Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Miscellaneous airline bits & bobs

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Miscellaneous airline bits & bobs

    As per 20AUG11 GDS inventory and seat map display, Cathay Pacific starting March 2012 is introducing 3rd version of Boeing 777-300ER configuration. The 340-seater, dubbed as “77G”, features Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy Class. First Class service is not offered.



    http://airlineroute.net/2011/08/20/cx-77g-mar12/
    Last edited by Lobster; 13 November 2011, 09:20 AM. Reason: To bring into line with SQT ToS

  • #2
    Lao Airlines orders two A320s

    Lao Airlines has inked a deal for two Airbus A320 aircraft, making them the first passenger jets to join their fleet.

    The aircraft, which will be powered by CFM International CFM56 engines, will be operated by Laos' national carrier on routes linking the capital Vientiane to Southeast Asian destinations such as Bangkok and Singapore, said Airbus.



    http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...two-a320s.html
    Last edited by Lobster; 13 November 2011, 09:20 AM.

    Comment


    • #3
      Cathay Pacific Launches New HKG-ORD Service

      Cathay Pacific has begun daily nonstop flights between Hong Kong and Chicago. The new service is handled by a 777-300ER aircraft featuring six First Class suites, 53 Business Class seats that convert to fully flat beds and seating for 238 Economy Class passengers with personal entertainment systems.

      The new Chicago route is the latest Cathay Pacific North American service, which also includes nonstops to Hong Kong from Los Angeles, New York JFK, San Francisco, Toronto and Vancouver.

      http://www.businesstraveller.com/new...kg-ord-service

      Comment


      • #4
        Qantas commences revamp of B747-400 aircraft

        Qantas has kicked-off the revamp of the first of nine Boeing B747-400 aircraft, which will be given an Airbus A380 makeover fitted with enhanced inflight entertainment systems and A380 style seats.

        The retrofitted aircraft will be reconfigured to feature a total of 364 seats, with 58 in business class, 36 in premium economy and 270 in economy. Panasonic AVOD IFE systems will also be fitted onto the plane as well as a self-service snack bar in the economy class cabin.


        http://www.businesstraveller.com/asi...7-400-aircraft
        Last edited by Lobster; 13 November 2011, 09:21 AM.

        Comment


        • #5
          Cathay Pacific will remain with oneworld

          Cathay Pacific Airways (CX) has put to rest rumours about contemplating a jump from oneworld alliance to Star Alliance.

          A CX spokesperson emphatically stated: “Cathay Pacific is a founding member of oneworld and we are committed to the development and growth of the alliance.”


          http://www.businesstraveller.com/asi...-with-oneworld
          Last edited by Lobster; 13 November 2011, 09:21 AM.

          Comment


          • #6
            Emirates chief hits out over A350-1000 revamp

            Emirates president Tim Clark has reacted angrily to Airbus's plan to revamp the A350-1000.

            The airframer revealed a revised specification for its largest A350 variant at the Paris air show, which will result in a two-year delay.

            It centres on a modified, more powerful variant of the Trent XWB engine, along with increased weights.

            The move sparked an angry response from A350-1000 launch customer Qatar Airways, with chief executive Akbar Al Baker expressing his displeasure during the show.

            While Airbus's official line was the revisions had been introduced to boost payload and range, *industry sources have speculated there may also have been a need to address weight or performance issues that had emerged with the original design.

            Clark said the revisions were implemented without any dialogue: "If they had talked to me, I would have said: '[The improvement is] not good enough'," he added.

            Although Emirates has only 20 A350-1000s on order, it had been considering switching its 50 -900 orders to the -1000. However, this is unlikely following the revisions.

            "On paper, the old -1000 was hugely economical - it was a 777-300 classic replacement," Clark said. "That's why I talked about *converting my -900 orders." He added the decision to revamp the A350-1000's engine by incorporating a new core has had an impact on commonality. "I had 70 aircraft with the same engine. I don't have that any more," he said.

            http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...00-revamp.html
            Last edited by Lobster; 13 November 2011, 09:24 AM.

            Comment


            • #7
              Jetstar Asia seeking to launch Kunming service

              Jetstar Asia executive director Chan Choy Kee met with Kunming Airport on 07-Sep-2011 to discuss the possibility of the carrier launching direct services to the city, according to China Civil Aviation Online. According to Innovata data, China Eastern Airlines and SilkAir currently operate on the sector.


              http://www.centreforaviation.com/new...service-119465
              Last edited by Lobster; 13 November 2011, 09:24 AM.

