News from FlightGlobal – Page 2231
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News
US political pressure forces El Al to delay Airbus and R-R plans
Arie Egozi/TEL AVIV El Al has firmed up its planned purchase of three Boeing 777s, but its acquisition of up to four Airbus A330s is still in the balance amid a tense row between the airline's management and Israel's minister of transport. The airline is also understood to have ...
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Next-generation datalink held up
Efforts by the US Federal Aviation Administration to develop and deploy the next-generation digital air-to-ground communications system could be delayed by budget cuts, US aviation agency officials have warned. For now, controller pilot datalink communications (CPDLC), a key element of the FAA's "free flight" programme, remains on track despite ...
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Airline approval sought for A3XX
Julian Moxon/PARIS The Airbus Industrie supervisory board has authorised the consortium to carry out a limited "pre-commercial launch" of the 550-seat A3XX to test the market before a full commercial go-ahead in the first half of next year (Flight International, 24-30 November). Airbus declines to reveal the number ...
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Libyan carriers to discuss division of domestic market
Andrew Chuter/TRIPOLI Libyan Arab Airlines will hold talks with Air Jamahiriya next year over a possible division of Libya's domestic market between the two carriers. The Libyan Government lifted operating restrictions on Air Jamahiriya, formerly the Light Air Company, earlier this year, giving it permission to operate domestic ...
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Marketplace
United Parcel Service (UPS) has decided to accelerate the acquisition of its new Airbus A300-600 freighters, with the delivery of seven aircraft next year instead of the four originally planned. The airline holds firm orders for 30 Pratt & Whitney PW4158-powered A300s plus 30 options, with deliveries due between next ...
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Ex-SAA boss launches charter airline from Johannesburg
Hilka Birns/JOHANNESBURG Former South African Airways boss Mike Myburgh has launched a South African charter airline that plans to fly to Israel, Mecca and the Bahamas. SA Non-Scheduled Airlines, which has a South African charter licence, will operate from Johannesburg International Airport with a Boeing 707 and 737, ...
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New PETAL partners will join in 2001
Swissair, Northwest Airlines and Honeywell (formerly AlliedSignal) are to join Europe's Preliminary Eurocontrol Test of Air/Ground Data Link (PETAL II) programme in 2001. PETAL II is Europe's groundbreaking validation of air-ground data links in operational air traffic control. The three-phase programme involves air traffic controllers and aircraft crew communicating ...
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Dash 8 Q400 ready to deliver to SAS after three month delay
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC Bombardier plans to deliver the first Dash 8 Q400 turboprop by the end of the month - up to three months late - following European Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) certification. SAS Commuter will be the first carrier to receive the stretched 66-78-seat version of the ...
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Routes
Ansett International will suspend its thrice-weekly services between Sydney and Taipei from 12 February because of declining yields. The Boeing 767-300ER used on the service will be re-deployed to domestic services. EVA Air will reinstate services between Taipei and Sydney in its own right. Ansett will increase Sydney-Hong Kong services ...
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Finnair focuses on cost reduction target
Finnair is continuing its aggressive programme to reduce costs with a deal to sell a 60% stake in Finnair Gateway Restaurants to Gourmet Nova. The deal follows hard on the heels of the sale of tour operator Fintours, to the Thomson Travel Group, as it offloads non-core activities. Chief ...
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Nigeria continues rebuilding as privatisation looms
Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDON Nigeria Airways has begun the next phase of rebuilding its network as it gears up for partial privatisation in early 2001. The airline has expanded its joint weekly services with British Airways between Lagos and London Heathrow from three to six frequencies, and introduced a dedicated Boeing ...
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Athens hub draws BA interest
Julian Moxon/PARIS British Airways is targeting Olympic Airways as a possible oneworld partner as part of a strategy aimed at developing the new Athens Spata airport as a major regional hub. The UK airline, which, through its consultancy arm Speedwing, has a contract to restructure Olympic in preparation ...
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Airbus closes on Hong Kong sales
Andrzej Jeziorski/SINGAPORE Hong Kong's two passenger airlines are on the verge of placing new aircraft orders as business picks up in the Asian market. Industry sources say Cathay Pacific Airways is close to placing a new order for at least three Rolls-Royce Trent-powered Airbus A330-300s and is looking ...
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Canadian falls to Air Canada
Brian Dunn/MONTREAL Air Canada has gained control of Canadian Airlines, but faces the hurdle of new regulations being enforced by the government and the Parliamentary transport committee. Montreal-based Air Canada said on 8 December that more than 50% of Canadian's shares have been tendered under its C$92 million ($62.5 ...
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Five crew killed as Ilyushin Il-114T crashes at Moscow
An Ilyushin Il-114T twin-turboprop freighter crashed on take-off at Moscow Domodedovo Airport on 4 December, killing five of the seven crew and seriously injuring the other two. The aircraft, UK91004, banked suddenly from an altitude of 80-100ft (24-30m) immediately after take-off, hit the concrete fence surrounding the airfield and ...
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Qantas discusses BA 767 lease
Paul Phelan/CAIRNS Qantas is finalising a deal to take up to seven surplus Boeing 767-300ERs from its oneworld partner and shareholder British Airways, to help it boost capacity ahead of next year's Sydney Olympics. The airline is also moving to counter a successful initiative by competitor Air New Zealand ...
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Continental lowers sights on capacity growth plans
Continental Airlines is to rein in capacity growth next year, to 4.6% from the planned 6% through the early disposal of six of its 31 McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 widebodies. Chairman and chief executive Gordon Bethune says the move, in line with industry trends, will help the airline and its Continental ...
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Marketplace
Manx/British Regional Airlines is to boost its BAe 146 fleet to four aircraft with the acquisition of an ex-Ansett Australia 146-300. The aircraft will enter service next March in time for the summer schedules. Pegasus Aviation has acquired a Boeing MD-83, which is currently on lease to German charter operator, ...
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Virgin fires starting gun for Australian no-frills market
Paul Phelan/CAIRNS Virgin Group owner Richard Branson unveiled plans in Sydney at the end of November for a low-cost Australian domestic airline in the style of Europe's Virgin Express. Branson says he hopes to have his new no-frills airline, provisionally titled Virgin Australia, fully operational well before the ...
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Asia Pacific's carriers rally
Andrzej Jeziorski/TOKYO Asia's airline industry has staged a convincing recovery from the downturn which shook the sector following the region's 1997 financial crash. The Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines (AAPA)reveals that most of its member carriers have exhibited 11 months of growth. Asia Pacific is enjoying a resurgence of traffic, ...