Bodies, debris retrieved from Air France crash
Brazilian search crews on Saturday retrieved the first bodies from a crashed Air France flight in the Atlantic, and investigators said faulty speed readings had been found on the same type of jets. Navy ships found the bodies of two men and debris including a blue seat with a serial number matching Air France Flight 447, a rucksack containing a vaccination card, and a briefcase with an Air France ticket inside, rescue officials said.

Read the rest of this entry »

First made-in-China Airbus makes maiden flight
The first Airbus plane built outside Europe made a successful four-hour maiden flight on Monday in China, European consortium EADS said. Airbus began assembling some A320 jets in Tianjin near Beijing in September from fuselage parts shipped from Europe, increasing its presence in the world’s fastest growing markets for large aircraft. Airbus aims to reach output of four A320s a month in China by the end of 2011. Airbus has estimated that China would need more than 3,000 large aircraft between 2006 and 2025, including 180 super jumbo passenger planes. The first aircraft will be delivered to Dragon Aviation Leasing in June and be operated by China’s Sichuan Airlines. Chinese firms have ordered more than 700 aircraft from Airbus, the majority of which are from the A320 family of planes, it said. Airbus and U.S. rival Boeing have been turning to Asian markets, led by China, for growth as demand weakens at home.
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSPEK18447420090518
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2009-05-18-a320-china_N.htm

Read the rest of this entry »

Sir Richard Branson: Proposed AA-BA tie-up threatens the survival of Virgin Atlantic
The proposed merger of the North Atlantic operations “will be absolutely disastrous” for consumers, travel agents and the industry, he said. “It will be the end of red-hot competition,” the British tycoon and head of the Virgin Group said at the National Press Club in Washington. Last year, American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia of Spain signed an agreement to cooperate over flights between North America and Europe to help them overcome soaring fuel costs, drawing fierce opposition from Branson’s group. Asked about the impact of the deal on his own airline if it wins regulatory approval, Branson said: “I cannot guarantee Virgin Atlantic’s survival if BA and AA are allowed to merge.”
http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,23483,25486714-5014090,00.html?from=public_rss
http://www.abtn.co.uk/news/1512484-branson-hits-out-ba-aa-tie
http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1136348.php

Read the rest of this entry »

British Airways expects a loss of 150 million GBP in 2009-2010
http://www.abtn.co.uk/news/ba-expects-%C2%A3150m-loss-2009-2010

Sabre reports 29% drop in profits
Sabre Holdings has reported a 29% fall in profits and a net loss of $319m (€251.7m) for the fourth quarter 2008. The Texas-based parent company of Travelocity, Sabre Travel Network and Sabre Airline Solutions blamed a “challenging economic environment” for the year-on-year slump. Full year results showed earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) as “flat” at $578m (€456m) while overall net loss was $320m (€252.4m). In 2007, Sabre recorded a net loss of $84m (€84m). Sabre said its 2008 loss included a $382m non-cash charge “for the impairment of goodwill and intangible assets related to acquisitions.”
http://www.abtn.co.uk/news/sabre-reports-29-drop-profits

Read the rest of this entry »

Aer Lingus and United announce Trans-Atlantic partnership
Aer Lingus and United Airlines (UAUA) today announce an innovative extension of their relationship on select long haul services between Europe and North America. This partnership will capitalize on the growth opportunities presented by the Open Skies agreement between the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) by opening new transatlantic non-stop services. The partners will launch service between Washington Dulles and Madrid, which will be available for sale from April 2009, and will commence daily operations from March 2010. It is anticipated that additional routes may be made available for sale during 2010 to commence operation in Summer 2011.
It is intended that both carriers will equally share the commercial and operating benefits and risk, with Aer Lingus managing the operational aspects of the new partnership services and United Airlines taking responsibility for managing revenue generation. The Partnership route structure will be operated and sold under both Aer Lingus and United Airlines codes and will leverage both parties’ network capabilities.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Aer-Lingus-and-United-prnews-14125574.html

Read the rest of this entry »