Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Next-generation Airbus A350 plane gets EU green light


EU authorities gave the green light Tuesday (Sep 30) for Airbus's new long-haul A350 plane to enter service, opening the way for delivery of the next-generation aircraft to first client Qatar Airways.

Designed to help the European manufacturer catch up with its American rival Boeing in the market for long-haul, fuel-efficient planes, the A350-900 makes extensive use of light composite materials which reduce fuel consumption and costs.

"Airbus demonstrated that the aircraft complies with the regulatory safety and environment requirements defined by EASA (the European Aviation Safety Agency) for the European Union," the EU aviation watchdog said in a statement. Airbus has positioned its A350 between the Boeing's popular 777 and its 787 Dreamliner, hoping to eat away at both planes' markets.

"Every new type of aircraft needs to obtain a ... certificate before it can be delivered to an airline," EASA said in its statement. "This EASA certificate guarantees that the A350-900 is set for delivery from a safety and environment point of view."

The plane can carry 315 passengers over a distance of 14.500km, and to date, 750 A350 aircraft have been ordered by 39 customers worldwide. In August, Airbus had announced that the plane had completed its "route proving", a round-the-world in 20 days trip aimed at testing the aircraft's readiness for airline operations, during which it flew 180 hours and stopped off in 14 airports.

SOURCE


Lufthansa pilots' strike grounds around 20,000 passengers


A new walkout by Lufthansa pilots on Tuesday (Sep 30) forced the cancellation of 50 flights in Frankfurt, Germany's busiest airport, affecting roughly 20,000 passengers, the airline said.

Flights in and out of the hub were being affected but a company spokesman said the situation was calm and that Lufthansa was confident it would operate all 32 flights it had promised would take off.

In its fourth labour action in recent weeks, the pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit called on its members to strike on long-haul flights departing from the airport between 8am and 11pm (2pm Tuesday and 5am Wednesday Singapore time). Affected were flights operated on Airbus A380, A330 and A340 aircraft, as well as Boeing 747 jets. "The situation in Frankfurt is calm. It seems like a normal day," the spokesman told AFP.

Lufthansa's pilots are striking over changes to their retirement benefits being introduced as part of deep restructuring in recent years to bring down the German carrier's costs. Pilots can currently take paid early retirement from the age of 55. They are fighting a plan by the airline to raise the minimum age and to involve pilots in the financing of their pensions.

Tuesday's work stoppage was the fourth by the pilots' union in recent series of bottom-line-hitting operations. The first strike at the end of August hit Lufthansa's low-cost subsidiary Germanwings. The second walkout hit Frankfurt and the third stoppage targeted Munich airport, Germany's second-busiest air hub.

Vereinigung Cockpit already grounded thousands of Lufthansa flights during three days of strikes in March and April, costing the airline around 60 million euros (US$76 million).

Many of Europe's older airlines are running into opposition from powerful unions as they try to cut costs to compete with budget rivals. On Sunday, Air France's main pilots' union ended the longest strike in the carrier's history to allow "calmer" talks to go ahead over the contentious issue of the airline's low-cost subsidiary Transavia.

SOURCE


Sunday, September 28, 2014

Week 72: A320 Type Rating Week 11

After the less than perfect performance from me last week in the sims, I was expecting myself to do better this time round. Had a total of two sim sessions with a two day break in between being a much better cushion space for me to digest what I've learnt.

For the first sim, nothing has changed, there was the stall training in clean config as well as approach config in Normal Law and Alternate Law. All checklists and briefings were done accordingly and approach to land with ILS assistance.

What was different was the use of the bird by pressing the FPA button. With another thing on the PFD to monitor, it gets a little confusing at first, but when you get the hang of it, the bird actually provides a better accuracy in flying down the 3degrees glideslope. I didn't fly the approach as good as I would have wanted with the bird further confusing me on what's going on, and only got better when I had visual of the runway and flew with my eyes intermittently looking outside and on my PFD.

The approach conditions were also different with an introduction of slight 5kts crosswind and we were instructed to be in full landing config by 3000ft to fly the straight-in approach. With the aircraft in landing config at close to 10miles out, I had to apply more thrust to fight the huge amount of drag from the flaps and landing gear. A lot of focus is needed to keep the speed in a safe range and yet be on a stabilized approached with the crosswind.
30 degrees AoB


For the second sim, it was the last lesson before the end of training Phase 2A. There is going to be Phase 2A-2D, 3 and 4, with each phase focusing on different aspects of the training syllabus. That was really quick but 2A only has six sessions, which is less than half of the next phase.

I was very much revising on my SOPs and radio calls to get them right once and for all as the next phase onwards we will be graded by our efficiency in the cockpit. My instructor also commented that we should be familiar and good at these aspects of the flight by now.

On the radio part, starting from the gate, we have to communicate with Singapore Delivery and Ground Crew. Once pushed back, it is to Singapore Ground for taxi instructions. And just before entering runway for departure, it is to Singapore Tower. After take-off, it is to Singapore Departure. Lots of usage of the radios for instructions and if you screw that up, things are going to get messy and it makes you look really inefficient.

The flight wasn't of much difference with radar vectors given and lots of clouds to simulate IFR conditions. Our instructor also taught us how to calculate whether we're high or low during the descend phase to prepare for approach. He very much focused on how we analyse different situations so as to communicate with the ATC and make certain requests to aid in our flying.

He also taught us on how to calculate that in a simple way. For example, using our height to determine whether our distance to threshold is appropriate.

At XX,000ft
XX*3 + 10 = How many miles out you should roughly be 
Nearer than actual distance ==> High 
Further than actual distance ==> Low


That's indeed very useful. With that, I could increase or reduce my descend rate using a combination of my pitch angle and thrust. On my approach, a thunderstorm was simulated ahead of me and I had to request ATC for flight plan deviation. Interesting stuff I must say, trains me with dynamics of flight for future decision making.

There was so much simulation of bad weather, I still couldn't get visual below 2000ft. My ILS landing with zero visual sadly wasn't very good, However once the weather clears, I could fly it way better now. There is still a lot of room for improvement, but my confidence got boosted by this session's landing performance. This somehow reminded me of how much trouble I had with my landing flare during my C172 flying phase. Hopefully I get my ILS landing sorted out soon.

The night before, I had a few practise runs on my SOPs with the mock-up cockpit

End of Phase 2A, more challenges ahead in the next phase

In between my two sim sessions, I went for my Class 1 medical renewal to prevent it from lapsing. The renewal consists of numerous medical history declaration, measurement of blood pressure, checking of eyesight, urine sample and simple arm/leg movement. Took me roughly an hour and cost S$176.55, which was done at Raffles Medical Clinic with a LME.


