AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency
101,366 news found

AirportsAeroporto di Firenze SpA: approved the report on March 31, 2009
Florence, Italy - The economic crisis caused a decrease of passengers
AdF SpA, "Amerigo Vespucci" the Florence's airport management society, has unveiled the figures regarding the first quarter 2009. Following, in details, a summary report: "- 337,884 passengers transited... more

AirlinesAer Lingus suspends new flights from Belfast International Airport
Belfast, Ireland - The endless fight against easyJet and Ryanair
Aer Lingus has revealed that is temporarily discontinuing flights operated from Belfast International Airport to five destinations during the upcoming winter season. The Irish carrier will be removing... more

AirportsTenerife plans an island airline
Tenerife, Spain - To face the drop of the arrivals
Tenerife Tourism Corporation, along with other tourist subjects of Canary Islands, are planning to launch an airline with headquarters in Tenerife to face the drop of the arrivals. The forecasts of... more

Civil aviationSpain: the Government approves a measure in favour of Spanish and European airlines
Madrid, Spain - Taxes exempition if passengers to be increased
In an effort to boost Spain's key tourism sector during the economic crisis, the Spanish government announced concessions for airlines that attract more passengers to the country. Those airlines bringing... more

ReportRussia: midair collision near Moscow averted between two passenger airplanes
Moscow, Russia - The event occurred in April, but only today has been made known
Two Russian passenger airliners carrying some 300 passengers have averted the midair collision near Moscow, a paper said on Thursday, citing the state air navigation service Rosaeronavigatsiya. The... more

UAS-DronesShadow TUAS reach 400,000 total flight hours
Washington, Usa - They are particularly employed in Iraq and Afghanistan
AAI Corporation announced that its Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems (TUAS) have exceeded 400,000 flight hours. In service with the US Army, Army National Guard and Marine Corps, more than 90 percent... more

Civil aviationMatteoli, Italian Transports Minister, during ENAC's conference: "The crisis should be used to restructure our transports"
Rome, Italy - Four events that characterized 2008
Altero Matteoli, Italian Minister for Transports and Infrastructures, spoke this morning during the presentation of ENAC's (Italian Civil Aviation Authority) annual report for 2008. "Four main events... more

Civil aviationAVIONEWS at Italian ENAC's conference. Palenzona: cooperation needed to solve problems
Rome, Italy - This government has been a turning point
Italian Assaeroporti president, Fabrizio Palenzona, spoke this morning during the presentation of ENAC's (Italian Civil Aviation Authority) annual report for 2008. "Concerning airport infrastructures... more

AirlinesForlì airport and Wind Jet aim to the USA
Forlì, Italy - On July 2 the Forlì-London route will be activated
Forlì airport and Wind Jet, while they are consolidating their presence on important European routes such as the links with Berlin, Prague and Amsterdam, are imagining an ambitious future with the possibility... more

AirportsThe Berlin-Shoenefeld airport management society welcomed the decision by EC about the BBI funding
Berlin, Germany - And now is possible to think to all project's details
Satisfaction has been expressed with the following press-release issued by the Berlin-Schoenefeld's airport management society, regarding the decision announced yesterday by European Commission to not... more

Civil aviationItalian ENAC president, Riggio, is optimistic for the next future
Rome, Italy - "Airlines are only based on passengers"
Italian ENAC (National Civil Aviation Authority) president, Vito Riggio, spoke this morning during the presentation of the annual report for 2008. "Three were the main issues in 2008: first of all Alitalia's... more

Military aviationRussia to deliver 12 Su-30MK2 Flanker warplanes to Vietnam
Moscow, Russia - A deal worth over 500 million dollars
Russia will supply 12 Su-30MK2 Flanker multi-role fighters to Vietnam under a contract worth more than 500 million dollars, a Russian business daily reported on Thursday. Vedomosti said the contract,... more

