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SpeedNews has been the source for easy-to-read news and information for executives in the commercial, business, and military aviation industries since 1979. Here you will find the latest industry news along with information on SpeedNews newsletters and aviation industry events.
Latest Aviation News
3/17/2010
LUFTHANSA TECHNIK earned EUR316m on EUR 4b revenues in 2009, up 5.7% and 6.6% respectively vs 2008, saying it was largely unaffected by the airline crisis.
3/16/2010
WESTJET named Gregg Saretsky as new President and CEO, replacing Sean Durfy, who has decided to step down for personal reasons.
3/16/2010
AIR BERLIN has cancelled 10 of its 25 787s on order, plus five of 10 options, and deferred delivery of nine 737s from 2010/2011 to 2015.
3/15/2010
AAR COMPOSITES was selected by Bombardier to design/manufacture composite flap track fairings for CSeries wings.
3/14/2010
BOEING made first flight of fourth 787 (ZA003) test aircraft, which is equipped with interior features.
3/13/2010
CESSNA received FAA type certification for CJ4; deliveries are to begin later in 2010.
3/12/2010
US DOT (BTS) reports US scheduled airlines flew 62.5b RPMs (57m pax) in December, down 0.4% from 62.7b (57.4m pax) in Dec 2008; capacity fell 2.7% to 77.7b ASMs from 79.9b. The number of flights fell 2.1% and their average stage length rose 0.5%.
3/11/2010
IATA halved its airline loss forecast for 2010 to US$2.8b (vs US$5.6b loss forecast earlier) due to much stronger recovery in demand; it also lowered its 2009 loss estimate to US$9.4b from US$11b.
3/10/2010
UNITED AIRLINES finalized previously announced order for 25 A350-900s with Trent XWBs for 2016-2019. AIRBUS now has 530 orders.
3/10/2010
FAA forecasts US domestic passenger enplanements will increase by 0.5% in 2010 and then grow an average of 2.5% per year through 2030, reaching 1b pax by 2023.
more info. . .
3/9/2010
AIRBUS (Commercial) had EUR357m loss for 4Q09 (vs EUR537m profit in 4Q08) and EUR386m profit for 2009 (vs EUR2.3b in 2008); revenues totaled EUR7.4b in 4Q09 (vs EUR7.7b) and EUR26.4b in '09 (vs EUR26.5b).
3/9/2010
BOEING delivered 37 commercial aircraft in February: 31 737s, one 767 and five 777s.
3/9/2010
AIRBUS says it will increase the monthly production rate for A320 Family from current 34 to 36, starting December 2010; the rate for A330/A340 Family will stay at eight per month.
3/8/2010
NORTHROP GRUMMAN says it will not submit bid to USAF for KC-X aerial refueling tanker program based on structure of the source selection methodology, which clearly favors BOEING tanker.
3/8/2010
BOEING confirmed order from TURKISH AIRLINES for 10 737-800s and 10 737-900ERs, all with Sky interiors; deal was previously announced as from an undisclosed customer.
3/6/2010
ALLEGIANT AIR is buying six 757-200ERs in 2Q10-4Q11 to launch services to Hawaii. The six aircraft are sister-ships and have been in service with a single European operator since original delivery from Boeing.
3/5/2010
EADS reached agreement with its customer nations on the A400M program that will increase contract by EUR2b, waive all liquidated damages, provide EUR1.5b in exchange for participation in future export sales, and accelerate pre-delivery payments in 2010-2014.
3/5/2010
AIRBUS delivered 38 aircraft in February: 33 A320 Family, four A330s and one A380. It booked zero orders.
3/4/2010
BOEING confirmed plan to offer NewGen Tanker (767) with PRATT & WHITNEY PW4000-94" engines to USAF for KC-X tanker replacement program.
3/4/2010
ATR made first flight of ATR 42-600 with PRATT & WHITNEY PW127Ms.
3/4/2010
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERS redelivered first Boeing-licensed converted (at COMMERCIAL JET) 737-400SF (24126) to MNG AIRLINES, Turkey.
