AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency
101,326 news found

Press releaseAirplanes. Etihad Airways uniforms take inflight couture to glamorous new heights (VIDEO)
Abu Dhabi, UAE - Created by an Italian
Etihad Airways revealed yesterday its much anticipated new uniforms at a spectacular show in Abu Dhabi, paving the way for a new age of glamorous and sophisticated flying. Created by Italian Haute... more

IndustryAirbus DS: Germany takes delivery of its first A-400M airplane
Seville, Spain - The aircraft will replace the C-160 Transall
Airbus Defence and Space has formally delivered the first A-400M military transport ordered by Germany. A total of nine aircraft have now been delivered and the airplane is in service with four Nations.... more

IndustryBae Systems will work on the development of Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers
London, United Kingdom - The company got a 1.5 million pound contract to design the engineering support solution
The United Kingdom ministry of defence has awarded BAE Systems with a 1.5 million pounds (nearly 1.9 million Euros) contract for the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers project. The company will... more

Press releaseEtihad Airways brings momentous year to a close with A-380 and B-787 aircraft launch (VIDEO)
Abu Dhabi, UAE - Both airplanes with the new "Facets of Abu Dhabi" livery
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has capped an incredible 12 months by unveiling its first A-380 and B-787 aircraft to more than 200 of the world’s media in Abu Dhabi.... more

Civil aviationAirplanes and holidays. AEA member airlines to fly 1 million passengers a day over Christma and New Year period
Brussels, Belgium - This is 3 pct. more than last year
During the upcoming Festive season, AEA member airlines will fly more than 1 million passengers per day. This is 3 pct. more than last year. The seat occupancy factor is set to increase and will reach... more

Military aviationSouth Korea won’t send its F-35 aircraft to Japan for maintenance
Seoul, South Korea - Rather than entrusting its fighters to the rival country, Seoul prefers to fly them to as far as Australia
The F-35 program has brought the traditional rivalry between Tokyo and Seoul to the fore. On Wednesday December 17 a US Air Force spokesperson said that from early 2018 heavy maintenance for the jets in... more

IndustryDassault Aviation revealed first Falcon 8X airplane
Bordeaux, France - It was announced in May of this year at "EBACE"
Dassault Aviation yesterday rolled back the curtains on the ultra long range Falcon 8X airplane, the company’s new flagship and the latest addition to the growing business jet family. Unveiled at D... more

DefenseTAI: indigenous EO satellite GÖKTÜRK-2 completed its second year in space with success
Ankara, Turkey - It recorded more than 10.000 passes with nearly 5000 images and covered 9.850.000 km2 ground surface
As of December 18th 2014, Turkey’s First High Resolution Remote Sensing Satellite GÖKTÜRK-2 completed its second year in space with success. GÖKTÜRK-2 was indigenously designed by TAI -Turkish Aeros... more

Military aviationAirplanes and armies. Russian “Aerospace Forces” will be ready by summer 2015
Moscow, Russia - The army’s new branch will include aviation, air defence and missile defence forces, and space forces
Russia might complete its project to reunite all its air, space and missile forces under one command sooner than expected. Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force Viktor Bondarev told earlier that... more

Civil aviationCALC and the great business of aircraft disassembling
Hong Kong, China - 1,800 aircraft will be dismantled around the world in the next three years
The China Aircraft Leasing Group (CALC) is holding a press conference in Hong Kong today to explain its project for the construction of the China’s largest disassembly plant in Harbin, in the northeast o... more

AirlinesThe Lufthansa Group confirms strong positioning in Europe and in Italy, despite of the challenges of market
Milan, Italy - New actions for the development and the growth of the Group. Italy remains the strategic market for the airlines
The Lufthansa Group keeps a strong placement in Italy and for the rest of Europe during 2014, confirming itself the reference airline in Europe and first choice for business passengers. The Group marked... more

MiscellaneousAirbus receives over 500 ideas for "Fly Your Ideas" student challenge
Toulouse, France - The industry now selecting the best 100 concepts
"Round One" of Airbus’ global competition "Fly Your Ideas" has attracted worldwide entries on how the next generation will tackle the future challenges of aviation. Over 50 its experts and innovators a... more

AirportsAir Moldova-Sagat: new Turin-Chisinau link served by an Embraer 190 airplane
Turin, Italy - The flight landed with 100 passengers on board and 85 were departing
Air Moldova and Sagat (Turin airport management company) gave the welcome to the Turin-Chisinau flight, the first direct link between the Italian city and the Moldavia Republic. The new route will serve... more

