Expect to use some portable electronic devices during the entire flight very soon

by Devesh Agarwal

The United States' aviation regulator the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has today allowed airlines to relax rules regarding the use of portable electronic devices (PEDs) on-board flights below 10,000 feet. In a release the FAA said

Passengers will eventually be able to read e-books, play games, and watch videos on their devices during all phases of flight, with very limited exceptions. Electronic items, books and magazines, must be held or put in the seat back pocket during the actual takeoff and landing roll. Cell phones should be in airplane mode or with cellular service disabled – i.e., no signal bars displayed—and cannot be used for voice communications based on FCC regulations that prohibit any airborne calls using cell phones. If your air carrier provides Wi-Fi service during flight, you may use those services. You can also continue to use short-range Bluetooth accessories, like wireless keyboards.

Passengers can soon expect US airlines to start allowing use of e-readers and games and some other devices in the "airplane" mode throughout all phases of a flight i.e. from gate to gate. However, connecting to the internet below 10,000 feet, will continue to be disallowed, and using a cell phone for voice phone calls during a flight is prohibited by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said

“We believe today’s decision honors both our commitment to safety and consumer’s increasing desire to use their electronic devices during all phases of their flights,” “These guidelines reflect input from passengers, pilots, manufacturers, and flight attendants, and I look forward to seeing airlines implement these much anticipated guidelines in the near future.”

Due to the wide variety of gadgets and types of aircraft and equipment, the FAA expects airlines to take some time to prove their safe operation together, but expects wide scale implementation of the new rules by end of this year.

US major, Delta Air Lines has already announced it is ready to roll out new rules by November 1. In a statement the airline said

Delta Air Lines is ready to allow its customers to be the first to use their portable electronic devices below 10,000 feet as early as Nov. 1, 2013 pending Federal Aviation Administration approval. All Delta aircraft have completed carrier-defined PED tolerance testing to ensure the safe operation of passenger portable electronic devices during all phases of flight and Delta's plan has been submitted to the FAA for approval.

In support of the FAA's call for expanded PED usage in flight, more than 570 mainline domestic aircraft stand ready to allow customer use of e-readers, tablets, and smartphones, all in airplane mode, during taxi, takeoff and landing on domestic flights. Delta Connection's more than 550 regional aircraft will be ready by the end of the year. In-flight Wi-Fi will continue to be available for customers above 10,000 feet.

Top things passengers should know about expanded use of PEDs on airplanes:

• Make safety your first priority.
• Changes to PED policies will not happen immediately and will vary by airline. Check with your airline to see if and when you can use your PED.
• Current PED policies remain in effect until an airline completes a safety assessment, gets FAA approval, and changes its PED policy.
• Cell phones may not be used for voice communications.
• Devices must be used in airplane mode or with the cellular connection disabled. You may use the WiFi connection on your device if the plane has an installed WiFi system and the airline allows its use. You can also continue to use short-range Bluetooth accessories, like wireless keyboards.
• Properly stow heavier devices under seats or in the overhead bins during take-off and landing. These items could impede evacuation of an aircraft or may injure you or someone else in the event of turbulence or an accident.
• During the safety briefing, put down electronic devices, books and newspapers and listen to the crew-member’s instructions.
• It only takes a few minutes to secure items according to the crew’s instructions during take-off and landing.
• In some instances of low visibility – about one percent of flights – some landing systems may not be proved PED tolerant, so you may be asked to turn off your device.
• Always follow crew instructions and immediately turn off your device if asked.

To read the fact sheet about the PED Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) click here. The read the full PED ARC report in PDF format click here.

Given the influence of the FAA on global aviation standards, what are your views on how soon we can expect changes in other parts of the world? Share your thoughts via a comment.

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Dubai International’s passenger traffic up 13.1 per cent in September

By BA Staff

Courtesy of Wikipedia

Passenger traffic at Dubai International, the world’s second busiest airport for international passengers, rose 13.1 per cent in September, according to the latest traffic statistics issued yesterday by operator Dubai Airports.

Passenger traffic in September totaled 5,407,326, an increase of 13.1 per cent compared to 4,780,394 during the corresponding month in 2012. Year to date traffic is up 16 per cent to 49,379,165 compared to 42,565,340 recorded during the first nine months of 2012. Aircraft movements totaled 30,746 during September, an increase of 10.2 per cent from the 27,909 recorded during the same period last year. Passengers per aircraft movement in September came in at 193.

All regions recorded positive growth in September with the exception of South America (-6.9 per cent).  Among the strongest markets in terms of percentage* passenger growth were Eastern Europe (+65.1 per cent), driven by flydubai expansion to multiple destinations in the region and Emirates’ new service to Warsaw. Passenger traffic to and from Australasia rose 38.6 per cent as a result of Emirates' expansion and Qantas’ new operation connecting Australia and London through Dubai. On a country level, Australia (+41.7 per cent), France (+23.7 per cent), Saudi Arabia (+22.4 per cent), Thailand (+21.8 per cent) and the UK (+21.7 per cent) saw the largest increases.

In terms of overall passenger numbers, Western Europe traffic took over as the top market thanks to robust growth (+14.8 per cent) during the month. AGCC came in second thanks to 15 per cent year-on-year passenger traffic growth. The Indian subcontinent, which took third spot, continued to show positive growth (+9.8 per cent) due to the expansion of several Indian carriers including Indigo, Spice Jet and Air India Express.

Air freight volumes rose 1.8 per cent in September with volumes of 196,823 tonnes compared to 193,261 recorded during the same period last year. Year-to-date cargo traffic totalled 1,785,539 tonnes, up 6.6 per cent from the 1,674,997 tonnes shipped during the same period last year.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports said:

“Passenger and cargo traffic growth continue unabated and Dubai International is on track to eclipse our projections for 65.4 million passengers and 2.7 million tonnes of cargo. With the opening of our new passenger terminal at Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central, and the ongoing expansion at Dubai International, Dubai’s aviation infrastructure continues to make it an attractive destination for tourism, trade and commerce.”

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Alaska Airlines increases minimum check-in time to 40 minutes

By BA Staff

Courtesy of Wikipedia

Alaska Airlines is changing its minimum check-in time for customers traveling on most domestic flights from 30 to 40 minutes prior to departure, regardless if a bag is checked or not. The minimum check-in time for international flights remains at 60 minutes.

The policy change is being made so that travelers on Alaska Airlines can expect the same minimum check-in time at almost all airports the carrier serves.

The exceptions will be at airports where the check-in cutoff is already 45 minutes, such as Atlanta, Denver, Las Vegas, Newark and Philadelphia. Passengers traveling from Guadalajara have a 90-minute check-in cutoff time.

Alaska Airlines' longstanding boarding policy remains the same — passengers must be available to board at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time for all flights.


