Troubles mount for American Airlines after it cancels more flights over loose seats

Troubles continue to mount for American Airlines, which was forced to cancel 44 flights Friday as it scrambles to fix seats in its Boeing 757s that could pop loose during flight.

The nation's third biggest airline announced that 44 flights are canceled on Friday. Fifty flights were canceled Thursday.

Airline officials said late Thursday that they had come up with a fix for the seats, and they began pulling 48 Boeing 757s out of service to make repairs. All the planes should be back in service by Saturday. 

Officials said a combination of wear, poor design and even soda spilled into the tracks can cause seats to become loose during flight.

The loose seats are one of many problems facing the troubled airline. 

BizJets Helping Spur European Recovery, Study Finds

Business aviation is playing a key role in helping with the economic recovery in Europe, a new study finds, saying that each passenger flown on a business aviation flight generates the same gross domestic product as nine business passengers on a scheduled flight.

The European Business Aviation Association retained Oxford Economics to conduct the study to determine the value of business aviation in Europe. The study finds that contrary to popular belief, business jets and turboprops in Europe are primarily used for business purposes rather than by wealthy individuals. For that reason, the study says, business aviation takes on a different importance than other forms of aviation. But “in policy terms, however, the added value of business aviation flights is often either overlooked in favor of the much larger number of commercial flights or attributed into a broad category alongside all other various forms of general aviation.”

EasyJet founder to launch low-cost airline in Africa

A new budget airline backed by easyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou will soon take to the African skies, promising to bring low-cost flights to millions of people in the continent.

Dubbed Fastjet, the no-frills carrier is expected to launch in three to four months, aiming to cash in on Africa's robust economic growth and a growing appetite for travel by its burgeoning middle class.

The move comes after Haji-Ioannou's easyGroup teamed up earlier this month with pan-African conglomerate Lonrho to create the low-cost carrier. Lonhro, owner of budget airline Fly540, has agreed to sell its aviation business to investment firm Rubicon Diversified Investments, in which easyGroup will hold a 5% stake.

The new business will start operations using Lonrho existing network in Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and Angola, before expanding to more markets in the future.

"These four countries are currently experiencing great GDP growth, along with oil and gas discoveries and developments," says Ed Winter, chief executive of Fastjet.

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STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• EasyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou has joined forces with Lonhro to launch Fastjet
• The low-cost airline will operate from Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and Angola
• Low prices will democratize air travel in Africa, say Fastjet executives
• Challenges include airport infrastructure

Airbus A380: how the airlines compare

Here is the definitive guide to current A380 operators Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Qantas, Air France, Lufthansa, Korean Air, China Southern, Malaysia Airlines and Thai Airways. 

Thai Airways became the ninth carrier to take delivery of the Airbus A380 in September 2012, and has a total of six superjumbos on order, configured for 507 seats with 12 in Royal First Class, 60 in Royal Silk business class, and 435 in economy.

First and business class cabins feature fully-flat beds, and all passengers benefit from AVOD in-flight entertainment systems, individual power sources, and wifi internet and mobile phone access.

Regional airlines must choose whether to align with a major carrier or go it alone

"The regional airline model is broken", has become a commonly repeated refrain.

Sean Menke, president and chief executive of Pinnacle Airlines said it right before the carrier filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy. Comair president Ryan Gumm said it right before Delta Air Lines shut down his regional airline. Helane Becker, analyst at Dahlman Rose, said it while discussing the problems that US regional airlines are facing.

What all of them are saying is that US regional carriers are too dependent on major airlines and relations between them have reached such a crunch that it is doubtful many regionals will survive.

Orders show single-aisle challenge for new entrants

Order books since Airbus and Boeing launched re-engined versions highlight the challens manufacturers face trying to break into the single-aisle aircraft market, writes Clives Lewis.

The choice of manufacturers when buying a new narrowbody jet has gone from two to five in only a few years. Competitive airlines used to be able to choose either Airbus or Boeing, now they can also choose from Russian, Chinese and Canadian offerings, with new-generation engines and promises of improved operating efficiency.

Airbus and Boeing's reaction has been to offer versions of their narrowbody jets with new-generation engines. Although Boeing has other priorities ahead of creating a new narrowbody design, it is perhaps also true that new technologies which deliver enough benefit to justify a new narrowbody from Airbus or Boeing are unlikely to be ready until the latter half of the next decade.