Civil aviationAirplanes and airlines. Star Alliance: Air India hosts forst CEB meeting in India
New Delhi, India - Member carrier CEOs reflect on busy 2014, set priorities for 2015
Air India played host to the first ever Star Alliance Chief Executive Board Meeting (CEB) held in India. This follows the national carrier’s joining the world’s longest serving and most comprehensive air... more

Civil aviationAirplanes and transport. Aci Europe: Europe's airports welcome EC review of aviation policy (3)
Brussels, Belgium - It is based on 23 new priority initiatives focused on jobs, growth and investment
The European Commission adopted yesterday its 2015 work programme, signalling clear political discontinuity and charting a new course for Europe. The Commission’s work programme is based on 23 new priority i... more

IndustryAnsaldo’s sale. Moretti: Hitachi is not out of the competition yet
Rome, Italy - Decision to be taken after Christmas, but there is still only one binding offer made by the Chinese
Finmeccanica confirmed with a short press release last evening it has received an offer for AnsaldoBreda by the Insigma-Xhinzu joint venture (see the text on AVIONEWS). There is therefore only one candidate... more

HelicoptersAirbus Helicopters delivers an EC-135 to the Spanish National Police
Albacete, Spain - And the first AS-355NP for the Spanish Road Transport Authority
Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first AS-355NP Ecureuil to the Spanish Road Transport Authority (DGT) and the first EC-135 to the country’s National Police Force under the contract signed in February o... more

Civil aviationAircraft and controls. FAA: India aviation safety standards are insufficient
New Delhi, India - The Indian civil aviation does not meet standards established by ICAO
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had downgraded the Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) security systems from Category-I to Category-II last January. The American authority... more

Civil aviationAircraft and transport. AEA: EC, a new momentum with announcement of "Aviation Package" (2)
Brussels, Belgium - Ground Handling and Security Charges
The Association of European Airlines (AEA) welcomes the Commission’s announcement of an Aviation package as part of its Work Programme 2015. The package will include a Communication identifying challenges a... more

AerospaceCuriosity finds methane on Mars
Washington, USA - The presence of this gas might be evidence that there was life on the planet in the past
Curiosity, NASA’s rover that landed on Mars in August 2012, has detected methane flares on the surface. The discovery adds new evidence on the possibility that there was life in the past on the Red Planet. O... more

AerospaceTelespazio: contract with ESA for harmonising European Ground Systems Infrastructure
Darmstadt, Germany - The subsidiary will lead a consortium of 20 companies from ten European countries
Telespazio VEGA Deutschland, a subsidiary of Telespazio (a Finmeccanica/Thales company), has been awarded a contract by the European Space Agency (ESA) to lead the initial stage of phase C/D of the European... more

Press releaseEC. The turning point: work plan for jobs, growth and investment passes through also the transport by airplane
Strasbourg, France - 23 new initiatives to make a difference
The European Commission adopted yesterday its Work Programme for 2015 –setting out the actions the Commission intends to take over the next 12 months to make a real difference for jobs, growth and investment a... more

IndustryEmbraer's Legacy 500 airplane received EASA certification
Cologne, Germany - This approval enables entry into service of the aircraft in the Member States of the EU as well as in EASA associated countries
Embraer’s Legacy 500 executive jet yesterday was granted certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) during a ceremony at its headquarters, in Cologne, Germany. This approval enables e... more

AirportsToo many aircraft on Beijing: approved project for third airport
Beijing, China - The facility, designed by a Dutch company, will handle 72 million passengers a year
Beijing has two airports: the “Beijing Capital International Airport”, the world's second-busiest with more than 83 million passengers in 2013 and the “Nanyuan”, a former military airfield with limited... more

IndustryFinmeccanica: offer received by Insigma for AnsaldoBreda
Rome, Italy - According to a note issued by the Group
"Finmeccanica informs that it has received the offer of Chinese company Insigma for the acquisition of AnsaldoBreda". See for details AVIONEWS. more

HelicoptersTrinidad and Tobago Air Guard reaches key training, capability milestones
Cascina Costa, Italy - Unit has now flown over 5,000 flight hours and is engaged in SAR, medevac, and maritime security missions
Finmeccanica–AgustaWestland today congratulated the accomplishments of the Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard, as the country’s first Search and Rescue helicopter unit promoted two pilots to Command Officers and... more