Air France pilots end record strike


Air France's main pilots' union Sunday (Sep 28) ended the longest strike in the carrier's history to allow "calmer" talks to go ahead over the contentious issue of the airline's low-cost subsidiary Transavia.

A spokesman for the SNPL union, Guillaume Schmid, told AFP the pilots were ending the protest - which has cost Air France more than 200 million euros (S$323 million) over the past two weeks - so that the negotiations over Transavia can proceed.

Air France sees Transavia's development as vital in the struggle to retain market share in the cutthroat medium-haul sector, which is steadily being overrun by no-frills airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair. But Air France pilots, who earn up to 250,000 euros a year, fear some of their flights will be replaced with services operated by Transavia, or their contracts will be squeezed by the expansion of the subsidiary.

Immediately after the pilots' union announced the end of the strike, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls called on all sides to "regain the confidence of everyone and resume the development of Air France and its subsidiary Transavia, which is an asset". Valls said the 14-day strike was "misunderstood and penalised passengers, the company and the country's economy".

The protest saw half of Air France's fleet grounded, and cost the airline between 15 million and 20 million euros a day. Thousands of passengers had travel plans disrupted.

TALKS DEADLOCKED

On Friday, Valls ruled out a proposal by the pilots to lift the strike if an independent mediator was named to run the thorny negotiations. Talks over the issue have been deadlocked. The latest round, which ended early Sunday, "did not suit us," Schmid said. But he said the decision had been taken to lift the protest to allow discussions "in a calmer climate".

The pilots are fighting for a "single contract" across Air France-KLM and its subsidiaries to avoid being forced to accept less attractive working conditions at Transavia, which serves holiday destinations across Europe and the Mediterranean. A Transavia captain earns up to 160,000 euros a year but clocks up significantly more flights than one flying for Air France. Co-pilots on both airlines earn roughly the same amount at the beginning of their careers, according to sources.

The French state holds a 16 per cent stake in Air France-KLM, the second-largest European carrier after Germany's Lufthansa. Air France's share price plunged nearly 15 per cent since the stoppage began and the protest fuelled wide concern in France.

The strike was "catastrophic for the French aviation sector," a joint statement from key industry unions, including those representing travel operators, had warned. "In a more-than-morose economic context, it is compromising a future that is already seriously under threat," read the statement.

Air France has already implemented an ambitious restructuring plan to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

While the Air France management agreed to scrap the development of Transavia abroad, it has vowed to maintain at least some part of its plans to enter the low-cost market.

SOURCE


Saturday, September 27, 2014

Europe widens in-flight use of portable electronics


The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said on Friday (Sep 26) it had authorised airlines to allow passengers to use mobile electronic devices, including phones, throughout the flight.

The move allows European airlines which first carry out a safety assessment to permit portable electronic devices such as smartphones to stay switched on without being on "airplane mode", it said in a statement. Other such devices include tablets, laptops, e-readers and MP3 players.

"This is the latest regulatory step towards enabling the ability to offer 'gage-to-gate' telecommunication or Wi-Fi services," the EASA said in a statement. It will be up to each airline to decide to allow their use, it added.

"In order to do this, the airline will have to go through an assessment process, ensuring aircraft systems are not affected in any way by the transmission signals from the PEDs", or personal electronic devices, it said. "For this reason, there may be differences among airlines whether and when PEDs can be used."

Last November EASA said it would follow the Federal Aviation Administration in the United States and similarly relax its rules by allowing the use of a range of mobile electronic devices in flight with very few restrictions.

It said at that time however that the devices must be used only when the "flight mode" or "airplane mode" is switched on.

SOURCE


Air Berlin cancels Boeing aircraft orders valued at US$5b


Air Berlin, Germany's second-biggest airline, said on Friday (Sep 26) it had cancelled orders with Boeing for 33 aircraft with a list price of about US$5 billion (S$6.4 billion).

The airline, which last month reported a return to profit in the second quarter, said in a statement that the cancellation would "significantly reduce the future capital expenditure" of the company. It said that under the cancellation agreement with Boeing, it would not have to pay compensation to the US company.

The two firms agreed that the "orders relating to the 18 B737 and 15 B787 aircraft not yet delivered shall be cancelled", it said. "The cancellation agreement does not provide for any obligation of the Air Berlin group to make any compensation payments to Boeing", it added.

The German group will "adapt" its existing fleet by the "acquisition or leasing of suitable aircraft", although a lower number of aircraft than first planned, it said.

Boeing, confirming the cancellation in a separate statement, said its customers "operate in a dynamic environment and their overall fleet needs evolve and change".

"It is our objective to support their needs and to adapt as necessary," it said. "Air Berlin is a long standing and valued Boeing customer and operator of a large fleet of Boeing Next-Generation 737 airplanes."

Air Berlin is due to unveil full details of a restructuring programme this month.

SOURCE


Friday, September 26, 2014

'Technical problem' forces Dreamliner emergency landing in Britain


A Boeing 787 Dreamliner jet on its way from Chicago to Warsaw was forced to land in Glasgow on Friday (Sep 26) because of a "technical issue", an airport spokesman told AFP.

The modern plane, operated by Poland's LOT airline, landed safely at the Scottish airport at 10.45am London time (6.45pm Singapore time) and was being checked by emergency services after passengers disembarked.

Boeing said in a statement that it was "aware" of the diversion of the plane, which was carrying 248 passengers. "We are working with our customer to assess the situation. At this time we have no further details," it said.

The Dreamliners have been hit by a series of troubles. A battery problem on a All Nippon Airways (ANA) Dreamliner last year forced an emergency landing in Japan. Other faults have been reported with an air pressure sensor and the brake system. Boeing also said earlier this year that hairline cracks have been found in the wings of some of the jets due to a manufacturing problem.

SOURCE


Lufthansa pilots threaten new strikes as talks fail


German pilots' union Cockpit announced on Thursday (Sep 25) that talks with Lufthansa over early retirement provisions had crashed and warned a new wave of strikes could be expected with immediate effect.

"Cockpit regrets that negotiations have failed once again," the union said in a statement, accusing management of not wanting to reach an agreement. "Further industrial action can be expected with immediate effect. The public will be warned in advance," the statement said.

A spokesman for Lufthansa insisted that the airline had "signalled its willingness to compromise" and offered to talk about the contentious points. No new date had been set for further negotiations, however. "We appeal to the union not to go ahead with more industrial action and to return to the negotiating table," the spokesman said.

Following three separate days of walkouts in recent weeks, Lufthansa pilots agreed to postpone a fourth warning strike last week after receiving a new proposal from management.

Lufthansa pilots can currently take paid early retirement from the age of 55. They are fighting a plan by the airline to raise the minimum age and to involve pilots in the financing of their pensions.