              Comment


              • #8
                Tiger Airways passenger numbers down in Aug-2011, load factor down 10 ppts

                Tiger Airways reports (09-Sep-2011) the following traffic highlights in Aug-2011:
                • Passenger numbers: 344,000, -22% year-on-year;
                • Passenger load factor: 76%, -10 ppts.


                http://www.centreforaviation.com/new...10-ppts-119401
                Last edited by Lobster; 13 November 2011, 09:25 AM.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Cathay “satisfied” with 747-8F, sticks to October delivery target

                  Cathay Pacific Airways says that it is "satisfied" with the Boeing 747-8 freighters and remains on track to take delivery of its first aircraft in October.

                  Cargolux, the launch customer for the 747-8F, rejected the first two aircraft that had been due for delivery on 19 and 21 September, citing "unresolved contractual issues" with Boeing.

                  "Cathay Pacific's commercial arrangements with all its suppliers, including Boeing, are confidential. However, we are satisfied that our commercial arrangements with Boeing take account of the known and disclosed specification and performance characteristics of the aircraft," said Hong Kong's flag carrier in a statement.

                  The airline added that it is on track to receive the first of 10 747-8Fs that it has ordered.

                  "The news mentioned will not affect Cathay Pacific's own deliveries. We expect to take delivery of our first 747-8F in October this year," said the Oneworld alliance member.

                  Negotiations between Boeing, engine supplier GE Aviation, Cargolux and 35% stakeholder Qatar Airways centre on the freighter's performance targets.

                  However, sources say that the issue also appears to be the compensation to Qatar from Boeing for the delays to its Boeing 787s.

                  Boeing has acknowledged the gap in the 747's performance, saying that the first aircraft would be "somewhat short of initial specifications for fuel burn". However, these are believed to have been known to customers for more than a year.

                  Cargolux, which has 13 747-8Fs on order, said that it has put on hold the financing for the freighters and is prepared to seek alternatives should the negotiations fail.

                  "In the event that the issues cannot be resolved in a timely manner, Cargolux will source alternative capacity to fully meet customer demand and expectations ahead of the traditional high season," said the airline.

                  Cargolux has assembled a new board of directors following the recently completed acquisition by Qatar Airways of a 35% shareholding in the Luxembourg-based freight specialist.

                  http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...-delivery.html

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Emirates’ Clark sees “great opportunities” after Arab Spring

                    Emirates Airline boss Tim Clark is convinced that the changes brought about by the Arab Spring across North Africa and the Middle East this year will ultimately lead to a better situation for the countries involved, and provide opportunities for airline growth.



                    http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...fter-arab.html
                    Last edited by Lobster; 13 November 2011, 09:58 AM.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Report lays bare Air India woes

                      In early September, an Indian newspaper reported that Air India's management was considering hiring a younger batch of female crew, and changing their uniform from the sari to something more "modern". The aim, according to the report, was to "refresh" the airline's image and increase service standards, thereby attracting more passengers and increasing revenues.

                      If only the solution to the Indian flag carrier's problems were so simple.

                      At the start of August, Star Alliance suspended Air India's membership efforts, citing the airline's challenges in returning to profitability and restructuring its operations. Industry sources say, privately, that there is a realisation the airline is unlikely to join Star Alliance and talks have begun with India's largest domestic *carrier, Jet Airways.

                      Twelve days later, India's civil aviation ministry replaced airline chairman and managing director Arvind Jadhav with another career civil servant, Rohit Nandan. It came amid news of the carrier's estimated loss of Indian rupees (Rs) 69.94 billion ($1.44 billion) in its 2010-2011 financial year.

                      The extent of the problems at the carrier have been laid bare in a subsequent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, blaming both the ministry and the airline's management for the woes.

                      According to the audit, presented to the country's Parliament in September, the airline has not been profitable since 2005. Debts reached Rs384 billion as of 31 March 2010 because of plans to purchase new aircraft, inefficient operations and competition from domestic and international carriers. Acknowledging Air India had become a political football, the audit concludes the government has to take a comprehensive approach to rehabilitating the airline and ensuring its survival. It emphasises the best solution is to ensure Air India's board and management have both independence and transparency when it comes to decisions.

                      The report dates debt problems back to Air India's 2005 decision to buy 68 Boeing long-range aircraft and the decision by Indian Airlines, which later merged with the former, to order 43 Airbus narrowbodies that year as well.

                      It describes the plan to fund the acquisition through debt, to be repaid via revenue generation, a "recipe for disaster" and says assumptions that extra capacity would lead to a rise in market share and yields were not validated and unduly optimistic.