Have their strategies paid off? Looking at order intake, it certainly appears so according to Flightglobal's ACAS database. Prior to the launch of the Bombardier CSeries, Airbus and Boeing each took about 50% of the net order intake for narrowbody jets. After a slow start from launch, in 2009 Bombardier took an 11.5% share of order intake from Boeing and Airbus. When the first orders were placed for the C919 and MS-21 in 2010, the share of new entrants rose to 13.4%.

Airbus fought back with its re-engined A320neo to take 65% of the net orders placed in 2011. Boeing has followed suit with the 737 Max, holding a 71% share so far in 2012.

Berkshire’s NetJets Forms China Venture on Luxury Demand

NetJets Inc., the business-jet operator owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK/A), will form a venture in China as rising wealth and trade spurs demand for luxury flights.

The China operations will be part-owned by investors including Hony Capital and Fung Investments, according to a statement yesterday. NetJets, once Buffett’s “No. 1 worry,” is expanding in China as the country’s growing economy stokes flights by local and overseas customers, the company said.

“The aviation industry is really picking up now in China,” Ernie Edwards, president of Embraer SA’s executive-jet division, said in an interview at a trade show in Shanghai. NetJets agreed in 2010 to buy as many as 125 Phenom 300 business jets from the Brazilian planemaker.

Qantas, China Eastern Plan Cheap Flights for Asia Middle

Qantas Airways teamed with China Eastern Airlines Corp. to form a budget carrier in Hong Kong, the Australian airline’s fourth Asian hub, as it taps faster growing overseas markets.

The two carriers will invest as much as $198 million in equally-owned Jetstar Hong Kong, which will begin flights with three Airbus SAS A320s next year, according to a statement today. The fleet will grow to 18 planes by 2015, it said.

Qantas Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce will challenge Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. in Hong Kong as he targets Asian markets to help turn around unprofitable international operations. The new venture will let the carrier bolster services in Greater China, where annual passenger numbers may double to 800 million by 2020, said Bruce Buchanan, chief executive officer of Qantas’s Jetstar Group.

Easyjet opens new bases in Toulouse and Nice

EasyJet has increased its presence in France with two new bases in the southern cities of Toulouse and Nice, in an attempt to solidify its position as France’s second largest carrier and continue its development towards becoming a pan-European airline.

Easyjet will base an A319 aircraft at each of the French airports later this month, allowing the launch of 12 new routes. This brings the total number of routes served by the carrier from French airports to 170, including eight daily services from Paris to both Toulouse and Nice.

Easyjet already has bases in Paris Orly, Charles De Gaulle and Lyon, contributing to a 12 per cent market share in France.

Business Traveller was on board the inaugural flight from London Luton to Nice on a specially painted plane with an orange map of France emblazoned with the statement ‘La France au coeur’ (France in our heart).

Airlines warn of Olympic chaos at London airports

The heads of four leading airlines have warned the British government there could be chaos at London's airports during this summer's Olympic Games, which would cause major embarrassment to the country unless a deal can be reached over their concerns.

In a blunt letter to transport chiefs, British Airways, bmi, Virgin Atlantic and Easyjet said time was running out to tackle the expected surge in air traffic and its impact.

Failure to address their concerns could bring misery to millions of regular travellers and those coming to London for the world's biggest sporting event, the airlines argue.  

"As the situation currently stands the industry believes that there is a significant risk of severe delay and disruption at all of London's major airports unless urgent action is taken," they wrote in a letter seen by Reuters on Saturday.  

"Time is running out to ensure that any changes to procedures and the appropriate training are in place prior to the Games."  Britain, already the sixth most visited country in the world, anticipates an additional 700,000 international travellers during the Olympics, which begin on July 27.  

Current Aviation Market Outlook 2011 - 2030 (Boeing)

Air travel market recovering

Passenger air traffic rose 8 percent in 2010, after declining about 2 percent in 2009. The persistent resilience of air travel is expected to sustain 6 percent growth in 2011 and keep the growth rate at or above the historical trend through the middle of the decade.

Although volatile fuel costs, political upheaval in the Middle East and North Africa, and unresolved government debt in many industrialized economies create risk of a renewed downturn, commercial aviation has weathered such shocks to the system in the past. Recovery has followed each event as the industry reliably returned to its long-term growth rate of approximately 5 percent per year. We see that same resilience come into play as airlines have skillfully managed capacity to maintain profitability in face of the variety of challenges that have beset the industry as the world economy emerges from the global recession.