SOURCE


Thursday, September 25, 2014

Airbus test-flies less-thirsty A320neo


Airbus on Thursday (Sep 25) sent its new A320neo - an updated, more fuel-efficient version of its hugely popular medium-haul A320 passenger plane - into the skies on its first of several test flights before deliveries next year to waiting customers.

The narrow-body, two-engined aircraft took off from Toulouse-Blagnac airport in southwest France where Airbus is headquartered for a two-hour flight, an AFP reporter witnessed.

The European planemaker has orders from 60 customers for 3,257 of the A320neos after they start to be delivered in October 2015, Airbus chief operating officer John Leahy told reporters. The stated catalogue price is between US$94 million and US$120 million (€74 million and €94 million) each, depending on configuration, but is often discounted.

The plane - whose "neo" designation stands for "new engine option" - is designed to consume 15 per cent less fuel than the current A320s in service, a significant selling point for airlines in the cutthroat medium-haul sector. The neo boasts aerodynamic improvements including little curved winglets, trimmed weight and more efficient engines.

Airbus says its current version of the A320 family, which includes the smaller A319 and bigger A321, has 60 per cent of the medium-haul market, ahead of US rival Boeing with its 737 aircraft.

SOURCE


Japan probe comes up empty on Dreamliner battery problems


The Japanese probe into a battery problem that forced the emergency landing of a Boeing Dreamliner last year wrapped up on Thursday (Sep 25) with investigators saying they still have not found the root cause. The domestic All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight on January 16, 2013 was forced to make an emergency landing after pilots noticed a burning smell inside the cockpit that was traced to the plane's lithium-ion battery pack.

But neither Boeing nor battery manufacturer GS Yuasa were able to pinpoint what caused the battery to overheat and on Thursday, the Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) issued its final report that suggested a short circuit might be responsible. "The heating phenomenon that began in the number-six cell (of the main battery on board the plane) is believed to have been caused by an internal short-circuit. However, in the end, its developmental mechanism could not be identified," said the 115-page report.

The flight from Ube in Japan's far west to Tokyo marked the most serious case of battery overheating in the Dreamliner which features a composite fibre fuselage that reduces weight and boosts fuel efficiency. ANA, the single biggest operator of 787s, and its domestic rival Japan Airlines (JAL) were among the carriers hit by the worldwide grounding of Boeing's plane following a series of battery problems that also led to a fire onboard an empty JAL plane parked at Boston's Logan Airport.

The Japanese report noted that specks of metal were found inside the battery pack and might be linked to the overheating, but GS Yuasa has rejected suggestions that the impurity was dropped into the packs during manufacturing.

Among the 137 passengers and crew members on board, four passengers suffered minor injuries when they came off an emergency slide, the probe said. That incident prompted a still-ongoing investigation by US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Boeing admitted in April last year that, despite months of testing, it did not know the root cause of the battery problems, but it rolled out modifications to prevent a recurrence. The Dreamliner has also been hit by a series of unrelated glitches, including a fault with an air pressure sensor and the brake system.

Despite the troubles, the aircraft remains popular. This week Ethiopian Airlines agreed to buy 20 Boeing 737 aircraft in a deal worth US$2.1 billion.

SOURCE


Airbus raises aircraft market forecasts


Airbus on Wednesday (Sep 24) released fresh forecasts that see an ever larger aircraft market thanks to dynamic economic growth in Asia and as airlines decide to buy more fuel-efficient planes.

The European manufacturer said it sees passenger air travel increasing 4.7 percent annually through 2033, generating a need for 31,400 new aircraft worth US$4.6 trillion. That is up from its forecast last year of 29,220 aircraft worth US$4.4 trillion.

"Aviation is growing impressively and our latest forecast confirms its long term growth," Airbus's chief operating officer for customers, John Leahy, said in a statement.

Airbus said it sees the passenger and freighter fleet more than doubling from today's 18,500 aircraft to 37,500 by 2033.

With Airbus expected on Thursday to conduct the first flight test of its new A320neo that promises a 20-percent reduction in fuel use, the company said it expected airlines to retire some 12,400 older less efficient passenger and freighter aircraft.

Emerging markets, particularly in Asia, will be the main drivers of growth in the aviation market.

"While mature aviation regions such as Europe and North America will continue to grow, Asia will stand out along with emerging markets for dynamic development," said Leahy.

Most of the forecasted increase in demand is in the segment of medium-range aircraft with a single aisle, such as its existing A320 family aircraft and the new version with more fuel-efficient engines.

It now forecasts a need over the next 20 years for more than 22,000 new aircraft worth US$2.1 trillion in this segment, an increase of 2,000 aircraft compared to the previous projection.

This segment represents 70 percent of all new units and 45 percent of the value of all deliveries. Nevertheless, demand is expected to be strong for widebody aircraft at US$2.5 trillion, Airbus said.

It predicts airlines will need some 7,800 twin aisle aircraft with between 250 and 400 seats and some 1,500 very large aircraft with over 400 seats for operation on the busiest routes.

Leahy said Airbus was considering ramping up production of its latest widebody models, the A350XWB which should enter service later this year and the A330neo due in 2017, due to high demand.

SOURCE


Wednesday, September 24, 2014

New direct flight connects Singapore and Mongolia


Singapore Changi Airport on Wednesday (Sep 24) welcomed the arrival of MIAT Mongolian Airlines, directly connecting Singapore and Mongolia for the first time.

In a media release, Changi Airport Group (CAG) said that the Mongolian national carrier will operate a twice-weekly service between Ulaanbaatar and Singapore, with a transit in Beijing for other passengers. The route will utilise a 174-seat Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

A delegation led by Mongolia's Minister of Road and Transportation Gansukh Amarjargal, together with Mr Gungaa Jargalsaikhan, President and CEO of MIAT Mongolian Airlines, was on board the inaugural flight that arrived at Changi Airport at 5pm on Wednesday.

They were welcomed by Mongolia's ambassador to Singapore Banzragch Delgermaa, and Mr Yam Kum Weng, CAG Executive Vice President for Air Hub and Development.

“We are proud to welcome Mongolia’s national carrier to the family of airlines at Changi Airport," said Mr Yam. "Mongolia has enjoyed strong economic growth and as the country opens up its economy and resource sectors, there will be more business and investment opportunities not only between our two countries, but also between Mongolia and Asia-Pacific. The direct Ulaanbaatar-Singapore service by MIAT Mongolian Airlines is thus timely to support growing demand for business and leisure travel.”

To celebrate the start of its operations at Changi Airport, MIAT Mongolian Airlines is offering promotional fares on return economy class tickets starting from S$670.