Jeff Butler, Alaska Airlines' vice president of customer service – airports and cargo said:

"Our previous policy sent a mixed message by having different cutoff times, depending on the airport and whether a customer is checking bags. The new policy will make check-in times the same for everyone, making it easier for passengers to remember the cutoff, regardless of how they are checking in and whether they're checking a bag. A consistent cut-off time should make things easier for customers and employees alike."

The vast majority of Alaska Airlines' passengers already comply with the new check-in time. Starting tomorrow, passengers who miss the cutoff will be treated the same way as customers today — they will be offered a $25 same-day confirmed seat on the next available flight, depending on availability.

As with the previous cut-off time, the 40-minute requirement does not ensure travelers will make it to their departure gate in time for boarding. Busy security lines and heavy passenger traffic may require additional time. The Transportation Security Administration recommends that passengers allow at least one hour for domestic flights and two hours or more for international flights.

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JetBlue deal marks 10,000th Airbus A320 family order

By BA Staff

Just days after taking delivery of its very first A321 aircraft, JetBlue Airways has placed a new order for 15 A321ceo (current engine option) and 20 A321neo (new engine option) aircraft.

In addition, the airline has opted to up size 8 A320ceo and 10 A320neo aircraft currently on backlog to 8 A321ceo and 10 A321neo, respectively.

This order marks the 10,000th order for an Airbus A320 Family aircraft.

JetBlue President and CEO Dave Barger said:

"We are pleased to convert some of our A320 positions to A321s, and order additional A321s to better match capacity with demand. The A321 is the ideal aircraft for our high density markets. In addition, a subfleet of the A321s will power our Mint premium service on the New York-Los Angeles and New York-San Francisco markets. It is the right aircraft for JetBlue's lucrative routes. We eagerly look forward to the Sharklet retrofits and -NEO aircraft to further reduce operating costs."

John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer – Customers said:

“JetBlue launched its business with an all-Airbus fleet, demonstrating they are a forward-thinking airline. The fact that they are turning to the NEO and larger Airbus aircraft overall makes it clear that they know how to please their passengers and maximize profits. In addition, JetBlue has always been a great partner in the Airbus Sharklet programme and have been instrumental in our ability to launch the in-service retrofit option.”

This order marks, with JetBlue as a partner, the launch of the Sharklet retrofit programme, which allows airlines currently flying A320ceo aircraft the option of improving their aircraft’s fuel performance with the addition of winglet devices called Sharklets.

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Delta to add more flights on New York JFK Los Angeles route with full flat-bed seats

by Devesh Agarwal

Delta Air Lines will debut three updated Boeing 757 aircraft on the transcontinental route between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport beginning July 1, 2014.

These will be the first 757 aircraft in service to feature Delta's previously announced upgrades which will include full flat-bed seats in BusinessElite on transcon flights between New York-JFK and Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle. All transcon flights on these routes will feature flat-bed seats by summer 2015.

The aircraft will include 16 full flat-bed seats arranged in a 2-2 configuration in the BusinessElite cabin. Each seat is 20 inches wide – expandable up to 22 inches – with an average bed length of 76 inches. Cabin mood lighting and high definition 16-inch video monitor at each seat will further improve the onboard experience.

The addition of flat-bed seats to the 757 transcon fleet will complement Delta's existing Boeing 767 transcon flights which already feature flat-bed seats for a total of eight daily flights on the route. Customers will enjoy a gourmet three-course menu from renowned chef Michael Chiarello paired with wine from Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson's specially curated Delta Winemaker Series, Westin Heavenly In-Flight bedding, a Tumi amenity kit featuring skincare products from Malin+Goetz, a noise-reduction headset, Starbucks coffee and sparkling wine round out the BusinessElite experience.

Delta Boeing 757 BusinessElite cabin

The 757s transcontinental fleet will add an Economy Comfort class with 44 extra-legroom seats offering 35 inches of pitch and 50 percent more recline in a 3-3 configuration. This is in addition to 108 standard economy seats.

All seats in the economy cabin will feature a slim-line design for more personal space, an adjustable headrest, a nine-inch video monitor and standard 110v and USB power ports available at every seat.

Delta has been enhancing the transcon experience from nose to tail throughout 2013 with the addition of products such as complimentary Starbucks coffee and headsets for all passengers. The entire transcon fleet will feature in-flight Wi-Fi and all upgraded aircraft will offer an entertainment library of more than 1,000 on-demand options. Additionally, the 757 fleet will feature 18 channels of live satellite TV.

New York passengers will depart and arrive at Delta's new Terminal 4 (see video below) and at Los Angeles it is Terminal 5 which is being overhauled with a $229 million investment in progress.

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July 2013 U.S. airline traffic data shows system passengers unchanged from 2012

By BA Staff

Courtesy of Bts.gov

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported that U.S. airlines carried 69.2 million systemwide (domestic + international) scheduled service passengers in July 2013, the same as in July 2012. The systemwide total was the result of a 0.7 percent decrease in the number of domestic passengers (59.3 million) and a 4.3 percent increase in international passengers (9.9 million).

BTS, a part of the Department’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that U.S. airlines carried 0.4 percent more total systemwide passengers during the first seven months of 2013 (435.0 million) than during the same period in 2012. Domestically, U.S. airlines carried 377.2 million passengers, 0.1 percent more than 2012. Internationally, they carried 57.8 million passengers, up 2.7 percent from 2012. See Tables 2, 8 and 14 of Air Traffic Press Releases for previous-year data.

The July 2013 international load factor of 86.9 percent was a record high for the month of July as year-over-year growth in revenue passenger-miles exceeded international capacity expansion. Systemwide and domestic load factors remained below the all-time July highs reached in 2011. Load factor is a measure of the use of aircraft capacity that compares Revenue Passenger-Miles (RPMs) as a proportion of Available Seat-Miles (ASMs).

 

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Qatar Airways launches new route to Philippines

By BA Staff

Qatar Airways has launched daily non-stop daily flights to Clark Manila International Airport in the Philippines.

The Clark airport route is operated with an Airbus A330 in a two-class configuration of up to 248 seats in Economy and up to 36 in Business Class.

Clark International Airport is located about 96km from Manila City Centre and a complimentary bus service will be available to take passengers to and from Trinoma Mall and Resorts World Manila (conveniently located opposite of Manila International Airport (MNL) terminal 3).

As an inaugural offer, Qatar is offering its passengers an exceptional baggage allowance of up to 40 kgs valid for travel until 31 January 2014. Members of Qatar Airways’ frequent flyer programme Privilege Club can earn up to 7,000 bonus Qmiles in Economy Class and 14,000 bonus Qmiles in Business Class for travel on a return trip between 27 October and 31 December 2013.


The destination becomes Qatar Airways’ 12th gateway in Southeast Asia after Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Bali, Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh, Jakarta, Hanoi, Singapore, Manila, Yangon and Phuket, and the carrier’s 133rd destination worldwide.

