News desk

Under Its Order, Lufthansa Has Purchased 30 110-seat Cs100s (Renamed From the C110) and 30 Options, Which Will Be Operated by Its Swiss Air Lines Subsidiary, Replacing 20 Avro Rjs. At List Prices, the Order is Worth Us$1. 35bn (a$1. 96bn), With the First Aircraft Due for Delivery in 2014. “we Are Proud to Be the Launch Customer for the Cseries Family of Aircraft Which Meets Our Requirements for Sustainable Fleet Development Including Significant Reductions in Fuel Burn and Noise, as Well as Offering Flexibility for the Future,” Said Nico Buchholz, Lufthansa’s Senior Vice President – Corporate Fleet Bombardier Has Also Announced That It Had Changed the Designations of the 110 and 130 Seat Aircraft Variants, With the 110-seater Now Named Cs100, While the C130 Has Been Redesignated Cs300.

Bombardier Later Announced That It Had Selected Alenia Has Been Selected to Provide the Horizontal and Vertical Stabilisers, Which Will Be Delivered Equipped With Hydraulic, Electrical and Flight Control Systems, Lights and Antennas. Fokker Elmo Will Design and Produce the Entire Wiring and Interconnection Systems for the Aircraft, as Well as All Flight Test Instrumentation Wiring for Certification and Flight Testing. Finally, Goodrich Actuation Systems Has Been Chosen to Provide Design and Production of the Cseries’s Flaps and Slat Actuation Systems.

Boeing Q1 Deliveries Up

Boeing Delivered Six More Aircraft During the First Quarter of 2009 Compared to the Same Time Last Year.

For the Three Months Ending March 31, the Seattle Based Airframer Delivered 91 737ngs, Four 747s, Three 767s and 23 777s. Compared to the Same Quarter in 2008, an Additional Four 737s and Two 777s Were Delivered. Over the Same Period, the Company Took Orders for 24 737s and Four 777s, but Cancellations for 32 787s Left It With a Net Loss of Four Aircraft.

The Figures Demonstrate That the Company Has Recovered From the Two Month Machinists’ Strike Last Year Which Crippled Its Production During the Final Quarter of 2009, Which Saw It Only Deliver 50 Aircraft.

Expect Further Production Cuts – Ilfc

International Lease Finance Company (Ilfc) Ceo Steven Udvar-hazy Says That Airbus and Boeing Will Have to Cut Production or Face the Prospect of Having to Vendor-finance More Aircraft.

“we Would Not Be Surprised if Both Airbus and Boeing May Have to Cut Production 20-35 Per Cent by the Middle of 2010,” Udvar-hazy Said on March 18. His Comments Are in Line With Previous Calls From the Lessor – Boeing’s and Airbus’s Biggest Customer – to Reduce Outputs as Financing Challenges Would Force a Number of Airlines and Leasing Companies to Defer Deliveries of New Aircraft Over the Next Few Years.

Airbus Has Already Signalled That It Plans to Hold Its 2009 Production at the Same Levels as the Year Before and Will Also Cut Some Production in 2010. Boeing is Currently on Track to Increase Production During the Current Year, but is Expected to Announce in May That It Will Cut Back Its Planned Production During 2010.

While Most of the Cancellations and Deferrals Are Likely to Come From Narrow-body Lines, Ilfc Could Place Pressure on the Airbus A380 Line Next Year, With the Lessor Contractually Able to Cancel Its Order for 10 A380s From January 1 2010. Asked by Analysts From Leeham and Co About Exercising This Option, Udvar-hazy Refused to Say Which Way the Company Was Planning to Go With Its A380 Order. But With the Limited A380 Customer Base, the Major Decline in Traffic and Ilfc’s Uncertain Status as an Aig Subsidiary, Some Analysts Believe It is Inevitable That the Lessor Will Choose to Walk Away From the Aircraft.

Bombardier Profit Up, Job Cuts Coming

Bombardier Aerospace Has Recorded a Significant Rise in Earnings Before Interest and Tax (Ebit) for 2008, but Has Warned That It Plans to Continue to Shed Jobs This Year as the Market Conditions Worsen.

For the Year Ending January 31, the Manufacturer Delivered Ebit of Us$896m (a$1. 27bn), a 59 Per Cent Rise Compared to the Previous Fiscal Year, Thanks Mostly Due to a Rise in Margin to Nine Per Cent. Revenue Was Up by Three Per Cent to Us$10bn (a$14. 1bn), Which the Company Said Was Attributable to Increased Deliveries of Business Aircraft and Improved Selling Prices for Both Business and Commercial Aircraft.

Net Orders for the Year Were 367, a Major Decline Compared to the 698 Ordered Last Year Across the Commercial, Business and Amphibious. Deliveries for the Year Were Also Lower at 349 Aircraft, While the Value of Its Backlog Increased by 3. 5 Per Cent to Us$23. 5bn (a$33. 2bn).

While Pleased With the Result, the Canadian Company Noted That It Was Planning on Slashing Output of Its Business Aircraft by 25 Per Cent, While Commercial Deliveries Are Expected to Increase by 10 Per Cent. “this Adjustment Will Result in a Further Reduction of Approximately 10 Percent of Bombardier Aerospace’s Total Workforce, or Approximately 3,000 Employees, at Its Facilities in Canada, the United States, Mexico and Northern Ireland by the End of Calendar Year 2009,” the Company Said.

Embraer Income Fell in 4q08 Embraer Posted a 45 Per Cent Decline in Fourth Quarter Profit for 2008 to Us$111. 7m (a$159. 5m) on the Back of Lower Revenue and an Increase in Net Financial Expenses.

Compared to the Same Period in 2007, the Brazilian Manufacturer Recorded a Three Per Cent Fall in Net Sales to Us$1. 82bn (a$2. 6bn), While a Financing Charge of Us$154m (a$220m) Also Affected the Result. Excluding These Items, Operating Profit in Fact Rose by 60 Per Cent to Us$274. 6m (a$392m).

For the Quarter, Embraer Delivered 59 Aircraft Across Its Portfolio, Comprising 44 Commercial Jets, Two Emb-135s and Two Legacy 600 Jets for Government Customers, and Eight Legacy 600s and Two Phenom 100s for Private Customers. The Only Major Order Announced During the Quarter Was From British Airways for 11 E-jets to Be Operated by Ba Cityflyer.

