Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner will finally take to the skies later this quarter following its move out of the hangar and onto the flight line last month. Fuel testing – the first in the next phase of extensive checks the airplane must undergo – will begin in the next few days, according to Boeing. “We are making great progress, and moving ever-closer to first flight,” said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 Dreamliner program. … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: Dreamliner moves to flight line for testing

The American Association of Exporters and Importers (AAEI) has expressed concern to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that the costs of complying with the Interim Final Rule on Importer Security Filing (ISF), also known as ‘10+2’, were unclear and will likely be much higher than currently anticipated. The 10+2 rule requires cargo information, for security purposes, to be transmitted to CBP agents at least 24 hours before goods are shipped to the US. “In the first … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: US importers/exporters concerned over 10+2

Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings Inc (AAWW) has announced that for the three months ended 31 March, it achieved a record first quarter net profit of US$23.4 million on revenues of $244.5 million. The results for the quarter contrasted with a net loss of $5.3 million on revenues of $373 million for the same period a year earlier. The group said that reported firstquarter 2009 revenues reflect the deconsolidation of Polar Air Cargo Worldwide from AAWW for reporting purposes that occurred in … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: Atlas Air group posts record Q1 profit

Virgin Group Chairman Richard Branson has said that the US Dept. of Transportation’s granting American Airlines (AA), British Airways (BA) and other oneworld carriers antitrust immunity on transatlantic services “would create a monster monopoly on key routes between London Heathrow and the US.” In a speech in Washington, he said BA/AA would control “nearly half of all takeoff and landing slots at London Heathrow” and that antitrust immunity would prove … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: Virgin points to oneworld “monster monopoly”

US airlines saw air cargo traffic – as measured by revenue ton miles – decline 21 per cent year-on-year in March 2009, according to the latest statistics available from the Air Transport Association of America (ATA). The decline matches that measured in January and February and marks the eighth consecutive month of declining cargo traffic. Notably, cargo traffic in the Pacific region fell 28 per cent. Passenger numbers and revenue for April both fell – … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: US cargo traffic decline steady