Military aviationRussian Air Force commander: NATO airplane flights near our borders doubled since 2013
Moscow, Russia - According to general Bondarev news on Russian aircraft violations are meant to distract the attention from the Treaty’s activity
Accuses of violating flight rules against Russian military airplanes aim at distracting people from NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) reinforcement at its eastern borders. This is what the Commander... more

Military aviationRussian air forces to get 55 fifth generation fighter airplanes
Moscow, Russia - The first Sukhoi T-50 will be delivered in 2016, the whole supply by 2020
55 Sukhoi T-50 PAK FA fifth generation fighter airplanes will be ready to be delivered to the Russian air forces by 2020. It was said by a United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) spokesperson to the media. According... more

IndustryATR: Alliance Air introduces its first -72/600 airplane
Toulouse, France - The aircraft is the first out of five that the airline will receive until July next year
Air India's fully-owned regional Subsidiary Airline Allied Services Limited under Brand Name “Alliance Air” today introduced its first newest ATR-72/600 aircraft into its fleet. The aircraft, leased fro... more

HelicoptersMistral helicopter carriers. Russian expert: the Vladivostok ship is useless
Paris, France - But a French subcontractor manager is confident that Paris will respect the contract
The Vladivostok, one of the two Mistral helicopter carriers that France has to deliver to Moscow, cannot be used until certain equipment which are necessary for navigation are installed. A Russian expert... more

Press releaseAlitalia: the award for "Best airline cuisine" for quality of its onboard menus
Rome, Italy - For the fifth consecutive year
Alitalia received the award for "Best Airline Cuisine" in Global Traveler’s 2014 "GT Tested Reader Survey Awards" for the fifth consecutive year, reaffirming the quality of its innovative dining program i... more

IndustryAnsaldo’s sale: the Chinese make binding offer, the Japanese might withdraw
Rome, Italy - Insigma-Xhinzu offered more than 1.5 billion Euros and a relevant investment plan; Hitachi might have been discouraged by unprofitable AnsaldoBreda contracts
The Chinese joint-venture made by United Mechanical & Electrical of the Insigma Group and Xinzhu Corporation appears to have made a binding offer to buy Finmeccanica’s railway companies. Journalist Gianni D... more

HelicoptersAirbus Helicopters to continue providing full service support for Bundeswehr’s EC-135 training aircraft
Donauwörth, Germany - Support contract for the fleet in Bückeburg extended until 2022
Airbus Helicopters has won the support contract to maintain, overhaul and ensure the availability of the German Army Aviation School’s fleet of EC-135 training helicopters. This extends the existing c... more

Science and technologyAircraft and transport. The smart technologies impose strategies and investments of 2015
Rome, Italy - According to an analysis by SITA on the basis of the surveys conducted
2015 will be an optmistic year also for the investments of airports and airlines in technological innovations, addressed to improve the quality of the travel experience, in a wide positive context for... more

Weather forecastsAirplanes and forecast. Bad weather in Italy: alert for thunderstoms on the Tyrrhenian regions
Rome, Italy - An orange criticality on Campania, Lazio and Tuscany
The Italian Civil Defense Department, on the basis of the available forecasts, issued a notice for adverse weather conditions. The bulletin predicts from today, Tuesday December 16, rains also with... more

Tilt-rotorsAW: "Project Zero" all-electric tiltrotor (plane-helicopter) team wins another award
Cascina Costa, Italy - Its engineers recognized with three Royal Aeronautical Society Awards
Finmeccanica-AgustaWestland announced that its engineers exceptional work has been recognized by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAS) with three prestigious awards comprising the "Team Gold Medal", "Specialist... more

IndustryAirplanes and industry. Third year in a row of decrease in global armament sales
Stockholm, Sweden - The Italian Finmeccanica, at ninth place in the world, has lost 1.97 billion dollars in 2013
SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) revealed that sales of arms and military services, worth 420 billion dollars, have decreased by 2% in 2013. These figures are included in the last... more

HelicoptersAirbus Helicopters delivers the 2nd AS-332C1e to the Bolivian Air Force
La Paz, Bolivia - The contract for the Super Puma aircraft also includes a logistical support package
Airbus Helicopters has delivered the 2nd Super Puma AS-332C1e to the Bolivian Air Force (FAB). At the end of 2013, the FAB purchased six of these light-medium helicopters to fight drug trafficking and... more

