AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency
101,325 news found
AirlinesairBaltic to help passengers who lost job
Riga, Latvia - Initiative for residents of the Baltic States
Curious initiative by the Latvian airline airBaltic that has announced that it will refund the full cost of Economy class tickets to passengers who have lost their jobs between the purchase of the ticket... more
Civil aviationEuropean Commission start inquiries on some Star Alliance and oneworld's airlines
Brussels, Belgium - Due to restrictive business practices on transatlantic routes
The European Commission launched Monday a probe into pacts between seven members of two air global alliances (Star Alliance and oneworld) on suspicion the deals might constitute restrictive business practices... more
AirlinesChinese airlines in loss
Beijing, China - A negative year for China Eastern, China Southern and Air China
Negative results in 2008 (about one billion Euros) also for Air China after the announcement by China Eastern and China Southern. The international crisis and the high oil price provoked this negative... more
AirportsPittsburgh, airport fees will be lowered
Pittsburgh, Usa - Meanwhile, air traffic decreases in March
Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato today announced that airline fees at Pittsburgh International Airport will be significantly lowered due to revenues from the Pennsylvania Gaming Economic Development... more
AerospaceSuccessful launch of the Italian satellite SICRAL 1B
Rome, Italy - The program is under the joint responbility of Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio, Finmeccanica Group
"The SICRAL 1B satellite, on behalf of the Italian Ministry of Defense, has been successfully launched today at 10.16 am (CET) by a Zenit-3SL rocket operating from the Sea Launch platform, positioned at... more
AirlineseasyJet announces the Malpensa-Luton route
Milan, Italy - From next July 6
"easyJet, low-cost airline in Europe, announces the new route Milan-Malpensa/London-Luton, as of next July 6, 2009 and from EUR 23,99 per route, taxes included, already purchasable on its website (www.easyJet.com). The... more
AirlinesLufthansa, -7% passengers in the Q1
Frankfurt, Germany - Transported 12.1 million in total
German flagship airline Deutsche Lufthansa said that the group's traffic data for March was again defined by persistently weak demand as a result of the global economic downturn. Group passenger traffic... more
AirportsLinate, the subway to connect the airport within 2014
Milan, Italy - In time for the "EXPO 2015"
Go-ahead by the Milan Town Council for the second lot of the Line 4 for the new subway that from Policlinico will connect Linate Airport. The work is part of the necessary infrastructures for the "EXPO... more
Fair and showsAir shows and exhibitions in the third week of April
Rome, Italy - From today, on Monday 20 to next Sunday 26
Monday 20 - "2009 FCC Gliding". Prievidza, Slovakia. + 421 46 543 06 11 http://events.fai.org www.plachtenie.sk - "4th Slovakia Perfectfly Cup Paragliding Open". Plavnica, Hajtovka. Slovakia. + 421... more
AirlinesAir Senegal on the way out
Dakar, Senegal - The carrier charges with the Government's decisions
Air Senegal International (ASI) could be suspend activities. The alert comes from the airline's management that charged with the Government's decisions. Following to some analysis, the ASI's management... more
HelicoptersAW-139 enters service with Sky Shuttle Helicopters
Cascina Costa, Italy - More than 430 helicopters like this have been ordered by over 100 clients
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, announced that the first two AW-139 medium twin helicopters owned by Sky Shuttle Helicopters Limited of Hong Kong have entered operational service. The 12 seat-configured... more
Sport aviationItalian FIVL: paragliding and hang-gliding, 239 pilots in Borso del Grappa (Treviso)
Turin, Italy - The next events in early May
