All air transport news – Page 2402
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Thai/Garuda firm up fleet plans as Qantas eyes up Asian 747s
Paul Lewis/SINGAPORE Paul Phelan/CAIRNSThai Airways International has been given approval to take delivery of 17 new aircraft over the next three years, despite Thailand's economic difficulties. Financial problems elsewhere are forcing Garuda Indonesia to seek an early return of six leased Boeing MD-11s, while Qantas is seeking to acquire surplus ...
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TWA offers stay of execution for MD-80 production line
Trans World Airlines is negotiating with Boeing for up to 24 new MD-83s, which could keep the endangered Long Beach production line open until 2000. The line was scheduled to shut down in mid-1999 with the delivery of the last MD-83 to TWA. All eight of the current backlog ...
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Sabbath flights issue is high on El Al privatisation agenda
Arie Egozi/TEL AVIV As the Israeli Government attempts again to thrash out agreement on privatising national carrier El Al, the thorny political issue of whether to end its costly ban on Sabbath flights remains high on the agenda. A decision on the long delayed privatisation was due to take ...
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High fidelity pays off
Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC Simulator manufacturers have started 1998 as they ended 1997 - busy. As expected, orders for commercial flight simulators are tracking closely the recent surge in airliner sales. At least 45 full flight simulators were sold last year, short of the last peak of 55 in 1989, but ...
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Europe and USA on course to clash over FANS datalink
Kieran Daly/LONDON Europe and the USA are once again set for a clash of wills over a key component of the technology to be used in the satellite based Future Air Navigation System (FANS). At an International Civil Aviation Association (ICAO) panel meeting starting this week, European interests ...
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Japanese aircrew strike grinds into its second week
The strike by pilots and flight engineers over salary cuts at All Nippon Airways (ANA)is moving into its second week with no sign of an end to what is an almost unprecedented level of industrial action for Japan. By 17 April, the twelfth day, the number of cancelled international flights ...
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JAT signs deal for eight A319s
Andrzej Jeziorski/MUNICH JAT Yugoslav Airlines has signed a preliminary agreement for eight Airbus A319s in anticipation of the end of trade embargoes with the rump of Yugoslavia. JATsays that contracts will be signed only when the embargoes are lifted, but anticipates delivery of the first two aircraft in ...
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New UK oceanic ATC centre faces major delays
Ian Sheppard/LONDON THE UK National Air Traffic Services (NATS) faces another embarrassing delay in upgrading its ageing infrastructure, with warnings that it will have to extend the deadline on completing a new oceanic air traffic control centre within only months of work starting. Design work on the centre, ...
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Virgin group and Sabre Airways discuss link-up at Gatwick
Speculation is growing that the Virgin group is close to a deal with UK charter carrier Sabre Airways to form the basis of Virgin Sun, a new European holiday airline venture. Details of the new airline, being set up by Virgin Holidays, are expected to be unveiled at the ...
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Vulcan Air resurrects Partenavia P.68 line
Italian Aircraft manufacturer Air Samanta is to start a new general aviation production line following its acquisition of Aerocosmos, which holds the type certificate for the twin-engined Partenavia P.68/P.68TC. The acquisition, priced at L1.4 billion ($780,000), also includes the former production plant in Milan and aircraft spares. Vulcan, which ...
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Delayed UK en route centre is set for clearance
David Learmount/LONDON Lockheed Martin is expected to gain clearance this week to hand over operating software for the UK's long-delayed new en route air traffic control centre (NERC) at Swanwick, near Southampton. This would enable a speedy contract completion for the Scottish Air Traffic Control Centre (SCATCC), says ...
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LTU drops long range services for winter season
LTU is planning to drop some of its long range services to the USA and Asia during its next winter season because of a fall-off in loads. The German charter airline says it will stop operating to Los Angeles, Denver and Phoenix, as well as Bangkok, although this service ...
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Flight Dynamics confirms ERJ-145
Flight Dynamics has formally announced its selection by Embraer as sole source supplier of head-up-displays for the ERJ-145 regional jet after a long running technical selection battle with GEC-Marconi and Sextant Avionique. The announcement follows the earlier selection of the Flight Dynamics head-up guidance (HGS) system by Luxembourg-based Luxair. ...
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Qantas lines up Asian 747s to counter -400IGW launch delay
Paul Lewis/SINGAPORE The Qantas board is to decide shortly on a deal to purchase three surplus 747-400s from Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and Asiana, in lieu of Boeing's failure so far to give a firm commitment to launch development of an increased growth weight (IGW) version of the aircraft. ...
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Embraer converts RJ-145 to -135 prototype
The prototype ERJ-135 is being created by the conversion of an ERJ-145 Embraer has begun modification of an RJ-145 prototype at its Sao Jose dos Campos plant to create the first ERJ-135 37-seater. The first ERJ-145 prototype (PT-ZJA), which originally launched flight testing of the regional ...
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KLM Boosts 737-800s
KLM has doubled its Boeing 737-800 order to eight. The airline, which has also taken four options, will receive its first -800 in February 1999. Source: Flight International
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Air Niugini nears collapse after Qantas is ignored
Papua New Guinea (PNG) flag carrier Air Niugini continues to edge closer to complete collapse, with the Government apparently setting aside salvage proposals put forward by Qantas. The airline was temporarily rescued from insolvency on 13 March when PNG Prime Minister Bill Skate compelled the country's main bank, PNGBC, ...
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Air New Zealand adds first 737-300
Air New Zealand has introduced the first of three Boeing 737-300s acquired on operating lease, mainly for trans-Tasman services from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The first aircraft, leased from GE Capital Aviation Services, began flights at the end of March. It is painted in a "millennium" scheme, incorporating the colours ...
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SIA wants more time to study 777-200X long haul proposal
Paul Lewis/SINGAPORE Singapore Airlines (SIA) has again postponed a decision on purchase of a new ultra long haul aircraft. The airline wants more time to evaluate a Pratt & Whitney PW4000-powered Boeing 777-200X engine/airframe proposal. US carrier Tower Air, meanwhile, looks likely to be the next airline to ...
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Overnight parcel carriers face noisy opposition
Herman De Wulf/Brussels Express parcel carriers, which fly the bulk of their operations at night, are facing growing opposition in Europe on environmental grounds. The latest development is the rejection by a Bavarian court of an appeal by DHL International against a ban on night operations at Nuremberg Airport, which ...