SOURCE


Monday, September 22, 2014

Union makes offer to end marathon Air France strike


Air France's main pilots' union offered to lift its crippling strike late Friday (Sep 26) if an independent mediator was named to run negotiations in a bitter battle over the fate of the company's low-cost subsidiary.

The SNPL union, in what it called a "gesture of appeasement", said it was "ready to end the conflict as soon as this mediator is named" by the government. The French prime minister's office told AFP there were "no grounds for new negotiations with a mediator".

Over half of Air France's planes were grounded for the 12th day running, and the strike was extended until at least Tuesday, after pilots blocked the most recent management proposals to scale back development plans for its low-cost Transavia airline.

The strike at Europe's second-largest flag carrier is costing an estimated €15 million to €20 million (US$19 million to US$25 million) a day. Prime Minister Manuel Valls on Friday renewed his call for the "unbearable" strike to end. Air France's share price has fallen nearly 15 per cent since the stoppage began. "This strike is catastrophic for the French aviation sector," read a joint statement from key industry unions, including those representing travel operators. "In a more-than-morose economic context, it is compromising a future that is already seriously under threat," read the statement.

Air France's management also rejected the idea of a mediator, and voiced surprise that pilots' representatives had left the negotiating table on Friday while "discussions were going well". "We aren't far from a solution," said spokesman Eric Schramm. He stressed however that the company was in an "extremely delicate" situation, losing €20 million each day of the strike.

The protracted strike, and fruitless negotiations, have also prompted anger among aviation staff grounded alongside their planes, around 200 of whom protested against the stoppage on Friday.

CONCESSIONS NOT ENOUGH

A concession from management to scrap plans to expand Transavia further into Europe was "necessary, but not enough" to stop the strike, SNPL spokesman Guillaume Schmid said on Friday. Schmid later called on the government to name an "independent mediator as quickly as possible". He blasted Air France-KLM chief executive Alexandre de Juniac for "his inability to carry out a respectful dialogue" with the unions.

The pilots are fighting for a "single contract" across Air France-KLM's subsidiaries to avoid being forced to accept less attractive working conditions at Transavia. Transavia currently serves holiday destinations across Europe and the Mediterranean.

Air France pilots, who earn up to €250,000 a year, fear some flights will be replaced with services operated by Transavia. They fear they will end up earning less and having shorter recovery times between flights. A Transavia captain earns up to €160,000 a year, although co-pilots on both airlines will earn roughly the same amount as each other at the beginning of their careers, according to sources.

LOW-COST A GROWTH OPPORTUNITY

While Air France management agreed to scrap the development of Transavia abroad, it has vowed to maintain at least some part of its plans to enter the low-cost market, a key "growth opportunity", according to de Juniac. The Air France-KLM board of directors has thrown its support behind management.

The withdrawal of plans to expand Transavia will come as a blow to the airline's efforts to be more competitive in the crowded and changing European skies, increasingly dominated by no-frills operators such as Irish airline Ryanair.

France's MEDEF employers' association said on Thursday the conflict at Air France - which is 16 per cent state-owned - encapsulated the malaise gripping the country's crisis-hit economy. The union action is "again dragging a company into the red", said MEDEF vice-president Jean-Francois Pillard. "For those who want to invest or travel in France, this does not contribute, at an already extremely difficult time, to improving the image of the country," he said.

Air France has already implemented an ambitious restructuring plan to reduce costs and improve efficiency. "Low-cost airlines now represent between 25 and 45 per cent of air traffic in Europe, depending on the country," said Didier Brechemier, an aviation expert at consultants Roland Berger.

Ryanair will soon expand its fleet to 400, which would take it above Air France's 350 aircraft. "With competitors like that it's not hard to see why Ryanair is the fastest-growing airline in Europe," company boss Michael O'Leary said dismissively of Air France's offer to put its expansion plans on ice.

SOURCE


Pilots reject Air France offer to end strike


Air France pilots on Monday (Sep 22) rejected a last-ditch management attempt to end the longest strike at the airline since 1998 that is costing up to €20 million (US$25.7 million) every day.

The main pilots' union dismissed as a "smoke screen" the chief executive's offer to freeze the development of a subsidiary budget airline that management sees as vital to compete in the cut-throat aviation market. The management proposal "is nothing but a smoke screen that offers no more guarantees than previous offers and does not solve any problem," the SNPL union said in a statement.

Air France chief executive Alexandre de Juniac said earlier on Monday that this was the "last offer" to break the deadlock that has grounded on average 60 per cent of the French flag carrier's fleet.

The pilots are on strike in protest at the airline's plans to develop Transavia France, which serves holiday destinations, primarily in the Mediterranean. They fear the airline will attempt to replace expensive Air France pilots, who can earn up to €250,000 (YS$321,000) a year, with Transavia pilots, who are paid considerably less.

De Juniac offered "to suspend the plan to create Transavia subsidiaries in Europe until the end of the year" in order to have "a deeper dialogue" with pilots, but insisted the overall project could not be called into question.

Air France said the strike was costing them "up to €20 million per day" and said it would update its profit forecasts when the strike was over. "The pilots' strike has had disastrous consequences for customers, employees and the company's finances," the airline said in a statement.

Unions have threatened to extend the strike - already the longest in 16 years - until Friday unless their demands are met.

AIR FRANCE FATE 'AT STAKE'

Air France has made concessions - notably an offer to limit the Transavia fleet to 30 planes compared with 37 originally planned - but to no avail so far.

"This strike is becoming interminable," said Jean-Claude Delarue, president of a travellers' federation. "You have to ask yourself whether Air France will end up losing market share because travellers will end up going elsewhere," said Delarue.

The government has called several times for an end to the strike, with Prime Minister Manuel Valls warning that the image of the eurozone's second largest economy was at risk. Transport Minister Alain Vidalies warned over the weekend that "the fate of the company could be at stake". "The low cost (arena) is not a choice, it's an obligatory move, that's reality. I think pilots are fully aware of this," he told French radio.

Management has sent an email to its pilots to try to put an end to what it said were attempts of "intimidation" against pilots who were continuing to work. "Air France management will not tolerate any misdemeanour and will initiate steps necessary to punish those who engage in such acts," read the email, obtained by AFP.

The company also wrote to its passengers to express its "frustration" and "unhappiness". It asked customers who have booked a ticket before September 26 to delay their trip or change their flight free of charge.

In an apologetic message to its frequent flyers, the wider Air France-KLM group has said its aim was to offer "competitive" fares and Transavia was meant to complement Air France's operations without creating any "adverse impact on Air France staff".

Throughout the strike, the atmosphere at airports has been remarkably quiet, as the company has been warning travellers in advance that their flights are cancelled.