Civil aviationPresentation of Italian ENAC's 2008 report: Schifani points on punctuality and safety
Rome, Italy - The environment is a central topic, too
Italian senate president, Renato Schifani, spoke this morning during the presentation of ENAC's (Italian Authority for Civila Aviation) annual report for 2008. "Civil aviation in Italy is a crucial... more

Military aviationIsrael uses Russian MiG-29 fighters for pilot training
Tel Aviv, Israel - An airplane to engage against potential enemies like Syria, Iran and Sudan
The Israeli Air Force is currently using Soviet-designed MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters for pilot training, the country's Channel 2 reported on Thursday. "We have studied them and are using them to practice... more

Fair and shows"EBACE 2009": Cessna delivered Citation X to Wallan; signed an agreement with StandardAero
Geneva, Switzerland - Citation CJ4 towards FAA certification; the industry delivered a XLS+ to the first European customer
"Cessna Aircraft Company this month will deliver a Citation X to Saad Wallan, chairman of Wallan Aviation. This will become the sixth Citation X to be based in the Middle East and confirms the Citation... more

AirlinesVirgin Atlantic is looking for agreements with Alitalia and Meridiana
Milan, Italy - The airline steadies in the Italian market
Satisfactions in the Italian market for Virgin Atlantic also without a direct flight, Marco Nisi, Sales Manager for Italy, said. "A hope would be Malpensa, but at the moment we fly on London and there... more

AirlinesThe programs of Alitalia for 2009
Rome, Italy - Mobile phone check-in, e-mail on board and new business lounges
For Alitalia it's time for the plans. Having passed the "Estabilishment phase", after the choice of Rome-Fiumicino airport as its main hub (see AVIONEWS), its CEO, Rocco Sabelli, announced the first plans... more

AirlinesMeridiana-Eurofly against the agreement between Alitalia and Aeroporti di Roma (AdR)
Rome, Italy - The Group is afraid of the airport fares' increase
An agreement between Alitalia and Aeroporti di Roma (AdR), the Fiumicino and Ciampino Airports Management Company, will be signed in short time. The contract forecasts services for 100 million Euros every... more

Civil aviationItalian ENAV president Nieddu: "Investments must go on"
Rome, Italy - Europe's Single Sky will bring huge advantages, he said during ENAC's annual report presentation
Italian ENAV (National Flight Assistance Society) president, Bruno Nieddu, spoke this morning during the presentation of ENAC's (Italian Civil Aviation Authority) annual report for 2008. "We will soon... more

HelicoptersAgustaWestland launches helicopter tactics training programme
Brussels, Belgium - It's supported by instructors with experience of deployed multi-national operations
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, announced at the "ITEC 2009" exhibition the launch of a Helicopter Tactics Training Programme for military helicopter crews to help them prepare for deployed multi-national... more

AirlinesThai Airways, record increase in the 1Q 2009
Bangkok, Thailand - Over 228 million dollar net profit
Thai Airways International reported a better-than-expected surge in first-quarter net profit on Wednesday, boosted by a big gain on foreign exchange and falling operating expenses. The national carrier... more

AirportsCalabria Airports sign MoU for the strengthening of Lamezia, Crotone and Reggio Calabria
Reggio Calabria, Italy - The plan has a value of 123,100,000 Euros
Transport Ministry, ENAC (Italian Civil Aviation Authority), Calabria Region and Calabria Airport Management Companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the adjustment and strengthening of... more

Civil aviationATA CEO comments secretary LaHood on rescinding NY-area slot auctions
Washington, Usa - Impediments to meeting the public demand for air transportation services must be removed
The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, today commented on Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary LaHood’s plan to rescind s... more

AirportsBarcelona: new Terminal 1 inaugurated by Star Alliance's members
Barcelona, Spain - On June 17th
The Star Alliance's members will inaugurate the new Terminal 1 at Barcelona Airport on June 17th. On this occasion the new Spanair will present the new logo chosen by its employers and passengers through... more