"239 pilots in flight, for 18 Nations (Argentina and Brazil included) in Borso del Grappa (Treviso) for the 'Trofeo Montegrappa', the international free flight event and for Expo, the flight products fair. Many... more
ReportJamaica: man hijacked a passenger plane. Five crew members in hostage
Montego Bay, Jamaica - Talks started with the kidnapper
A gunman hijacked a Canadian charter plane on the tarmac near the resort city of Montego Bay and was holding the flight crew hostage, the airline said Monday. Nobody had been injured, officials said. The... more
Weather forecastsBad weather in Italy: precipitations on the North-West and Southern Tyrrhenian regions
Rome, Italy - From yesterday morning and for the successive 24-30 hours
"An Atlantic perturbation is moved on the Italian peninsula bringing a fickleness on North-Western area and on the Southern Tyrrhenian regions. The Italian Civil Defense Department, on the basis of... more
AerospaceThe Italian Defence satellite SICRAL 1B launched this morning
Rome, Italy - A system for military communications
The launch of the SICRAL (Italian Reserved Communications and Alarm System) 1B satellite took place this morning at 10:16 am CET (8:16 am GMT) from a Sea Launch platform in the Pacific with a Zenit-3SL... more
Civil aviationSuperjet 100: test flight by EASA pilots
Moscow, Russia - They are part of a certification panel responsible for flight test campaign
EASA pilots performed the first familiarization flights on Sukhoi Superjet 100 S/N’s 95001 and 95003. The first prototype 95001 has been piloted by Philippe Castaigns, EASA/CEV test pilot accompanied b... more
ReportFirst results of the "Finmeccanica for Abruzzo" solidarity initiative
Rome, Italy - The Group has around 700 employees in the L'Aquila area
A week after the launch of the "Finmeccanica for Abruzzo" initiative, Finmeccanica informs that good results are already being achieved, thanks to the contributions from Group companies based all over... more
UAS-DronesGeneral Atomics Avenger UCAS in flight
San Diego, USA - A stealthy airplane
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has quietly rolled out its new Avenger unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) - formerly known as the Predator C - and completed its first three flights on April 4th,... more
HelicoptersDRS receives a contract to support US Army Kiowa Warrior helicopters
Parsippany, USA - A deal worth 110 million dollars
DRS Technologies, a Finmeccanica company, announced yesterday that it has received nine delivery orders valued at over 110 million dollars for spare components, repairs, and program services for Mast-Mounted... more
HelicoptersIncreasing exigencies: Rega (2) faces them by "Da Vinci" heli-ambulance
Kloten, Switzerland - Annual 2009 meeting with media
The missions' number both in Switzerland and abroad has reached new records; never before, REGA has flown a lot to rescue people in emergency situations. The increase of activity in 2008 has been, mainly,... more
HelicoptersThe new AgustaWestland "Da Vinci" unveiled in Locarno, Switzerland
Locarno, Switzerland - The helicopter will take place of aging A-109K2s in service since 1992
The AgustaWestland "Da Vinci" helicopter was unveiled for the first time on the 16th of April at "Rega 6" base in Locarno-Magadino, Switzerland. The aircraft is specifically designed for high-altitude... more
AirportsRome, a travel agency opened in Fiumicino airport
Rome, Italy - The first ever at Italian airports. Located at terminal C
A new travel agency has just opened in Rome-Fiumicino, the first ever in an Italian airport. "We have more that 150 shops, restaurants and bars and we missed such a shop. This opening strengthens Fiumicino... more
IndustryBoeing marks 6,000th B-737 with delivery to ILFC and Norwegian Air Shuttle
Seattle, Usa - This last to operate 737 with a special logo
"Boeing yesterday celebrated a special program milestone with the delivery of the 6,000th 737. It was delivered to International Lease Finance Corp (ILFC) which will lease the 737 to Norwegian Air Shuttle... more
AerospaceThe Weekly's Photo: in search of the lost planet
Pasadena, USA - Once upon a time...