Images courtesy Qatar Airways

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Alaska Airlines retrofitting 737 fleet with new, split winglet

By BA Staff

Scimitar split winglets. Photo courtesy Alaska Airlines.

Alaska Airline's Boeing 737s will soon fly the more efficient performance-enhancing split Scimitar winglets, which will reduce fuel consumption by 58,000 gallons a year per aircraft saving the airline $20 million and cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 57,000 tons annually, equivalent to about 11,900 passenger vehicles. The new winglet from Aviation Partners Boeing is called 'Scimitar' due to its resemblance to the mediaeval sword.

Mark Eliasen, Alaska Airlines' vice president of finance and treasurer said:

"Reducing fuel consumption has been a top priority at Alaska Airlines for years. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our employees, we've cut our carbon emissions by 30 percent per passenger mile since 2004. Investing in split winglets will further reduce our fuel use and continue our efforts to be the industry leader in environmental stewardship."

Among other efforts to lower fuel consumption, Alaska installed lighter inflight food and beverage carts, and instituted procedures such as taxiing on one engine instead of two, a procedure already common amongst carriers in India.

The International Council on Clean Transportation , a non-profit research organization ranked Alaska the highest in fuel efficiency among all 15 major U.S. airlines in a report it released in September.

Winglets save fuel by reducing drag, which allows aircraft to fly at cruise speed with less engine power. Alaska Airlines will recoup the capital cost of installing the new winglets through fuel savings in about two years.

Designed by Seattle-based Aviation Partners Boeing, the first winglet will be installed early next year and the project will be completed by 2017. Alaska plans to install the winglets on 111 aircraft, including most of its 737-800s, -900s and all of its -900ERs. Installation will be scheduled on each aircraft during routine maintenance inspections.

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Qatar Airways joins oneworld alliance

by Devesh Agarwal

Flag carrier Qatar Airways becomes part of oneworld® alliance at midnight Doha time tonight, becoming the first carrier from the burgeoning Gulf region to join join any airline alliance. Qatar also joins fellow middle-east carrier Royal Jordanian which is a member of oneworld.

QR633 which departs from Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka for Doha at 03.15 local (00.15 Doha time) and QR1166 from Doha for Riyadh, leaving five minutes later at 00.20 Doha time, will the first flights of Qatar Airways as a oneworld member.

The airline completed its induction procedures within just one year, compared to the typical 18 to 24 months taken to join an alliance.

Qatar Airways, which serves more than 130 destinations in 70 countries will bring 20 of its destinations and five countries – Ethiopia, Iran, Rwanda, Serbia and Tanzania – to the oneworld map. The airline will bring more one-stop transit options for passengers flying between Asia and Europe or between Asia and Africa hitherto less available or unavailable within the oneworld network.

oneworld livery

image courtesy oneworld®

At a ceremony to mark its entry into oneworld, held at Hamad International Airport, which is to be Qatar Airway's new base in the future, the airline “unveiled” the first aircraft in its fleet to be decorated in a special oneworld livery, Boeing 777-300ER registration A7-BAA.

Its distinctive design features “oneworld” in blue letters some 6 ft (2 metre) high along a white fuselage and the airline’s standard tailfin. The airline will decorate three other aircraft in its fleet in this special livery – another 777 and two Airbus A320s.

Starting tonight, oneworld logos will be applied by the side passenger entrance doors on Qatar Airway’s entire fleet of 130 aircraft as part of a massive rebranding programme that will also see the alliance logo added virtually wherever the Qatar Airways name is displayed – at airport check-in desks and signage, on its website, tickets, boarding passes and all items of stationery.

Frequent flier programme

All cardholders in the airline's Privilege Club frequent flyer programme are being sent new membership cards, bearing the oneworld logo and “gemstone” tier indicator. Platinum cardholders will have Emerald status in the oneworld programme, Gold will be equivalent to oneworld Sapphire and Silver will be oneworld Ruby.

The airline is offering a ‘Double miles’ offer to frequent flyer members to celebrate its induction into the alliance. Privilege Club members will receive double Qmiles award miles when flying on Qatar Airways and its oneworld partners between 15 November and 31 January (except between 20 December and 5 January), and (till 24 January for Cathay Pacific). Likewise, oneworld member frequent fliers will receive double mileage when flying Qatar. Please visit the respective airlines' websites for specific information.

Premium passenger terminal only for revenue passengers

Doha Premium Passenger Terminal. Photo © Devesh Agarwal.

From midnight tonight, Privilege Club Platinum and Gold members will be able to access more than 550 airport lounges worldwide offered by oneworld member airlines when they fly with one of the alliance’s carriers.

Qatar Airways’ First and Business Class passengers will also be able to use oneworld partner airline lounges. As oneworld Emeralds, Privilege Club Platinum cardholders will be able to use First Class lounges, where available, and receive an additional baggage allowance and access fast tracks through departure security at select airports.

However, the reciprocation at Doha is not quite equitable. The airline in a release stated that oneworld elite tier passengers flying in economy class would be provided basic lounge facilities in the main terminal at Doha. The premium terminal will be reserved for revenue first and business class passengers only.

Facilities at Qatar Airways' Premium Passenger Terminal at its Doha hub will continue to be accessible only by customers holding First Class or Business Class tickets on Qatar Airways.

What does Qatar's induction mean for India

Qatar Airways as of now is the second largest international carrier to India, with 100+ weekly flights. Earlier this year, Malaysia Airlines joined oneworld, and SriLankan will join the alliance early next year, thus ring-fencing the sub-continent.

In one fell swoop, oneworld now will become the dominant alliance operating in India, and will be a credible alternative to the Star Alliance. Qatar offers competitive connections to most of Europe, and existing members British Airways and Finnair will definitely feel the pinch. Similarly, connections to Africa, and South America, will make joining the alliance interesting for the frequent flier. As of now, the two best frequent flier programmes within the oneworld alliance appears to be American Airline's AAdvantage, and British Airway's Executive Club.

Indian carriers are still dilly-dallying about joining an alliance. Kingfisher was to join oneworld, before its financial implosion. For some unknown reason Air India wants to join only Star, even if the alliance will not have it. With Etihad now in control of Jet, there is no way, it will join oneworld thanks to opposition by Qatar and Royal Jordanian. Turkish would like to keep Etihad out of Star, leaving SkyTeam, where Etihad already has a strategic alliance with Air France-KLM.

oneworld’s biggest membership expansion drive

The addition of Qatar Airways represents the latest landmark in oneworld’s biggest membership expansion yet. Other elements elsewhere in the world include:

• The addition of Malaysia Airlines, strengthening oneworld’s position in South East Asia.
• The induction on 1 October 2013 of LAN Colombia, the second largest airline in South America’s second biggest economy.
• The transition to oneworld on 31 March 2014 by TAM, the leading airline in Latin America’s leading economy, Brazil, with its Paraguayan affiliate to be added soon afterwards. This will complete the consolidation in oneworld of all the passenger carriers in LATAM Airlines Group, the region’s leading airline company, building on oneworld’s position as the leading global airline alliance serving Latin America.
• The introduction early next year of SriLankan Airlines, as the first airline from the Indian subcontinent to join any global alliance, which, with Qatar Airways, will make oneworld the leading alliance in the region.
• The proposed switch by US Airways from Star to oneworld as part of its planned merger with American Airlines, subject to necessary approvals.

