All Ops & safety articles – Page 1352
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News
Led to extinction?
Rigas Doganis, Olympic Airways' former chairman, draws on his own experiences to give a unique insight into the problems faced by Europe's state-controlled flag carriers. Unless politicians grasp the nettle and stop interfering in the management of those struggling airlines, their days are numbered . Within three few weeks in ...
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Pinch is on down under
Air New Zealand must be pondering the real value of its imminent stake in Australia's Ansett after the Melbourne-based carrier plunged into the red in the second half. The New Zealand flag carrier has disclosed it will pay TNT A$325 million (US$260 million) for its 50 per cent ...
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Data
Jet fuel spot prices continued to rise during August, spurred on by concerns over developments in Iraq. The US majors' July growth in revenue passenger km was held back by lacklustre international growth. Domestic traffic rose by 8.6% with a 3.5 point improvement in load factors, which ...
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FAA may hike startup cost
These are expensive times for startup carriers in the US. The Federal Aviation Administration has added to existing financial concerns, created by the drying up of capital and public mistrust, with proposals that would raise the cost of government scrutiny. The FAA remains stung by criticism of its ...
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Control is key to future success
Running an airline is becoming yet more complicated. Can managers manage? What will be the biggest managerial challenge faced by airline chiefs in years to come? There are many candidates: marketing in a deregulated environment; cost cutting; attracting new business; finding new markets; alliances; managing union relationships. But the biggest ...
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Garuda close to divorce
Both Garuda Indonesia and Merpati Nusantara Airlines hope to benefit from their separation, which now awaits final approval from Indonesia's President Suharto. Pushed together by government edict 18 years ago, the two carriers have apparently agreed on the terms of a divorce, allowing Merpati to regain its independence by the ...
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China set for double sale
The long-awaited equity issues by China Southern and China Eastern appear to be finally moving closer following positive signals from the CAAC. Meanwhile foreign investors may purchase stakes in a Chinese regional airline and airport. Shen Yuankang, the CAAC's vice minister for general administration, says China Eastern shares ...
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Cartel study may spread
Lufthansa faces a serious challenge to its remaining domestic monopoly routes as German antitrust regulators threaten to widen their investigation into the carrier's pricing practices. The move comes as management attempts to secure further cost savings in a new pay round with unions. Lufthansa already faces sanctions from ...
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Capital cost of noise gag
The UK government has angered longhaul operators by imposing stringent noise limits at all three London airports, which will severely discriminate against B747 operators, including Stage 3 B747-400s. The limits imposed by the UK Department of Transport will reduce noise levels out of Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted by ...
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Balkan banks on cash crop
Balkan Bulgarian Airlines is seeking to bolster its unprofitable operations by exchanging part of its western fleet for new aircraft in an attempt to source cash from financiers and lessors. The airline has had preliminary discussion with financiers and lessors about acquiring up to six B737s to add ...
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Keeping up appearances
British Airways is using the power of its brand to spread its name and services around the world via franchise agreements. As other European carriers tentatively follow suit, Lois Jones explores the benefits and pitfalls involved. As equity investments begin to lose their shine, franchising is gaining appeal as ...
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Afcac calls for ATC unity
A series of near misses over central African airspace has prompted the African Civil Aviation Commission (Afcac) to renew its drive for a single agency to coordinate air traffic control operations in all 53 African states. The move follows a warning from the South African pilots' organisation that ...
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Virgin to stir price action?
Virgin Express' unofficial complaint of predatory pricing by SAS has added to the pressure on the European Commission to take action in this area with three cases from small carriers pending. Virgin is basing its allegations on SAS' decision to cut fares on Copenhagen-Brussels by 52 per cent ...
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AA rebuff on code swap
American Airlines has seen its first attempt to test the boundaries of last year's US-Canada open skies agreement rebuffed by authorities on both sides of the border. American had applied to transfer Northwest's spare Detroit-Vancouver frequencies to Chicago, with the service to be operated by its alliance partner ...
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China set to push MD-90?
Airlines and aircraft manufacturers are holding their collective breath while they wait for the Civil Aviation Administration of China to release its five year plan, as signs emerge of internal opposition to further orders for Boeing aircraft in an attempt to boost sales of Chinese-built MD-90s. The plan, ...
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IATA
The safety committee of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has appointed Lufthansa Capt Thomas Baberg as its new chairman. Baberg, deputy chairman since 1994, takes over from Finnair's Seppo Kirjonen. Baberg, a Boeing 747-400 pilot, is responsible for flight safety within the Lufthansa group and manages and monitors the ...
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Tibet test
McDonnell Douglas (MDC) has successfully demonstrated a series of simulated engine-out tests on an MD-11 for China Southwest Airlines at Lhasa, in Tibet, which is 11,600ft (3,540m ) above sea level. The demonstration began with a high-altitude test in the cruise at 35,400ft when the number three engine was throttled ...
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GEC-Marconi leaves IFE market
GEC-MARCONI InFlight Systems (GMIS) is to leave the in-flight entertainment (IFE) market when its existing contractual commitments have been fulfilled. The company has also experienced problems attempting to get equipment into service. Potential purchasers for the proprietary technology are being sought, but despite industry rumours, GMIS says ...
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FlightSafety International sets up joint helicopter training-centre with Petroleum Helicopters
FLIGHTSAFETY International (FSI) has teamed with Petroleum Helicopters (PHI) to establish a helicopter training-centre at Lafayette, Louisiana. FSI has agreed to relocate its helicopter training-centre from Alliance Airport in Fort Worth, Texas, to PHI's headquarters at Lafayette Louisiana Regional Airport. The two companies agreed to collaborate on helicopter training in ...
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Earning its upkeep
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDON THE BOEING 777 WAS launched into revenue operations on 7 June, 1995, with United Airlines, when the US airline began to operate its first Pratt & Whitney PW4000-powered aircraft between London Heathrow and Washington DC. For several months United was the sole 777 ...