Purpose of the forecast

The Current Market Outlook is our long-term forecast of air traffic volumes and airplane demand. Each year's forecast starts from a blank computer screen, so we can factor the current business conditions and developments into our analysis of the long-term drivers of air travel.

The forecast details demand for passenger and freighter airplanes, both for fleet growth and for replacement of airplanes that retire during the forecast period.

We have shared the forecast with the public since 1964 to help airlines, suppliers, and the financial community make informed decisions.

The shape of the market

The long-range forecast for 2011 anticipates delivery of 33,500 new airplanes over the next 20 years, valued at more than $4.0 trillion. Looking back at our forecasts over the past 10 years reveals that our projections for long-term market growth tend to be conservative, compared to actual industry performance.

We have been admirably accurate, however, on the crucial forecast of the market share that each airplane size category will capture. Single-aisle airplanes account for the majority of deliveries over the next 20 years-70 percent of the airplanes and 48 percent of the value. Rapidly expanding air service within China and other emerging economies and the spread of low-cost carrier (LCC) business models throughout the world drive this market segment. The twin-aisle market, which includes efficient long-range airplanes such as the Boeing 787 and 777, is the fastest growing segment of the market, accounting for 22 percent of the delivery units and 43 percent of the delivery dollars. High fuel costs are compelling airlines to accelerate replacement of older airplanes. In addition, the increased capabilities of the latest long-range, twin-aisle airplanes create opportunities for operators to take advantage of the ongoing liberalization of air transport markets to open new nonstop routes.

As air show opens, forecast predicts 20-year demand for 1,330 business jets in India

India is expected to take delivery of 1,330 business jets and 4,000 commercial aircraft in the 20- to 149-seat category over the next 20 years, according to a market forecast by Bombardier Aerospace.

The growing importance of the market is one reason planemakers are heading to India’s biggest international civil aviation air show this week.

The biennial show, India Aviation 2012, will run Wednesday through Friday in Hyderabad.

India’s large land mass, large population and strong economic performance are driving growth in domestic air travel in the country, Bombardier’s market forecast said.

Bombardier will exhibit its Learjet 60XR, built in Wichita; Challenger 300 and Global 500 business jets; and the Q400 turboprop.

Boeing will exhibit its 787 Dreamliner, outfitted in Air India’s livery.

Cessna Aircraft is not participating in the show, said spokeswoman Shanda Carney. Carney did not provide a reason for the decision.

Hawker Beechcraft will showcase its Hawker 4000, Hawker 900XP and King Air C90GTx.

Hawker Beechcraft said that more than 60 percent of all business aircraft, including turboprops and super-midsize business jets, delivered into India in the past decade have been Hawker Beechcraft products. Its turboprop market share is 86 percent, the company said.

“In the segments in which we compete, Hawker Beechcraft is proud of its market share leadership in India,” Dan Keady, Hawker Beechcraft vice president for Asia, Australia and India. “For years, the family of HBC business turboprops and jets has been in-country and proving they are an excellent fit for this region.”

The company has also expanded its service and support capabilities in the region, he said.

Read more here: http://blogs.kansas.com/aviation/2012/03/13/as-air-show-opens-forecast-predicts-20-year-demand-for-1330-business-jets-for-india/#storylink=cpy

Pilots' no-show grounds more Kingfisher flights

Stir against continued non-payment of salaries airline says problem temporary, operations should normalize soon.

Kingfisher Airlines on Monday grounded or merged nearly a fifth of its truncated schedule of 180 flights, because many pilots did not report for duty as protest over non-payment of salaries. Their salaries haven’t been paid for four months and travel bills for two months. An airline release said it operated 145 flights on Monday.  Around 300 of the 510 pilots in the airline did not report for duty and would continue to stay away from work. However, the cancellations did not lead to soaring air fares, as most travel agents have already stopped selling Kingfisher tickets.Air fares had risen 15-20 per cent last week, after Kingfisher was suspended from three payment systems of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), including its billing and settlement plan. The latter is a system designed to facilitate and simplify the selling, reporting and remitting procedures of IATA-accredited passenger sales agents, as well as to improve financial control and cash flow for member-airlines.

More A320s hit the market after Air Australia ceases operations

The collapse of Air Australia last week has left six CFM56-5A3-powered Airbus A320s available for purchase or lease in the market.

Air Australia operated six A320s that that were manufactured between 1991 and 1993. The carrier was also due to receive a new A320 from AerCap in April.

