AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency
101,325 news found

Civil aviationEC updates the list of airlines banned from the European airspace
Brusslels, Belgium - The twelfth update published today
"The European Commission published today the twelfth update of the Community’s list of airlines banned in the European Union which comprises those of three additional countries following safety deficiencies h... more

ReportNew European commissioners appointed
Brussels, Belgium - Italian Tajani will be in charge of Industry extended to Galileo sat programme and Tourism
Josè Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, today presented the new commissioners that will take their roles starting from January 2010. As anticipated (see AVIONEWS), Italian Antonio Tajani... more

AirportsFlightcare workers' assembly at Rome-Fiumicino airport
Rome, Italy - Flights served by the Spanish handler suffered from some inefficiencies
Flightcare workers are protesting against 85 redundancies and against the company's cost reduction policy which would only affect employees. Flightcare is a subsidiary of the Spanish group Fomento de construcciones... more

Press releaseItaly: ENAC orders workers back to work after Fiumicino inefficiencies due to Flightcare employees' assemblies
Rome, Italy - President Riggio expressed his concern for the regularity of air transport during the upcoming winter holidays
"The Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) announced that, due to the interrupted discussions between trade unions and the Flightcare company, which manages ground handling services on behalf of certain... more

AirlinesFour new routes by easyJet from Malpensa as of next February
Milan, Italy - The link to Paris-"CdG" will be early in service from Catania
"easyJet, the European low-cost carrier, has announced four new routes from Malpensa's base to Agadir, Casablanca, Porto and Malta, while the connection to Paris-'CdG' will be early operating from Catania. Agadir... more

HelicoptersMRH-90 helicopter lands in the Australian capital
Canberra, Australia - Navy and Army will receive 46 of these aircraft
One of the Australian Navy’s new MRH-90 multi-role helicopters (NH-90) has been displayed in front of hundreds of people today in Canberra. The MRH90 will replace both the Navy Sea King and Army Black H... more

SecurityTSA seeks innovative ideas for airport security
Washington, USA - To help operators in allocating resources
The TSA (Transportation Security Administration) of the US Homeland Security Department has launched an outreach search to discover possible innovations in the field of airport security. The Administration... more

AirlinesContinental Airlines announces daily non-stop service between New York and Munich
Houston, Usa - From March 27, 2010
Continental Airlines announced that it will launch daily non-stop service between its New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport and Munich, effective March 27, 2010. The Continental flights... more

ReportAntonio Tajani will be in charge of the Galileo sat programme for the European Commission
Brussels, Belgium - The Italian man will almost certainly be the new EU commissioner for Industry and Tourism
Antonio Tajani, as anticipated by the Italian "Adnkronos" quoting informed sources, will be appointed to the role of European commissioner for Industry extended to the Galileo sat programme and Tourism.... more

Civil aviationAirbus delays A-380 delivery to Malaysia Airlines
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - The Superjumbos are scheduled to arrive in the second half of 2011
Malaysia Airlines might receive its first Airbus A-380 aircraft with further eight months delay, in August 2011 rather than January 2011, as the carrier's CEO, Azmil Zahruddin, yesterday told "Dow Jones... more

AirlinesSingapore Airlines best international carrier according to Zagat
Singapore, Singapore - Survey among passengers and travel agents
Singapore Airlines (SIA) resulted on top of a Zagat survey as best international airline for 2009, voted by passengers and travel agents. The survey has also underlined how the global crisis heavily affected... more

AirlinesJapan Airlines obtaines bailout funding
Tokyo, Japan - Deal signed with Development Bank of Japan worth JPY100 billion
JAL-Japan Airlines has signed an agreement with Development Bank of Japan to receive a bailout bridge loan worth up to JPY100 billion (US$1.1 billion). The financing will be guaranteed by Tokyo's government... more

