Passenger Transportation Services

Initial investigation has revealed that the Turkish cargo plane which skidded off of the runway in Hong Kong last month killing two airport employees experienced acceleration after landing in one of its four engine. A preliminary report released by Hong Kong's Air Accident Investigation Authority late on Tuesday stated that the flight from Dubai operated by ACT Airlines for Emirates was normal up until shortly after landing. Report: The Boeing 747 cargo aircraft was dispatched without the thrust reverser of engine 4, which is allowed under aviation regulations. After landing, thrust reversers can help to slow down the aircraft by...

A state regulator announced on Tuesday that Tesla had received a permit for it to operate in Arizona as a transportation company. This is a major step in expanding its robotaxi service. Tesla will be able to operate a ride-hailing business similar to Uber and charge its passengers with the TNC permit, but it won't be able drive driverless cars. Tesla received a state permit in September for testing its autonomous vehicles using a safety driver. The process was a self certification. The company also applied for the right to conduct tests without a driver. The robotaxi industry is on...

The unions that represent Spirit Airlines flight attendants and pilots announced on Tuesday they had reached an agreement for the company to reduce pay and benefits as it tries its best to cut costs in the ongoing Chapter 11 restructuring. The amended collective bargaining agreements, which are subject to member and court approval, include snapbacks timed for when the ultra-low-cost-carrier expects to be profitable again. Spirit filed for bankruptcy in August for the second consecutive year. It said that it expected to continue reporting losses until 2027. Air Line Pilots Association has said that it has accepted Spirit's plan to...

The head of the trade group that represents major U.S. Airlines will call for an end to aviation disruptions caused by government shutdowns, and ensure air traffic controllers are paid. Airlines for America will present a U.S. government report on behalf of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines. Senate Commerce Aviation Subcommittee said that the 43-day shutdown of the government and flight restrictions imposed by government disrupted six million passengers and 50,000 planes because of an increase in air traffic controller absenteeism. This shutdown has shown the severe safety, human and financial consequences of subjecting aviation to such...

Amtrak, the U.S. passenger rail company, said Tuesday that it had set records for revenue and ridership in a single year. It also cut its losses by 15 percent to $598 millions and is aiming for profitability by 2028. Amtrak is a major effort in rehabilitating the infrastructure of the Northeast corridor between Boston, Massachusetts and Washington. It is expanding service throughout the United States by purchasing new Acela trains with higher speeds and replacing regional trains from next year. Amtrak reported that in the twelve months ending September 30, it had 34,5 million trips made by customers, an increase...

Allegiant Air Pilots Picketed in 22 U.S. Airports on Tuesday. They demanded higher pay and improved scheduling, as labor contract negotiations with the carrier had stalled following several years of negotiation. Teamsters, the union that represents Allegiant's pilots, says they are amongst the most underpaid and overworked in the industry. They want compensation to match industry standards and better scheduling, as pilots become frustrated and leave for more lucrative competitors. We're losing highly experienced and skilled pilots. "We're losing them because they're not being fairly compensated," said a pilot, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "Why would stay here now?"...

Allegiant Air Pilots Picketed in 22 U.S. Airports on Tuesday. They demanded higher pay and improved scheduling, as labor contract negotiations with the carrier had stalled following several years of negotiation. Teamsters, who represent nearly 1,400 Allegiant Pilots, claim that they are amongst the most underpaid and overworked in the industry. They want compensation to industry standards and better scheduling, as pilots become frustrated and leave Allegiant for a higher-paying competitor. We're losing our highly experienced and skilled pilots. "We're losing them because they're not being fairly compensated," said a pilot under condition of anonymity. Why would you still be...

Safran, a French aerospace company, and Emirates airline have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a seat manufacturing and assembly plant in Dubai. Safran announced this on Tuesday. Safran and Emirates, based in Dubai, will benefit from the plant's growing capacity. The cabin refurbishment project will initially focus on the business and economy classes, but plans are to expand in future. Safran plans to finish the plant in the fourth quarter 2027. Initial plans include assembling up to 1,000 seats per annum for business class. Seat production must be increased to help clear the logjam, which has caused billions...