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Boeing and Lockheed Martin team-up for US Air Force bomber program

By BA Staff

The Boeing Company and Lockheed Martin Corporation are teaming together to compete for the United States Air Force's Long-Range Strike Bomber program, with Boeing acting as the prime contractor and Lockheed Martin as the primary team-mate.

To this critical mission, the team brings together nearly two centuries of combined experience designing, developing and testing aircraft for defense customers around the world. The companies also bring expertise in integrating proven technologies, and their skilled workforces and infrastructure and scale, to meet the U.S. Air Force’s cost and schedule requirements.

President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis Muilenburg, Boeing Defense, Space & Security said: 

"Boeing and Lockheed Martin are bringing together the best of the two enterprises, and the rest of industry, in support of the Long-Range Strike Bomber program, and we are honored to support our U.S. Air Force customer and this important national priority. Stable planning, along with efficient and affordable development and production approaches, enables our team to reduce development risk by leveraging mature technologies and integrating existing systems."

Separately the companies are developing two of the Air Force's top priorities, the KC-46 tanker and F-35 Lightning II, respectively, and they partnered on the F-22 Raptor stealth fighter. Each has delivered key Air Force capabilities including the B-1B bomber, F-15E strike fighter, and F-117 and F-16 fighters.

Orlando Carvalho, Executive Vice President of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics said:

"Building on decades of manned and unmanned weapon systems experience, we’re proud to bring our collection of technologies, capabilities and resources to affordably design, develop, produce and sustain the bomber program. We’re confident that our team will meet the well-defined system requirements and deliver a world-class next generation Long-Range Strike Bomber to the U.S. Air Force within the budget and timeframe required."

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United fined for lengthy tarmac delays in July 2012

By BA Staff

The U. S. Department of Transportation (DOT) fined United Airlines $1.1 million for lengthy tarmac delays that took place at Chicago-O’Hare International Airport on July 13, 2012.  The airline was ordered to cease and desist from future violations of the tarmac-delay rule.

This is the largest fine assessed for a tarmac-delay violation since the rule limiting long tarmac delays first took effect in April 2010. Of the $1.1 million, United will pay the United States $475,000; the remainder covers mitigation measures for affected passengers and significant corrective actions by United to enhance future compliance with tarmac delay requirements.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said:

“It is unacceptable for passengers to be stranded in planes on the tarmac for hours on end. We will continue to require airlines to adopt workable plans to protect passengers from lengthy tarmac delays and carry out these plans when necessary.”

United is being fined for 13 lengthy tarmac delays that took place on a day when severe thunderstorms and lightning caused several ramp closures and disrupted the movement of aircraft at O’Hare. Delays by United and its United Express code-share affiliates exceeded the three-hour limit for tarmac delays by as little as two minutes and as much as 77 minutes.

Although United had a contingency plan for tarmac delays, DOT’s Aviation Enforcement Office found that the airline did not implement the plan during these delays, and that the plan was inadequate to cover foreseeable weather emergencies in which there were more planes on the ground than space at gates.   The Enforcement Office also found that United did not contact airport personnel or other airlines for assistance during the tarmac delays. Additionally, on two United Express flights, the lavatories were inoperable during part of the delays.

Under DOT rules, U.S. airlines operating aircraft with 30 or more passenger seats are prohibited from allowing their domestic flights to remain on the tarmac for more than three hours at U.S. airports without giving passengers an opportunity to leave the plane. Exceptions to the time limits are allowed only for safety, security or air traffic control-related reasons. The rules also require airlines to provide adequate food and water, ensure that lavatories are working and, if necessary, provide medical attention to passengers during long tarmac delays.

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British Airways celebrates launching its A380 service to Hong Kong

By BA Staff

The exclusive event, billed as a ‘Gig on a Wing’ showcased the very best of British Airways, to an audience that included Keith Williams, British Airways’ Chief Executive and special guests from Hong Kong’s aviation, travel, business, entertainment and hospitality industry.

Keith Williams, British Airways’ chief executive, said:

“Today marks another milestone in our long and proud tradition of connecting Hong Kong and London – two truly global hubs. For over three quarters of a century, this city has been an important part of British Airways’ worldwide network, so we are extremely delighted to be operating the state-of-the-art A380 onthe route, and to also be the first to fly it non-stop between Hong Kong and Europe.”

British Airways’ ‘Gig on a Wing’ event launched with a fashion show by British designer Alice Temperley MBE. Models descended the steps of the A380 aircraft onto British Airways’ specially created “runway” catwalk. Alice Temperley who has designed dresses for stars including Keira Knightly, Rihanna, Beyonce and The Duchess of Cambridge said:

“I was thrilled to be asked by British Airways to showcase my new Spring/Summer 2014 collection in Hong Kong and at such a unique and glamorous event. The people here really appreciate cutting edge design, fine tailoring and effortless style, very similar to that of British Airways new A380”.

This was followed by a live performance from multi-platinum selling artist and former X-Factor winner Leona Lewis. Lewis performed tracks on a specially created stage, flush with the A380’s 261-foot twin-engine wing. Leona’s set included a cover of Lenny Kravitz’s “Fly Away”, her number 1 selling track “Bleeding Love” and "Come Alive".

Supermodel Georgia May Jagger, daughter of Rolling Stones legend Mick Jagger took to the stage with Keith Williams to close the evening with a prize draw, which consisted of two British Airways Club World tickets to London on the new A380 and a stay at The Langham London.

Georgia May Jagger said:

“I'm so happy British Airways invited me to Hong Kong on their first A380 flight. The service, food and flat beds on the long haul flights are second to none and I always arrive feeling well rested. I love Hong Kong too and look forward to returning and spending more time in this great city”.

British Airways operates two daily non-stop flights between Hong Kong and London Heathrow. The A380 will serve flight BA25 from London to Hong Kong, and BA26 from Hong Kong to London.

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Study identifies Korea as a game-changing market for Asia Pacific travel

By BA Staff

Courtesy of Caan.asia

Amadeus, a leading technology partner for the global travel industry, has released research into the big four travel effects that will shape the future of travel in Korea. The research shows that growth potential in Korea may be stronger than any other market in Asia Pacific.

