Aeroflot has taken delivery of two new Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft (registration numbers RA-89057 and RA-89058) in full specification produced by JSC Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (SCA). Both aircraft have been named in honour of Russian pilots: the RA-89057 for K Sapelkin and the RA-89058 for N Safronnikov. The new SSJ-100s have been transferred to Aeroflot under a financial lease a...
The VNA Joint Stock Company convened the 2015 Review and 2016 Plan Implementation Meeting. At this event, VNA also officially announced the establishment of the Vietnam International Airport Ground Services (VIAGS) Ltd. and held the Signing Ceremony of the Tripartite Coordination Instrument between VNA, Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM) and the Airports Cor...
In line with Kuwait Airways’ phased commercial strategy to enhance its network and schedule, the airline is announcing the suspension of its services carrying passengers between London Heathrow and New York’s JFK airport. The airline is also cancelling all direct services between Kuwait and Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Sohag, and Alexandria with effect from 28th March 2016. As i...
Finnair has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with BOC Aviation Pte Ltd (“BOC Aviation”) to lease four new Airbus A321-200 narrow-body aircraft. BOC Aviation is a Singapore-based subsidiary of Bank of China, specialising in aircraft leasing. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery to Finnair during the first half of 2017. The lease agreements have a minimum...
Etihad Airways is deeply disappointed by the German court’s decision handed down today. We are reviewing the judgement and will file an appeal against the decision early next week. Etihad Airways owns 29.2 per cent of airberlin, Germany’s second largest airline. The social and economic damage to Germany by this decision is significant. The withdrawal of approval for codeshare...
LMI Aerospace Inc. has announced that its President of Corporate Development & Strategy Lawrence E. “Ed” Dickinson III, plans to retire by the end of the second quarter of 2016. “Ed has been an instrumental leader in the company’s financial health and growth over the past two decades,” said Chief Executive Officer Dan Korte. “He put in plac...
Ordering a beverage from the seatback isn’t novel, but ordering a case of wine to be delivered to your home is the new normal for passengers flying with Air New Zealand’s latest entertainment systems. Alongside the more usual TV, movie and audio options on offer on the IFE is the chance to purchase bottles — or, indeed, cases — of wine for home delivery. It’s intui...
Airline marketing and ancillary revenue consultancy Ideaworks has announced its list of the top five airline marketing innovators for 2015, and listed Delta as the industry’s best at building revenue through ancillary sales, including its “branded fares” and Comfort+ product. “Delta continues to be an industry leader in product development and providing premium choices f...
An Estonian court has formally declared the Baltic nation’s state-owned airline bankrupt after it ceased operations last month following a European Union order to repay millions in state aid. The Harju County Court said Tuesday that the bankruptcy proceedings for Estonian Air are to be carried out immediately, with the first meeting of creditors scheduled on Jan. 15. The EU’s exe...
The Bulgarian air force on 18 December held a ceremony to mark the retirement of its last Mikoyan MiG-21 fighters. Involving the nation's last three serviceable examples – two single-seat MiG-21bis's and a two-seat MiG-21UM1 trainer – the event marked the end of regular flight operations, although the former pair will remain available to conduct quick reaction alert sorties...
Mitsubishi Aircraft will strengthen the MRJ regional jet’s airframe and upgrade its software, following an announcement last week about a year-long delay to the aircraft’s delivery schedule. The Japanese manufacturer tells Flightglobal that it has scheduled two months to strengthen the aircraft’s airframe, as well as upgrade the software for its avionics, flight control system...
Pilots of a Tatarstan Airlines Boeing 737-500 had not realised the autopilot had disengaged as they attempted a go-around at Kazan, during which the aircraft entered a steep dive and disintegrated upon striking the ground. Russia’s Interstate Aviation Committee says that two “weak” pilots, with poor training, had been paired on the flight from Moscow – a s...