Emirates Airline's President Tim Clark stated on Tuesday that he is confident in the case for Boeing to make a larger version of its 777X Wide-body Jet, but acknowledged the U.S. aircraft manufacturer was focused on certifying their current model. Clark said that there are no further plans to order aircraft at the Dubai Airshow, after his airline purchased 65 additional 777X jets Monday. He denied that an Airbus A350 1000 plane order was ever in the works. He praised the A350-900, calling it a "peach" of an airplane and said that Emirates will order more in due course. Clark...

A U.S. Judge ruled Monday that an Alaska Airlines pilot, who attempted to disable the engine of a passenger plane mid-flight when riding off duty in the cockpit, will not be sentenced to additional prison time. Joseph David Emerson (46), was sentenced to three years of supervision and time served by U.S. district judge Amy Baggio, in Portland, Oregon. The federal prosecutors sought an one-year sentence, but Emerson's lawyers argued in favor of probation, citing the penalties already imposed by a state court. The incident took place on October 22, 2023 aboard Horizon Air Flight 2059. This Embraer 175 was...

China's global aerospace presence was boosted by a flying demonstration of its C919 jetliner on Monday in Dubai, as Chinese planemaker COMAC tries to gain a position in a market that is struggling with Boeing and Airbus delivery delays. The first domestic jetliner in China, painted in white with blue and green accents, showed its C919 belly-painted logo to dignitaries in Dubai Airshow. It was a brief but symbolic display that reflected one of Beijing's most important strategic projects. Chinese officials refused to answer questions regarding efforts to find their initial buyer outside East Asia. However, their marketing compared their...

By Kylie Madry MEXICO CITY - Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Monday that Mexican Airlines had agreed to give some of the flight slots in the busy capital airport, to U.S. carriers. This comes amid a spat between both countries over the distribution of flights. Sheinbaum stated in her morning press conference that "Several weeks ago there was a redistribution of slots in which Mexican Airlines gave up their spots in order to U.S. Airlines, taking into consideration competitiveness." Sheinbaum refused to reveal how many flight slots were affected, but said that a digital distribution system would be implemented...

Rostec, a Russian state-owned conglomerate, said that on Tuesday its defence exports had fallen by half since the year 2022 due to domestic orders becoming a priority in light of the conflict in Ukraine. However, Rostec expects a recovery within upcoming months. Sergey Chemezov, Rostec's chief executive officer, told reporters that until 2022 Russia ranked second in the world in terms of defence exports after the United States. However the volume has dropped "because we had to supply the majority of our production to our own army". He said that sanctions have caused problems in both the civil and defense...

Airbus has won a provisional contract for 150 A321neo aircraft from flydubai, displacing Boeing as the exclusive supplier of the fast-growing low-cost carrier. The order comes after a tepid start to the Dubai Airshow. On Sunday, it was reported that Airbus Europe would win a three-digit contract from Dubai's government-owned carrier. Flydubai Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said at a press conference that the move was an exciting one for diversifying and expanding our fleet. Flydubai, which was founded as a sister airline of Dubai's Emirates in 2008, has bought Boeing jets since its founding. Airbus Commercial CEO...

China made its Middle East debut of its C919 jetliner at the Dubai Airshow, Monday. It was its first time outside East Asia. The display showcased plans to compete against Airbus and Boeing. The C919 aircraft in white with blue and green detailing took off around 3:30 pm local time (1130 GMT). It made several circle passes in the air before safely landing on the Al-Maktoum International Airport runway tarmac. COMAC, a Chinese aircraft manufacturer, has ambitious plans to compete with the dominant Western manufacturers Airbus & Boeing and their smaller Brazilian competitor Embraer. COMAC's C909 and C919 planes lack...

Airbus is likely to win the largest share of the major order for jets from flydubai during the Dubai Airshow. This will break Boeing's grip over the fast-growing low-cost carrier, according to people familiar with the situation. They said that the European planemaker is close to a deal with flydubai to sell around 100 A321neos. Flydubai has also been in discussions to order a smaller number of 737 MAXs from Boeing. Airbus could get 100 jets out of this deal, but the final split will depend on the outcome of negotiations that are expected to last until the end as...