NASA's Kepler mission has taken its first images of the star-rich sky where it will soon begin hunting for planets like Earth. The new "First light" images show the mission's target patch of sky, a... more
AirportsHelsinki, Asian traffic remained at last year's level
Helsinki, Finland - In the first quarter, 390,000 passengers used the airport as gateway between Europe and Asia
Helsinki Airport has reinforced its position as the leading transfer airport for flights between Europe and Asia. Despite the weak global economic situation, the number of transfer passengers in the first... more
DefenseFalconers against bird strikes at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan
Bagram, Afghanistan - To protect airplanes during the migration season
The US Air Force (USAF) decided to hire a group of local falconers to try to keep birds away from the Bagram Airfield, in Afghanistan. During the migration season bird strikes become a serious threat for... more
DefenseChinese Navy wants more modern aircraft and ships
Beijing, China - Admiral Wu Shengli statements
The Chinese Navy aims to a quick modernization of its resources. Admiral Wu Shengli yesterday told press agency "Xinhua News" that Beijing's naval forces are interested in new supersonic aircraft and high-precision... more
CuriositiesThe "Sunseeker II", solar energy airplane, overflies the Alps and lands in Turin
Turin, Italy - In the next days it will take off again to overfly all Peninsula
A century passed from the first crossing of the Alps by airplane. Next year the event's celebration by Peruvian Jorg (Geo) Chavez by a French Blériot monoplane. Last April 14 the American Eric Raymond... more
AccidentsIndonesia air accident (2): 11 victims the new balance
Jayapura, Indonesia - Among them also a 3-year-old child
The balance of tonight's (European time) air accident occurred to a Pilatus PC-6 in the Indonesian province of Papua (see AVIONEWS) grew to 11 victims, two more of the 9 announced by the first police reports.... more
ReportCanada: a boy commits suicide jumping from a plane
Cambridge Bay, Canada - The other occupants didn't manage to stop him
He fought with the other three occupants of the aircraft (two pilots and another passenger), an Adlair Aviation operated Beechcraft King Air 200, to open the door the 20-year-old boy that in the night... more
AirlinesMeridiana and Blu-Express sign an agreement
Rome, Italy - From May 5, they will operate code-share flights
Meridiana and Blu-Express signed a commercial agreement for the summer 2009, which includes code-share operations between Rome and Cagliari, Turin, Verona, Nice and Lamezia Terme and between Turin and... more
AccidentsUSA: plane takes off from the highway and crashes in a fence
Great Bend , USA - The pilot reported only minor injuries. He will probably charged
Kenneth Doonan decided on Wednesday to use the K-156 highway near Great Bend, Kansas, as runway to takeoff with his Aviat A-1B Husky aircraft, but a gust of wind made him flip ending in a side-road ditch... more
AirportsFirst time at Turin-Aeritalia for "PC-7 Team" aircraft of the Swiss Air Force
Turin, Italy - Nine exhibitions will be held during the year
Two Swiss Air Force “PC-7 Team” Pilatus PC-7/CH Turbo-Trainer aircraft put their wheels on the runway at Turin-Aeritalia airport for the first time. Commanding the two aerobatic aircraft were Fliegerstaffel 18... more
AirlinesIceland Express, from Stansted to Gatwick with success
London, United Kingdom - The move will bring a 10%-15% increase in passengers
As it approaches its switch of London base from Stansted to Gatwick on 1 May, Iceland Express is noticing different booking trends among its clientele. “The financial situation has led people to book c... more
AirlinesAlitalia bond: "Italian Government risks an own goal"
Rome, Italy - "It is necessary an intervention to increase the compensation at least from 30% to 50%"
"I think the sum of money budgeted for Alitalia bonds is low, there is a problem of respectability for the Italian State, and I believe the offer should be higher", Gianfranco Conte Finance Commission... more
AirlinesLuxair signs ten-year contract for Lufthansa Systems ProfitLine/Yield Rembrandt
Frankfurt, Germany - To modernize its Revenue Management
Luxair has selected Lufthansa Systems’ ProfitLine/Yield Rembrandt to modernize its revenue management. The solution will enable the Luxembourg airline to optimize their saleable capacities and, thus, i... more
Civil aviationAir Transport Association reports continued decline in passenger demand
Washington, Usa - March passenger traffic on U.S. airlines fell by 10%