Weather forecastsWeather: perturbation and fickleness on the Italian Peninsula
Rome, Italy - During the week-end
"A large perturbation from Atlantic origin is interesting most part of Northern Europe affecting the weather conditions also on the Italian Peninsula where a weather worsening is predicted in the next... more

Civil aviationBombardier reduces CRJ aircraft production rates
Montreal, Canada - The company will layoff 715 workers
Bombardier confirmed today that the current economic and airline industry environments continue to make it difficult to gain new aircraft orders, particularly for the CRJ aircraft family. Consequently,... more

AirlineseasyJet demands legislation for cleaner aircraft
London, UK - A 40% reduction in CO2 emissions from the next generation of aircraft as target
"easyJet, Europe’s low-fares airline, today became the first airline to call for tough, mandatory emission standards for aircraft that would lead to a 40% reduction in CO2 emissions from the next generation o... more

Civil aviationEmbraer Phenom 100 and Legacy 500 in Mexico at "Aeroexpo 2009"
São José dos Campos, Brazil - From December 3 to 5 in Acapulco
Embraer and Lomex Aeronáutica, its authorized sales representative for Mexico, will attend the seventh International Aviation Trade Show & Convention "Aeroexpo 2009", in Acapulco, Mexico, December 3-5. The... more

AirportsRyanair announces a new airplane, a new route and 1,5 million passengers per year in Bologna
Bologna, Italy - The destination to Malaga starting from the end of March, with three times per week
Ryanair, the Irish airline, has announced today that, starting from March 2010, a new airplane (three total) will be based, a new route opened (for a total of 24), bringing to 1,5 million passengers per... more

Finance and economySpanish Mazel takes a share in Italian Meridie's capital
Rome, Italy - The deal signed at the Italian embassy in Madrid
A deal allowing the Spanish group Mazel to enter the capital of the Italian maintenance company Manutenzioni aeronautiche has been signed yesterday with Meridie at the Italian embassy in Madrid, in presence... more

AirlinesAlitalia: "AMS's sale to be completed in the next days"
Rome, Italy - The announcement made by extraordinary commissioner Augusto Fantozzi
To complete the deal for the sale of AMS a summoning at Palazzo Chigi is now needed. The maintenance company is currently owned by Alitalia at 60% and by Lufthansa at 40%. The former Italian national carrier's... more

AirlinesAlitalia to acquire AirOne's Airbus aircraft
Rome, Italy - € 40 million paid to the small carrier for future plans
All Airbus aircraft in AirOne's fleet are going to pass to Alitalia. The first airplanes will enter into service with the new livery already in December, while the transfer will be completed by March 2010.... more

IndustryOma Sud's Skycar gets Italian ENAC certification and it's ready for sales
Capua, Italy - AVIONEWS interviewed chief pilot Massimo Barocco and engineer Giuseppe Verde
Oma Sud's Skycar has received confirmation by the Italian ENAC (Civil Aviation Authority) that it has completed operations for the certification that is going to be awarded in mid-December after the tests... more

Military aviationEADS about the A-400M programme
Paris, France - In reply to some press reports
With regard to recent press reports on the A-400M programme, EADS explicitly cautions against the misinterpretation of figures taken out of their context as long as negotiations with the customer OCCAR... more

AirlinesEtihad signs US$200 million agreement for engines maintenance
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - With IAE-International Aero Engines
Etihad Airways signed with IAE-International Aero Engines (a joint-venture of Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, MTU Aero Engines and Japanese Aero Engines Corporationan) aftermarket services agreement covering... more

AirlinesAir Berlin first airline to receive LBA's certification for GLS landings
Berlin, Germany - In future they will replace standard ILS systems
Air Berlin is the world’s first airline to receive LBA (German Federal Aviation Office) approval for employing GLS (GPS landing system) technology on its aircraft. Air Berlin has been running trials o... more

