Commercial Aviation News

The Comac ARJ21 regional jet project has been delayed again, with the aircraft now due to enter service in April or May 2015, eight years later than scheduled early in the program and 13 years after development began.

From American Airlines a couple minutes ago...Today marks another milestone in our integration with US Airways: The first of many US Airways aircraft to be painted in the American livery.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151863816801078.1073741848.7003656077&type=1

Interesting dialouge between American and a reader of the AA FB page

High winds & storms in the London area today may affect flights at London airports. Latest flight info:

http://www.britishairways.com/rtad/travel/public/en_gb?DM1_Mkt=Global&DM1_Channel=Social&DM1_Campaign=CampaignFlightInfo&DM1_Site=Twitter&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=CampaignFlightInfo&sf1714252=1

BP has applied for a license to market aviation fuel in India as it aims to expand in emerging markets, it said on Wednesday. Consumption of aviation fuel is set to rise in India as the government estimates domestic air traffic to almost triple during this decade as more of the country's 1.25 billion people start flying and airlines connect smaller cities.

Demand for aviation fuel in India, Asia's third biggest economy, could rise by 3.2 percent in the next financial year beginning April, according to Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell in the federal oil ministry. Air BP, a division of BP, supplies about 7 billion gallons of aviation fuels and lubricants to its customers across the globe, according to its website. Air BP has presence in 600 airport in over 45 countries. Jet fuel is sold at market prices in India, unlike diesel, which is sold at state-set lower prices.

It is not clear where BP will source the fuel for sale in India.

Earlier in the day federal oil secretary Vivek Rae said the global energy company could import the fuel or source it from local refiners such as Reliance Industries. BP in 2011 agreed to acquire a 30 percent stake in blocks operated by Reliance Industries for USD$7 billion.

(Reuters)

Undergrads working at American Airlines and their experiences...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4FAIikk9IQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), the largest aircraft leasing firm in the Middle East, has ordered 20 ATR 72-600s with an option for another 20, the company said on Wednesday.

Increased demand leads JetBlue to add bigger jets in Charleston

http://www.postandcourier.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20140221%2FPC05%2F140229874%2F1010%2Fjetblue-to-add-bigger-jets-in-charleston

Qantas cuts 5000 jobs, posts $252 million first half loss

http://m.smh.com.au/business/aviation/qantas-cuts-5000-jobs-posts-252-million-first-half-loss-20140226-33i4c.html

Boeing just delivered their 66th Boeing 747-8… an Intercontinental to Lufthansa_DE.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/theboeingcompany/12840620513/

Senior, a maker of aircraft parts and auto components, said it expects higher demand in 2014, as Airbus and Boeing look to ramp-up production. Airbus said last month that it intends to increase production of A320s - in stride with Boeing's plans for the 737. Senior, which makes hydraulic components, seal assemblies and aircraft wall panels, said it expects an increase market share helped by contracts won by its Thailand operations for parts to be used in the Airbus A350 XWB and the Boeing 787.

However, the company, which gets more than half its revenue from the United States, warned that strengthening of the pound would continue to hurt profit in 2014. The pound has gained 1.5 percent against the dollar this year and is expected to rise further as the British manufacturing sector grows at a fast clip. "I think once it (the result) is digested the stock will recover," N+1 Singer Capital Markets analyst Jon Lienard said.

Senior's adjusted pretax profit rose to GBP£98.1 million (USD$164.4 million) in the year ended December 31 from GBP£91.1 million a year earlier. Revenue increased 6 percent to GBP£775.1 million. The company said 36 percent of its sales came from large commercial aircraft makers.

(Reuters)

British Airways says this today...

Last month we celebrated our 50th A320neo customer – find out more about our orders & deliveries here.

http://www.airbus.com/company/market/orders-deliveries/

FAA Orders 737NG Autothrottle Corrective Mod...

According to Airbus latest market forecast, India needs over 1290 a/c worth US$190 billion in the next 20 years.

France's Thales said it has agreed to buy JetBlue Airways' LiveTV unit for USD$400 million to strengthen its position in the high-growth in-flight entertainment business. The company said it expected to complete the purchase in mid-2014 after gaining regulatory approvals. LiveTV has estimated revenue for 2014 of more than USD$150 million and employs around 450 people, Thales and JetBlue said in a joint statement.

"Passengers increasingly expect broadband internet services at home, at work and on the move," Thales chief executive Jean-Bernard Levy said. "Airlines want to enable their passengers to have access to this connected environment within the aircraft, allowing them to interact with both social media and professional networks while they travel."