The study was unveiled at the conference titled, “Shaping the Future of Travel in Korea: the big FOUR travel effects” and conducted in partnership with Frost & Sullivan, the report highlights the enormous growth of Korea’s travel industry in the last 30 years, mirroring the country’s emergence on the global economic stage. International departures have grown by more than 12% annually since 1980, with annual departures equivalent to 25% of the population – one of the largest travelling populations in Asia Pacific.

Inbound travel is also growing; the government met its target of 10 million visitors in 2012 and continues to reach record numbers for arrivals in 2013. Much of this growth is coming from China, India and Indonesia, as Korea continues to develop its reputation as a ‘cool’ destination thanks to the popularity of Korean culture including food, fashion and music.

However, Korea’s highly tech-savvy population and a strong social media culture means that travel companies will need to communicate with their customers using increasingly sophisticated technology. And the travel industry as a whole will need to continue investing in infrastructure in order to handle the growing number of travellers both inbound and outbound.

Commenting on the research findings, Angel Gallego, President, Amadeus Asia Pacific said:

“Korea is one of the most exciting travel markets in Asia Pacific and one of the most rapidly evolving travel markets in the world. With Korea’s increasing popularity as a destination for younger travellers, and startling numbers of Koreans venturing abroad for business and leisure, both inbound and outbound travel are seeing enormous growth. However, upgrades to existing infrastructure will be needed to manage these higher volumes of travellers and their changing expectations and demands.”

The research identified four dominant themes, or effects, that will fundamentally shape the future of travel in Korea to 2030. They are:

1. The Me Effect: The increasing individualism of the Korean traveller

Korea is now the third largest business travel market in Asia, with business travel expenses growing on average by 6% every year over the past decade, primarily as a result of spending by large multinationals. However, the government is actively encouraging growth in the SME sector, which accounts for 85% of total employment in Korea, and this is likely to stimulate an increase in SME business travel. The SME traveller is likely to be more focused on budget travel and doing business in neighbouring markets such as Japan and China.

Korean culture is moving away from its traditional family and group-orientated leisure travel and moving towards more individualism, driving an increase in the numbers of Free Independent Travellers (“FITs”). Seventy percent of Koreans now travel independently, and almost 40% of leisure travel bookings are researched online. Almost half of Korean travellers have close family members living overseas, with 90% keen to visit them.

2. The Red Tape Effect: The breaking down of barriers to travel

The number of inbound business travellers has changed little over the past decade as Korea has generally not been a target market for most overseas companies. Only 215,000 business travellers visited Korea in 2012, mainly from China, Japan and India. But the size of the Korean economy and improved access to its market, with the signing of 13 Free Trade Agreements since 2003, is likely to increase interest from overseas companies, driving more inbound business travel.

Inbound leisure travel numbers are also growing rapidly, almost doubling in number over the past decade. Much of this increase is being driven by its Asian neighbours, China, Indonesia and Thailand. Korea is also increasingly being seen as a “cool” destination by young Asians. This research showed that Korea is among the top three preferred destinations for 18-30 year old travellers from all countries except India.

3. The Leapfrog Effect: Technology and infrastructure in the Asia Pacific

Koreans are tech savvy travellers, with 66% of Korean leisure travellers generally booking trips online. Korea also has the highest smartphone penetration in the world, estimated at 73% in 2013. Travel providers will therefore need to use the internet and mobile technologies to reach Korean travellers, who are increasingly confident in managing their own travel arrangements online.

Korea has a highly developed social media culture; two-thirds of the population is active, including virtually everyone aged in their 20’s.  It is therefore not surprising to find that 80% of Korean leisure travellers use social media during their travel, one of the highest rates of usage in the region and double the numbers from Japan.

4. The Barbell Effect: Growth at the upper and lower ends of the market

Whilst the numbers of travellers to Asia Pacific destinations will more than double over the period to 2030, traveller requirements will become more extreme at the upper and lower ends of the economic spectrum. Although there will be many more travellers from emerging countries, they will generally be travelling on a budget – and this will stimulate rapid growth at the budget end of the travel scale, whether on budget airlines or in economy hotels. In order to capture the growing traveller numbers from emerging economies, Korea will need to increasingly cater for the budget traveller with facilities such as budget airlines and hotels. 

Amadeus developed this study to gain insights into the future of Korean travel, in line with their partnership plans with TOPAS to introduce the most advanced travel technology platform in Korea this month – TOPAS SellConnect.

Based on Amadeus’ technology and TOPAS’ local market knowledge, TOPAS SellConnect will offer travel agencies more opportunities to sell more effectively, and will offer travellers a better experience from booking to boarding. TOPAS SellConnect will begin piloting with travel agencies next month with all TOPAS-subscribing travel agencies completing the migration in the first half of 2014.

This study also comes as Amadeus works with Korea’s top national carriers, Korean Air and Asiana, to complete their migration to a new Passenger Service System, Altéa, which will further help Korea to advance its travel processes.

Mark Dougan, Managing Director of Research, Frost & Sullivan added:
llaborate 2013 conference in Seoul, hosted by Amadeus and TOPAS, attended by more than 250 travel industry professionals.

“We wanted to understand where the industry is headed and which travel effects will have the most impact. It’s clear from the findings that it will take a collaborative effort across the industry, with a strong underpinning of technology, in order to really take advantage of the growth opportunities in Korea. With some of that change already underway, Korea has the potential to be a real game-changer in Asia Pacific travel and indeed, globally.”

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Alaska Airlines offers double frequent flier miles from Seattle

By BA Staff

Alaska Airlines is offering members of its Mileage Plan™ frequent flyer programme, double miles on nonstop flights between Seattle and five Californian cities and Las Vegas, till May 31, 2014.

Alaska customers can earn double miles on all flights between Seattle and Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Santa Rosa and Las Vegas. The double miles will also count toward status in the airline's MVP and MVP Gold elite-level programs.

Caroline Boren, Alaska Airlines' managing director of loyalty marketing and customer advocacy said:

"With 62 flights a day between California and Seattle, earning miles and elite status in our award-winning Mileage Plan is easier and faster with Alaska Airlines than any other carrier."

The threshold for Alaska Airlines' Mileage Plan members to earn MVP status is only 20,000 miles — 5,000 fewer miles than most other airline frequent flier programs.

Two roundtrip flights between Seattle and Los Angeles would earn enough miles with the double miles offer to qualify for a one-way intra-state award ticket, which requires only 7,500 miles. Double miles are valid on all revenue fare categories on Alaska Airlines

Sample double miles earned: 

Seattle-Los Angeles	1,908 miles roundtrip	3,816 with double miles
Seattle-Las Vegas	1,732 miles roundtrip	3,464 with double miles
Seattle-San Jose	1,392 miles roundtrip	2,784 with double miles
Seattle-San Francisco	1,356 miles roundtrip	2,712 with double miles
Seattle-Oakland	1,342 miles roundtrip	2,684 with double miles
Seattle-Santa Rosa	1,236 miles roundtrip	2,472 with double miles

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Airbus Military signs additional contract with Kazakhstan for two more C295 aircraft

by BA Staff

Photo courtesy Airbus Military

Airbus Military has signed a contract with Kazspecexport, a State Company belonging to the Ministry of Defence of Kazakhstan, to supply two C295 military transport aircraft plus the related service support package for spare parts and ground support equipment.