Weather forecastsBad weather in Italy: strong storms on North and on the medium Tyrrhenian side
Rome, Italy - From this evening and until Saturday
"The return of a perturbation flow on Mediterranean basin will favour a weather worsening on most part of the Italian regions in the next hours. From this evening, on Thursday May 14, fickleness conditions... more

Civil aviationGreece: today four-hour strike by air traffic controllers
Athens, Greece - From 10:00 to 2:00 pm LT
Greek airlines say a strike by the air traffic controllers on Thursday will disrupt 200 flights. The civil servants' umbrella union is demanding salary increases and aid for the state employees' health... more

Fair and showsBlue Panorama reinforces itself: other two Piaggio P-180 Avanti into its fleet
Geneva, Switzerland - The agreement signed yesterday at the "EBACE"
P-180 Avanti of the Executive Blue, the Blue Panorama Airlines' executive flights brand, are now three. The commercial agreement has been signed yesterday for other two airplanes (added to that one in... more

Civil aviationRiggio: "Alitalia must fulfill expectations"
Rome, Italy - Italian ENAC president talks to AVIONEWS after the national carrier's conference
Alitalia must fulfill expectations concerning the difficult challenges it will have to face, especially referring to the other great carriers operating in Rome and Milan. Challenges which toughness was... more

AirportsBirmingham airport welcomed the inaugural service to Philadelphia
Birmingham, UK - Operated by US Airways five times a week
Birmingham International Airport welcomed the new flight to Philadelphia, operated five times a week by US Airways. It gives the passengers another route to destinations in the US such as: Boston, Chicago,... more

AerospaceNASA will pay $51 million for each seat on the Soyuz
Moscow, Russia - The only reliable vehicle to reach the ISS
Russian space agency (Roscosmos) and NASA reached the deal on the price that the American agency will have to pay to let its cosmonauts use the Soyuz spaceships to reach the International Space Station... more

Civil aviationICAO, two new treaties adopted by international conference on air law
Montreal, Canada - On the compensation for damage
Two new air law conventions setting out international compensation and liability rules for damage caused by aircraft to third parties were adopted by a diplomatic conference hosted by the International... more

AerospaceAtlantis shuttle's heat shield damaged
Cape Canaveral, USA - NASA says it is a minor issue
A debris impact during lift off is supposed to have caused the heat shield damage, a 53 centimeter crack, on the Atlantis shuttle. NASA, after a photographic inspection of the hit area, stated that the... more

Civil aviationIrish aviation claims a satisfactory 2008
Dublin, Ireland - The results unveiled by IAA
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) announced a satisfactory performance for 2008, in what was a difficult year. The IAA’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2008 show that turnover increased by 8.1 per cent t... more

Military aviationA woman will lead the French acrobatic team
Paris, France - From next year she will pilot aircraft n. 1
It will be the first time for a woman, 32-year-old commander Virginie Guyot, to take the lead of the French acrobatic team "Patrouille de France", starting from next year. To date the pilot, with 1600... more

Civil aviationNetJets Europe joins effort to unify European skies
Geneva, Switzerland - Designed to make sweeping improvements to European aviation practice
"NetJets Europe, one of the Europe’s largest business aviation company, announced today at 'EBACE' that it is partnering with the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) to assist in the development o... more

Military aviationDassault celebrates 20,000 hours flying time for four Falcon 50M
Paris, France - In force with Squadron 24F of the French Navy
The industry unveiled only today that on May 6, the Lann-Bihoué naval air base celebrated 20,000 hours of flying time for the Falcon 50 M of squadron 24F as well as the qualification by the DGA (Délégation gé... more

HelicoptersEsperia Aviation Services SpA orders one "Grand" helicopter
Cascina Costa, Italy - It will be used for passenger transport operating from base at Rome's-Urbe airport
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, announces that Esperia Aviation Services S.p.A. of Italy has signed a contract for one Grand light twin helicopter. This six cabin seat-configured aircraft will... more

AirportsEuropean Commission will finance new Berlin airport
Berlin, Germany - The German capital will have one single airport
"The European Commission has decided today not to raise any objections to the financing of the construction of Berlin Brandenburg International (BBI) airport through capital increases of €654.5 million, a... more