(Reuters)

For those who may have bitten the apple, United is expected to offer something a bit more special for those of you flying with them.

http://www.cultofmac.com/269851/united-airlines-provide-free-flight-entertainment-apple-users/

The US FAA on Tuesday ordered an immediate fix for the Boeing 747-8, saying a software problem could cause the plane to lose thrust when close to landing and fly into the ground. The Federal Aviation Administration's so-called airworthiness directive covers Boeing's 747-8 and 747-8F planes with certain General Electric engines, and calls for removing defective software and installing new, improved software.

The rule directly affects seven aircraft in the United States, the FAA said, but if adopted internationally it would affect a larger number. Boeing has delivered 66 to customers since the model was introduced in October 2011. The issue hasn't caused a problem in flight, Boeing said, and marks the fourth such directive affecting the 747-8. Because of the seriousness of the safety issues raised, the directive takes effect on April 9, waiving a usual comment period, though comments can still be submitted, the FAA said.

Boeing said data analysis indicated a potential problem and it advised customers last year to update the software. It said it believed the majority of operators had already done so. The risk of failure was "extremely remote," Boeing said. GE said it owns the software and jointly analysed it with Boeing, but Boeing made the decision to recommend the software change to customers. According to the FAA, the risk arises when a plane is changing back into "air mode" while performing a "rejected or bounced landing." That change halts hydraulic pressure used to stow the engine thrust reversers, which slow the plane on landing, the FAA said. Without hydraulic pressure, the reversers may not stow fully and might redeploy, which "could result in inadequate climb performance at an altitude insufficient for recovery, and consequent uncontrolled flight into terrain," the FAA said.

Unidentified business jet/VIP customers own the eight passenger models of the aircraft in the United States, according to Boeing's website. Air cargo company Atlas Air is the largest US commercial owner of the jet, with a fleet of eight 747-8F freighters. Among passenger carriers, Lufthansa is the largest operator with 11. China's Cathay Pacific has 13 freighters and Cargolux, based in Luxembourg, has nine. Korean Air, Nippon Cargo Airlines and Volga-Dnepr also own 787-8F freighters, according to Boeing.

(Reuters)

Look who crossed the floor! I'm sure TAM Brasil was a member of Star Alliance. Seems they are with One World now...

Lufthansa pilots started a three-day walkout on Wednesday in a dispute over early retirement, effectively grounding Germany's largest airline in one of the biggest strikes to hit the company. Lufthansa has cancelled 3,800 flights during the strike, which runs until the end of Friday, and says the stoppage will cost it tens of millions of euros. The pilots' walkout is the third strike to hit Frankfurt airport, Europe's third-largest by passenger numbers, in six weeks after industrial action by security staff and public sector workers.

With many flights cancelled in advance, Lufthansa passengers mostly stayed away. Lufthansa check-in desks at Frankfurt were being used as 'rebooking' desks, but queues were short and many had already rebooked online. Those passengers at the airport seemed satisfied with the service being offered. Standing in front of the airport's main departure board which mostly showed 'annuliert' or 'cancelled' next to flights, two passengers from Italy were pleased to be on one of the few flights leaving. Lufthansa says it is able to operate around 500 flights over the three days, just over 10 percent of its schedule.

EARLY RETIREMENT

The pilots want Lufthansa to reinstate a scheme that enabled them to receive 60 percent of their pay when they left their jobs before the legal retirement age. Lufthansa pilots used to have to retire at 60, leaving them with a five-year gap before legal retirement provisions kicked in at 65. However, the retirement age for pilots was raised to 65 in Europe in 2011 and so Lufthansa says the scheme is no longer needed. "This is a massive attack on our social rights," Markus Wahl, board member of pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) told reporters at Frankfurt airport. "We have to send out a clear message."

VC represents most of Lufthansa's 5,400 pilots. Analysts estimate the strike could cost the airline EUR€50 million (USD$69 million) in lost profit. Lufthansa made a EUR€313 million net profit last year. "We are prepared but this is not a good day for Lufthansa or our passengers," a Lufthansa spokeswoman said. Brad Doble, managing director of Munich-based branding consultants Lambie-Nairn, said the strike would make passengers think twice about booking with Lufthansa in future. "You can't just cancel over 400,000 people's flights and not think that it's going to affect the brand," he said. "Loyalty in the airline industry is fickle, it's a commoditised industry."

While the pilots' union has promised not to strike over the Easter holidays, which start on April 14 across most of Germany and run until the end of the month, they have not ruled out further action. German transport minister Alexander Dobrindt called on Lufthansa and the union to seek a quick resolution. "Every day of strikes limits the mobility of hundreds of thousands of people," he was quoted as saying by German daily Bild. The strike also affects Lufthansa's cargo arm and its low-cost carrier Germanwings.

(Reuters)