Boeing will not use this week's Dubai Airshow to announce new orders, but rather to outline the certification path for its long-delayed mini-jumbo 777x programme. Boeing announced last month a new delay, and took a $4.9billion charge for its biggest twin-engined aircraft, pushing delivery to 2027, which is seven years later than initially planned. Stephanie Pope, CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said that she would not be placing orders in the next 2 to 3 days. Pope said, "It is about being transparent and engaging with our customers. We will highlight the progress...and any concerns or issues they may have."...

Boeing executives announced on Sunday that they are close to announcing an agreement to bid for a sales opportunity in international markets for the T-7 trainer. They highlighted the fast-growing need for light military training aircraft. In July, it was reported that Boeing and Sweden’s Saab had been in discussions with Britain’s BAE Systems about a possible future replacement for the UK’s Hawk trainer. Boeing and Saab jointly developed the T-7 Advanced Trainer for the U.S. Air Force. Meanwhile, Britain plans to replace the Hawk fleet that is out of production, a part of which can be instantly recognised through...

Emirates Group announced on Thursday that its net profit grew by 13% to $2.9 billion for the six-month period ending September. The company cited a strong and consistent travel demand in all regions, which boosted their airline's business. The Gulf carrier is continuing to recover from the pandemic and consolidating Dubai's status as a global hub for aviation. In a press release, Chairman and CEO Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum stated that "global demand for air travel and travel services have been buoyant despite geopolitical events in some markets and economic concerns." Emirates Group plans to increase capacity with...

Cathay Pacific Airways announced on Wednesday that it will repurchase its entire shareholding in Qatar Airways at a cost of HK$6,97 billion ($897.33 millions). Cathay Pacific will repurchase 9.57% shares of its issued stock at HK$10.8374 each, and will be able to "fund its operations" after the completion of this share buyback. The price of the share repurchase is 3.9% below Wednesday's closing stock price. Qatar Airways is a state-owned airline Buy Tickets In November 2017, it acquired a 9.61% share in Cathay Pacific for HK$13.65. This was its first significant stake in an Asian carrier, allowing them to increase...

Delta Air Lines' CEO stated on Monday that the U.S. Government shutdown has a "small impact" and costs it less than one million dollars a day. The shortage of airport security personnel is a greater concern. Delta CEO Ed Bastian said that the TSA (Transportation Security Administration), and the staffing of those checkpoints, is the greater concern. In the United States, there is also a shortage in air traffic controllers. The government shutdown will force 13,000 air traffic control officers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration agents to work without pay. The first full pay for controllers is not due until...

Two sources familiar with this matter have confirmed that Abu Dhabi's sovereign fund ADQ is a possible suitor for the sale of Catania Airport's operator, in Sicily. The fund has also expressed an initial interest in the asset. Sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the sale process had not yet begun. However, interest is growing in the asset ahead of any potential launch. Catania, Sicily's principal airport, is Italy's fifth-busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic. The airport is operated under a long-term concession by SAC. This company is owned by the local authorities and chambers. SAC...

Draft regulations from India's aviation regulator show that the requirement that airlines only lease planes with crews in emergency situations is being removed. This could help carriers cope better with any aircraft shortages. The proposed rules may help airlines such as India's largest carrier IndiGo, which took two planes and crews on a so-called "wet lease" from Turkish Airlines. This allowed it to provide connectivity between flights in Europe and the United States. Air India has been irritated by the partnership. It unsuccessfully tried to lobby the Indian government to stop it. They argued that it would give more air...

The official gazette reported that a shareholder meeting at Kuwait Airways, a state-owned airline, approved reducing the capital to erase 300 million dinars of losses accumulated over time. Kuwait Airways has previously stated that it plans to break even by 2025, after years of losses. The airline hasn't disclosed its financial results from 2023 or 2024. Regional carriers were also affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, as their global counterparts. However, many Gulf airlines are now a key player in regional efforts to diversify economies, particularly in tourism. MEETING APPROVES CAPITAL REDUCTION Kuwait Airways' chairman stated in August that the airline...