IndustryAirbus: AirAsia X places firm order for 55 A-330neo airplanes
Toulouse, France - The announcement covers the firming up of a MOU for 50 aircraft signed during the "Farnborough Air Show" in July 2014
AirAsia X, the long haul affiliate of Asia’s largest low-cost airline, has placed a firm order with Airbus for 55 A-330neo aircraft. This is the largest single order to date for the A-330 Family and r... more

AerospaceThales Alenia Space: Yamal-401 in orbit
Rome, Italy - The industry supplies the repeater assembly and antennas, the onboard TT&C and ground control facilities, and satellite AIT services
The Yamal-401 telecommunications satellite of the Russian operator JSC Gazprom Space Systems was successfully launched today from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan by International Launch Services... more

AirportsAirplanes and infrastructures. Philippines launch tender for the development of six airports
Manila, Philippines - The project is part of an infrastructure upgrade plan launched in 2010
The Philippines’ Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) announced that next year it will offer for tender the renovation and development of six airports in key cities for the national t... more

AirlinesAlitalia begins new service to Berlin and Duesseldorf with an Embraer 175 aircraft
Rome, Italy - From Rome, Milan-Linate and Venice
Today Alitalia began new service from Rome-Fiumicino, Milan-Linate and Venice to Berlin and Duesseldorf. Its first flights to the two German cities took off from Milan-Linate Airport this morning at 6:30... more

IndustryAirbus Helicopters’ China-based training and support activities receive EASA airworthiness approval
Marignane, France - Created in 2001, CGAMEC is a jv of the industry, COHC and Samwell
The European airworthiness authority has validated Airbus Helicopters’ flight training and support services in China, endorsing the high quality standards of these operations and their contribution to s... more

Finance and economyAirplanes and finance. Aena privatization: Pwc withdraws, February’s quotation in danger
Madrid, Spain - Ernst & Young, only auditor left in the competition, will have to audit last four years’ accounts
The great favourite withdrew from the race and Aena’s privatization may delay further. The success of the entire operation is in doubt. PricewaterhouseCoopers (Pwc), who has been the Spanish airport g... more

ReportRussian military airplanes over the Baltic Sea (2): Denmark and Sweden take diplomatic action
Brussels, Belgium - The two Scandinavian countries have summoned Russian ambassadors to give explanations on the event
Sweden and Denmark have decided to give a strong diplomatic response to Russia after last near-accident on the Baltic Sea. They summoned Russian ambassadors in Stockholm and Copenhagen to give explanations... more

ReportRussian military airplanes over the Baltic Sea: Finland requests ICAO’s involvement
Helsinki, Finland - A Swedish airliner had to change its route to prevent an accident last Friday
The increase of Russian military flights on the Baltic Sea is raising concerns among the authorities of the countries of the area. In the last two weeks only, two potentially dangerous episodes have been... more

Press releaseAmerican Airlines invests more than USD 2 billion in planned customer improvements
Fort Worth, Usa - And it celebrates merger anniversary with US Airways
One year after closing its merger, American Airlines is looking ahead to 2015 and beyond with more than $2 billion in investments to give its customers a world-class travel experience. American Airlines... more

DefenseThe fifth multipurpose frigate launched, the "Alpino"
Genoa, Italy - Italo-French FREMM program continues
Riva Trigoso (Genoa) shipyard celebrated last Saturday the launch of the frigate "Alpino", the fifth of a series of 10 FREMM vessels -Multi Mission European Frigates-, ordered from Fincantieri by the Italian... more

HelicoptersPZL-Świdnik signs contract with HASA for three fire-fighting configured W-3A Sokół helicopters
Cascina Costa, Italy - The aircraft will be delivered in 2015
PZL-Świdnik, an AgustaWestland company, announced that it has signed a contract with the Spanish company Hispánica de Aviación S.A (HASA) for three W-3A Sokół helicopters in fire-fighting configuration. The... more

HelicoptersHoverFly selects the AW-169 helicopter
Cascina Costa, Italy - Delivery in mid-2015, replacing an ageing AS-365 aircraft
Finmeccanica-AgustaWestland announced that HoverFly of Italy has signed a contract for an AW-169 light intermediate twin engine helicopter to perform passenger transport missions plus a comprehensive package... more