The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, reported that passenger revenue based on data reported to ATA by many fell 23% in March 2009... more
AirlinesJoint-venture between Meridiana-Eurofly and Iberia
Milan, Italy - It will operate maintenance, repair&overhaul services
Meridiana-Eurofly and Iberia signed yesterday a Memorandum of Understanding to create a new joint-venture for maintenance services. The operation will be realized with the ordinance in a newco, by Eurofly-Meridiana,... more
OccurrencesArgentina: drunk woman forces pilot to invert the route
Buenos Aires, Argentina - After going out of control she felt sick on board
The pilot of a Boeing 767/300 airplane of the Chilean carrier LAN, from Buenos Aires to Miami, was forced yesterday to invert its route and land in the departure airport after a drunk passenger on board... more
HelicoptersUnited Rotorcraft Solutions delivers second Bell 407 to HALO-Flight
Corpus Christi, USA - For transporting the critically ill and injured
United Rotorcraft Solutions (URS) delivered another customized Bell 407 to HALO-Flight of Corpus Christi, Texas, on April 10th, 2009. This is the second that URS had contracted with this company. HALO-Flight... more
IndustryAlenia Aeronautica: Italian Air Force over 10,000 flight hours flown by the Eurofighter Typhoon
Rome, Italy - The airplane operates from Italian air bases in Grosseto and Gioia del Colle
"Alenia Aeronautica records with great satisfaction another important result reached by the Eurofighter programme in Italy: the Air Force’s pilots have surpassed 10,000 flight hours on the Eurofighter T... more
AirportsAéroports de Paris, passenger traffic drops 9.8%
Paris, France - Data relating to March 2009
Aéroports de Paris (AdP) has reported a -9.8% decrease year-on-year in March passenger traffic. The two major Paris airports – "Charles de Gaulle" and Orly – handled a total of 6.5 million passengers: 4.5... more
AirlinesMalaysia Airlines aims to acquire another carrier
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - The airline has a cash surplus and wants to invest it in an acquisition
Malaysia Airlines is looking around to get the chance to acquire another airline, finding itself with a huge cash surplus of almost $1 billion due to last year's good operational results. The carrier's... more
AirlinesAustrian Airlines, 1Q data
Vienna, Austria - Traffic -15.5% and capacity -11.7%
Austrian Airlines Group has reported its traffic results for the first quarter of 2009, ended 31 March, and the month of March 2009. For the first quarter of 2009 Austrian Airlines Group reported a... more
Military aviationIndia excludes Dassault Rafale from the MMRCA race
New Delhi, India - French officials say they received no communications
French Dassault Aviation Rafale is not competing anymore in the $10 billion tender for 126 new MMRCA (Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft) fighters for the Indian government. Five models are still in the... more
OccurrencesEmergency landing for Alitalia flight in Lamezia Terme
Reggio Calabria, Italy - En route from Reggio Calabria to Milan the aircraft suffered an engine failure
An Alitalia McDonnell Douglas MD-82 was forced yesterday afternoon to make an emergency landing at Lamezia Terme airport after taking off at 2:00 pm (with an hour delay) from Reggio Calabria, destination... more
AirlinesSAS launches new "Mobile Check-in" service in seven European airports
Stockholm, Sweden - Starting from yesterday to July 1st, 2009
Passengers on Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) can now travel using only their mobile phone. During a trial period which began yesterday till July 1st, 2009, passengers can travel with the airline between... more
AirlinesVietnam Airlines to buy 10 A-321/200s
Hanoi , Vietnam - Deliveries should start in 2011
Vietnamese prime minister, Nguyen Tan Dung, granted authorization to national carrier Vietnam Airlines to purchase 10 new aircraft for its fleet. The airline will start talks in early May with Airbus about... more
Military aviationEADS considers sharing the tanker contract
Washington, USA - If it can build at least 12 planes a year
EADS (European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company) CEO, Louis Gallois, stated that his company and its partner Northrop Grumman will consider the possibility to split the contract for the construction... more
AirlinesCathay Pacific asks Boeing and Airbus to delay deliveries
Hong Kong, China - The carrier also announced capacity reductions from May
The economic downturn goes on hitting airlines worldwide. Cathay Pacific is into talks with Boeing and Airbus to ask them to delay deliveries of the already ordered A-330s, B-777/300ERs, B-747/8 freighters... more