For the Full Year, the Manufacturer Recorded Net Profit of Us$388. 7m (a$554. 9m), a 20. 6 Per Cent Fall on the Previous Year, While Revenue Increased by 20. 8 Per Cent to Us$6. 3bn (a$9bn). Revenue Was Driven Higher by a Similar Increase in Deliveries With 204 Aircraft Delivered Over the 12 Months to December 31.

Separately, Embraer Will Celebrate Its 40th Anniversary This Year, With the Manufacturer Officially Starting Business in August 1969.

Commercial Briefs

* Sukhoi Has Delivered Its First Two Superjet 100s to the M. M. Gromov Flight Research Centre in Zhukovsky for Flight Certification Testing. Certification is Expected in the Second Half of the Year, Ahead of First Delivery to Launch Customer Aeroflot in December.

* Embraer Began Steep Approach Tests in an E-190 at London City Airport on March 31, With the Manufacturer Aiming to Achieve Certification to Operate From Lcy by the End of the Year.

* Czech Aerospace Manufacturer Aero Vodochody Celebrated Its 90th Birthday on February 25. Since Its Foundation in 1919, Aero Has Manufactured Over 11,000 Aircraft, and Today is a Supplier to Boeing, Airbus, Sikorsky and Other Aerospace Manufacturers.

* the Sixth Boeing 787 Has Entered Final Assembly at Boeing’s Everett Production Facility. The Aircraft is the First to Be Powered by Ge Genx Engines and is the Last of the Six 787s Which Will Be Used in Flight and Structural Testing.

Sales

* Korean Air Has Ordered Six Airbus A330-300s. The Airline Already Operates 16 A330-300s and Three A330-200s.

* Air Tahiti Has Ordered Three Atr 42-600s and Two 70-seat Atr 72-600s. The Airline Has Also Taken Options on a Further Two Atr 72-600s.

* Royal Air Maroc Has Ordered Four Atr 72-600s and Two Atr 42-600s, and Has Taken Options on Two Atr 72-600s. The Aircraft Will Be Operated by Royal Air Maroc Express, a New Regional Subsidiary of the Airline.

* Lease Corporation International Aviation Has Ordered Three Bombardier Cs100s and 17 Cs300s. The Lessor Has Also Taken Options on a Further 20 Cseries’.

Military

F-35 Begins Hover Pit Testing

a Development F-35b Jsf Has Begun Hover Pit Testing at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth Facility as the Program Ramps Up Towards Full Vertical Flight Later This Year.

The Testing is Initially Being Conducted Over a Three Metre Deep Hover Pit Which Expels Hot Exhaust Gasses Away From the Aircraft in Order to Avoid the Ingestion of the Gasses by the Engine. The Initial Tests Are Designed to Check the Integration of the F135 Engine With the Rolls-royce Developed Lift Fan.

Vertical Flight Trials Were Delayed From Late Last Year to the Third Quarter of This Year Following the Failure of an F135 Compressor Blade During Testing in September 2007 and the Subsequent Redesign of That Section of the Engine. Two F-35bs Have Flown to Date, but Only in Conventional Flight Mode, With the Second Aircraft – Bf2 – Taking to the Air on February 25.

 Us Audit Figures Predict Trouble Ahead for Jsf

the Us Government Accountability Office (Gao) Has Again Predicted Troubled Times Ahead for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in Its Annual Report on the Us$300bn (a$426bn) Program.

The Report Says the Jsf Program Office (Jpo)’s Expected Us$2. 4bn (a$3. 5bn) Cost Overrun for the Past Year is More Likely to Run to as Much as Us$7. 4bn (a$10. 8bn) Due to the Jpo Not Including Costs for the Development of the Alternate F136 Engine and Underestimating the Mission Systems Testing Hours Required by Up to 1000 Flight Test Hours. The Jpo Counters This by Claiming the F-35’s Software Development Curve is 18 Months Ahead of Where the F-22 Program Was at a Similar Stage.

The Gao Also Claims There Have Been Several Manufacturing Issues Leading to the Number of Projected Labour Hours Required to Manufacture an F-35 to Increase by as Much as 40 Per Cent Since 2007, Which is Likely to Persist Into 2010.

In Other Jsf News, the Uk Has Signed for Its First Three Production F-35bs to Support Its Initial Operational Test & Evaluation (Iot&e) Program, to Be Delivered in 2011 and 2012 From the Program’s Third Low Rate Initial Production (Lrip) Batch. The Aircraft Will Be Assigned to a Joint Test Team Based in the Us.

Meanwhile, Major Joseph ‘od’ Bachmann Became the First Us Marine Corps Pilot, the Second Active Duty Pilot, and the Fifth Pilot Overall to Fly the Jsf When He Took Aa-1 Up for 1. 25 Hours on the F-35’s 90th Test Flight Recently.

Military Briefs

Boeing Successfully Demonstrated the Ability to Deliver Streaming Video Over a Mobile, Ad Hoc Tactical Network From a Uav to a Chinook Helicopter and to Ground Troops During a Demonstration at Its Brisbane Systems Analysis Laboratory in Mid March. The Demonstration Proved That the High-bandwidth Connection Can Deliver Video Beyond Line-of-sight to the Tactical Edge, Providing Greater Situational Awareness to Soldiers and Airmen Equipped to Receive Video.

* an F-22 From Edwards Afb Crashed on March 25 With the Loss of Its Lockheed Martin Test Pilot, David Cooley. The Crash Occurred About 55km Northwest of Edwards in a Remote Area of the China Lake Test Range. The Crash is Just the Second Loss of an F-22a, and the First Since the Aircraft Was Declared Operational in Late 2005.

* Rolls-royce Turbomeca (Rrtm) and Australian Aerospace Have Signed a Five Year Agreement to Provide Through-life Support (Tls) to the Engines for the Adf’s 46 Mrh 90 Helicopters Currently Being Delivered.