SOURCE


Singapore-bound Tigerair flight diverted to Batam


A Singapore-bound Tigerair flight from Hong Kong landed unexpectedly in Batam, according to a woman whose mother was on board the plane. The airline said that a windshear had forced it to make the diversion.

Ms Serena Ng said flight TR2067 was due to land in Singapore at 10.30pm on Saturday night (Sep 20), but a check on Changi Airport's website shows it only arrived at 2.41am.

Ms Ng managed to contact her mother on the phone, and learnt that the plane had landed in "an airfield in Batam." "My mum told me TR2067 attempted to land in Singapore twice, but failed, and she heard loud vibrating sounds from the engine and thunder," Ms Ng said.

Air traffic tracker Flight Radar 24 listed the A320 plane as having landed in Batam at 11.36pm.

Mr Sim Leong Chin, who had waited for his friend at Terminal 2 since 10.30pm, said he did not find it out of the ordinary for the delay. He added he was not worried although he had no information of the plane’s whereabouts until near midnight, when a staff at the airport said the plane was delayed due to bad weather.

But another lady – whose daughter was on board TR2067 - told Channel NewsAsia she was very worried. Speaking in Mandarin, she said: “The information on the arrival timings showed the plane was ‘confirmed’ at around 10.30pm.

“But shortly after that, the information under the ‘status’ column changed to ‘ask airline’. I became worried after that. What if the plane went missing?”

Despite the four-hour delay, passengers Channel NewsAsia spoke with appeared calm, and said they were relieved the plane had landed safely in Singapore.

Tigerair meanwhile, issued a statement saying that at no point during the diversion were the safety and security of passengers and crew compromised.

"Flight TR2067 was delayed due to inclement weather and the presence of windshear - a rapid change of wind speed and direction over short distances - while attempting to land in Singapore," said the airline in a statement. "After making two landing attempts, the flight was diverted to Batam to refuel and await better landing conditions as part of Tigerair's standard operating procedures."

The statement added: "The loud engine noise heard by passengers was due to the plane making a go-around which involved the powering up of the aircraft engine, which was operating optimally. At no point was the safety of our crew and passengers compromised, and the flight landed safely in Singapore at 2.41am today."

SOURCE


Sunday, September 21, 2014

Week 71: A320 Type Rating Week 10

It was a "crazy" week, not because there were a lot of training, but I had two sim sessions on two consecutive days. At my current stage, it takes me some time to absorb and digest what was taught as there simply is a lot to learn in each sim session.

Let's start with Day One, we had another new instructor, a very experienced former airline pilot who flew from first generation of civil aircraft right to the latest generation. He's over seventy in years of age now and we can definitely learn heaps from him.

First difference of this session was the T/O Config, which was to be set at 3 instead of the usual 2 we had for the past two sessions. However upon take-off and cleaning up, we are allowed to retract from Flaps 3 straight to Flaps 1 to save time and reduce drag for better speed performance. That was another new knowledge I've learnt.

The approach is a little different this time with the need to remain at Flaps 1 till we hit 2000ft. Between 2000ft to 100ft, we had to set up the aircraft for a stable approach, that is to say the aircraft will have to be in Flaps Full in V(app), gears down and all checklists completed. With the skill level we're at, that was quite a challenge.

With the approach, we were also taught on how to calculate our vertical descend speed once we're on the "glideslope". It wasn't the ILS, but rather, using the papi lights.

Groundspeed * 5 or Groundspeed/2 * 10

That was something which I've learnt in Ballarat, but the C172 is way slower and easier to control along with the mental calculation. A320 is a whole new game....... My landing as usual wasn't good, and so the instructor keep putting me at 3miles out for me to practise to perfection. I think I made a total of nine landings before calling it a day. Gosh, that was real tiring.

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Day Two, finally a familiar face as instructor and this time we was more strict on how we deal with the radio calls and procedures right from the gate to the runway threshold. We were also introduced to making departure, take-off and approach briefings. As you can see, the workload has started to pile up and we've got to cope with it.

T/O Config this time round was also different with it at Config 1+F. For the first time, cleaning up upon take-off is so much faster and easier. We were vectored to FL150 and introduced to stalling. In reality, the A320 doesn't stall, but for training purposes, we have to be taught on how to recover from it if it ever happens.

First, we brought the plane to stall in Normal Law. As we get nearer to the stall speed, an audio warning will be activated followed by the engines spooling up by the computer to bring the aircraft away from the stall speed. Then with Alternate Law, we went for the real stall with recovery. Back in the C172 days, we were taught to lower the nose and apply full power in a parallel motion. However, doing so in the A320 will cause the aircraft to go into a deeper stall which probably will be impossible to recover. What we had to do is to lower the nose immediately to see and increase in the speed trend. Once that is achieved, apply toga power and raise the nose higher to slow down the altitude loss until the plane is able to maintain altitude and the thrust can be reduced.

The session ended with approach using ILS guidance, which totally threw me off balance. After getting some hang on doing a full visual approach with no instrument aids, the ILS got me all confused with my scanning. Not that I've not flown ILS approaches before, but the way it's being portrayed on the PFD in the A320 is different from what I'm used to in the C172. That, plus my lacklustre landing skills, ended up with a very poor landing performance from me.

The same issue I've been facing all along; the trouble with getting the correct amount of aileron and anticipation still hounding me. It was so disappointing to see myself flying like this, snaking left/right and unable to get it right. The saving grace was the instructor giving me another two chances at it after both my other sim partners had finished their PF training. And having done the observation on how they did it better than me, I did much better and felt relieved.

I need to land better.

F1 race in Singapore this weekend is now sponsored by Singapore Airlines, and their iconic Singapore Girls were being used as "race queens".. Haha, I was expecting shorter skirts maybe??


Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Lufthansa says ordering 25 new Airbus A320 planes


Germany's Lufthansa group said on Wednesday (Sep 17) that it was ordering 25 new Airbus A320 aircraft at a cost of about €2.5 billion (US$3.2 billion) at list prices.

The order comprises 15 Airbus A320neo aircraft for Lufthansa's subsidiary SWISS to be delivered from 2019, and 10 new A320ceo planes destined for its low-cost Eurowings subsidiary in 2016 and 2017, the European air transport giant said in a statement.

"This order for modern, fuel-efficient and quiet aircraft takes the Lufthansa Group a major step closer towards maintaining and expanding its market position by reducing its unit costs," it said.

"The A320neo, in particular, stands out for its improved aerodynamics and new engines. As a result the aircraft use around 15 per cent less fuel than comparable models today," it added.

The orders were approved by the supervisory board at its meeting Wednesday, it added.

Lufthansa unveiled plans in July to beef up its presence in the low-cost sector.

The group currently has 265 new aircraft on order with a list value of €30 billion to be delivered by 2025.