AerospaceItalian ASI: site of Galileo station at Kourou
Rome, Italy - Europe's global navigation satellite system was inaugurated in French Guyana
ESA PR 29-2009. The site of a ground station for Galileo, Europe's global navigation satellite system, inside the Guiana Space Centre (CSG), near Kourou in French Guiana, was inaugurated. The site,... more

Military aviationWedgetail initial delivery do Australian defense
Canberra, Australia - For training and familiarization
The Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) of Australia has today taken initial delivery of two Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) Wedgetail aircraft from Boeing. This airplane, based on the 737,... more

Press releaseThe mayors of Ciampino and Marino complained against the Italian Transports Minister
Rome, Italy - For omissions or abuse of official acts
"The mayors of the municipalities of Ciampino, Walter Enrico Perandini, and Marino, Adriano Palozzi, instructed by Professor Carlo Taormina - two statutory bodies - to file criminal complaint, signed by... more

AirlineseasyJet adds Malta to its list of destinations from "John Lennon Airport"
Liverpool, UK - Commencing on 13th June
easyJet has announced that will be added a further route to its network from Liverpool "John Lennon Airport" ("JLA") with a twice weekly service to the Mediterranean island of Malta, commencing on 13th... more

Civil aviationAEA: "Eurocontrol member states' charges increase is scandalous"
Brussels, Belgium - Less effective operators will pass costs to airline customers
The Association of European Airlines (AEA) has criticised as "Scandalous" the latest round of increases in the charges for air navigation services levied by national air traffic management systems. The... more

Civil aviationFirst flight of the Gulfstream 650
Savannah, USA - Type certification expected by 2011
Gulfstream Aerospace (General Dynamics) yesterday announced that its newest business jet and the flagship of its fleet, the Gulfstream 650, successfully completed its first flight. Flown by test pilots... more

ReportEU requests passengers-refunds in case of airlines' bankruptcy
Strasbourg, France - Insurances, reserve compensation fund and mutual responsibility
During a plenary session underway in Strasbourg the European Parliament has requested new regulations concerning passengers refunds in case of airlines' bankruptcy. In particular, the EP has suggested... more

AerospaceGOCE: control handed over to operating centers
Rome, Italy - Commissioning and calibration phase ended
Control of ESA’s (European Space Agency) GOCE satellite has been transferred to the operations teams, marking the end of its commissioning and calibration phase. The Gravity field and steady-state Ocean C... more

HelicoptersSikorsky S-92A fails test on main gearbox
Washington, USA - During the trials to get Faa certification
The Sikorsky S-92A helicopter, same type of the one that crashed in Canada in March killing 17 people (see AVIONEWS), failed a crucial test within the certification process concerning its main gearbox. The... more

AirportsRyanair expands its operations at Trapani-Birgi
Trapani, Italy - Airgest: "It is now crucial to strengthen airport infrastructures"
As announced recently (see AVIONEWS) Ryanair is going to expand its operations at Trapani-Birgi airport, in southern Italy, starting from next spring. The low-cost airline is going to deploy two new aircraft... more

Civil aviationMINT project demonstrates fuel saving possibilities
Stockholm, Sweden - 165 kg per landing, resulting in more than 500 kg of reduced CO2 emissions
The MINT project sees the last in a series of 10 demonstration flights with a Novair Airbus A-321 aircraft dedicated to investigate how modern aircraft are able to support performance based operations,... more

AirlinesAir Berlin lands in Naples with a new network from Capodichino
Naples, Italy - The carrier has also acquired and integrated all German domestic flights and all routes to and from Italy previously operated by TUIFly
German airline Air Berlin (AB) continues its expansion in the Italian market and today announced its transport offer from Naples airport. With the operating beginning of the winter season -from October... more

DefenseEADS DS presents innovative security system
Paris, France - To enhance response to cyber attacks on communication networks
EADS Defence and Security (DS) today announced the launch of a pioneering new solution for the supervision of information system security. The solution, named "Security Cockpit" is a groundbreaking system... more

