News from FlightGlobal – Page 2165
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News
Next Generation 737 cleared for 180min ETOPS
The US Federal Aviation Administration has cleared the Next Generation Boeing 737 for 180min extended range twin operations (ETOPS) and is thought to be close to approving a 207min extension for the 777. The extension from 120min to 180min is expected to benefit at least four operators by the ...
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Marketplace
Air Maldives is to acquire three secondhand Airbus A310-300s on three-year leases from Airbus. The first aircraft, an ex-Air Jamaica, Pratt & Whitney PW4000-powered example, will be delivered on 15 October, with others due for delivery at one-month intervals. Schreiner Airways has taken delivery of two ATR 72s on lease ...
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Airbus' A3XX economics target 'unachievable', says Boeing
Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDON Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC Boeing has dismissed Airbus Industrie's 15-20% cost saving target for the A3XX over the 747-400 as unachievable. The European consortium claims to be ahead of the targets, as its US rival focuses on cheaper 747-based growth derivatives rather than an all-new design to meet its ...
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IAI conducts final EROS tests
Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) is conducting the final tests on its first earth resources observation satellite (EROS), which is scheduled for launch at the end of this year. The EROS programme, which also involves US company CST and Israel's Elop, is designed to allow the imaging of every point ...
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Workshop
Norwegian low cost airline Color Air has signed a five-year engine support contract for its three Boeing 737-300s with Shannon Engine Support in Ireland. The deal for work on the CFM56s will be extended to cover five aircraft when the airline increases its fleet size next April. GE Engine Services ...
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Aerolineas Argentinas prepares to order new narrowbody fleet
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC Aerolineas Argentinas expects to decide within the next year on acquiring a new standardised fleet of 40 or more narrowbody jets. The airline is currently leasing additional 737-200s. "We have had initial discussions with both Airbus and Boeing and we're analysing right now our fleet requirements for ...
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Air France to let the train take more of the strain
Air France and French train operator SNCF are strengthening their co-operation agreement linking the airline's services to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) with SNCF's TGV high-speed train network. The move reflects increasing interest in "plane-train" co-operation in Europe as major airlines concentrate on developing international alliances and higher yield ...
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Routes
Virgin Express will begin serving Berlin Schönefeld from Brussels, London (Stansted and Gatwick) and Rome from November. US Airways will add services between Manchester in the UK and Philadelphia next May. The airline also plans to add daily non-stop flights from its Charlotte hub to Paris and Frankfurt. Swissair has ...
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AirTran pins hopes of return to profit on introduction of 717
Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES AirTran Airways is poised to introduce the first of up to 100 117-seat Boeing 717s to support its efforts to become profitable this year for the first time since 1995, says chairman and chief executive Joe Leonard. The arrival of the 717 "will be ...
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Boeing seeks to overturn China Eastern A340-500/600 deal
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC Boeing is attempting to overturn a decision by China Eastern Airlines (CEA) to acquire Airbus A340-500/600s. It is proposing a deal similar to the controversial agreement the US company sealed with Singapore Airlines earlier this year, which will take the carrier's A340s in return for ...
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Volga-Dnepr ponders new strategies
Chris Jasper/SHANNONOutsize cargo specialist Volga-Dnepr plans to launch scheduled freight services as part of a major expansion of its operations. The Russian carrier, which offers cargo charters with its Antonov An-124-100 freighters marketed through the UK's HeavyLift Cargo Airlines, may take four Ilyushin Il-96Ts freighters to launch the service, but ...
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Air Foyle ponders new strategies
Emma Kelly/LONDON UK freight specialist Air Foyle is evaluating 100-seat aircraft for the expansion of a passenger activities, following the loss of a TNT cargo contract next summer. The company is also finalising the re-organisation of Ireland's CityJet, in which it recently purchased a controlling stake. Air Foyle ...
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S Africa's Nationwide poised to launch international expansion
Doug Birch/LONDON South African regional Nationwide is preparing to launch crossborder services, with an expansion of its network into neighbouring Namibia and Zimbabwe. Nationwide managing director Vernon Bricknell says that the airline aims to introduce services to Windhoek, Namibia and Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, with Livingstone and Ndola in Zambia following ...
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Four form joint union
Cabin crew unions from the Netherlands and Italy have formed a new joint organisation in the wake of the KLM/Alitalia strategic alliance. The Wings Cabin Crew Union (WCCU) ties together VNC of the Netherlands and Italy's SULTA, ANPAV and UGL, with the Dutch union claiming the four represent the ...
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Canadian regionals lukewarm on merger
Canada's regional airlines are showing little enthusiasm for the expansion opportunities likely to accompany a merger of Canadian Airlines and Air Canada. Ottawa's hopes of retaining a competitive airline industry after a merger could hinge on the expansion of services by regional and charter carriers, which could take over ...
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SAA's Sun Air bid is rejected
Pretoria has vetoed South African Airways' (SAA) planned take-over and closure of Sun Air after refusing to write off R20 million ($3.3 million) owed by the defunct regional. The UK's Virgin Atlantic Airways is touted as a possible alternative investor. The South African Government says the proposed sale of ...
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Woomera boost
Spacelift Australia has reached agreement with STC Complex-MIHT, a Russian organisation commercialising the nation's space assets, to provide launches of boosters based on SS-25 ballistic missiles, from the Woomera rocket range in south Australia. Demonstration flights are expected by the end of 2000. Source: Flight International
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Traffic figures stall Indian Airlines plans
State-owned Indian Airlines has shelved plans to lease four new Airbus A320s for domestic routes, because of worse-than-expected traffic figures. The carrier began its search in April for International Aero Engines V2500-powered aircraft to dry lease for three years from October. But traffic growth up to next March looks ...
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BAe to relaunch regional jet family with update of RJ85
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC British Aerospace expects to launch development of the re-engined Avro RJ-X programme with the RJ-85 as a result of stronger market interest in the smallest version of the regional jet family. Two unbuilt RJ airframes have been allocated to the development programme, aircraft serial numbers ...
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SA Airlink rethinks Swazi operation
Operations BY Airlink Swaziland, the new venture between SA Airlink and the Swazi Government, may have to be reconsidered, says SA Airlink chief executive Rodger Foster. "The five-week-old operation has been fraught with political resistance from groups in Swaziland who want the government to operate the service," he says. ...