SOURCE


Monday, September 15, 2014

Higher passenger load for SIA in August


National carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) carried more passengers and filled a higher proportion of its seats in August.

SIA's latest operating data, released on Monday (Sep 15), showed that its passenger load factor rose to 83.1 per cent last month, from 82.4 per cent a year ago.

The number of passengers carried increased by 1.9 per cent year-on-year to 1.69 million. Its capacity, as measured in seats per kilometres, fell 0.5 per cent in August from a year ago.

The Singapore flag carrier's passenger load factor improved for the South West Pacific route but load factor for Americas declined due to weaker demand.

Regional unit SilkAir saw a decline in passenger load factor to 71.5 per cent, from 71.7 per cent a year ago.

Looking ahead, SIA said the operating environment remains challenging. "Capacity will be adjusted accordingly to better match market demand and promotional activities shall continue in markets that require additional support," the airline added.

SIA's overall load factor, which takes into consideration cargo carried relative to capacity, was also higher last month, hitting 70 per cent compared with 69.1 per cent in the same month last year.

SOURCE


Sunday, September 14, 2014

Week 70: A320 Type Rating Week 9

It's been a good long break after not having any lesson or sim session in the past week after my virgin sim session two weeks go. It was with a different instructor, whose history stems from his RSAF days in the C130. He was a more chill instructor and is more lenient on our inefficiencies than the previous one, speaking of which, gave me a wake up call.

The break I spent my time understanding n going through the procedures repeatedly. I doesn't feel good to look lost and silly while in the sim. What we went through were pretty much the same, except that we now start setting up the FMGC for our flight. It wasn't that tough considering we already had prior experience, and there wasn't any complicated flight plan that we had to input into the system.

We took off, radar vector flying around the Malaysian and Indonesian region, with our instructor showing us how to recognise the areas, which frankly speaking, didn't help much haha.. The graphics are all flat and look very different from reality, but it is good to know. Conditions given was CAVOK, and we were urged to look outside more often during such conditions rather than fixating on instruments flying.

The flying ended with a totally raw data landing, with no ILS and auto-thrust. We were taught to fly the approach using runway centre-line and the papi lights as glideslope guidance. It was really really challenging. For one, I kinda dislike the delayed reaction of the A320. It was either I moved to little or I moved too much. Other than the height and centre position, I had to take note of my speed too, which was set at the V(app) speed.

After a few tries of that and snaking all around, I got exhausted and kind of lost motivation. You know that feeling of trying so hard yet not getting it right? Exactly what I felt.

Our instructor showing us how it's done before finishing off thelesson

Midweek, spent some time at the airport going through the FCOM

Weekend, a shot taken from Pulau Ubin portraying a plane overflying the VTK VOR station at Pulau Tekong


Friday, September 12, 2014

Vietnam Airlines set for partial privatisation in November


Vietnam Airlines said it will be partially privatised in November, part of a long-delayed drive to sell off the country's mostly inefficient state-owned enterprises.

Around 25 per cent of the national carrier will be sold in an Initial Public Offering (IPO), the company said in a statement released late Thursday (Sep 11). "Based on the equitisation plan approved by the Prime Minister, Vietnam Airlines will quickly implement steps to proceed with the IPO in late November 2014," it said.

Equitisation is the term Vietnam uses to refer to privatisation. State media reported that 20 per cent of the shares will be sold to strategic investors, some 3 per cent to airline staff and the rest to the public. The state will retain a 75 per cent controlling stake in the company, whose registered capital is roughly VND 14 trillion (US$661 million), the statement added.

Vietnam first began modest State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) reforms in the 1980s and there has been talk of privatising Vietnam Airlines since at least the mid-1990s. Prior attempts to sell off portions of the airline have been scuppered primarily by resistance from vested interests and a lack of political will. At least one prior attempt was abandoned due to the global economic crisis in 2008.

The overall process of SOE reform is mired in delays, experts say, as Vietnam's leaders must balance reducing inefficiencies in the SOE sector - which still account for some 35 per cent of Gross Domestic Product - with a general reluctance to cede control of key companies to foreigners.

Vietnam Airlines, a SkyTeam alliance member, remains the largest airline in the country, employing more than 10,000 people. It now owns more than 80 aircraft and will receive another 15 by the end of next year. SkyTeam is one of three major airline groupings, alongside Star Alliance and Oneworld. Other SkyTeam members include Air France, KLM, Alitalia and Delta.

In recent years Vietnam's flag carrier has faced stiff competition from low-cost VietJet Air, the country's first private airline which launched in 2011. VietJet has already cornered around 25 per cent of the domestic market - taking customers from Vietnam Airlines and rival low-cost carrier Jetstar, according to state media.

SOURCE


Tuesday, September 9, 2014

'Sawing sounds' on Tigerair flight alarm passengers


 An unusual "sawing sound" that persisted for about 30 minutes on board Tigerair's TR2105 caused some passengers to demand that they be allowed to disembark.

The noise was caused by a sensor fault that did not compromise safety, Tigerair later told Channel NewsAsia. The budget carrier also apologised for the inconvenience.

Upon boarding the Sep 3 flight from Bangkok to Singapore, one passenger, who identified himself as Mr C M Chan, said he was extremely worried by the "loud and continuous sound" that filled the plane as it taxied from the airway bridge. "I have been flying for years, and had never heard such a sound before," the 44-year-old consultant told Channel NewsAsia.

He said he asked a flight attendant to check with the pilot about the cause of the noise before take-off, and was then informed that it was due to the plane's hydraulic systems, but that the plane was safe to fly. Still concerned, Mr Chan said he asked to disembark, but the plane took off all the same.

Fellow passenger Ms Fong Weihui reported feeling strong vibrations from under the seats. "The sound from the faulty hydraulic pump roared loudly and the aircraft trembled violently as it was taking off," she said. She added that she found it "very shocking" when a flight attendant told her the plane had been experiencing this problem for three days.  

The pilot later made an announcement explaining the noise, but Mr Chan said he was not able to hear the message clearly. "I was really worried I would never land again. I only breathed a sigh of relief when I landed two hours later," he said. He added that a subsequent call to the airline's customer service department also did not yield any satisfactory answers.

Another passenger, Mr Faris Aziz, said he found the sounds “uncomfortable” and “irritating” and likened it to being in a "hell room, full of dogs' barking sounds". “I was so afraid that I almost had the feeling to get out of the plane if I could,” he recounted, but said the journey was otherwise a smooth one. He said he had heard similar sounds lasting just a few seconds on previous flights, and later found out through research that it is "pretty common on A320 planes".

A spokesman for the Singapore-based budget carrier Tigerair told Channel NewsAsia that the loud sound came from the aircraft’s Power Transfer Unit (PTU), which connects the aircraft’s hydraulic systems.