* Pictures Have Emerged From China of a Substantially Modified J-10 Test Aircraft Sporting a Redesigned Engine Intake, a Nose Mounted Infrared Search and Track (Irst) Turret, a Reprofiled Nose Radome, and a Redesigned Tail Fin With What Appears to Be a New Rwr Antenna. There Have Been Reports in Recent Months of an Enhanced J-10b Fighter Under Development for the Plaaf.

* the Us’s Obama Administration Has Approved Plans by India to Buy Eight Boeing P-8i Poseidon Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft.

* the Uae Has Announced It Has Ordered Four Boeing C-17 and 12 Lockheed Martin C-130j Transports, and 46 Alenia M-346 Advanced Trainers at the Recent International Defence Exhibition & Conference (Idex) in Abu Dhabi. The Uae Operates 80 F-16e/f Block 60s and Has Three Kc-30 Tankers on Order, and is Due to Soon Announce an Order for a Small Number of Aew&c Aircraft, Giving It One of the Most Advanced Air Arms in the Region. The Uae Order is the First Export Sale of the M-346, Which Has Also Been Ordered for the Italian Air Force.

* Boeing Have Decided to End Their Partnership for the Production of the C-27j Joint Cargo Aircraft (Jca) for the Usaf and Us Army. Boeing Had Expected to Have Played a Major Role in Supporting an Raaf C-27j Fleet in Service Should It Be Selected to Replace the Caribou Under Air 8000 Phase 2.

Airlines

Tiger Pounces on Mel-syd Tiger Airways Australia Has Announced That It Will Fly Up to Four Services a Day on the Melbourne-sydney Route From July 3.

“melbourne-sydney is One of the Most Popular Routes in Both Australia and Indeed the Whole World,” Said Tiger Airways Australia’s Managing Director Shelley Roberts. “with Tiger Airways New Flight Route, More People Than Ever Will Be Able to Travel Between the Two Destinations More Often and for the First Time at Consistently Low Fares. This is Particularly Pleasing at a Time When Some Other Airlines Are Cutting Schedules and in Comparison, Tiger Airways is Adding to Its Network. ” the Carrier Says Its Lead in Fare on the Route Will Be $68 One Way, and the Carrier Will Operate From the Multi-user Terminal 2 Alongside Virgin Blue and Jetstar.

Interestingly, the Announcement Came Only a Day After It Was Announced That Qantas and Its Fellow Shareholders in Jetstar Asia Had Reached an Agreement Which Would See the Australian Carrier Increase Its Shareholding in the Low Cost Carrier. This Effectively Cuts Its Ties With Singaporean Investment Company Temasek Holdings, Which Had Been a Shareholder in Jetstar Asia and Also Owns a Stake in Tiger’s Parent Company, Tiger Aviation Group.

Qantas to Fly to Abu Dhabi?

After Announcing a Comprehensive Codeshare Agreement With Etihad Airways, Qantas Seemingly Appears Set to Fly to Abu Dhabi From Next Year.

Speaking on Abc Tv’s ‘inside Business’ Program on March 29, Etihad Ceo James Hogan Said That in Their Codeshare Negotiations, “[qantas Have] Made It Clear That They Intend to Operate Into Abu Dhabi in 2010. ” Hogan Was in Australia for the Launch of Etihad’s Daily Services From Abu Dhabi to Melbourne, Which Took Off on March 30, Operated by an Airbus A340-600.

Qantas Has Not Yet Released Any Information About Planned Abu Dhabi Services, but It is Expected That Any Such Serviced Would Be Operated by Boeing 747-400s Which Have Been Freed Up Due to the Growing A380 Fleet.

Prior to That, the Two Carriers on Announced March 11 a Comprehensive Codeshare Agreement, Which Saw the Qf Applied on Certain Etihad Services From Australia to and Beyond Abu Dhabi, While Etihad Codeshares on Some Domestic and Trans-tasman Services Operated by Qantas.

Meanwhile, Qatar Airways Plans to Start Services to Sydney and Melbourne Later This Year, Following a New Air Services Agreement Between Australia and Qatar. No Date Has Been Set for the Start of Services.

Virgin Blue, Saa Interline

South African Airways and Virgin Blue Have Announced That They Will Interline With Each Other From April 8.

Negotiated Over One Year, the Agreement Will Allow Passengers to Connect From Virgin Blue Domestic Services to Saa’s Flights to Johannesburg From Perth and Sydney. Thevan Krishna, Saa’s Head of Australasia Said, “both Saa and Virgin Blue Are Working to Ensure the Whole Process for Passengers is as Seamless as Possible and We Look Forward to Welcoming Many of Virgin Blue’s Loyal Customers Onboard Saa. ” the Announcement is Somewhat of a Surprise, as Virgin Blue’s Longhaul Subsidiary V Australia is Expected to Announce Services to South Africa Commencing Later This Year. The Airline Was Granted an Allocation of Five Weekly Services on the South Africa Route by the Iasc, but Has Not Yet Nominated a Star Date for the Services. Saa is Also a Codeshare Partner With Qantas on Services From Sydney and Perth to Johannesburg.

Jetstar, Virgin Blue Take Out Awards

Virgin Blue Has Been Voted Australia’s Best Airline in a Choice Magazine Survey, While Jetstar Has Won the Skytrax Award for Best Low Cost Airline – Australasia.

In the Choice Survey, Virgin Blue Scored a Satisfaction Rating of 68 Per Cent, Edging Out Regional Express by Two Points, While Qantas Scored a 61 Per Cent Rating. Respondents Rated Virgin Blue’s Value for Money, Ease of Booking and the Ability to Get a Convenient Flight Particularly Highly.

Jetstar Also Announced This Week That It Had Won the Best Low Cost Airline – Australasia 2009 Award in the Passenger-voted Skytrax World Airline Awards, Which Were Held on April 1. It Represents the Second Year in That the Airline Has Won the Award, With the First One Announced in 2007.

Malaysian Carrier Airasia Took Out the World Best Low Cost Airline Award.

Strategic to Get A320s

Strategic Airlines Has Announced That It Has Signed a Letter of Intent for Two Airbus A320s.

