AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency
101,724 news found

AirlinesAlitalia (2): 180 slots cut in the airport of Milan-Malpensa
Rome, Italy - Class Action against the national airline
The slots cut in the airport of Milan-Malpensa would be 180 out of a total of 357 (to which could be added other 75 flights), and Assoclearance (the national airport slots coordinator) would be ready to... more

Press releaseAlitalia's new network takes off (3)
Rome, Italy - "A new marketing approach"
Main evidences: Italian market 1. Development of an international and intercontinental product from Rome with an increase of destinations and frequencies. 2. Improvement of the flight times leaving... more

Press releaseAlitalia's new network takes off (2)
Rome, Italy - "Fiumicino centrality"
Fiumicino as hub of reference The reasons at heart of the choice of Fiumicino as reference hub are principally the following: 1. in the present context it is impossible to manage efficiently a two-hubs... more

Press releaseAlitalia's new network takes off
Rome, Italy - "New strategic positioning"
Presentation of the new network for the 2008 Summer Season Press Conference, Tuesday February 5th, 11 am On March 31st 2008 starts the new summer timetable of Alitalia. The network of the Summer... more

ReportAirplane disappeared in Venezuela: Farnesina mission left today for Caracas
Rome, Italy - Led by the crisis Unit and made up of AMI, MMI and Civil Defense members
The Italian minister of Foreign Affairs spread today the following note: "As regards the initiatives constantly developed by the Farnesina in order to ascertain what happened to the airplane of the Venezuelan... more

AirlinesTap Portugal entrusts TT&A with the press-office activities in Italy
Milan, Italy - Starting from this month
"Tap Portugal entrusted TT&A with its public relations activities in Italy starting from the month of February. 'It is with great pleasure we welcome TAP among the customers of our agency thus strengthening... more

CuriositiesAeronautic terminology in dribs and drabs... S as "Scramble"
Rome, Italy - The immediate takeoff on alert
Scramble is the traditional term for the order assigned to fighter planes pilots to take off and proceed to a destination in response to an alert to either investigate a sighting or intercept an enemy.... more

ReportSri Lanka, ongoing aerial bombings
Colombo , Sri Lanka - 20 rebels killed in clashes, military say
The clashes between Sri Lanka armed forces and the separatist rebels of LTTE (Tamil Tigers) go on. In the course of battles in various areas on the border between the northern part of the country, controlled... more

IndustryHawaiian Airlines signs firm order for 12 Airbus airplanes
Toulouse, France - Six A-350XWB and six A-330/200
"Hawaiian Airlines Inc., Hawaii's largest airline, has signed a firm order for six A-350XWB-800s and six A-330/200s. This deal finalises a Memorandum of Understanding announced in November 2007. The airline... more

AirportsAirplane out of runway in Bologna: no problem for the airport's traffic
Bologna, Italy - Occurred today to an Iberia airplane
While the press-conference for the presentation of SAB's industrial plan was being held, an MD-88 airplane of Iberia bound for Madrid with 132 passengers on board, after it got out of the parking area,... more

Military aviationIsraeli raid on the Gaza Strip: 6 dead and 10 wounded so far
Gaza, Gaza Strip - Hit a police station
According to the "Misna" agency reporting Palestinian sources, it would be of six people dead and 10 injured the first temporary balance of the air raid carried out by the Israeli Air Force in today's... more

AccidentsTwin-engine crashes in North Carolina, 6 dead
Washington, USA - Two prominent Republicans among the victims
A twin-engine Beechcraft King Air plane, started from Georgia and headed to Virginia, in the South of the US, crashed in the week-end in the environs of the airport of Mount Airy, in North Carolina. All... more

ReportEmergency landing for an airplane in Malpensa due to a passenger's death
Milan, Italy - The man was diabetic
Despite the crew attempts to help him, nothing could be done for a 48-year-old man - whose nationality and data have not been disclosed yet - who died list night on board an airplane coming from Saudi... more

