/CORDOBA Lockheed Martin Aircraft Argentina (LMAAS) is in discussions with DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa) Airbus over the opening of an A300 cargo conversion line at its Cordoba site in Argentina. The move comes as LMAAS prepares to support its parent company's L-1011 TriStar freighter programme at Greenville, South ...
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Ilyushin begins design work on cargo Il-96-300 variant
Paul Duffy and Alexander Velovich/MOSCOW Ilyushin has initiated design work for a freighter version of its 240-seat Il-96-300 four-engined widebody. The design bureau is also studying the development of a Russian-engined version of the Westernised Il-96M/T. The Il-96-300 freighter project will be developed by a partnership which includes ...
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BA starts to build short-term 737-500 fleet as it waits for A318s
British Airways has begun to build a short-term fleet of Boeing 737-500s, with the delivery of the first two aircraft. One is an ex-British Midland example leased from Babcock and Brown, and the other on a five-year lease from Indigo Aviation, is ex-Braathens. The airline may acquire up to twenty ...
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Engine upgrade offered for A330
Pratt & Whitney is negotiating with Airbus Industrie over possible upgrades to the PW4168 engine for the A330 after its decision to suspend the PW4173 for the A330-300 (Flight International, 8-14 February). "We will do something to the 4168, probably including putting in the TALON [low emissions] combustor, and ...
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Boeing studies cockpit and cabin upgrade for 747-400
Boeing may offer an upgraded 777-style cockpit and passenger cabin on its proposed higher gross-weight 747-400. The derivative, likely to be called the -400ER if launched, would increase maximum take-off weight to 413,500kg (910,000lb) and provide airlines with more range or cargo-carrying capacity compared with the standard version. The ...
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WestJet agrees deals for up to 70 Boeing 737NGs
Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC Canadian low-fare carrier WestJet Airlines is to acquire and lease up to 70 Boeing Next Generation (NG) 737s to re-equip and expand its fleet. The selection of the 737 follows an evaluation which included the Airbus A318/A319. The Calgary, Alberta-based airline has placed a firm order ...
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Alliance outlines GP7200 plan
The General Electric/Pratt & Whitney Engine Alliance joint venture has outlined a development schedule for the proposed GP7200 powerplant. Engine Alliance and Rolls-Royce have begun talks with potential A3XX launch customers as the two rival engine suppliers position to be the lead certification engine on the planned new ultra-large ...
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Fairchild slips 728JET schedule
Fairchild Aerospace has reached agreement with 728JET launch customer Lufthansa CityLine to slip certification and first deliveries of the 70-seater by six months to November 2002. The delay will enable it to increase the size of the passenger cabin by relocating the rear doors. Fairchild says the decision to ...
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SAA favours 737-800
South African Airways' (SAA) is to recommend to its parent company Transnet this week that the Boeing 737-800 is selected for its new short-haul fleet. Deliveries could begin this year. The airline, 20% owned by Swissair parent SAirGroup, with the rest held by state-owned Transnet, has studied offers from ...
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UK all-cargo carrier grows with more 747s
Max Kinglsey-Jones/LONDON Airfreight Express (AFX), the UK's latest all-cargo carrier, is gearing up for expansion as it prepares to triple its Boeing 747 freighter fleet. The London Heathrow-based carrier launched operations last September following the receipt of its air operator's certificate. It is operating a single weekly scheduled trip ...
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FAA likely to act on 747 fire-extinguisher alert
The US Federal Aviation Administration is expected to issue an airworthiness directive (AD) calling for inspections of engine fire-extinguishing systems on Boeing 747-400s. It comes after Lufthansa temporarily grounded its fleet following the discovery of a cracked copper hose on an engine. The AD, which was expected to be ...
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Aerospace companies join e-commerce stampede
A rash of e-commerce initiatives have been announced by airframe and avionics manufacturers, airlines and communication specialists, with SITA, Boeing, Honeywell and British Airways identifying Internet-based business opportunities. Aeronautical communication specialist SITA, already active in Internet developments, is extending its diversification strategy into the e-commerce arena with the launch ...
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Embraer aims to step up production
Embraer aims to boost production of its RJ-135/145 after a decision by Continental Express to accelerate acquisition of the regional jet with an order for 100 additional aircraft. The Brazilian company will decide within the next 60 days on whether to ramp up production to 16 aircraft a month. ...
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KLM cuts routes and aircraft in fight to restore profitability
KLM is pruning its long-haul and short-haul route networks and withdrawing, leasing out and redeploying aircraft as it fights to restore profitability. The move will sweep away the 3-4% capacity growth planned for this year's high season, with capacity now remaining static. From 26 March, KLM will stop long-haul ...