The Charter Airline Says It Plans to Take Delivery of the Cfm56 Powered Aircraft in June and July This Year. Strategic’s Commercial Manager, Mr. Simon Moore Said “we Are in the Final Stages of Negotiations to Secure the Aircraft. The A320’s Will Enable Strategic to Provide a Great Passenger Charter Option, Both Within Australia and Overseas. ” the Airline Also Revealed Its New Corporate Branding, Which Will Feature on Its Aircraft as They Are Delivered. Strategic is Also in the Process of Choosing Either Brisbane or Melbourne as Its Headquarters, From Where It Expects to Employ Up to 200 Staff. The Airline is Also Planning to Take Delivery of an A330-300 This Year.

The Airline is Currently on Track to Launch in September. It is Understood That the Aircraft to Be Used to Replace the A330 Currently Wet Leased From a European Carrier to Transport Adf Personnel to and From the Middle East.

Virgin, Jetstar & Qantas Record Pax Fall in Feb Virgin Blue, Jetstar and Qantas Have Recorded Declines in Domestic Passenger Numbers During February.

Qantas Saw a 10. 1 Per Cent Fall in Passenger Numbers to 1. 2 Million, Which Drove Revenue Passenger Kilometres Down by 11. 4 Per Cent. Despite an 8. 1 Per Cent Decrease in Capacity, Load Factor Was Lower by 2. 8 Pts to 76. 9 Per Cent. Qantaslink Also Saw Falls Across the Board, Which Resulted in a 4. 8pt Fall in Load Factor to 69 Per Cent. Jetstar’s Domestic Services Recorded a Fall in Passenger Numbers of 3. 3 Per Cent, Although an Eight Per Cent Fall in Capacity Saw It Achieve a 2. 8 Point Rise in Seat Factor to 78. 9 Per Cent.

Overall, the Qantas Group Saw an 8. 4 Per Cent Fall in Passenger Numbers, Causing Rpks to Fall by 10. 1 Per Cent. While Capacity Decreased by 7. 6 Per Cent, It Was Not Enough to Stop a 2. 2pt Fall in Load Factor Overall to 80. 6 Per Cent.

Virign Blue Recorded a Smaller Fall in Domestic Passenger Numbers at Only 0. 1 Per Cent. However, With an Increase in Rpks of 2. 5 Per Cent, Load Factor Was Up 1. 4pts to 81. 3 Per Cent. The Increase in International Capacity by Its Pacific Blue Subsidiary Saw Its Passenger Numbers Spike by 41. 1 Per Cent to 180,877. Overall, the Virgin Blue Group Recorded a 3. 8 Per Cent Increase in Passengers, an 11. 7 Per Cent Increase in Rpks, 12. 1 Per Cent Increase in Asks, Leaving Group Load Factor Down by 0. 4pts to 79 Per Cent.

Strike Halts Qantas, Jetstar Flights Nationwide a Shock Strike by Baggage Handlers Who Are Members of the Transport Workers Union Caused Chaos at Airports Around Australia on March 30 Saw a Number of Qantas, Jetstar and Other Carrier’s Flights Disrupted.

The Twu Strike Was Called in Response to What It Claims Were Failures of Security Failures as a Result of Jetstar’s Recent Decision to Outsource Its Baggage Handling at Hobart, Launceston and Sydney International Airports to Air Trade Pty Ltd and Aero-care.

“the Continued Outsourcing of Work by Qantas Has Given Opportunities in the Areas of Security, Baggage Handling and Other Areas of the Workplace Where There is No Guarantee the Contractor Working Beside You Has Been Cleared by Any Security Organisation Whatsoever,” Said Twu Federal Secretary Tony Sheldon.

However, Jetstar Ceo Bruce Buchanan Said the Airline Failed to Comprehend the Rationale on Which the Twu Response Was Based. “the Supply of Airport Services by Accredited Providers is a Wide Practice in the Airline Industry Within Both Jetstar and Our Competitors Where These Services Are Extensively Used,” He Said.

“a Pertinent Fact is the Same High Security Standards Are in Place for All Organisations Which Operate and Require Airside Access at Domestic and International Airports Around Australia. ” the Strike Lasted From Approximately Four Hours Until the Baggage Handlers Were Ordered to Return to Work.

V Australia Signs Interline With Delta Delta Air Lines and V Australia Have Signed an Interline Agreement in a Move Which Will Allow V Australia Passengers Seamless Transfers to Delta’s Domestic Us Network.

The New Agreement Effectively Replaces One Made at the Launch of V Australia Last Year With Northwest Airlines, Which Has Since Been Taken Over by Delta. Under the Agreement, Travellers Will Be Able to Purchase a Single Ticket for Travel Between the Two Airlines’ Networks in the Us and Australia, Opening Up the Number of Possible Destinations Each Carrier Can Offer.

V Australia, Which Launched Its Sydney-los Angeles Services on February 27, Will Increase Its Presence on the Trans-pacific Route With the Launch of Its Three Times Weekly Service on Los Angeles-brisbane on April 8. Delta is Also Planning to Launch Services on Sydney-los Angeles From July This Year, With Fares Set to Start From $777, Excluding Taxes.

Virgin Blue Consolidates Domestic Capacity Virgin Blue Has Announced That It Will Cut 28 Daily Flights From Its Domestic Network From May 7, but Has Also Announced New Services From Darwin to Melbourne and Perth the Cut in Services is Due to Its Decision to Ground Five Boeing 737-800s at the Start of the New Scheduling Season, With the Aircraft to Be Used as Operational Spares, and Will See Some Services on High Frequency Routes Cut. The Airline is Not Planning to Cut Any Destinations.

As a Result of the Cuts, the Airline Says That Up to 400 Full Time Positions May Be Impacted, but It is Continuing to Explore Options Including Shorter Hours, Transfers to V Australia and Job Sharing to Avoid Redundancies. “we Have Been Very Open With Our Team, Outlining in a Realistic Manner the Current Operating Environment and What We Have to Do to Keep Our Business Sustainable During Economic Downturn,” Said Virgin Ceo Brett Godfrey.

Nevertheless Virgin Blue Has Been Filling in Some Gaps in Its Network, With the Airline Commencing Services From Darwin to Melbourne Six Times a Week and Darwin-perth Daily From April 28. Both Services Are Flown With Boeing 737-800s.