AirlinesRyanair confirms a 470 million Euro net profit for the fiscal year 2007/2008
Dublin, Ireland - "At this time it is too early to make any accurate forecasts in such volatile markets for 2008/09"
Ryanair confirms a 470 net profit for the fiscal year 2007/2008, equal to a 17.5% growth. "At this time it is too early to make any accurate forecasts in such volatile markets for 2008/09. However with... more

Science and technologyWind mills interphere with radars?
London, United Kingdom - NATO investigation ongoing
Wind mills for electric energy productions, those big white turning screws, create black holes in radar fields? This is the hypothesis on which NATO has opened an investigation, after the British Ministry... more

DefenseToday the "Clean Sky Take Off Forum" in Brussels
Brussels, Belgium - The membership incorporates organisations, industries, research centres and universities
"The Clean Sky TAKE-OFF Forum today stems from an EU wide collaborative private-public partnership, which encourages the full participation of SMEs, universities and research centres as well as leading... more

ReportIraq air strike, erratum slip
Rome, Italy - They were Army helicopters, not Air Force
Publishing the news of 04/02/08, "US Air Force strike, civilians massacre in Iraq", we erroneously reported that the above-mentioned military operation had been carried out by the US Air Force, while being... more

AirlinesContinental Airlines begins using Bombardier Q-400 aircraft for Newark-based regional service
New York, Usa - Ideal aircraft for short and medium distance routes from Liberty
"Continental Airlines began service yesterday with a new type of regional aircraft from its New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport. The efficient, quiet and comfortable 74-seat Bombardier... more

AerospaceTelespazio: the "Mentore" project starts the test period
Rome, Italy - It will supply the guidelines for the development of the "Tracking & Tracing" services based on the EGNOS/Galileo applications
The "Mentore" (Implementation of GNSS Tracking & Tracing Technologies for EU Regulated Domains) partners launched Phase II of the project on 30 January 2008, by validating the 3 pre-selected pilots and... more

AirlinesAlitalia: politicians and entrepreneurs debate, the airline falls apart
Rome, Italy - Proposals of bids for Malpensa and/or Alitalia
Lombardy is fermenting as the business world seems to have picked up, at least in words, the appeal made by Italy's Economy Minister Tommaso Padoa Schioppa few days ago (see AVIONEWS). There is great talking... more

AirlinesUnited Airlines announces a new rate policy
New York, USA - On the second bag relating to determined classes
New rate policy for United Airlines. Starting from May 5th, for travel within the U.S. and to/from Canada, San Juan, Puerto Rico and St. Thomas, the US carrier will begin to apply a new service fee... more

ReportBalloonist missing off US West Coast
Seattle, United States - He had left from Japan
A Japanese adventurer named Michio Kanda, 58 years, who had undertaken the crossing of the Pacific Ocean from Japan to the United States, is reported missing since last week, after his satellite cellphone... more

SecurityFAA AD on CFM International, S.A. CFM56-7B series turbofan egines (2008-03-09)
Washington, Usa - To prevent failure of the TRF from low-cycle fatigue cracks. Failure of the TRF could result in engine separation from the airplane, which could lead to loss of control of the airplane
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information [Federal Register: February 4, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 23)] [Page 6419-6423] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal... more

OccurrencesEmergency landing in Fiumicino: the flight left again to Madrid
Rome, Italy - Reported to AVIONEWS by official sources
The Tarom flight left from Bucharest bound to Madrid has carried out an emergency landing at the Rome-Fiumicino intercontinental airport due to an indisposition of the captain. Official sources have... more

AirlinesAir Dolomiti announces partnership with Relais & Châteaux
Ronchi dei Legionari, Italy - A union of quality and elegance
"Air Dolomiti, Italian regional airline of the Lufthansa Group and member of Lufthansa Regional, together with the airport of Munich, announces the partnership with the Italian delegation of Relais & Châteaux,... more

Military aviationKyrgyzstan, over 17 million dollar annually for the rent of an airbase by US
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan - Since 2001 for the support of the anti-terrorism operations in Afghanistan
Kyrgyz Finance Minister, Tazhikan Kalimbetova, disclosed on Friday that Washington pays 17.5 million dollars each year in rent for an airbase at an international airport near the Kyrgyz capital. The... more

AirlinesAlitalia (5): meeting between CONSOB's President and airline's one
Rome, Italy - Prato has confirmed the carrier's effort to update the Authority
"Alitalia communicates that a meeting between the supervisory Authority's President, Lamberto Cardia, and airline's one, Maurizio Prato, took place today at CONSOB seat. The meeting focused on Alitalia's... more

AirlinesBritish Airways announces the results of financial year 2007
London, United Kingdom - From April 1st to December 31st
British Airways has announced the results of the financial year 2007 relative to the period April 1st-December 31st. The net profit was 982 million Euro, equal to a 28.5% increase, and the operational... more

ReportChad, EU suspends military mission
N'Djamena , Chad - Evacuated foreigners keep on arriving in Paris
As government troops and rebel forces keep on clashing in Chad's capital N'Djamena, the EU countries have decided to suspend the military mission of support to the peacemaking process to bordering Sudan,... more

AirlinesChina Airlines, agreement for the purchase of A-350XWB aircraft
Beijing, China - All new airplanes will be fitted out with Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines
China Airlines has recently signed an agreement with Airbus and Rolls-Royce for the purchase of 20 new long range A-350XWB aircraft in two classes configuration: 36 seats in Business and 291 in Economy. Ringo... more

AirlinesIberia Regional offers more capacity on flights Turin-Madrid
Turin, Italy - From February 1st
Starting from February 1st Iberia strengthens also its second flight on the route Turin-Madrid introducing the larger CR-9, configured with 89 seats against the 50 of CR-2. The new schedule of the Iberian... more

MiscellaneousAVIONEWS access statistics of January 2008
Rome, Italy - 510,575 pages visited for 3,033,916 accesses
The statistics system of AVIONEWS servers has provided the following information regarding Internet accesses to the agency on www.avionews.com from January 1st to 31st, 2008. In this period the number... more

AirportsBritish Airways announces the new London City Airport-New York "JFK" flight
London, United Kingdom - A connection operated with an A-318 aircraft all business
As from next year British Airways will connect twice per day the London City Airport with the New York "JFK". These flights will be operated with an Airbus A-318 aircraft in configuration by 32 seats... more

ReportTurkish air raids again on Iraqi Kurdistan
Baghdad , Iraq - No victims reported
According to what reported by local sources, airplanes of the Turkish armed forces have hit again targets in the Iraqi Kurdistan, apparently without making victims. A spokesman of the Peshmerga, autonomous... more

AirlinesSteps forward for Air Uganda
Kampala, Uganda - Interline agreements signed with other carriers
Good news for Air Uganda, the national carrier of the central African country founded in 2007 after the collapse of East African Airlines. The carrier's CE signed namely a number of interline agreements... more

AirlinesSwiss strengthens links to Cameroon
Turin, Italy - Starting from next Summer
"The Swiss International Air Lines' long range network presents a further newness as of next Summer. The Helvetic carrier will serve Douala with three no-stop weekly connections from/to Zurich, reinforcing... more

Military aviationRussian military exercise over the Atlantic concluded
Moscow, Russia - "Air patrolling will be continued"
The joint exercise of the Russian aerial and naval armed forces in the Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Sea, started last Tuesday (see AVIONEWS for details) has been concluded. This was declared on Saturday... more

SecurityFAA AD on Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH model EC-135 helicopters (2007-26-51)
Washington, Usa - To prevent failure of a control rod and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter
Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information [Federal Register: February 1, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 22)] [Page 6008-6011] Header Information DEPARTMENT... more