"The PTU is meant to be in operation only while the aircraft is on the ground. However, a sensor fault in the unit had caused it to continue running even after take-off," said the spokesman.

"At no time was the safety of the passengers and crew on board compromised, even though the sound might have caused disturbance. Nevertheless, we note that some passengers might have been troubled by the sound as the captain’s explanation over the PA system might have been partially masked by the noise. We apologise for any inconvenience caused, and would like to reiterate that safety is of utmost priority to Tigerair."

SOURCE


Monday, September 8, 2014

Ryanair orders 100 Boeing 737 planes for US$11b


Irish budget airline Ryanair agreed to buy 100 aircraft from Boeing for US$11 billion, with an option to purchase another 100 planes from the aerospace giant, the companies announced on Monday (Sep 8).

The order covers the 737 Boeing MAX 200, which Boeing touts as a fuel-efficient vehicle for the important single-aisle civilian market. The planes will accommodate up to 200 seats, up from the 160 in other single-aisle planes.

Ryanair said the giant order will enable it to meet its growth targets, which calls for it to expand from 82 million customers in 2014 to more than 150 million in 2024, which marks the end of the delivery stream of the planes under Monday's order.

"It's going to change the game for low-fare air travel," Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said at a news conference. "It's also going to change the game in Europe."

O'Leary said Ryanair plans to use the jets to enter new markets in Europe and challenge incumbent carriers. "I hope it will hasten a new era of price wars in Europe over the next 10 years," he said.

SOURCE


Friday, September 5, 2014

Lufthansa flights grounded in new pilots' strike


 Lufthansa, Germany's biggest airline, said it will cancel 200 flights on Friday (Sep 5), affecting 25,000 passengers, as a consequence of a pilots' strike to be held later in the day.

The pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit has called for a six-hour walk-out between 5.00pm and 11.00pm (11pm to 5am, Singapore time) over plans to change the airline's early retirement policy. The industrial action is focusing on the country's biggest airport in Frankfurt and will ground most domestic and regional flights.

Lufthansa said individual flights would already be cancelled as early as 1.30pm (7.30pm, Singapore time) and most flights from 4.00pm (10pm, Singapore time). The airline promised to try and limit the impact of the strike for customers.

Lufthansa pilots can currently take paid early retirement from the age of 55. They are fighting a plan by the airline to raise the minimum age and to involve pilots in the financing of their pensions.

Last Friday, more than 100 flights were cancelled at several of Germany's main airports as pilots of Lufthansa's low-cost airline Germanwings also walked out. And on Monday, a union for German train drivers called for a three-hour walkout to turn up the pressure on management of the national rail operator Deutsche Bahn in gridlocked wage talks.

SOURCE


Boeing announces orders for 23 planes


Boeing on Thursday (Sep 4) announced contracts for the sale of 23 aircraft, increasing its lead over Airbus in total orders for 2014.

All of the latest orders were for the Boeing 737, a smaller civilian plane that Boeing has touted for its fuel efficiency.

The US aerospace giant reached a deal to sell two planes to Panamanian company Copa Airlines. The identities of customers for the other planes were not disclosed, according to Boeing's website.

With the latest round of contracts, Boeing has reached agreements in 2014 to sell 941 planes. Earlier on Thursday, European rival Airbus disclosed that it has garnered orders for 722 planes in 2014 so far.

Boeing sells its 737s for between US$78.3 and US$113.3 million, depending on the model. Based on those figures, the orders disclosed on Thursday are worth US$1.8-US$2.6 billion.

The 737 has been Boeing's best-selling plane in 2014, accounting for 663 of the 941 aircraft sold since the start of the year. Dow member Boeing finished 0.4 percent lower at US$125.46.

SOURCE


Thursday, September 4, 2014

China needs 6,000 new planes by 2033: Boeing


China will need more than 6,000 new aircraft over the next 20 years, US manufacturer Boeing forecast on Thursday - an increase of almost 500 on its equivalent prediction last year. Flight demand in the world's most populous country and second-largest economy is increasing and diversifying, Boeing said in its new Current Market Outlook for the country.

Chinese new aircraft demand will reach 6,020 planes worth US$870 billion (S$1,089 billion) during the 2014-2033 period, it said, compared to last year's 20-year demand forecast of 5,580 planes. Underscoring the dramatic increase in passenger demand, Boeing said that a total of 6,930 passenger aircraft will be plying China's skies in 2033, three times the current 2,310.

"China's domestic market has been strong and resilient for many years, and continues to be strong," Randy Tinseth, vice president of marketing at Boeing Commercial Airplanes, told reporters in Beijing. During the 20-year period Chinese carriers will take delivery of 16 per cent of the world's airplane production, the company said.

Boeing, maker of the 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner, competes with Europe's Airbus for global dominance in the aircraft market. The US firm says it made more than half the current Chinese commercial fleet, while Airbus says it has an almost-50 per cent share.

"The market is changing, evolving," Tinseth told reporters in Beijing, saying demand for more direct flights to more destinations was being driven by factors including low-cost carriers. "It's good for passengers, and ultimately it will be good for the aviation market here."

Only 1,400 of China's new aircraft in the next 20 years will replace existing airplanes, Boeing said, while 4,620, or 77 per cent, will be additions to the fleet.

In July, Boeing raised its forecast for global aircraft demand by 4.2 per cent from last year's projection, saying it expected 36,770 planes to be delivered over the next two decades in deals worth US$5.2 trillion.

SOURCE


Struggling Cyprus Airways attracts 9 bids: report


Nine firms have made non-binding bids for Cyprus Airways with Ireland's Ryanair and Greece's Aegean Airlines among those still interested in buying the loss-making national carrier, a report said on Thursday (Sep 4) .

There has been no official announcement since the deadline for bids closed on Wednesday but the Phileleftheros newspaper said nine of the 14 firms that had expressed initial interest had tabled proposals. Also still in the running are Israel's Arkia and Spanish Group Arevenca in collaboration with Fly Aruba. But Romania's low-budget Blue Air and Russia's S7 have pulled out, the newspaper said.

Phileleftheros said the interested parties are concerned that Cyprus Airways is paying too much for its six leased Airbus aircraft, while pilot salaries are also deemed too high. It said proposals included making Cyprus a regional aircraft maintenance hub and increasing the Cyprus Airways fleet as it expands.

In August, Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary met with Cypriot officials and proposed how he could turn Cyprus Airways into a profitable operation by increasing passenger traffic by 500 per cent over three years. He said with the help of his low-cost airline, Cyprus Airways would experience rapid growth, with new routes and more flights, increasing passenger numbers to three million a year from the current average of 500,000.

The debt-ridden government, which is dependent on a €10 billion (S$16.5 billion, US$13 billion) bailout agreed with international lenders last year, owns 93 per cent of the troubled carrier and wants to offload it.

Greece's Aegean Airlines, which has also held talks with government officials, is seen as another serious contender as it aims to use the island's Larnaca Airport as a second base outside Athens. It is understood that among key conditions set for the sale are that the airline remain based in Cyprus and that as many staff as possible keep their jobs.

A shortlist will now be drawn up and those on it given financial data on Cyprus Airways and asked to put in a final binding offer. The government hopes to wrap up the process next month. The airline has been selling off assets, including three time slots at London's Heathrow airport, so it can keep flying.

With a reduced fleet of six aircraft, the airline is struggling to survive against intense competition on its most popular routes to Greece and London. The airline has implemented several cost-cutting plans, axing staff, scrapping routes and downsizing its fleet, but has failed to stem losses.

It is also under investigation by the European Commission for possible violations of state aid rules in a €31 million share capital increase and a €73 million state bailout over the past two years. This is another worry for potential buyers. If asked to give the money back, it would be unable to do so and face certain closure.

Cyprus Airways posted a net loss of €55.8 million for 2012, more than double the net loss of €23.88 million a year earlier.

SOURCE


Pilots, cabin crew 'twice as likely to get skin cancer'


 Airline pilots and cabin crew are twice as likely to suffer from skin cancer because of regular exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun at high altitude, US researchers said in a study published on Wednesday (Sep 3).

Analysis of 19 studies which included more than 266,000 people found that incidence of melanoma was between 2.21 and 2.22 higher for pilots and 2.09 greater for flight attendants, or more than twice the rate of the general population. The incidence rate was attributed to ultraviolet rays filtering into planes at high altitude through cockpit windscreens and windows on the fuselage, the study's author said.

Doctor Martina Sanlorenzo, from the University of California at San Francisco, said the study had "important implications for occupational health and protection of this population." The study appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association Dermatology.

Researchers reported that at 9,000 metres (30,000 feet) above sea level, the cruising altitude of most commercial jets, carcinogenic ultraviolet rays were twice as powerful. The levels were even higher when planes fly over thick cloud layers, which reflect up to 85 per cent of the harmful rays back towards a plane.

The research showed that while pilots and flight crew were known to be at risk from ionising radiation, ultraviolet exposure was not a well-recognised occupational risk. In 2014, some 76,000 cases of melanoma were diagnosed in the United States, with 9,710 expected to die from the condition.

SOURCE


Wednesday, September 3, 2014

ANA, Lufthansa announce cargo business tie-up


Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Lufthansa of Germany on Wednesday (Sep 3) announced an air cargo tie up as they look to fight off intense competition from budget airlines on passenger routes. The airlines said they had won regulatory approval for the agreement, which will see them integrate network planning, pricing, sales and handling on all routes between Japan and Europe.

"The two carriers aim to introduce the joint approach on shipments originating from Japan to Europe in winter 2014/2015 and for shipments from Europe to Japan in mid-2015," they said in a statement. "The joint venture will benefit customers by generating a greater selection of routings and a wider range of service options. Customers will especially profit from a larger and faster network with more direct flights, more destinations and more frequencies."

ANA and Lufthansa, both members of the Star Alliance global airline network, launched a joint venture for Japan-Europe passenger flights two years ago. The Japanese carrier holds a 17 per cent market share for air freight between Japan and Europe, while Lufthansa has 16 per cent, the leading Nikkei business daily said on Wednesday. Mainline carriers' cargo businesses have become increasingly crucial to their bottom line as they battle budget airlines in the passenger market.

SOURCE


Changi Airport offers more rebates, incentives for airlines


Changi Airport Group (CAG) on Wednesday (Sep 3) provided additional details of the rebates and incentives offered to airlines under its Growth and Assistance Incentive (GAIN) programme, which was announced in June.

It will be offering landing fee rebates for long-haul flights and incentives for airlines to grow transfer traffic through Changi Airport, and these measures would amount to as much as S$50 million over the next 19 months for airlines operating at the Airport, said CAG in its press release.

Specifically, it will offer a 50 per cent rebate on landing fees for all non-stop long-haul passenger flights from Sep 1, 2014 to Mar 31, 2016.

CAG is also launching its Gateway Incentive next month, in which all airlines at Changi Airport will receive a S$10 incentive for every incremental departing transit or transfer passenger handled. The 18-month scheme is effective from Oct 1 this year, and will also include passengers carried by foreign airlines interlining at the airport, it said.

"The new incentives are targeted at long-haul flights and transfer traffic, two important segments of our air traffic. Long-haul services are a key part of Changi Airport’s global connectivity. CAG recognises that airlines commit significant investment into their long haul flights, hence CAG will be offering landing rebates on these flights to help share airlines’ costs, said Mr Lim Ching Kiat, CAG's Senior Vice President for Market Development.

"Transfer traffic is another important component of our air traffic. Therefore, we will be rolling out incentives to reward our airline partners for growing transfer traffic. This is on top of the extension of our popular Changi Transit Programme which offers attractive vouchers to passengers using Changi as their transfer point.”

CAG had announced in June that it is offering all airlines operating at Changi Airport across-the-board rebates of 50 per cent aircraft parking fees and 15 per cent on aerobridge fees between Jul 1, 2014 and Jun 30, 2015 under its GAIN programme.

SOURCE


Monday, September 1, 2014

Taiwan's first budget airline set for maiden flight


Taiwan's first budget airline said on Monday (Sep 1) it was scheduled to launch its maiden flight later this month, tapping into the robust demand for cheap travel in Asia. Tigerair Taiwan - a joint venture by China Airlines, the island's leading air carrier by fleet size, and Singapore's low-cost carrier Tigerair - is slated to start its service on September 26 with a flight to Singapore from Taiwan.

The announcement came after a brand new A320, the company's first aircraft, flew from France to the northern Taoyuan airport early Sunday morning. "The arrival of the plane is a milestone in the company's operation," company spokesman Eric Lee told AFP.

"We'd open up to three other flight routes to the Southeast Asian region after October," he said, adding that the air carrier also plans to begin flights to South Korea and Japan from the first quarter of 2015. Tigerair Taiwan, 90 percent controlled by China Airlines with the remainder held by Tigerair, plans to introduce a fleet of 12 A-320s in three years.

Taiwan's TransAsia Airways has also announced the formation of a low-cost carrier called "V Air", expecting the subsidiary to become operational in the final quarter of this year.

Demand for discount flights has been rising in Asia. Twelve foreign budget airlines, including Malaysia-based AirAsia and Japan's Peach Aviation, offer services to and from Taiwan.

SOURCE