                      "Aircraft acquisition has contributed predominantly to it [the debt]. The government must lay down a road map for liquidating the liability within a short span after making a realistic assessment of revenue generation capacity. Piecemeal infusion of small amounts is merely going to, at best, delay the certain closure of the airline," it says, calling previous government attempts to shore up Air India with equity infusions as a "drop in the ocean".

                      External factors, such as high fuel prices and the 2008 economic recession, exacerbated the situation. "The airline's weak financial position, inadequate equity capital and undue dependence on debt funding provided little or no cushion for the financial shock when it came," the audit notes.

                      Several steps have been taken to help Air India during the past two years, including the rationalisation of the network and shutting down many loss-making routes. The development of hubs such as New Delhi and Mumbai will also help the airline in its long-haul operations. The report urges that management and the government renew Air India's efforts to join Star Alliance, and puts more emphasis on the airline's on-time performance, increasing online and premium ticket sales.

                      One of the biggest challenges Air India's management faced was to figure out how to shrink its bloated workforce and spin-off divisions such as maintenance, ground-handling and cargo.

                      Internal and political opposition have scuppered both efforts. Nonetheless, the audit recommends human resource policies should also be reviewed to ensure that the workforce is integrated, and the staff pay be revised sufficiently to incentivise or disincentivise actual performance.

                      "Unless the government takes cognisance of [these] factors and decisions thereupon, the airline does not have a future as a vibrant public sector entity," it says. The reality is some in the industry believe this conclusion should have been reached years ago.

                      http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...ndia-woes.html

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Emirates to launch Zambia and Zimbabwe routes

                        Emirates will fly to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, and onwards to Zimbabwe’s capital Harare from February next year.

                        The five-times weekly service will commence on February 1, adding the 20th and 21st African destinations to the Emirates network.

                        Flights will depart Dubai on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 0925, arriving in Lusaka at 1450, before leaving for Harare at 1620 and landing at 1720. The return leg will depart Zimbabwe at 1920, landing in Zambia at 2020, before departing for Dubai at 2150, landing back at 0710 the following day.

                        The route will be served with A330-200 aircraft configured for three-classes, with 12 in first class, 48 in business and 183 in economy.

                        For more information visit emirates.com.

                        http://www.businesstraveller.com/new...imbabwe-routes

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          China's first Airbus A380 set to fly

                          China Southern (CZ) was rated “World's most improved airline” by Skytrax in June this year, and next month the fast-growing company will fly China’s first double-decker Airbus A380 -- currently the largest civilian aircraft in the world.
                          China’s Airbus A380 debut

                          The Guangzhou-based airline announced yesterday that the first of five Superjumbos ordered back in 2005 is set to be delivered on October 15.

                          China Southern will operate a series of “A380 experience flights” from October 17-26 between Beijing and Guangzhou, and from October 27-29 between Beijing and Shanghai.

                          This will make China Southern the seventh carrier in the world to operate Superjumbo routes, after Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Air France, Emirates, Korean Air and Lufthansa.

                          While Emirates led the world's carriers by launching the first regular A380 service in China last April -- between Shanghai and Dubai -- China Southern will be the first domestic carrier to operate the service.

                          China Southern has said it plans to fly A380s on international routes in the near future.

                          According to ATW magazine, the carrier is still waiting for approval from Civil Aviation Administration of China, and the routes are believed to be either between Beijing and New York or Beijing and Paris -- the two most profitable routes of CZ’s competitor Air China.
                          Raising overseas profile

                          The country’s first A380 contains 506 seats, comprising eight luxurious first-class seats, 70 business-class seats and 428 economy seats.

                          "Flying A380s will put us in a completely different league," said Yang Bo, head of China Southern’s planning department.

                          "We hope to use the planes to build a good brand image and to raise our profile overseas."

                          Bloomberg reported that China Southern flew a total of 3.9 million passengers on international routes in the first eight months of the year, 16 percent more than a year earlier.

                          It has also added routes to Vancouver, Auckland and Amsterdam this year as the carrier tries to develop Guangzhou Baiyun Airport into a global hub to rival Hong Kong.

                          Yang noted that the double-deckers will help the company to realize its drive of doubling the percentage of capacity deployed on overseas routes to 35 percent by 2015.

                          "China Southern's aggressive expansion will definitely hit Cathay Pacific and other Australian routes operators," Kelvin Lau, a Hong Kong-based Daiwa Securities Group analyst, told Bloomberg.

                          "Still, a new player may grow the overall market," Lau added.

