Fleets – Page 909

  • News

    Boeing prepares 767-400ER for ambitious flight test effort

    1999-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Guy Norris/SEATTLE Boeing is preparing for a hectic, seven-month test effort for the stretched 767-400ER, which was rolled out from the company's Everett site in Washington on 26 August. The first aircraft, due to make its maiden flight in early October, will fly most of the 850h flight ...

  • News

    Future unclear as MD-90 TrunkLiner is almost ready to fly

    1999-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Andrzej Jeziorski/SINGAPORE The first of only two Boeing MD-90-30Ts that will be built under licence in China is nearing completion, but doubts hang over the future of the aircraft and its factory. According to Boeing, flight testing of the first aircraft will start soon, with delivery to Shenzhen ...

  • News

    Pembroke plans to increase 717 orderbook

    1999-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Andrew Doyle/MUNICH Irish lessor Pembroke Capital is negotiating a large follow-on order for Boeing 717s and hopes to conclude a deal by the end of next month. Boeing has failed to secure an order for the regional twinjet this year. Pembroke chief executive Shane Cooke says his company ...

  • News

    Star partners unite to repel oneworld bid for Air Canada

    1999-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Brian Dunn/MONTREAL Chris Jasper/LONDON Air Canada and its Star Alliance partners are gathering their forces in a bid to fight off an attempted takeover of the flag-carrier masterminded by rival oneworld leader American Airlines, acting in tandem with the Toronto-based Onex conglomerate, owner of caterer Sky Chefs. The Onex/American ...

  • News

    Reflectone aims for closer Airbus link

    1999-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Reflectone has completed delivery of four Airbus A320 full flight simulators, and is discussing a possible closer alliance with the European consortium. Three of the Level D-standard devices have been installed in the new Airbus Training Centre in Miami Springs, Florida, where they will be used to provide flight and ...

  • News

    LanChile completes A340 order to update fleet

    1999-09-01T00:00:00Z

    LanChile has finalised its long-expected order for up to 14 Airbus A340-300s as the Chilean flag carrier prepares to update its long-haul fleet. The deal, revealed exclusively by Flight International in June, is worth almost $2 billion and is understood to include the option to upgrade to larger A340-600s (Flight ...

  • News

    Boeing-GE 777X deal sparks EC probe into exclusivity

    1999-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Chris Jasper/LONDON The European Commission (EC) is poised to launch an investigation into airframe-engine exclusivity deals following the sole supplier agreement between Boeing and General Electric on the Seattle giant's planned ultra-long-range 777X. Outgoing EC competition chief Karel Van Miert ordered that a file be opened on exclusivity deals ...

  • News

    PAL enters cargo venture talks with Lufthansa

    1999-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Andrzej Jeziorski/SINGAPORE Struggling Philippine Airlines (PAL) is talking to Lufthansa about a joint cargo service between Manila and Frankfurt, which could mark PAL's return to Europe after a year away. According to PAL, the proposed block space agreement will come into effect on 1 November, with PAL buying ...

  • News

    Air China takes its first 737-800

    1999-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Air China has received the first of 11 Boeing 737-800s it has on order. The Chinese flag carrier will operate it on regional services alongside its 19 737-300s. Beijing-based Air China is a major Boeing customer, operating more than 50 examples, including 737s, 747s, 767s and 777s. Hainan Airlines was ...

  • News

    Marketplace

    1999-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Korean Air has taken delivery of the first two of six Pratt & Whitney PW4098-powered Boeing 777-300s it has on order. Two more -300s are due next year, and the final two in 2001 and 2002. The deliveries are about 12 months later than originally scheduled, partly due to a ...

  • News

    Regional aid ruled illegal

    1999-09-01T00:00:00Z

    The long and bitter dispute between Brazil and Canada over government subsidies for regional jet sales has been settled by the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which has upheld earlier rulings that such activities are illegal. An appeal panel's investigation found that original WTO rulings were correct and ordered that ...

  • News

    Union blues

    1999-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Jane Levere NEW YORK For all the talk of change in the airline industry, contentious pilot-management relations seem to many to be set in stone. Industry observers believe two imminent contract negotiations - at Delta and United - will set the benchmarks for labour relations generally. When the ...

  • News

    CAL goes on spending spree

    1999-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Nicholas Ionides ATI SINGAPORE Taiwan's China Airlines (CAL) has finalised a long-awaited fleet renewal plan with $5.6 billion worth of orders for up to 36 aircraft from Airbus Industrie and Boeing. The split order, the largest in the history of Taiwanese civil aviation, covers firm orders for 13 Boeing ...

  • News

    Philippines toughs out 'protectionist' attack

    1999-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Nicholas Ionides ATI SINGAPORE The Philippine Government has come under attack for growing protectionism in its air services policy, but mounting criticism appears only to have toughened its stance. Accusations of protectionism were lodged by Taiwan in July when its national carrier, China Airlines (CAL), was hit with a 30-day ...

  • News

    United offers more business legroom

    1999-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Jane Levere NEW YORK Battling, like every other carrier, for the higher-yield market, United Airlines is installing improved seating at the back of the cabin in its domestic fleet in order to reward its most frequent or full-fare economy passengers. The carrier is reconfiguring the first six to 11 rows ...

  • News

    Brazilians refute merger speculation

    1999-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Brian Homewood RIO DE JANEIRO Brazil's four major airlines have described reports that they are considering merging into two as "mere speculation". But the Brazilian airline industry remains awash with rumours that Varig, Vasp, Transbrasil and Tam could join forces. Varig says that company president Fernando Pinto, who went on ...

  • News

    AA/BA antitrust crumbles

    1999-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Karen walker WASHINGTON DC If American Airlines and British Airways gambled that their application for an antitrust immunised alliance would not be refused in the wake of other high-profile immunities, then it has proved a bad bet. Two-and-a-half years later, those alliance hopes have been dashed by the US ...

  • News

    Passenger seat restraint

    1999-09-01T00:00:00Z

    Kevin O'Toole Continuing fall-out from Asia's economic crisis reverberated around markets last year as is clear from the latest passenger airline rankings. But it is concerns over falling yields rather than traffic that are now taking centre stage. Last year posed something of a test of resolve for airline ...

  • News

    US Airways Express seeks up to 400 small regional jets

    1999-08-25T00:00:00Z

    Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC US Airways Express has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for up to 100 small regional jets and options for up to 300 larger aircraft for its subsidiary and affiliate regional operators. The RFP specifies a firm requirement for an initial 100 regional jets seating ...

  • News

    Bombardier searches for BRJ-X engine and steps up CRJ output

    1999-08-25T00:00:00Z

    Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC Bombardier has formally initiated the competition to power the planned BRJ-X regional aircraft family with the release of a request for proposals (RFP). It will also increase production of the Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) Series 200 after another order from Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA). Montreal-based ...