HelicoptersAW: Armaereo awards ICH-47F Chinook helicopter contract
Cascina Costa, Italy - Sixteen models plus four options
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, announces that it has been awarded a contract for sixteen ICH-47F Chinook helicopters plus four options for the Italian Army by the General Directorate of Air Armaments... more

Industry"QUOVADIS", the new RNP services company by Airbus
Toulouse, France - Developing RNP activity and procedures for authorities, airlines and airports
"From July 2009, QUOVADIS, a new 100 percent subsidiary of Airbus, based in Toulouse, will sell and provide 'Required Navigation Performance' (RNP) services to authorities, airlines and airports, ranging... more

Military aviationUK ready to confirm Eurofighter order
London, UK - Cancellation would weigh too much on London's accounts
The United Kingdom is understood to be ready to confirm its Eurofighter Typhoon order. The decision came after recent discussions on the impact that a cancellation would have on London's accounts: prime... more

AirportsEC approves public financing in regional airport in Ancona-Falconara, in Italy
Brussels, Belgium - For infrastructure investments
"The European Commission decided today not to raise any objections to Italy's plan to support infrastructure investments in Falconara regional airport in Ancona, Marche. The total amount of public financing... more

Fair and showsCessna at "EBACE 2009": new announcements and initiatives; the opening new service center in Spain
Geneva, Switzerland - The industry will deliver first Ukrainian registered Citation; the company will use Bell's center to enhance Aog support
"Cessna delivered more business jets and more propeller aircraft in the first three months of 2009 than any other company, according to figures just released by the U.S. General Aviation Manufacturers... more

Military aviationCzech Republic purchased four C-295 aircraft
Prague, Czech Republic - The deliveries by the end of 2010
The Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic and Airbus Military, a unit of the EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company) consortium, announced today that they have signed an agreement for... more

Civil aviationBoeing presents its Convertible business jet
Geneva, Switzerland - Showcased during Geneva's "EBACE 2009" expo
Boeing announced that the BBJ Convertible is now available to prospective customers and will be showcased at Geneva's "EBACE 2009" business aviation expo. The manufacturer states that these aircraft reconfigure... more

AerospaceHerschel and Planck ready for launch
Kourou, French Guiana - Ariane-5 launcher ready. Take off scheduled for tomorrow, 3:12 pm CEST
ESA (European Space Agency) satellites Herschel and Planck are ready for launch, as the Ariane-5 launcher has been declared fit for launch by Arianespace after completing reviews on the problem that caused... more

AirlinesAlitalia strengthens its partnership with Rome-Fiumicino
Rome, Italy - The aim is to increase short, medium and long haul services
Alitalia made the final decision on what will be its main hub. The choice - should anybody have still doubts - is Rome-Fiumicino airport, positioning 99 out of 154 aircraft of its fleet, 14 of which will... more

Finance and economyAutogrill: the board of directors approves results for 1st quarter 2009
Milan, Italy - Consolidated Ebitda reaches €92.9m
Autogrill has unveiled the results regarding the 1st quarter 2009. "• Consolidated revenues: €1,216.2m, up 11.5% on €1,090.9m in 1st quarter 2008 (–7.3% pro forma at constant exchange rates) • C... more

AerospaceRussian vehicle Progress M-02M reached the ISS
Moscow, Russia - It transported scientific instruments, food and the Ribbons of Saing George
Russian cargo spacecraft Progress M-02M reached yesterday evening at 7:24 pm GMT the ISS (International Space Station). The vehicle's trip started on May 7 on board of a Soyuz-U launcher from Baikonur... more

Civil aviationEurocontrol: Business Aviation traffic declines amid continuing difficult economic conditions
Geneva, Switzerland - The latest statistics by the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation
"The decline affecting the aviation industry is showing little sign of abating. The latest EUROCONTROL statistics show an 8% year-on-year decline in European air traffic for the first quarter of 2009.... more