- Chicago Pursues Midway Airport Lease Deal[Feb. 13, 2008]
Chicago said on Feb. 13 that it will pursue a long-term lease deal for Midway Airport after five of the seven airlines at the airport reached a preliminary agreement on potential lease terms.
- Italy to Take Airport Slot Decisions Off Operators[Feb. 24, 2008]
Italy plans to give responsibility for assigning airport slots to state entity Enav instead of Assoclearance, which groups airlines and airport operators, Transport Minister Alessandro Bianchi told a newspaper.
- Airbus Wins New Asian Customer for Airbus ACJ[Feb. 13, 2008]
A new Asian customer has placed a firm order for an Airbus Corporate Jetliner (ACJ), consolidating and further expanding the strong presence that the company's aircraft already have in the region.
- Court Grants Relief to Debt-Ridden Taiwan Airline[Feb. 23, 2008]
A debt-ridden Taiwan airline with domestic and international routes has received 90 days court protection from creditors and permission to restructure the company, local media said on Feb. 23.
- Citigroup Maintains "Buy" Rating on Major Chinese Airline Stocks[Feb. 25, 2008]
Citigroup has kept its "buy" rating on China's top three airline companies China Southern Airlines, Air China and China Eastern Airlines, and set their target H-share price at HK$9.9, HK$10 and HK$7.2 respectively.
- Reduced Pilot Training Now Approved for The A380[Feb. 15, 2008]
Reduced A380 transition training for A320 Family, A330 or A340 qualified pilots has been jointly approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA). The latest approval was obtained for the transition training from A320 Family aircraft to the A380 on February 7, 2008. This means that, for example, a pilot flying Airbus' smallest aircraft, the A318, can be qualified to fly the A380 in 13 working days. It offers operators significant cost-savings since training times can be halved compared to standard type rating courses.
- BOC Aviation Leases Eight New A320 Aircraft to Qantas[Feb. 25, 2008]
BOC Aviation has signed agreements with Qantas Airways of Australia for the lease of eight new Airbus A320 aircraft. The aircraft will be delivered new from Airbus between the third quarter of 2010 and first quarter of 2011 and will be operated by the carrier's fast-growing low fare subsidiary Jetstar.
- Global Air Traffic Slowed in Jan. to 4.3% - IATA[Feb. 26, 2008]
Growth in global air passenger traffic slowed sharply in January to 4.3 percent, from 6.7 percent in the previous month, as a U.S. credit crunch took its toll, the head of a worldwide air travel association said.
- Korean Air Expands A380 Aircraft Order[Feb. 19, 2008]
Korean Air is expanding its A380 fleet with the purchase of three more A380 aircraft. This firm order is in addition to the five A380 aircraft ordered by Korean Air in 2003.
- Emission-Free Power for Civil Aircraft: Airbus Successfully Demonstrates Fuel Cells in Flight[Feb. 19, 2008]
Airbus has successfully tested a fuel cells system in flight. For the first time on a civil aircraft this innovative energy source powered the aircraft's back-up hydraulic and electric power systems. The test conducted in February is part of Airbus' overall plans for an eco-efficient aviation industry. It supports the on-going research to evaluate the potential use and environmental benefits of fuel cell technology and zero emissions power generation in civil aviation.