This order is implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that was signed in 2012 between the Ministry of Defence of Kazakhstan and Airbus Military for the procurement of eight C295s in total and on the basis of which two C295s were already delivered in 2013.

The first two C295s are already in service with the Kazakhstan Air Forces and the third and fourth are planned for delivery in 2014 and 2015 respectively. With regards to the remaining four aircraft in the MoU, a delivery schedule will be defined over the coming years.

 Antonio Rodriguez Barberan, Head Of Commercial, Airbus Military said: 

“Airbus Military is very proud that the Kazakhstan Ministry of Defense is placing a repeat order for the C295, confirming its confidence in the aircraft’s capabilities and cost-efficiency as well as in our company. We are proud of the relationship that has been created with Kazspecexport and the Ministry of Defence and congratulate the teams of both institutions on their professionalism in the process. We will keep striving to ensure that we live up to this mark of confidence and stand by our customer for many years to come."

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Boeing delivers Kenya Airways' first 777-300ER

By BA Staff

Boeing has delivered flag carrier Kenya Airways' first 777-300ER (Extended Range). The aircraft is leased to the carrier by GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS).

Kenya Airways' Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Titus Naikuni said:

"The delivery of this Boeing 777-300ER aircraft marks a key milestone for us at Kenya Airways. Its long-haul capability is a perfect fit for our network expansion plans as it will enable us serve our existing long range markets much more effectively and facilitate the opening of routes in the near future. This is an important step as we continue opening up Africa to the rest of the world."

Kenya Airways' 777-300ER is configured with 400 seats, 28 in the Premier World business class and 372 in eEconomy, and features USB ports, power sockets and an all-new in-flight entertainment system throughout the cabin. The airplane can fly up to 7,825 nautical miles (14,490 kilometers) and is equipped with GE90-115B engines, the world's most powerful commercial jet engine.

Kenya Airways is set to take delivery of a further two 777-300ERs, including an additional lease, as part of the carrier's 10-year strategic plan dubbed 'Project Mawingu.' The Nairobi-based carrier plans to increase its fleet size from 44 airplanes to 107 by 2021 and destinations from the current 62 to 115. Currently the airline's long-haul fleet consists of four Boeing 777-200ERs and six Boeing 767-300ERs.

With this delivery, Kenya Airways is also working with Boeing to support the Alaskan Sudan Medical Project (ASMP) by carrying 10,400 lbs (4,717 kilograms) of humanitarian supplies on the 777-300ER's delivery flight to Kenya. ASMP will use the supplies to build medical clinics, drill water wells and construct bio-sand filters for clean water in the Jonglei region of South Sudan. The humanitarian cargo will also include water pumps and agriculture equipment to support local farmers, fulfilling the ASMP's mission statement of saving lives through health, clean water and agriculture.

Kenya Airways operates a fleet of more than 25 Boeing airplanes including, 777s, 767s and 737s. The carrier serves more than 60 destinations across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe and has nine 787 Dreamliners currently on order from Boeing.

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Airbus receives prestigious European Award

By BA Staff

Airbus has won an award in recognition for its contribution to European economy and integration. The prestigious “Golden Victoria for the European Idea of the Year”, awarded by the German Association of Magazine Publishers (VDZ), was handed over by European Union Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger to Airbus Chief Operating Officer Günter Butschek at the “Publishers’ Night” in Berlin. It is the first time the accolade was given to a company. Previous laureates include European Commission President José Manuel Barroso.

Günter Butschek said:

"Airbus is European integration in action. Our success highlights what Europe can achieve when working together. From start-up to world market leader in such a strategic and competitive industry – I hope that our success story sends a signal to other European business leaders and decision makers."

 The VDZ Board considered Airbus to be an outstanding example of European leadership, stating that Airbus highlighted the strength of the European ideal and the immense achievements that can be accomplished by a joint European undertaking, when stakeholders align.

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Singapore Airlines debuts new 777 cabin products on Mumbai route for a limited time

by Devesh Agarwal

Singapore Airlines débuted its latest cabin products on its Boeing 777-300ER flying between Mumbai and Singapore for a limited time.

This is the latest cabin product of the premium airline which will be standard on its Airbus A350-900 aircraft, but which is also fitted on eight of its new Boeing 777-300ERs, the latest of which was recently delivered to the carrier's fleet. This product was first unveiled on the London route.

See details and images of the new cabin product in our July story.

Nearly $150 million is being invested in the new products on the initial eight B777-300ERs. The aircraft feature the world’s most advanced in-flight entertainment system, with larger screens and touch-screen handsets, as well as more spacious and comfortable seats in First, Business and Economy classes.

The new products will be available on SQ 423/424 flights between Singapore and Mumbai on selected days of the week during the winter schedule which commenced from yesterday.

SQ 423 Mumbai – Singapore:
from October 28, 2013 till March 30, 2014 on Mondays, Saturdays, and Sundays
from October 31, 2013 till November 22, 2013 on Thursdays and Fridays
SQ424 Singapore - Mumbai:
from October 27, 2013 till March 29, 2014 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays
from October 30, 2013 till November 21, 2013 on Wednesdays and Thursdays

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Indian Air Force’s fourth Boeing C-17 Globemaster III delivered

By BA Staff

Boeing remains on track to deliver five C-17 Globemaster III airlifters committed to the Indian Air Force this year, as the fourth aircraft has departed the United States for India.

Boeing will deliver five more C-17s to India in 2014 to complete the ten aircraft contract.

Most recently, the IAF used its C-17s to support Cyclone Phailin relief efforts.

Boeing will complete production of the C-17 Globemaster III in the fourth quarter of 2015. In addition to the remaining C-17s for India, the company will build 15 more for other customers outside the United States. Boeing will continue after-delivery support of the worldwide C-17 fleet as part of the C-17 Globemaster III Integrated Sustainment Program Performance-Based Logistics agreement.

Boeing has delivered 258 C-17s, including 223 to the U.S. Air Force and a total of 35 to Australia, Canada, India, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the 12-member Strategic Airlift Capability initiative of NATO and Partnership for Peace nations.