Emirates Happy With A380s Emirates Says It is Happy With Its Fleet of Four Airbus A380s, Despite a Report in German Newspaper Der Spiegel That It Sent a 46 Page Presentation to Airbus Highlighting Various in-service Issues With the Aircraft.

According to the Newspaper, the Dubai Based Carrier Said That It Has Lost Over 500 Hours of Flying Time With the A380s Due to Various Unspecified Technical Issues.

While Not Denying the Reports of the Dossier, Emirates President Tim Clark Told ‘australian Aviation’ Contributor Geoffrey Thomas That “the Situation Has Been Overblown”, and That a Number of Niggling Issues Had Been Addressed by Both Ek and Airbus in a Timely Fashion. Airbus Also Said in a Statement That, “We Take the Criticism and the Feedback From Emirates Very Seriously. We Are Doing Everything We Can to Overcome the Issues and We Are Working Very Closely With Our Customers to Solve That. ” Emirates Has Also Announced That It Will Change Its Rotations for the Double-decker Aircraft to Meet Market Demand, With the A380 to Operate Flights to Toronto and Bangkok From June 1 Instead of the New York Jfk-dubai Route It Launched on Last Year, Which Will Now Be Operated by Boeing 777-300ers. The Change Has Been Attributed to Poor Demand on the New York Route.

Jetstar Ups Asian Services

Jetstar Has Announced That It Plans to Return to the Cairns-osaka Direct Route From December This Year and Will Also Extend Its Current Services From Perth to Denpasar and Jakarta Services to Singapore.

The Airline Has Not Given a Date for the Restarting of Services to Osaka, Saying in a Statement That the Four Times Weekly Services Would Be “dependent on a Satisfactory Commercial Arrangement Being Achieved With Kansai International Airport. ” Jetstar Cancelled Its Four Times Weekly Cairns-osaka Service Late Last Year as Part of a Restructuring of the Qantas Group’s Japanese Network, but Has Offered a Connecting Service Three Times a Week to Cairns From the Gold Coast for Passengers Flying to and From Osaka.

The Airline Also Announced That From July 14 Its Services From Perth to Jakarta and Denpasar Will Extend on to Singapore. This Will Be in Addition to Its Daily Direct Perth-singapore Service and Will Allow for More Convenient Connections for Passengers Travelling on to Qantas Services to Europe.

Pac Blue Increases Fiji, Bali Services Pacific Blue Will Launch Services

From Adelaide and Melbourne to Nadi From June, Lifting Its Capacity to Fiji by 25 Per Cent.

Both Services Will Operate Twice Weekly, With Flights From Adelaide Departing on Fridays and Sundays From June 5 While the Melbourne Services Will Depart on Thursdays and Saturdays From June 4. “as a South Pacific Neighbour, Fiji is a Highly Attractive Holiday Option, in Particular When People Are Looking to Travel Closer to Home for Short Breaks, Something We Have Seen a Strong Trend Towards in Recent Months,” Said Virgin Blue Ceo Brett Godfrey.

The Airline Says That the Launch of the New Direct Services Came After It Noted a Number of Passengers Taking Connecting Flights From the Two Cities Through Sydney and Brisbane to Nadi.

Pac Blue Also Announced on March 27 That Pacific Blue Will Add More Services to Denpasar (Bali), Including New Services From Sydney (Twice a Week From June 1) and Melbourne (Three Times a Week From June 2). Additionally, the Carrier is Adding Another Frequency on the Adelaide-denpasar Route to Bring It to Three Times Weekly. The Carrier Also Flies From Perth and Brisbane to Denpasar.

Air Nz Profit Plunges

Air New Zealand’s First Half Net Profit Fell by 79 Per Cent to Nz$24m (a$19m).

The Lower Profit Came on the Back of a 3. 7 Per Cent Increase in Revenue to Nz$2. 42bn (a$1. 92bn) for the Six Months to December 31 2008. Passenger Numbers Were Down 4. 3 Per Cent to 6. 3 Million Passengers Due to Declines Across the Network, While Capacity Was Also Lower by 3. 6 Per Cent. Fuel Costs Increased by Nz$211m (a$167m), but the Airline Recorded a Gain of Nz$135m (a$107m) on Its Foreign Currency Hedging.

Ceo Rob Fyfe Said That With Conditions Deteriorating Recently the Airline is Planning on Taking a Proactive Approach to Matching Its Capacity With Demand Across Its Key Markets. “in the First Half of 2009, We Have Taken a Proactive Approach to Capacity Management That Has Been More Agile and Disciplined Than in Past Industry Downturns. In These Challenging Times, It is Not the Largest Airlines That Will Outperform, but the Ones Most Responsive to Change. ” Those Changes Are Expected to Be Significant, With an Increase in Capacity on the Tasman Routes as Well as Lower Demand on Its Long Haul Services. In the Face of These Challenges, the Airline Said It Was Working on Solutions to Cut Costs While Minimising the Need for Redundancies, Such as Offering Staff Unpaid Leave, Executive Pay Freezes and an Increase in Part Time Positions for Cabin Crew.

While the Airline Said That Demand Was Soft, It Noted That the Airline Has Benefited From the Fall in Fuel Prices and Its Capacity Reductions and Cost Initiatives. “if Current Conditions and Jet Fuel Prices Continue, Air New Zealand Expects to See Financial Performance Significantly Improve in the Second Half of the Financial Year. ”

Airline Briefs

* Qantas Cut Its Domestic Checked Baggage Allowances and Started Strictly Enforcing Excess Baggage Charges From April 3.

* Qantaslink Will Operate 41 Return Services Between Sydney and Mount Hotham Between July 3 and September 3 to Serve the Ski Season.

* Singapore Airlines Operated Its First Airbus A330-300 Commercial Flight From Singapore to Brisbane on March 30, Coinciding With the Airline’s 25th Anniversary of the Airline’s First Services to Brisbane. Sia is Using the A330s to Replace a Number of Flights Previously Operated by Boeing 777-200s.

* Jetstar Started Its Two Additional Weekly Flights From Gold Coast to Tokyo on March 30, Giving It a Daily Service on the Route.

* Lan’s New Premium Business Class, Which Replaces Its Former First and Business Class Cabins, Was Introduced on the Santiago-sydney Route on April 1.