                          China Southern elbowed out Japan Airlines in 2010 and remains Asia’s largest carrier by passenger numbers. The state-owned airline is expecting delivery of its second A380 by the end of the year.

                          The airline is also on way to increase its total fleet from 424 (as of June, 2011) to 645 aircraft by the end of 2015. Some other aircraft China Southern has ordered are Airbus A330s, A320s, and 10 Boeing 787s.

                          http://www.cnngo.com/shanghai/life/c...552?hpt=itr_t1

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            UK plane lands on wrong runway in Paphos

                            A FLIGHT narrowly dodged disaster on Wednesday afternoon after landing on Paphos airport’s taxiway instead of the main landing strip.

                            The Thomson Airways’ Boeing 737-800 flight from Doncaster had 192 passengers and seven cabin crew on board and was fortunate to avoid a catastrophic crash on the empty taxiway.

                            According to the online aviation news site, Aviation Herald, flight BY3350 was on approach to and cleared to land on runway 29, but aligned with and landed on the parallel taxiway.

                            Hermes Airports’ spokesman Adamos Aspris confirmed the reports yesterday: “It seems that the captain of a British Boeing 737 landed on the taxiway instead of the main runway.”

                            The weather conditions were reportedly slightly hazy, but cloudless and with good visibility.

                            Asked about the potential dangers of such a landing, Aspris said: “This was a least expected occurrence, and it is a big issue for us. There is research being undertaken by the relevant authorities who will investigate the matter thoroughly.”

                            The main authority involved is Cyprus’ Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) who yesterday assigned three staff to begin gathering information on the case.

                            AAIA Chairman Costas Orphanos told the Cyprus Mail this was the first incident of its kind at Paphos airport: “We are collecting information from the pilots, air safety reports and on weather conditions, and we are in contact with the UK’s accident investigation authority.”

                            Orphanos said that such incidents have occurred elsewhere, such as in the USA, UK and Italy.

                            “We have the authority to make recommendations to the government and they will make changes if necessary,” he said.

                            By yesterday morning, the story had caused a stir on the popular pilots’ message board pprune.org.

                            According to one commenter on the website, the particular layout of Paphos airport could have played a part in the incident.

                            ‘Dani’ said: “Paphos airport is a tricky one: long and narrow runway, parallel to a taxiway which is about the same width and length. Easy to confuse. No disaster, because it is intended as a military emergency strip... unless there is taxi-ing traffic.”

                            While another, ‘Dairn’, said: “The taxiway is longer than the runway, the same width and quite a lot brighter as it's not covered in rubber.”

                            “Its contrast in most lighting conditions makes it more obvious than the main landing runway, “he added, “especially during a circling approach. Also... the landing runway is closer to the passenger terminal than the taxiway; in most places the parallel taxiway or emergency runway are closer to the civilian apron”.

                            These factors, Dairn suggests, could lead pilots to creating a wrong mental model that is hard to change even when presented with runway markings and approach lights in the final stages.

                            A third poster expressed surprise the control tower did not notice the misalignment, while another was perplexed the pilots did not notice any markings on the taxiway.

                            Following the incident, a replacement crew was flown to Paphos. The aircraft departed for the return flight BY-3351 nine-and-a-half hours after landing, reaching Doncaster with a total delay of 10.5 hours.

                            http://www.cyprus-mail.com/aviation/...aphos/20110923

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Continental Connection Plane Lands At Wrong Louisiana Airport

                              A Continental Connection turboprop plane landed at the wrong airport Wednesday night, leaving passengers to share a limo ride from Southland Field in Sulphur, Louisiana to their intended destination of Lake Charles Regional, about a half-hour drive away.

                              It's the third time in the past 15 years that pilots have confused the two airports, an official tells local TV station KPLC.

                              The confusion, says Southland Field manager Sam Larsh, stems from the fact that the airports are on the same latitude. Because runways are oriented according to prevailing winds, the two neighboring airports can look similar from the air, he tells KPLC.

                              It's hardly the first time pilots have missed their destination. In 2009, two Northwest pilots missed their runway by 150 miles, leading the FAA to revoke their flight credentials. In 2007, then-presidential candidate Barack Obama was on a private flight that landed in Des Moines — instead of Cedar Rapids.

                              As for Continental Connection, it's one of the many regional carriers operating under increased scrutiny since the 2009 crash of a regional turboprop outside Buffalo. That plane was also operated by Colgan Air, the carrier that operates Flight 3222 between Houston and Lake Charles, or in at least one case, Sulphur, Louisiana.

                              http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/0...r=Weird%20News

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X