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Alaska Air group reports record third quarter fiscal 2013 results

By BA Staff

Alaska Air Group, Inc., reported third quarter 2013 GAAP net income of $289 million, or $4.08 per diluted share, compared to $163 million, or $2.27 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2012. Excluding the impact of mark-to-market fuel hedge adjustments of $20 million ($12 million after tax, or $0.17 per diluted share), and a one-time special revenue item of $192 million ($120 million after tax, or $1.70 per diluted share) that primarily resulted from the application of new accounting rules associated with the modified affinity card agreement, the company reported record adjusted net income of $157 million, or $2.21 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $150 million, or $2.09 per diluted share, in 2012.

Alaska Air Group CEO Brad Tilden said:

"These results represent our best quarter ever and mark Alaska's 18th consecutive quarterly profit. This is noteworthy given significant additional competition in some of our core markets. The balance and strength of our network combined with the ability of our people to respond quickly to changing business conditions are enabling us to succeed in this highly competitive industry."

The following table reconciles the company's reported GAAP net income and earnings per diluted share (EPS) during the third quarters of 2013 and 2012 to adjusted amounts:

	Three Months Ended September 30,
(in millions, except per share amounts)	Dollars	Diluted EPS	Dollars	Diluted EPS
Reported GAAP net income	$289	$4.08	$163	$2.27
Mark-to-market fuel-hedge adjustments, net of tax	-12	-0.17	-13	-0.18
Special revenue item, net of tax	-120	-1.7	----	----
Non-GAAP adjusted income and per-share amounts	$157	$2.21	$150	$2.09

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Boeing, Korean Air finalize order for 12 Twin-Aisle Airplanes

By BA Staff

Flag carrier Korean Air has finalised an order on US airframer Boeing, for five 747-8i Intercontinentals and six 777-300ER (Extended Range) jetliners that was originally announced as a commitment during the Paris Air Show earlier in June.

In addition to that commitment, the airline also ordered one additional 787 Dreamliner. The value of the combined order is valued at $3.9 billion at current list prices.

With this order the airline's backlog of 747-8 Intercontinentals and 777-300ERs expands to ten aircraft of each type. The order also increases Korean Air's 787 backlog to 11.

Korean Air is currently the only airline in the world to order both the passenger and freighter variations of the 747-8, the 747-8i and 747-8F. The airline also became the first international carrier to simultaneously operate both the 747-8F and 777F Freighter. The airline, along with German flag carrier Deutsche Lufthansa, are the only two carriers to simultaneously operate both the VLA (very large aircraft) of Boeing and Airbus, the 747-8i and A380-800.

Korean Air's current fleet of operates 90 Boeing passenger airplanes in its fleet; 737s, 747s and 777s.

The airline also operates an all-Boeing cargo fleet of 27 747-400F, 747-8F and 777F freighters. The airline's Aerospace Division is also a key Boeing partner on both the 747-8 and 787 programs, supplying the distinctive raked wing-tips for each model.

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Boeing, EL AL Israel Airlines finalize order for two more 737-900ERs

By BA Staff

El Al Boeing 737-800. Image by AF1621 courtesy Wikimedia

Boeing and El Al Israel Airlines have finalized an order for two additional Next-Generation 737-900ER (Extended Range) airplanes.

The order comes just two weeks after the Israeli flag-carrier took delivery of its first 737-900ER. This order brings the total number of 737-900ERs ordered by EL AL to eight.

Elyezer Shkedy, president and chief executive officer of El Al Israel Airlines said:

"This decision by EL AL to purchase two more 737-900ER aircraft demonstrates our good relationship with Boeing. We are committed to provide our passengers on our medium and short-haul routes with the highest quality product and service, allowing EL AL to continue to be the first choice now and in the future."

The order was finalized at a special event hosted by EL AL at the carrier's base at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport to celebrate the recent arrival of EL AL's first 737-900ER. The Boeing 737-900ER will complement EL AL's existing fleet of Next-Generation 737-700s and 737-800s.

 Todd Nelp, vice president of Sales for Europe, Boeing Commercial Airplanes said:

"We delivered EL AL's first 737-900ER earlier this month and are confident it will fit seamlessly into its short and medium-haul fleet, providing greater flexibility for the carrier's operations across Europe. This order is the latest chapter in a partnership between Boeing and EL AL that stretches back to the foundation of Israel, and it is a sense of enormous pride to the entire company that such a prestigious airline continues to operate an all-Boeing fleet."

EL AL operates an all-Boeing fleet of nearly 40 airplanes including Next-Generation 737s, 747-400s, 767s and 777s and serves more than 40 destinations worldwide from its base in Tel Aviv.  

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Airline on-time performance in August down from previous year, up from July

By BA Staff

The United States' largest airlines posted an on-time arrival rate of 78.8 percent in August, down from the 79.1 percent on-time rate from August 2012, but up from the 73.1 percent mark from July 2013, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Air Travel Consumer Report released today.

Airlines also reported two tarmac delays of more than three hours on domestic flights and no tarmac delays of more than four hours on international flights in August. Both of the reported tarmac delays involved flights scheduled to arrive in Denver, Colo. on Aug. 3 that were diverted due to storms. Both delays are under investigation by the Department.

The larger U.S. airlines have been required to file complete reports on their long tarmac delays for domestic flights since October 2008.  Under a rule that took effect Aug. 23, 2011, all U.S. and foreign airlines operating at least one aircraft with 30 or more passenger seats must report lengthy tarmac delays at U.S. airports.

Also beginning Aug. 23, 2011, carriers operating international flights may not allow tarmac delays at U.S. airports to last longer than four hours without giving passengers an opportunity to deplane.  There is a separate three-hour limit on tarmac delays involving domestic flights, which went into effect in April 2010.  Exceptions to the time limits for both domestic and international flights are allowed only for safety, security, or air traffic control-related reasons.  Severe weather could cause or exacerbate such situations.

The consumer report also includes data on cancellations, chronically delayed flights, and the causes of flight delays filed with the Department’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) by the reporting carriers.  In addition, the consumer report contains information on mishandled baggage reports filed by consumers with the carriers, and consumer service, disability, and discrimination complaints received by DOT’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division.  The consumer report also includes reports of incidents involving the loss, death, or injury of pets traveling by air, as required to be filed by U.S. carriers. 

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Amadeus enhances selling opportunities for hoteliers and travel agencies

By BA Staff 

Amadeus, a leading technology partner for the global travel industry, announced the launch of the Amadeus Hotels Select web portal that allows hoteliers to promote their deals and offers directly to travel agents in Asia Pacific.

For the first time, Amadeus travel agents will benefit from access to exclusive hotel rates and special offers from over 1,100 hotels worldwide in just a few clicks with Amadeus Hotels Select. By consolidating all the latest hotel promotional content on a single online platform, this will allow increased efficiency for travel agents, reducing the time needed for them to sieve through extensive data.