* British Airways Commenced Use of a New Microwave Landing System at London Heathrow Airport on March 25. The Airline Currently Has 29 A320s and A321s With Mls Equipment Installed, With Another 12 to Be Configured to Conduct Mls Approaches by the End of the Year.

* Australia Has Expanded Its Air Services Agreement With the Philippines Which Will Increase the Number of Seats Available Per Week Between Manilla and Clark to Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne and/or Sydney to 6000. The Previous Limit Was 2500 Seats Per Week.

* Tiger Airways Commenced Its First Direct Flight Between Adelaide and Canberra on March 27. The Carrier Now Flies Five Times Per Week on the Route.

* Japan Airlines Will Downgrade Its Daily Tokyo Narita-brisbane Service From a Boeing 747 to a 767-300 From the Beginning of the Northern Summer Season.

* Airasia X’s First Service on the Kuala Lumpur-london Stansted Route Took Off on March 11. The Airline’s London Services Are Operated by Airbus A340-300s Five Times Per Week.

* Skywest Started Flights From Geraldton and Carnarvon to Karratha Three Times a Week From April 1, Using Fokker 50 Turboprops.

Airports

Airports Get Poor Rap in Accc Survey

Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth Airports All Recorded Higher Levels of Aeronautical Revenue, but Have Seen Their Service Standards Drop, According to a New Report by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

In Its Airport Monitoring Report 2007-08, the Commission Notes That Over the 2007-08 Financial Year That the Five Monitored Airports Drew in a Combined $911 Million in Aeronautical Revenue. This Resulted From Double Digit Percentage Increases in Aeronautical Revenue at Each Airport, With Brisbane Recording a 33. 6 Per Cent Increase.

However, the Accc Found That Service Quality Across the Five Airports Fell by 2. 7 Per Cent Compared to the Year Before. Brisbane Ranked Highest Overall, Followed by Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney, Which Was the Same Order for the Previous Two Years.

Sydney Airport Noted That Its Poor Rating Was Most Likely Linked to Its Current $500 Million Upgrade of Its International Terminal. “i Have Apologised to Passengers for Any Inconvenience Caused During the Construction Work but I Am Sure That They Will Enjoy the Upgraded Terminal Once It is Complete,” Said Sacl Ceo Russell Balding.

The Report Also Showed That in Terms of Car Parking Quality, the Overall Quality of Parking Across the Five Airports Was Rated as ‘satisfactory’. Ranked in Terms of Parking Service Quality, Melbourne Scored the Highest, Followed by Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane. Sydney Was Ranked Worst for Car Parking Quality.

Flat Airport Growth Globally

Airports Worldwide Recorded a 0. 2 Per Cent Decline in Passenger Numbers During 2008, as Strong Growth During the First Half of the Year Was Offset by Falls in the Second Half.

According to Airports Council International, Total Aircraft Movements Dropped by 2. 2 Per Cent to 4. 5 Billion, While Cargo Volumes Shrank by 3. 6 Per Cent to 77. 9 Million Tonnes. While the Figures Showed Positive Growth in Numbers From Africa and the Middle East, Passenger Numbers Were Down at Airports in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. The Latter Was Hit Particularly by the Decline in International Travel, Although Aci Says That Domestic Travel “held Up Relatively Well”.

“dramatic Swings in the Business World, Including an Unprecedented Financial and Investment Crisis and the Onset of a Spreading Global Recession, Impacted Consumers and Businesses in All Regions in 2008,” Aci’s Director General Angela Gittens Said. “shrinking Demand is Directly Hitting the Carriers, Who in Turn Are Cutting Routes and Services Offered at Many Airports. ” for the Year, Atlanta Recorded the Most Passenger Throughput, Followed by Chicago and London.

Airport Briefs

* No Australian Airports Have Been Given Awards as Part of the 2008 Airports Council International’s Airport Service Quality Awards.

Overall, Seoul’s Incheon Airport Took Out the Best Airport Worldwide Award.

* the Queensland Government Confirmed in March That a Consortium Involving Brisbane Airport Corporation Holdings (Bach) is the Sole Remaining Bidder for the Development of the Laguna Whitsundays Airport.

Airport Briefs

* Cairns Airport Has Become the First in Australia to Offer 100 Per Cent Bar Coded Departure Control Systems. All Airports Are Expected to Adopt Bar Coded Boarding Passes by 2010 Under an Iata Initiative to Phase Out Magnetic Stripe Boarding Passes.

* Canberra Airport Commenced Construction Works on New Apron Parking From March 30. The Expanded Apron Will Open Up Three Additional Narrowbody Parking Bays, Which the Airport Says is Necessary Given an Increase in Flying Through the Airport by Virgin Blue and Tiger Airways During This Year. The $14 Million Expansion is Expected to Be Completed by December 2009.

General Aviation

Cessna Still Committed to Skycatcher

Cessna Says It Remains Committed to Producing a Light Sport Aircraft Despite the Second Crash of One of the Development Aircraft on March 19.

The Second Crash Came About During Aggressive, Power on Cross-controlled Spin Testing Which Was Not Immediately Recoverable. That Was Similar to the Crash of the First Prototype Skycatcher in September 2008, Which Led to Subtle Changes to the Design of the Aircraft’s Tail.

Addressing Recent Speculation That With the Second Crash of the Aircraft That It May Abandon the Skycatcher Program, Which Has Already Sold Over 1000 Units, Cessna Chairman and Ceo Jack Pelton Said: “the Need for a Modern, Cost-effective Two-seat Trainer Aircraft Has Never Been Greater, and We Believe We Are Well Positioned to Meet That Need. ” Cessna Had Placed the Skycatcher Program Into a Review After the Second Crash, but Has Not Announced Any Plans to Delay Production. However, Pelton Said That the Company Was “making Every Effort to Minimise the Impact on Deliveries to Our Customers. ”

Cessna “fighting the Storm”

Cessna Ceo Jack Pelton Has Told Attendees at the Aircraft Electronics Association’s Annual Convention That the Manufacturer is Not Seeking to Back Off at the Current Time, Despite the Downturn in the General Aviation and Business Aviation Markets.

“Cessna Has Chosen Not to Focus on Staying Dry During This Storm…rather, We Are Out Front Fighting the Storm,” Pelton Said. “We’re Positioned to Help Our Customers Stay Competitive and Airborne – and We Believe That’s Never Been More Important Than in Difficult Times Like These. ” “Even Without the Global Economic and Credit Crisis and the Public Relations Issues We’re Facing, This Would Be a Year of Tackling Big Issues That Have Long-term, Monumental Consequences for Our Industry,” Pelton Added.

Business Aviation

Phenom 300 Progressing

Embraer Says Its Phenom 300 Executive Jet is Progressing Along, Ahead of Certification Expected Later This Year.

The Company Currently Has Four Phenom 300s Involved in Flight Testing, With the Fourth Aircraft Making Its First Flight From the Gaviao Peixoto Flight Test Centre During Late February. Together, the Four Aircraft Have Amassed Over 300 Flying Hours.

“as the Phenom 300 Light Jet Certification and Maturity Campaign Progresses, the Deliveries of the First Phenom 100 Entry Level Jets Are Taking Place,” Said Maurício Almeida Filho, Embraer’s Vp Programs – Executive Jets. “we Expect This Crucial Phase for the Phenom 300 to Be Every Bit as Successful as It Was for the Phenom 100. ” the 300 is Set for Certification During the Second Half of the Year, With Deliveries Expected in the Final Quarter. The 300 and Smaller 100 Have a Combined Backlog of Over 800 Aircraft.

Eclipse to Be Liquidated Very Light Jet Pioneer Eclipse Aviation Has Been Placed Into Chapter 7 Liquidation by a Us Bankruptcy Court After a Plan to Buy the Company Fell Through Due to a Lack of Finance.

Eclipse Was to Have Been Taken Over by Chairman Roel Pieper’s Etirc Aviation After a Bankruptcy Court Approved the Buyout on January 23, but It is Understood That a Major Russian Bank Which Was Backing the Deal Has Withdrawn Its Finance. Subsequently, Creditors Were Successful in a Petition to Move the Company Into Liquidation in Late February.

Given the Poor Economic Conditions, It Appears Unlikely That Eclipse Will Be Rescued, and May Face Trouble Trying to Sell the Designs to Its Eclipse 500 and 400 Vljs Due to a Major Downturn in the Business Aviation Sector Globally.

Business Aviation Briefs

* Hawker Beechcraft Corporation Has Appointed Bill Boisture Jr as Its New Chairman and Ceo. Boisture is a Former President of Fractional Operator Netjets and Also Gulfstream Aerospace and Bae Corporate Jets.

Maintenance, Support & Training

Jetstar Shifts Around Ground Handling Contracts Jetstar Has Announced That It Has Awarded New Ground Handling Contracts for Its Flights to Hobart and Launceston as Well as Its International Flights From Sydney.

The Low Cost Carrier Has Appointed Air Trade, Which Currently Provides Ground Services for Australian Air Express, to Provide Ramp and Passenger Handling at Both Launceston and Hobart, Replacing Jetstar and Qantas Which Previously Provided the Services. At Sydney, Aero-care Will Provide Passenger and Ramp Handling for Jetstar’s A330 and A320 Services From the International Terminal. Domestic Services Will Continue to Be Provided by Express Ground Handling, Which is a Subsidiary of Jetstar.

Jetstar Also Announced in March That It Had Appointed Skycare International and Skystar Airport Services as Its Passenger and Ramp Handling Services Providers for Its Domestic New Zealand Flights. Skycare Will Handle Jq Flights at Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown, While Skystar Will Extend Its Current Operations at Christchurch on Behalf of Jq to the New Domestic Services.

Air Safety

Parliament Passes New Bills for Casa, Atsb Transport Minister Anthony Albanese Announced on March 11 That Parliament Had Passed Two New Bills Which Will Create a Five Member Board for Casa and Establish the Atsb as a Separate Statutory Agency.

Under the Civil Aviation Amendment Bill, Casa Will Gain Greater Powers of Oversight for Foreign Carriers, Strengthen Its Provisions for Preventing Operators Returning to Service Where It Considers Them Unsafe, and Will Also Introduce a Five Member Board. Separately, the Transport Safety Investigation Amendment Bill Will Increase the Independence of the Atsb With the Appointment of a Full Time Commissioner and Two Part Time Commissioners, as Well as New Powers to Compel Organisations to Respond to Safety Recommendations Within 90 Days.

“these Pieces of Legislation Will Put in Place New Governance Arrangements for Both the Civil Aviation Safety Agency and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau From 1 July, Honouring a Pledge I Made When Releasing the Government’s Aviation Green Paper Late Last Year,” Said Minister Albanese.

A320 Manoeuvred Too Low

French Authorities Have Released an Interim Report on the Fatal Crash of an Air New Zealand Airbus A320 Into the Mediterranean Sea on November 27 During Trial Flights as the Aircraft Was Preparing to Be Handed Back to the Airline After a Lease.

According to the 53 Page Report From the Bureau D’enquetes Et D’analyses (Bea), the Aircraft Was Involved in a Low-speed Check Flight While on Approach to Land at Perpignan, and Was Under the Control of Pilots From Xl Airways When They Lost Control of the Aircraft. “a Check at Low Speed Was Undertaken During the Approach and It Was During This Check That the Crew Lost Control of the Aircraft Which Crashed Into the Sea,” the Bea Said. It Has Also Been Reported That the Aircraft Was Only at 3000ft When It Was Conducting a Low Speed/stall Test, Instead of the Recommended 12,000ft.

While the Report Did Not Pinpoint a Cause for the Accident, It Did Recommend That Easa Establish Regulations for Acceptance Flights and Give Specific Approvals on a Case-by-case Basis.

The Release of the Report to the Media Before It Was Handed to Other Parties Involved Has Drawn Anger From Air New Zealand Ceo Rob Fyfe. “It Disappoints Me That the Bea Chose to Release Their Report to Media, Under Embargo, Half a Day Before the Report Was Made Available to Air New Zealand and the Families Who Lost Their Loved Ones. ” He Also Suggested That Air Nz Had Not Been Involved Intimately in the Investigation, Saying That the Carrier “Should Be Allowed to Contribute Their Insights and Knowledge Into the Bea Investigation, a Fact I Will Be Raising Again With the Bea and New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission, as Well as New Zealand Transport Minister Steven Joyce. ” the Two Xl Airways Pilots, Four Air New Zealand Personnel and One New Zealand Caa Inspector Were Killed in the Crash.

