- Qantas to Conduct a New Tech Evaluation[Aug. 28, 2006]
Qantas said it would introduce new technology from early 2007, which will enable customers to make and receive emails, SMS and calls via their own mobile phone or personal electronic devices such as Blackberrys.
- Qantas Caught Up in Giant Freight Probe[Aug. 25, 2006]
Qantas has been caught up in a giant international probe into air freight price-fixing and has been subpoenaed by the US Department of Justice.
- CASA Prepares for Drug & Alcohol Testing[Aug. 25, 2006]
The air safety regulator has made its first concrete move towards mandatory drug and alcohol testing with a series of workshops ahead of the release of draft rules later this year.
- EasyJet is to Open Madrid Barajas Base[Aug. 25, 2006]
EasyJet is launching a base at Madrid Barajas, its 17th, and said operations will start Feb. 16 with several new routes, details of which will be announced next month and will include domestic services. "Spain has been a key market for easyJet for the past 10 years and the new base will take our commitment to a completely new level. While Madrid is one of Europe's largest and most important capital cities, it is still underserved by low-fares airlines," CEO Andy Harrison said.
- FAA Imposes Slot Rule at Chicago O'Hare[Aug. 24, 2006]
US FAA released a final albeit interim rule finalizing slot limits at Chicago O'Hare that originally were imposed on a temporary basis in 2004.The rule takes effect Oct. 29, 2006, and terminates Oct. 31, 2008, at which point it is expected that the opening of a new runway under the O'Hare Modernization Plan will allow the airfield to accommodate more than "50,000 additional forecast operations" annually.
- US Government Opposes Northwest Strike[Aug. 24, 2006]
US Dept. of Justice yesterday waded into the dispute between Northwest Airlines and its flight attendants, arguing in a Statement of Interest filed with the US District Court for the Southern District of New York that the Assn. of Flight Attendants-CWA does not have the right to strike because the parties still are bound by the Railway Labor Act.
- Black Boxes Found in Aircraft Wreckage[Aug. 24, 2006]
Investigators last night recovered both the flight data recorder and the voice recorder from the wreckage of a Russian passenger plane that crashed into a Ukrainian field after apparently being hit by lightning during a severe thunderstorm, killing all 170 people aboard.
- Delta Launches Delta.com in Spanish[Aug. 23, 2006]
Delta Air Lines' U.S. Hispanic customers now can use the convenient shopping and self-service functionality at delta.com in Spanish for all important travel information, booking, seat assignments, flight check in, SkyMiles award ticket booking, refunds, and much more. This enhancement to delta.com is a milestone for Delta, which continues to embark on more dramatic international growth than any other U.S. airline, including new services and routes to Latin America and the Caribbean. As Delta continues to expand its global reach, like its recently-announced expanded service to Mexico from Los Angeles, providing delta.com in Spanish is one of many self-service globalization efforts underway to benefit its customers worldwide.
- Brazil's TAM Receives Eighth Airbus A320[Aug. 23, 2006]
Brazil's largest airline company, has received another Airbus aircraft A320. The aircraft will be incorporated as of Wednesday.
- Boeing Redelivers 747-400 to Korean Air[Aug. 22, 2006]
Boeing and Korean Air today announced completion and certification of Korean Air's 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighter. For this modification, Boeing managed every aspect of the conversion process from contract signing, design and production through redelivery. Boeing contracted with Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering Co., Ltd. (TAECO) in Xiamen, China, for the hands-on modification work. This is the fourth 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighter that has been redelivered through Boeing to cargo operators.