Kartikeya Tripathi, Head of Hotel Distribution, Amadeus Asia Pacific, said:
Global Distribution System (GDS). This means that travel agents not only have instant visibility on promotional offers and deals, but with a single click of a button, can book the hotels. Travel agents will be able to improve customer service by offering better deals faster, customised to the traveller’s needs.

“This win-win situation offers enhanced selling opportunities for both parties, bringing our hotel partners closer to our travel agency customers. Participating hoteliers can now highlight their best and latest offers instantly to a wide network of travel agents. This allows them the much needed agility and flexibility to communicate special offers.”

Real-time online access is vital in today’s landscape, as travellers are increasingly comparing travel agency offers with options from consumer websites and reviews.  Amadeus’ second Asia Pacific hotel distribution survey, which examined the views of more than 1,000 travel agents in Asia Pacific, said that today 62 per cent of travellers conduct price comparisons compared to 48 per cent in 2010.

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DOT fines ticket agents for code-share disclosure violations

By BA Staff

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today fined two ticket agents for violating the Department’s rules on disclosure of code-share flights. DOT issued a $125,000 fine against Carlson Wagonlit Travel and a $65,000 fine against Frosch International Travel, and both companies were ordered to cease and desist from further violations. The amount of the fines was based on the specific circumstances of the individual cases. Today’s consent orders are part of an ongoing effort by DOT to ensure that ticket agents comply with the code-share disclosure rules.

 U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said:

“No one wants to arrive to their gate and learn for the first time that the airline they thought was operating their flight actually sold them a ticket for another airline. We will continue to make sure that all companies selling air transportation are transparent with consumers and will take enforcement action when they fail to disclose code-sharing arrangements.”

Under code-sharing, an airline sells seats on flights using its designator code, but the flights are operated by a separate airline.

In this case, DOT’s Aviation Enforcement Office made telephone calls to a number of agents during January and February of 2013 and inquired about booking certain flights. During these calls, the reservations agents for both companies failed to disclose that the flights were being operated under code-share arrangements. The agents identified only the name of the airline marketing the flight and not the name of airline operating the flight. This violated DOT rules requiring airlines and ticket agents to inform consumers if a flight is operated under a code-share arrangement, as well as disclose the corporate name of the transporting airline and any other name under which the flight is offered to the public.

DOT takes enforcement action when necessary against companies that sell air transportation based on consumer complaints and the Department’s own internal investigations. DOT has now issued six fines for code-sharing violations this year, totaling $430,000.

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Boeing Begins Assembling 3rd KC-46A Tanker Aircraft

By BA Staff

Boeing is assembling a third KC-46A test aircraft for the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation aerial refueling tanker program at the company’s Everett factory, keeping the program on schedule to complete production of four test aircraft by the third quarter of 2014.

Maureen Dougherty, Boeing vice president and KC-46 Tanker program manager said:

“In addition to the three KC-46A tankers now in production, our System Integration Labs are operational and we’re assembling a second boom. We remain on track to deliver the initial 18 KC-46A tankers by 2017.”

The KC-46A is based on the Boeing 767 commercial jetliner, a proven airframe in service as an airliner, freighter and tanker. Boeing has delivered more than 1,050 767s worldwide.

 Scott Campbell, vice president and general manager of the 767 program said:

"Our teams are maintaining their focus on quality and productivity as we move the first tankers through production."

The first test aircraft will roll out early next year. The first test flight of a fully provisioned KC-46A tanker is projected for early 2015, and the first delivery of a production aircraft to the Air Force is planned for early 2016. Boeing expects to build 179 tankers by 2027 if all options under the contract are exercised.

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Jet Time to operate regional routes for SAS in Northern Europe flying new ATR 72-600s

By BA Staff

Jet Time has taken delivery of the first of six new ATR 72-600 turboprops. This aircraft has been acquired on lease from the Danish leasing company Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC). All the ATR72-600 aircraft will be assigned to feed the SAS Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) route network, as part of a commercial arrangement between SAS and Jet Time, and they will all be painted in SAS livery.

The delivery ceremony for this very first ATR 72-600 series aircraft to be operated in Europe's Nordic countries took place in Toulouse, France, in the presence of the management teams of Jet Time, NAC, SAS and ATR. Deliveries of the next five ATR 72-600s will be completed by early in 2014.

The introduction of these new 70-seat ATR 72-600s, the most fuel efficient aircraft in their category, will contribute to Jet Time's economic performance in the long run as the airline expands its fleet capacity and widens the scope of its activity. These new generation ATRs are equipped with a new full-glass cockpit and feature a high comfort layout with larger overhead bins.

The Chief Executive Officer of Jet Time, Klaus Ren, declared:

“We have been looking forward to this first delivery. Today, we are thrilled that this modern turboprop airplane becomes the backbone of Jet Time's new activity. With a very good balance of comfort, modern technologies, cost efficiencies and highly regarded environmental qualities, the ATR 72-600 aircraft will also secure an effective and smooth launch of new regional service for Nordic travellers.”

Joakim Landholm, Chief Commercial Officer, SAS:

“I look forward to offering our clients the comfort and pleasure of a brand new aircraft on our North European routes, where Jet Time will operate the ATR 72-600 for SAS. With the smaller aircraft we can adapt our traffic to our customer's needs with many frequencies and destinations. Thus, the partnership gives us the possibility to strengthen our network regionally and at the same time expand on popular leisure destination with our own modern aircraft.”

Martin Møller, Chairman of NAC, declared:

“We are happy to see the first ATR-600 series aircraft to start operations in the Scandinavian skies. When acquiring an aircraft we favor those with the most modern technologies, low operating costs, excellent green credentials and versatility ATR turboprop aircraft and particularly the newest -600s perfectly match these requirements for short-haul operations”.

Filippo Bagnato, Chief Executive Officer of ATR, stated:

“Today's delivery to Jet Time is very significant because this is the first ATR-600 aircraft to go to the Scandinavian region. There has been very positive feedback from passengers who have travelled on the ATR 72-500s in the region, and the enhanced comfort of the new 600 series will contribute to further consolidate the strong reputation of the ATR planes. We are pleased to welcome Jet Time that has been able to introduce the ATR72-600 in SAS network, among our operators.”

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NTSB investigating engine failure aboard Spirit Airlines Flight 165

By BA Staff

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating Tuesday’s engine failure on a Spirit Airlines Airbus A319, which was flying from Dallas to Atlanta.

The NTSB has an investigator on the scene at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport inspecting and documenting the engine, an International Aero Engines (IAE) V2500, which has now been removed from the airplane.

As a result of the initial inspection, it was determined that the engine failure was contained, meaning it did not penetrate the engine casing.

The engine will be shipped to a separate facility for a detailed examination and disassembly. IAE, the Federal Aviation Administration, and Spirit Airlines are parties to the investigation.

The NTSB has also secured the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from Spirit Flight 165. The recorders are being brought back to Washington, DC for readout and analysis.

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