Category: Top Stories

FL Technics to open Line maintenance station in Dubai

Burj Khalifa Dubai

FL Technics, a global provider of integrated aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul services, has signed a joint operations agreement to open an EASA certified Line maintenance station in Dubai International Airport (DXB). FL Technics representatives signed the agreement with local partners which entitles them to start the establishment process for the station. The newly established station in DXB will be operational in the second half of April 2019. The EASA certified center will be providing line maintenance services to foreign and local airlines with work scope of up to DY/WY check and defect rectification. From the beginning of its operations, Read more

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Boeing 737 MAX anti-stall system now “more robust” but no sign of jet’s return to the skies

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 ©AirTeamImages

Boeing has confirmed that fixes to the anti-stall software system on its 737 MAX jet should now prevent any failures of the automated flight control system that kicks in if the jet senses its rate of climb could lead to a stall. While there are still no definitive answers to what caused the recent crashes involving Lion Air and an Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX jets, information surrounding the two incidents is believed to indicate there were similarities in the aircraft’s behaviour immediately prior to each tragic event. Boeing is currently under pressure from crash victims’ families, airlines, lawmakers in Washington Read more

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Cathay Pacific intents to acquire Hong Kong Express for US$628 million

Hong Kong Express ©AirTeamImages

Hong Kong-headquartered Cathay Pacific has announced its intention to acquire 100% of low-cost carrier Hong Kong Express (HKE), though HKE’s chairman and major shareholder, Zhong Guosong, is in the process of launching legal action in a bid to stop the sale. If successful, Cathay Pacific will own three of the four airlines operating out of Hong Kong, namely Cathay Dragon which Cathay Pacific bought as Dragonair in 2006, HKE and Cathay Pacific itself. The result would see Cathay Pacific and its subsidiaries hold a 45 percent stake in Hong Kong’s runway slots. Cathay Pacific has confirmed it intends to operate Read more

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Germania shuts down for good, seven weeks after filing for bankruptcy

©AirTeamImages

Having filed for bankruptcy on February 5, German leisure airline Germania has shut down permanently after it failed to find any investors. The closure of the carrier which operated a fleet of 37 aircraft will now see all 1,700 employees laid off. The news will not be welcomed at Airbus either as this will result in the permanent cancelation of an order for 25 A320 neo jets which Germania sought to acquire as it set a dramatic growth strategy in an attempt to capture a major portion of the leisure market share once held by the now defunct airberlin. 2018 Read more

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Goyal resigns as Jet Airways chairman with two-thirds of fleet grounded

Naresh Goyal

Naresh Goyal, the chairman of India’s second-largest commercial airline Jet Airways has been forced to resign amidst the stricken carrier’s continued financial crisis. Currently two thirds of the airline’s fleet has been grounded due to defaulting on lease payments or inability to carry out mechanical repairs. As at the end of March 2018 Jet airways was carrying US$1.6 billion in debt and had posted operating losses in nine of the past 11 years while struggling to pay off debt. The resignation of Goyal, along with his wife Anita, comes after continued pressure from creditors. Banks will now receive 114 million Read more

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Officials from three American carriers visit Boeing to assess 737 MAX upgrade

With Boeing 737 MAX jets still grounded worldwide, representatives from Southwest Airlines Co, American Airlines and United Airlines who respectively operate 34, 24 and 14 MAX jets, visited Boeing’s plant at Renton, Washington this weekend, which is a clear indication that the software patch the plane maker is creating is nearing completion. According to a Southwest Airlines’ spokeswoman, Southwest’s delegation includes experts from its technical pilot and training teams who will review documentation and training associated with Boeing’s updated speed trim system. American Airlines’ pilots told Reuters last Thursday that they also planned to test Boeing’s software upgrade this past Read more

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Lufthansa Technik continues growth – record 2018 revenue and improved results despite major investment

Lufthansa Technik has posted record revenues with a 10% increase for 2018 compared to 2017, also surpassing 2017 results despite intensified price pressure and far-reaching investments in digitalization, its international network and personnel. Applicable to Lufthansa Technik AG and its 21 fully consolidated companies, sales revenues climbed by more than €500 million, surging from €5.404 billion to €5.918 billion, an increase of 9.5% above the previous year’s total. The company generated adjusted EBIT of €425 million (previous year: €415 million), an increase of 2%. The company outperformed the market in 2018, with the Americas region producing the highest level of Read more

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Embraer’s John Slattery appointed president and CEO of JV with Boeing

John Slattery

Within trio of executive moves in a bid to accelerate key global partnerships and capabilities, the current CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation and executive vice president of Embraer S.A, John Slattery, has been appointed as president and CEO for the commercial and aviation services joint venture between Boeing and Embraer. The appointment is subject to formal appointment by the joint venture’s Board of Directors after closing. Once approved, Slattery will report to B. Marc Allen as the chair of the new company’s board of directors. Slattery will be based in Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil.  Slattery joined Embraer in 2011 Read more

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Crisis deepens at Jet Airways as pilots threaten strike action

Jet Airways ©AirTeamImages

Struggling to cope with debts of US$1 billion, India’s jet Airways is struggling to remain operational with only 41 aircraft available, one-third of its fleet of it original fleet, forcing to to cancel hundreds of flights, many at the mast minute. While many of its aircraft lessors have begun to cancel leasing agreements, the stricken carrier is faced with further problems as the pilots’ union has threaten to begin strike action on April 1. Many pilots have no been paid for some time and this strike action will only be averted if the carrier can come up by putting a Read more

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Alitalia rescue in jeopardy as easyJet pulls out of negotiations

©easyJet

Having previously been involved in discussions with Italian state rail operator Ferrovie dello Stata, and U.S. carrier Delta Air Lines with a view to creating a consortium ‘rebranding’ of the stricken flag-carrying Italian airline, easyJet announced Monday, March 18, that it is no longer involved in any of the negotiations. Ferrovie dello Strato was conducting negotiations with regard to Alitalia’s affairs. “Following discussions with Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane and Delta Air Lines about forming a consortium to explore options for the future operations of Alitalia, easyJet has taken the decision to withdraw from the process,” said the airline, adding that Read more

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