3/4/2010
At SpeedNews' 24th Annual Aviation Suppliers Conference in Los Angeles, BOEING said its delivery slots are sold out in 2010, oversold in 2011, and nearly sold out in 2012, although conversion of existing options could make 2012 oversold.
3/3/2010
EGYPT has ordered 20 more F-16s for delivery in 2013; it has previously purchased 240.
3/3/2010
At SpeedNews' 24th Annual Aviation Industry Suppliers Conference in Los Angeles, AIRBUS said it has made >600 slot changes (deferrals/accelerations/model changes) to delivery schedule over next three years.
3/2/2010
TUNISIA ordered two C-130Js for 2013-2014 in deal that includes initial three years of logistics support for LOCKHEED MARTIN.
3/2/2010
IATA reports January passenger traffic rose 6.4% vs January 2009 on 1.2% higher capacity, but says yields are still 15% below peak and it expects airlines to lose US$5.6b in 2010.
3/1/2010
MALEV announced the Hungarian State has acquired 95% of the airline (AirBridge retains the remaining 5%) for HUF25.2b to create financial stability for continued operations.
2/28/2010
Flight operations at ARTURO BENITEZ INTL AIRPORT in Santiago remain temporarily suspended following earthquake.
2/26/2010
AIR CHINA and CATHAY PACIFIC agreed to establish cargo airline joint venture using AIR CHINA CARGO as platform; Cathay will acquire 25% of ACC and another 24% economic interest through an offshore trust, and sell four 747Fs to ACC.
more info. . .
2/25/2010
UNITED AIRLINES finalized order for 25 787-8s, and took purchase rights on 50 more, to replace its 747s and 767s currently in international service.
2/25/2010
REPUBLIC AIRWAYS HOLDINGS ordered 40 CS300 CSeries aircraft, and optioned 40, for delivery from 2013 in deal valued at US$6.34b. It owns Chautauqua Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Lynx Aviation, Midwest Airlines, Republic Airlines and Shuttle America.
2/25/2010
HONEYWELL forecasts delivery of 3,750-4,250 new civil helicopter deliveries in 2010-2014, about flat from deliveries in 2005-2009 period.
2/24/2010
USAF presented BOEING and NORTHROP GRUMMAN with final RFP document for KC-X Tanker competition.
2/24/2010
BOEING made first flight of 787 flight test aircraft ZA004, the fourth aircraft built, and the third to join the flight test program. It flew before ZA003 in order to quickly gather data for certification/development of 787-9.
2/24/2010
BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE was accredited by the Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association (AFRA) for its CRJ dismantling operations at Bridgeport, WV and Tucson, AZ.
2/24/2010
DASSAULT AVIATION reported net sales of EUR3.42b in 2009, down 9% from EUR3.75b in 2008
2/23/2010
BOEING confirmed 787 experienced uncommanded loss of thrust in one of its ROLLS-ROYCE Trent engines on Feb 19 due to faulty pressure-sensing component, forcing aircraft to land at Moses Lake; it returned to Everett on Feb 22 and is expected to resume flight testing soon.
2/23/2010
ILFC is proposing to raise a new senior secured term loan of up to $750m -- secured by portfolio of selected aircraft and related leases -- to repay a portion of its outstanding debt.
2/22/2010
AEGEAN AIRLINES and OLYMPIC AIR agreed to merge to form new public company listed on the Athens Exchange. OLYMPIC HANDLING and OLYMPIC ENGINEERING will become 100% subsidiaries of the new company.
2/22/2010
GKN AEROSPACE was selected by Bombardier to design/manufacture CSeries winglets in deal valued at over US$100m.
2/21/2010
ROLLS-ROYCE forecasts delivery of >16,400 new helicopters (10,300 civil/6,100 military) worth US$146b in 2010-2019.
2/18/2010
BOMBARDIER opened new 92,000 sq ft commercial aircraft service center in Macon, GA, and signed Atlantic Southeast Airlines to 10-year contract to maintain its 150 CRJs.
2/17/2010
CESSNA AIRCRAFT made first flight of Citation CJ4.
2/17/2010
EADS received letter from A400M customer nations summarizing status of negotiations and proposing several changes to initial contract, which it says is an important step towards convergence, but not a contract; it is too early to draw any financial conclusions.
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