Casa Steps Up Surveillance of Qf Foreign Maintenance Casa Deputy Ceo Mick Quinn Told a Senate Hearing That It is Increasing Its Surveillance of Qantas’s Overseas Maintenance, Including on Line Maintenance Done at Overseas Ports.

“Previously We Used to Audit Specifically the Heavy Maintenance Bases, We’ve Now Taken That a Step Further and Now Looking at the Line Maintenance Facilities Across the Network,” Quinn Said.

“Obviously We Don’t Have the Ability to Look at the Entire Network, but Obviously Selecting a Few Key Points Where the Sort of Maintenance is Done in Turnarounds is Conducted, and Casa ‘s Added That to Its Surveillance. ”

Air Safety Briefs

* an Emirates A340-500 Was Badly Damaged at Melbourne Airport in March 20 Following What Has Been Reported as a Multiple Tail Scrape on Departure for Dubai That Evening. The Aircraft Reportedly Damaged Several Navigation Aids and Lights Beyond the Runway Threshold Before Returning to Melbourne for an Overweight Emergency Landing Due to Smoke in the Cabin. Blurred Photographs Posted on Various Websites Show Severe Damage to the Rear Fuselage Fore and Aft of the Rear Pressure Bulkhead.

Atc & Airspace

New Towers for Mel, Adl & Rok Airservices Australia Says That the New Control Towers Being Built at Melbourne, Adelaide and Rockhampton Will Be the First to Equipped With New Systems Under a Multi-million Dollar Upgrade Across the Country.

The Three New Towers Will Be the First to Benefit From New State-of-the-art Technology, Which Will Include Customisable Touch Screens and Integrated Operational Data, Surveillance and Voice Communications Into a Single Layout.

“we Are Determined to Invest in Our Infrastructure to Ensure Airservices is Well Positioned to Maintain Its Reputation as a World Leader in the Provision of Air Navigation Services,” Said Airservices Ceo Greg Russell.

“providing Our Controllers With the Equipment to Make Immediate Use of All Available Data and Enhance Their Awareness and Control of Airport Ground Operations and Those in the Surrounding Airspace is a Key Part of That Plan. ”

Atc & Airspace Briefs

* Casa Has Published the Final Legislative Documents Which Will Make the Carriage and Use of Ads-b Avionics Compulsory for Aircraft Operating Above Fl290 From December 12 2013.

* Casa Has Issued an Instrument Authorising Qantas A330s to Use Required Navigation Performance 0. 30 for Rnav (Gss) Approaches at Some Airports. Until Now Qantas Has Only Utilised Rnp on Its Boeing 737-800 Fleet.

People

Cox to Move on

Qantas Group General Manager (Ggm) Engineering and Maintenance David Cox Has Announced That He Will Leave the Airline From July 3.

Cox Was Appointed as Executive General Manager (Egm) for Engineering in 2003, and Will Have Worked for Qantas in Various Roles – Including Aircraft Evaluation and Regional Airlines – for Over 23 Years When He Steps Down in July.

“we Thank David for His Significant Contribution, and I Particularly Would Like to Express My Gratitude for the Way He Helped Me in My Early Days With Qantas,” Said Qantas Egm Operations Lyell Strambi. “his Knowledge and Professionalism Have Been Greatly Appreciated. ” Cox Has Attracted Criticism Over the Last Year Due to Issues With Qantas Engineering, Including a Casa Audit That Found the Airline Had Slipped Under Its Own Internal Benchmarks and an Acrimonious Industrial Dispute.

A Replacement for Cox Has Not Yet Been Announced.

People Briefs

* Archerfield Airport Corporation Has Appointed Capt Desmond Ross as the New General Manager of Archerfield Airport. Capt Ross Has Previously Held a Number of Roles Within the Aviation Industry, With the Most Recent as the Ceo of Heli Niugini Limited.

Captions

Boeing Has Delivered the First of Eight 777fs to Emirates Skycargo via Lessor Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (Dae).

Evergreen International Aviation Has Received Approval From the Interagency Air Tanker Board in the Us to Use Its Boeing 747 Supertanker for Firefighting During 2009 and Beyond. The Modified 747-200 Features a Water Payload of More Than 75,700 Litres and a Patented Dispersal System Which is Able to Deliver Loads From a Range of Altitudes.

Air New Zealand Has Released a Request for Information to Airbus and Boeing to Replace Its Fleet of 16 Boeing 737-300s It Uses on Domestic Routes. The Rfi Seeks Information on Both the A320 Family and 737ng, Which Will Be Followed by a Request for Proposals Ahead of a Board Decision by the End of the Year. The Airline is Understood to Be Seeking Deliveries of the First Aircraft From 2011 Onwards to Meet With the Expiry of Some of the Leases on Its 737s. The 16 737-300s Comprise Five Owned Aircraft and 11 Leased, With the Aircraft From 10 to 14 Years Old. Air New Zealand Also Operates 12 A320s Which Are Used on Short Haul International Services, and Holds Options on 20 Further A320 Family Aircraft Which Expire in 2012.

Boeing Has Delivered the Wedgetail Aew&c Operational Flight Trainer (Oft) to the Raaf at Williamtown. The Motion-based Flight Simulator is Based on the Commercial 737-700 Flightdeck and Was Designed, Built and Installed by Thales on Subcontract to Boeing Defence Australia.

Ge Aviation Has Begun Flight Testing of the Genx-2b Engine Which is Being Developed for the 747-8.

The Engine Made Its First Flight Test on Board the Company’s Boeing 747-100 Flying Testbed on March 23, During Which Time the Engine Demonstrated Aircraft Systems and Instrumentation Functionality, Climbing Close to 40,000ft, and Established an Engine Performance Baseline. The Engine Will Undergo 40 Test Flights Over the Northern Summer Ahead of Certification Later This Year.

A Development of the Genx-1b Which is One of Two Engines Available on the 787, the -2b Has Been Optimised for the 747-8, but Contains an 80 Per Cent Commonality in Line Replaceable Units.