AirlinesUnited Airlines launches new Chicago-Rome service
Chicago, USA - Between May and August 2010
United Airlines yesterday announced the launch of a new service between Chicago and Rome starting on May 1, 2010. This once-daily flight will operate through the peak summer travel season, ending on August... more

HelicoptersFirst AW-139 helicopter delivered to Qatar Armed Forces
Vergiate, Italy - Ceremony held yesterday in Vergiate, Italy
AgustaWestland (Finmeccanica) announced that the Qatar Armed Forces has taken delivery of its first AW-139 medium twin-engine helicopter during an official ceremony held yesterday at the company’s Vergiate p... more

Military aviationA-400M completed first taxiing trials
Seville, Spain - The first flight is scheduled by the end of the year
Airbus Military's (EADS) A-400M transport airplane has completed the first slow-speed taxiing tests on Monday in Seville, Spain. For the first time the aircraft, which is more than 4 years behind schedule,... more

DefenseBoeing and Australian defense together to study electromagnetic environmental effects
Brisbane, Australia - Open contract for operators who might need it
Boeing Defence Australia has signed a Deed of Standing Offer to provide Electromagnetic Environmental Effects (E3) testing and design services for Australian Defence Force (ADF) aircraft and systems. The... more

UAS-DronesThree MQ-8B VTUAVs delivered to the US Navy
San Diego, Usa - Two of them deployed on the frigate McInerney
Northrop Grumman completed the first three MQ-8B Fire Scout production deliveries to the US Navy, which completes the first year of Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) for the Vertical Takeoff and Landing... more

Military aviationAustralian government approves purchase of 14 F-35 fighters
Canberra, Australia - Worth approximately US$3.2 billion
The Australian Minister for Defence John Faulkner today announced that the Government had approved acquisition of the first batch of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft as foreshadowed in the 2009... more

AirlinesTwo Embraer 190s for Austrian NIKI
São José dos Campos, Brazil - The aircraft will be delivered in 2011
Embraer and Austria’s second largest airline NIKI Luftfahrt signed a contract for another two Embraer 190 jets, confirming the purchase rights in the original contract, announced in July 2008. The initial d... more

Military aviationPratt & Whitney delivered 400th F119 engine to USAF
East Hartford, USA - To power Lockheed Martin's F-22 Raptor aircraft
Pratt & Whitney (United Technologies) has delivered the 400th F119 engine, which powers the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor aircraft, to the US Air Force (USAF). This delivery marks a significant accomplishment... more

SecurityFirst International Runway Safety Conference
Washington, USA - From December 1 to 3 in Washington
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), in cooperation with the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and the MITRE Corporation, will hold the first International Runway Safety Conference... more

SecurityFAA proposes new rules for anti-ice protection
Washington, USA - For all aircraft with a takeoff weight under 27,215 kg
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a rule requiring scheduled airlines to either retrofit their existing fleet with ice-detection equipment or make sure the ice protection system activates... more

AirlinesChina Eastern to takeover Shanghai Airlines by the end of the year
Shanghai, China - The deal is worth US$1.32 billion
Shanghai Airlines' takeover by China Eastern, one of the three main airlines of China, will be completed by the end of the year, as announced yesterday by China Eastern president Liu Shaoyong. This would... more

AirlinesPassengers blocked on airplane: three US airlines fined
Washington, USA - Forced to pass the night on board
Three American airlines have been fined for blocking their passengers on board of an airplane despite a diversion. The total amount of the fines is US$175,000. This is the first ever punishment for this... more

AirlinesOld Alitalia: only one offer to purchase AMS
Rome, Italy - Fantozzi: "The binding offer is acceptable"
There would be only Maurizzio Tucci, former Finmeccanica manager, participating in the tender to purchase AMS (Alitalia Maintenance Systems), 60% controlled by the old Alitalia (which is now in extraordinary... more