Notwithstanding some industry executives and analysts’ calls of seeing a “green shoot” in a potential airline industry recovery, Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific remains cautious and warns that there is still uncertainty in the market. Airways Aviation News reports. “We need to be cautious here, and, looking forward, there is still an uncertainty in the air. While it’s certainly true that we are seeing a more usual Q4 peak in our cargo …Read More
Northrop/EADS’s refusal to factor in WTO ruling reaffirms the fact
Following US Congressmen and Representatives’ call for factoring an interim WTO ruling in the USAF aerial refueling tanker contest, Nothrop Grumman’s response does nothing but only reaffirms the fact that the A330-200 MRTT (Multi-Role Tanker Transport) is indeed guilty of receiving illegal European governments subsidies. Representative Norm Dicks, a member of the House of Representatives Defense Appropriations sub-committee, urged the Pentagon to change the draft Request for Proposal (RfP) to include …Read More
Is premium traffic ever returning again?
One of the most debated issues this year is whether premium traffic will ever return following the global financial crisis. As the global airline market has bottomed out and even recovered a little bit in some regions such as Asia, 2010 will a watershed in a way that many airlines are likely to decide their business model, Airways Aviation Newsreports. Unfortunately there isn’t a consensus within the industry, with different carriers …Read More
Ethiopian firms up its A350 order, what does it mean for Boeing?
In firming up its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for 12 A350-900 XWBs, Ethiopian Airlines, which has operated an all-Boeing fleet until this order, becomes a new Airbus customer. Some people may lament that this is a significant blow to Boeing and is a result of Boeing’s reluctance to launch a 777 successor (“Boeing, airlines on potential 777 successor (Part 1)“, 26th May 09); and Boeing should launch a 777 successor immediately …Read More
Boeing says 787′s “new glitch” has been resolved
In responding to a question raised by Airways Aviation News‘ editor Daniel Tsang over the recent Wall Street Journal article, in which the article revealed the composite area surrounding the 787 side-of-body fix was damaged, Boeing Commercial Airplanes Vice President (VP), Marketing Randy Tinseth replied in his blog post: “As we explained to the Wall Street Journal, the issue raised in the article is resolved and will not impact first flight, we’re making …Read More
Airbus’ smoke-and-mirrors show on the A350 XWB
Airbus Chief Operating Officer (COO) Customers John Leahy conceded on 4th November in Sydney that the industry has overestimated the weight saving potential brought by the composite technology. However, this comment was revealed at a time when Airbus has no money to build the aircraft as well as using more conservative version of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP). Weight savings on 787 in doubt?“Composite technology in those applications has not in general …Read More
BA’s latest deferral a testament to A380′s inflexibility
In announcing its 2009 half-year net loss of 217 million pounds ($360 million), British Airways also announced that it is deferring its first A380 delivery by one additional year to 2013. Deliveries will last until 2016, which remain unchanged from its original plan, despite the 1-year delay in the first delivery. “We completed discussions with Airbus on rescheduled A380 deliveries. The first A380 will arrive in 2013 with the last …Read More
Exclusive: Cathay may announce new flights to Moscow, Milan
After its beleaguered effort back in 2006 to launch new flights to Russia’s capital city, Moscow, then onto United Kingdom’s Manchester, Cathay Pacific may announce refreshed plans to launch the flight,Airways Aviation News can exclusively reveal. Airways Aviation News can confirm that the new plan includes leg from Moscow Domodedovo Airport to Manchester, UK. The plan will be announced “in months’ time”, according to Airways Aviation News‘ source at the Hong Kong-based carrier. …Read More
A330-200F successfully completes 1st flight; A400M order cancelled
The first Airbus A330-200F freighter has successfully completed its first flight after a 3 hours and 50 minutes test flight. The 1st A330-200F, equipped with Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engines and carriers Manufacturer’s Serial Number (MSN) 1004, was piloted by Pascal Vernau, Philippe Perrin, Wolfgang Brueggemann, Martin Scheuermann as well as Stephane. The 64-tonne payload freighter will be at least 500 kg (0.5 tonne) lighter than originally estimated, with this …Read More
Skeptic’s claims don’t fly
Fatigue has been a popular issue among media in recent months, triggered by Colgan Air’s Bombardier Dash 8-Q400 crash in Buffalo, New York earlier this year. Worse yet, the recent Delta/Northwest NW188 flight fiasco only added fuel into this intense speculation. Airways Aviation News recently talked to an Airbus First Officer (FO) who provided insights that are not publicized. This Airbus First Officer, who works for a major Asian airline and …Read More