SecurityFAA AD on Cessna Aircraft Company models 172R and 172S airplanes (2008-03-02)
Washington, Usa - To detect and correct chafing of the fuel return line assembly, which could result in fuel leaking under the floor and fuel vapors entering the cabin
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information Federal Register: January 31, 2008 [Page 5737-5739] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14... more

SecurityFAA AD on Stemme GmbH & Co. KG model S10-VT powered sailplanes (2008-03-06)
Washington, Usa - To identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information Federal Register: January 31, 2008 [Page 5733-5735] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14... more

SecurityFAA AD on Honeywell International Inc. TFE731-2C, -3B, -3BR, -3C, -3CR, -3D, -3DR, -4R, -5AR, -5BR, -5R, -20R, -20AR, - 20BR, -40, -40AR, -40R, and -60 series turbofan engines (2008-02-19)
Washington, Usa - To prevent uncontained failure of the HP turbine rotor assembly, which could result in damage to the airplane
Airworthiness Directive Federal Register Information Federal Register: January 31, 2008 [Page 5735-5737] Header Information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14... more

ReportNikolic: "Open up Serbian air-space to the Russians
Belgrade, Serbia - The statements of the defeated candidate to the Serb presidency
"I do stand for military cooperation with Russia. For example, I believe the skies over Serbia should be open for Russian aircraft to carry out security control for Russia and for ourselves". This was... more

ReportUS Air Force strike, civilians massacre in Iraq
Baghdad , Iraq - The military: "It was a mistake, we are sorry"
Iraq's civilians are still caught in the grip of terror and counter-terror in Iraq. Today the news spread that in the course of clashes occurred in the week-end between foreign troops and Al-Qaeda militants... more

AirlinesAlitalia (4): the new network for next Summer to take off again tomorrow morning
Rome, Italy - The presentation scheduled last Friday has been postponed for some days
The press-conference for the presentation of new Alitalia's network for the Summer season 2008, initially scheduled for last Friday, will take place tomorrow, on Tuesday February 5 at 11 near the airline's... more

AirlinesAlitalia (3), Air France closes today the analysis of the accounts
Paris, France - The first meeting for the appeal of TAR is forcast for tomorrow
The final analysis of accounts and contracts between Air France and Alitalia are forecast for today. According to press sources, Spinetta must be return in Rome on February 11th for introducing officially... more

Civil aviationRussia, banned the Tajik Airlines flights
Moscow, Russia - Temporary suspension agreement in the interests of passengers
Russia reached a temporary agreement with Tajikistan on lifting a ban on the flights by Tajik Airlines to Russia, a spokesman for the Russian aviation authorities said on Sunday. Russia's Federal Air... more

ReportIran, launched in orbit the first space missile
Tehran, Iran - Tested today before Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Iran tested today a missile capable of carrying satellites into space as part of a program to launch a research satellite in the near future. The rocket, called "Kavoshkar 1" ("Explorer-1"), was launched... more

AirlinesAlitalia (2), statements by Padoa-Schioppa
Rome, Italy - "Alitalia and Malpensa ought to be separated"
Concerning the issue of Malpensa and the many debates raised by Alitalia's decision to renounce to a good number of slots, Italy's Minister of Economy, Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa, says: "The hyper-dramatization... more

AirlinesAlitalia, statements by Padoa-Schioppa
Rome, Italy - "Either we decide or Alitalia disappears"
Criticized from different sides, the Italian Minister of Economy Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa defends the choices of the Cabinet of which he is still part in regard to Alitalia in an interview released to the... more

AirlinesAP Holding (2): clarification of an interview with Minister Padoa Schioppa
Rome, Italy - "We will soon be ready to present a binding proposal together with a group of Italian entrepreneurs"
"We will soon be ready to present a binding proposal together with a group of Italian entrepreneurs: not just from the north, but from all of Italy. We have been working to avoid the disastrous loss of... more