According to Flightglobal's Ascend online database, there are 2,767 A320s currently in service with an estimated 130 aircraft now in storage.

The CFM56-5A powered population accounts for 325 aircraft and 44 of them, or 18%, in storage.

Of the 99 V2500-A1 engine powered fleet, an estimated 24 aircraft are in storage, or 24% of the population.

Another 23 stored A320s have CFM56-5B engines out of a 1,268 aircraft population. There are also 39 V2527-A5-powered aircraft in storage out of a total fleet 1,075 units.

Air Australia is the sixth A320 operator to stop operations since March 2011.

Narrowbodies make mark in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia has become an increasingly lucrative market for narrowbody aircraft, with the growth of low-cost travel and relaxation of regulations helping to drive orders throughout the region - and fuelling fears of overcapacity.

Most of the existing fleet in Southeast Asia consists of widebodies, and several of the legacy airlines have continued to place orders to replace their ageing aircraft and reduce costs. However, narrowbody aircraft will account for the majority of deliveries in the coming years, analysis of Flightglobal's ACAS database reveals. Many of the major carriers in the region already have large backlogs of orders for both Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s, including the re-engined options that became available to order last year. And a handful of orders could be made this year, including one or two at the 2012 Singapore Airshow.

Singapore Air Show...starting!!

Singapore Air Show will start very soon!

Dates: 14-19 February 2012 

Official Site: Singapore Air Show

Asia's Aviation Boom Comes With Rising Competition

While Europe's debt crisis and global economic uncertainty are threatening airline profitability in the West, in Asia airlines are experiencing relatively strong growth.

According to forecasts from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), carriers based in Asia Pacific will make profits of $2.1 billion in 2012. That's 60 percent of the total profits of $3.5 billion predicted for the global airline industry.

But below the surface, there's a growing risk to the health of the region's airline sector from increased competition. Airlines in Asia are adding capacity at such a rapid clip on international routes that industry watchers are growing alarmed.

Airline CEOs will be meeting on the sidelines of the Singapore Airshow this week to discuss the challenges facing the sector.

Airlines urge U.N. deal to avert carbon trade war

A passenger plane flies over a barbed wire fence as it approaches an airport
in this February 23, 2010 file photo. Credit: Reuters/Tim Wimborne

Global airlines called on Sunday for a U.N.-brokered deal to prevent a row over aviation emissions between China and the European Union spilling into a damaging trade war.

The call by the head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) comes amid signs that the EU may be willing to soften a unilateral stance that also risks souring efforts to resolve Europe's sovereign debt crisis with Chinese support.

In an interview, IATA Director General Tony Tyler said airlines had become wedged between conflicting domestic laws after China ordered its airlines not to join the EU's compulsory market-based system for regulating airline emissions.

Airbus reports 2011 aircraft orders and deliveries

 Airbus beat Boeing in 2011, delivering 534 commercial aircraft and booking 1,419 net orders. Most of the orders were for the A320neo (new engine option).


Airbus (Toulouse, France) announced on Jan. 17 that it delivered 534 commercial aircraft to 88 customers (10 new) and booked 1,419 net orders in 2011, making it the most successful year in the company’s history, and the 10th in a row with a production increase.

The 534 deliveries beat the previous record set in 2010 by 24 aircraft. Deliveries include a new record for 421 single-aisle aircraft (401 in 2010), 87 A330 Family (87 in 2010) and 26 A380s (18 in 2010). December was a record month for the A380, with four deliveries in a single month. Airbus Military also delivered a record number of 29 aircraft (20 light and medium military and transport aircraft — C212, CN235 and C295, three P-3 conversion aircraft and 6 A330 MRTTs).

Firmed A320 deals lift Airbus's January orders

Despite expectations of a slower sales year, Airbus nevertheless logged more than 90 orders for January 2012, notably following the firming of tentative agreements by AviancaTaca and Spirit Airlines.

AviancaTaca signed for 51 A320-family jets, including 33 re-engined airframes. The 51 include 27 A319s, 20 A320s and four A321s, meaning that the carrier group will be taking at least some re-engined A319neos or A321neos.

Start-up Tibet Airlines has placed orders for three more A319s, which will give it a total of eight of the type. Air Namibia has also ordered a pair.

US carrier Spirit Airlines firmed its order for 30 baseline A320s on 27 January, having previously signed for 45 A320neos on 29 December last year.