Cash-strapped Air Canada has cleared the last hurdle in its attempt to avoid a second bankruptcy filing, following the carrier’s last holdout union approval of a new labor contract that contains no raises or pension payments for 21 months. Canada’s main airline, a unit of ACE Aviation Holdings Inc., now has wage and pension agreements with all five of its Canadian unions that will save Air Canada precious cash and more importantly meet the conditions necessary for … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: Air Canada clears last labour hurdle

Boeing has completed flight tests of a modified fuel-metering unit and fuel-oil heat-exchanger (FOHE) on a new British Airways Rolls-Royce Trent 800-powered 777-200ER. The modified system is designed to prevent the buildup of ice, which was suspected as the cause of a crash-landing of a BA 777 at London Heathrow Airport in January 2008, and an engine rollback on a Delta Air Lines 777 last November. The redesigned unit has also been mandated by the European Aviation Safety Agency, which says … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: Boeing completes flight tests of fuel anti-icing system

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has deployed two canine teams to enhance explosives detection at Orlando International Airport air cargo facilities. Each team consists of one dog and a TSA Transportation Security Inspector Canine Handler. They will primarily search cargo bound for passenger-carrying aircraft. “Canine teams are one of the quickest, most efficient means of detecting explosives,” said Orlando federal security director, John Daly. “The two new TSA … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: TSA going to the dogs in Florida

Boeing’s much anticipated revamped B747 freighter took a major step closer this week toward final assembly as mechanics at its Everett, Washington facility loaded the forward and aft fuselage sections to join with the wing and centre section of the freighter, RC501. “It is exciting to see this airplane taking shape,” said Mo Yahyavi, vice president and general manager of the 747 Program. “The 747-8 is the largest commercial jet airplane we have assembled. This … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: First Boeing 747-8 freighter takes shape

S7 Airlines and Niki (Austria) have launched a six times a week joint codeshare service from Moscow to Vienna (Austria) from 15 July using Airbus A319/320s owned by Niki. The ticket sales are arranged by two air carriers in the form of free-sale. S7 signed a contract on joint operation of flights on the routes to Germany and Austria with Air Berlin and Niki in October 2008. … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: S7, Niki begin joint Moscow-Vienna service

Partner airlines of Moscow International Airport Domodedovo continue launching new routes and increasing flight frequencies with 50 new flights launched from Domodedovo in the first half of 2009. These included seven new partners: American United airlines, Portuguese TAP, Tunis Nouvelair, Russian Nord Star and Aviastar TU, Kazakh Irtish avia and Belorussian Gomelavia. New direct flights by existing partners in June included: Omsk and Krasnodar (Transaero airlines), Ivanovo (Region avia … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Domodedovo broadens route network