Aviation

Trustee seeks to block $20 million payout for American Airlines CEO Tom Horton

The Canadian Press — Sat, 25 May 2013 06:00:29 +0000

The Canadian Press

The Justice Department is objecting to a proposed $20 million severance payment for American Airlines CEO Tom Horton, saying it's bigger than allowed by bankruptcy law.

Horton became CEO when American filed for Chapter 11 protection in November 2011. The proposed merger of US Airways Group Inc. and American calls for Horton to lose that job and become chairman of the combined company. American has proposed giving him severance pay of almost $20 million and lifetime flight benefits.

AirAsia still wants jets after record orders

Thomson Reuters — Sat, 25 May 2013 04:00:06 +0000

Thomson Reuters

By Alan Baldwin

MONACO (Reuters) - AirAsia <AIRA.KL>, which smashed order records for Airbus <EAD.PA> jets to become Asia's largest budget carrier, could buy another 50 planes as it targets aggressive expansion in India, Chief Executive Tony Fernandes said.

Discussion of an order for another 50 A320-family jets, worth $5 billion at list prices, comes weeks ahead of the Paris air show and five months after the Malaysian carrier added 100 jets to its order book to lift total purchases to 475 planes.

Lobbying in American-US Airways deal focuses on small cities

Thomson Reuters — Sat, 25 May 2013 01:50:13 +0000

Thomson Reuters

By Karen Jacobs

(Reuters) - US Airways Group <LCC.N> and American Airlines <AAMRQ.PK>, seeking approval for a merger that would create the world's largest airline, are warning lawmakers that a requirement to divest certain airport slots would lead to less service for small and medium-sized cities, sources close to the effort told Reuters.

Air China says orders 100 Airbus A320 jets worth $8.8 bn

Agence France-Presse — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:16:49 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Air China said on Friday it had ordered 100 Airbus A320 series medium-range single-aisle passenger jets, which carry a catalogue price of $8.8 billion (6.8 billion euros).

Air China said in a statement it would acquire 60 of the aircraft for itself and 40 would be bought by its subsidiary Shenzhen Airlines.

"The transaction will expand the overall fleet capacity of the group and optimise the fleet structure," Air China said in a notification to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange where its shares are listed, saying it would add nearly 16 percent to capacity.

Lift ban on electronic devices during take-off and landing recommends report

Agence France-Presse — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:18:49 +0000

Agence France-Presse

If you’re noticing that more and more flyers are tuning out of their backseat in-flight entertainment system for their own fully-loaded iPad or e-reader, that may be because a new report has found that passengers are increasingly using their own portable devices to wile away the hours.

According to researchers at DePaul University in Chicago, 35 percent of 1,688 passengers observed on 23 flights were found to be using devices like mobiles phones, tablets and e-readers during randomly selected points in-flight.

Lift ban on electronic devices during take-off and landing recommends report

Agence France-Presse — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:01:37 +0000

Agence France-Presse

India's Jet Airways shareholders approve Etihad deal

Agence France-Presse — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:45:43 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Shareholders of India's Jet Airways on Friday approved a deal in which Abu Dhabi-based airline Etihad will take a 24 percent stake in the private carrier, media reports said.

Jet shareholders approved the proposed issue of shares on a preferential basis to Etihad, at an extraordinary general meeting held in the city, the Press Trust of India agency said.

Shares will be allotted only after completion of all regulatory approvals.

British Airways plane makes emergency landing at Heathrow

Agence France-Presse — Fri, 24 May 2013 09:47:08 +0000

Agence France-Presse

A British Airways plane made an emergency landing at London's Heathrow airport on Friday after a "technical fault", forcing officials to close both runways.

Emergency slides were used to evacuate the plane's 75 passengers while amateur footage shot near the flight path showed smoke spewing from the Airbus A319's right engine shortly after takeoff.

The northern runway at Heathrow -- one of the world's busiest airports -- remained closed following the incident at around 9:00 am (0800 GMT), a Heathrow spokeswoman said, but the southern runway was later reopened.

BA jet makes emergency landing after engine fire

Thomson Reuters — Fri, 24 May 2013 09:16:00 +0000

Thomson Reuters

By Rhys Jones and Kate Holton

LONDON (Reuters) - A British Airways plane with 80 people on board made an emergency landing at London's Heathrow airport on Friday after the right engine burst into flames shortly after take-off and the casing ripped away from the left.

The British carrier, part of IAG, said all 75 passengers and five crew members were safe after having been evacuated from the aircraft down emergency chutes on landing.

Japan's ANA to resume Boeing 787 flights on Sunday, saying battery problems fixed

The Canadian Press — Fri, 24 May 2013 06:30:05 +0000

The Canadian Press

TOKYO - Japan's All Nippon Airways, the launch customer for Boeing's 787 "Dreamliner," will resume commercial flights of the aircraft on Sunday, just over four months after the jets were grounded due to smouldering batteries.

ANA said in a statement that it will run five commercial 787 flights in May, before regular, scheduled services begin on June 1. The first will be a commercial flight late Sunday from Chitose, on the northern island of Hokkaido, to Tokyo's Haneda Airport.

U.S. sees first drop in F-35 costs; other programs steady

Thomson Reuters — Thu, 23 May 2013 22:30:55 +0000

Thomson Reuters

By Andrea Shalal-Esa

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon on Thursday told Congress it expected a 1 percent drop in the cost of its biggest weapons program, the Lockheed Martin Corp. <LMT.N> F-35 fighter jet, while averting the huge cost increases seen on other weapons programs in recent years.

Japan's ANA to resume Dreamliner flights Sunday

Agence France-Presse — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:01:00 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA) on Thursday said it would put its Dreamliner fleet back into service this weekend, several days ahead of schedule.

ANA, the single biggest operator of Boeing's flagship 787, plans to use the high-tech planes for two domestic flights from Chitose airport in Hokkaido to Haneda in Tokyo, earlier than its original plan for June 1.

"Modifications for all 787s have been implemented and ANA has undertaken its own additional testing," ANA president and CEO Osamu Shinobe said in a statement.

China clears Boeing 787s for nation's airlines

Agence France-Presse — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:46:12 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Chinese regulators have approved the Boeing 787 to fly in the country, Boeing said Thursday, a move that opens up a large potential market to the US aerospace giant.

"I can confirm that the Civil Aviation Administration of China has granted type certification for the 787 Dreamliner," a Boeing spokesman said in an email.

Chinese airlines have yet to take delivery of the high-tech 787, which last month was cleared to return to service after all 50 in use were grounded worldwide in mid-January following two overheated battery incidents.

Japan's ANA to resume Dreamliner flights Sunday

Agence France-Presse — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:45:05 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA) on Thursday said it would put its Dreamliner fleet back into service this weekend, several days ahead of schedule.

"Modifications for all 787s have been implemented and ANA has undertaken its own additional testing," ANA president and CEO Osamu Shinobe said in a statement.

US-Korea fighter jet project

Yonhap News Agency — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:16:00 +0000

Yonhap News Agency

By Lee Chi-dong

WASHINGTON, May 23 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. government has notified Congress of possible sales to South Korea of armament for the F-35 or F-15 SE, one of which may be selected as South Korea's new fighter jet, according to a Pentagon agency Thursday.

South Korea plans to purchase 60 advanced jets to replace its aging fleet of F-4s and F-5s. The three competitors for the contract, worth about 8.3 trillion won (US$7.4 billion), are Lockheed Martin's F-35 stealth jet, Boeing's F-15 SE and the Eurofighter Tranche 3 from European Aerospace Defense.