Monthly Archives: August 2010

Boeing delays the first 787 delivery to ANA to mid first quarter 2011

Boeing (Chicago, Seattle, Wichita and Charleston) said that it now expects delivery of the first 787 to ANA in the middle of the first quarter 2011.

The delivery date revision follows an assessment of the availability of an engine needed for the final phases of flight test this fall.

While Boeing works closely with Rolls-Royce to expedite engine availability, flight testing across the test fleet continues as planned.

Boeing said last month that the cumulative impact of a series of issues, including supplier workmanship issues related to the horizontal stabilizer and instrumentation delays, could push first delivery of the 787 a few weeks into 2011. The delay in engine availability has extended that estimate to mid-first quarter 2011.

Meanwhile, due to the new delay, Kenya Airways is threatening to cancel its order for the new airplane.

Copyright Photo: Gabor Hajdufi. Boeing 787-881 N787EX (msn 34488) (test aircraft ZA002) arrives back at Seattle (Boeing Field-King County) after a test flight.

Tibet Airlines orders three Airbus A319s, intends to start operations in 2011

Tibet Airlines (Lhasa) is a new airline that has ordered three Airbus A319s. The new carrierย was approved by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in March 2010 and intends to start operations in 2011.

Henan Airlines shuts down following the fatal crash

Henan Airlines (formerly Kunpeng Airlines) (Zhengzhou) suspended all operations yesterday (August 25) following the fatal Embraer ERJ 190 crash the previous day. The investigation continues concerning the crash that killed 42 people and injured another 54.

FilAir let L-410 crashes in the Congo, 20 dead

FilAir’s (Kinshasa) Let L410UVP-E 9Q-CCN (msn 902422) yesterday (August 25) was operating a passenger flight originating from Kinshasa for Bandundu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At 13:00 (1300) local time, the aircraft crashed into a house 1.2 miles short of the runway at Bandundu.ย The airliner hit a house but nobody was injured on the ground. Twenty people aboard the plane were killed leaving a single female passenger as a survivor. Radio Okapi reported that the aircraft ran out of fuel after being unable to land at Bandundu.

Read the full report from Times Live:

CLICK HERE

Nile Air starts operations

Copyright Photo: Richard Vandervord.

Nile Air (Cairo) has finally commenced operations this month with two Airbus A320s. The new airline received its AOC on November 1, 2009 but did not start until this month.

Copyright Photo: Richard Vandervord. Airbus A320-232 SU-BQC (msn 3219) prepares to land at London (Heathrow). It was acquired on November 4, 2009.

CityLine Swiss to start Dortmund-Rome flights in November

CityLine Swiss (subsidiary of CityLine Hungary) (Lugano) is a new airline which is planning to commence scheduled passenger operations in November linking Dortmund with Rome. The company will operate a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-83 (MD-83) on the route, three times weekly.

Airberlin loses $72.3 million in the second quarter

Airberlin (airberlin.com) (Berlin-Tegel) reported a net loss in the second quarter of $72.3 million.

In other news the company is in discussions with its new Oneworld partner about code sharing which is expected to start in November.

Read the full report from the WSJ:

CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Gunter Mayer. Boeing 737-86J D-ABBF (msn 32917) arrives at Nuremberg.

SAS to lease the eight Blue1 MD-90s to an unidentified U.S. airline

Scandinavian Airlines-SAS (Stockholm) is planning to lease its eight McDonnell Douglas MD-90-30s to an unidentified U.S. carrier (Delta?). The aircraft are currently being operated by subsidiary Blue1 (Helsinki) but are being replaced by newer Boeing 717-200s.

Read the report from Reuters:

CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best. Blue1’s McDonnell Douglas MD-90-30 OH-BLC (msn 53459) at London (Heathrow).

Mexicana is blocked from firing its flight attendants

Mexicana’s (Mexico City) new owners have hit a roadblock in its plan to fire 1,000 flight attendants according to Reuters. The labor ministry told Tendora K the action would be illegal. The proposed takeover is now in jeopardy in this continuing saga to keep the airline flying.

Read the full report from Reuters:

CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Airbus A319-112 N790MX (msn 3790) taxies at Los Angeles.

Delta to add five new destinations and 14 new flights from Raleith/Durham

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) is building up its services from Raleigh/Durham. Starting on November 11, DL will add new destinations from RDU and 14 new flights bringing the total to 54 flights.

Read the full report from the Triangle Business Journal:

CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. McDonnell Douglas MD-90-30 N902DA (msn 53382) prepares for departure from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood.