Picture of the Day(31 December 2011)

Turkish Airlines Boeing 777-35R/ER(TC-JJB) taking off at Tokyo-Narita International(NRT) on March 21, 2010.

Source: airliners.net

Picture of the Day(30 December 2011)

Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-212/ER(9V-SQI) departing Singapore-Changi(SIN) on November 9, 2011 operating as SQ870 to Hong Kong.

Source: airliners.net

Picture of the Day(29 December 2011)

China Southern Airlines Boeing 777-21B/ER(B-2058/058) taking off from Guangzhou-Baiyun(CAN) on July 24, 2011.

Source: airliners.net

Russia's Transaero to take four 787s

Russian carrier Transaero is to acquire four 262-seat Boeing 787s under an agreement which continues its recent fleet-renewal programme.

The airline said it had signed an agreement with the US airframer to take the aircraft. It has not disclosed an engine selection.

Transaero said the twinjets would be configured with four first-class, 14 business-class and 244 economy-class seats.

Director general Olga Pleshakova said the airline was "sticking to a principle of innovation" with the decision.

She added that the carrier had already made advance payments to secure the 787s, which will be used to replace Boeing 767s used by the Moscow-based operator.

"This aircraft, which has become a symbol of emerging technology, has the highest efficiency," said Pleshakova.

Transaero has already tentatively signed for Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8 aircraft, and placed an order for eight Airbus A320neos.

Source: Flightglobal

Picture of the Day(28 December 2011)

Air India Boeing 777-237/LR (VT-ALC) taxing at Tokyo-Narita International(NRT) on December 18, 2011.

Source: airliners.net

Picture of the Day(27 December 2011)

JetBlue Embraer ERJ-190-100IGW(N318JB) landing at Charlotte-Douglas International(CLT) on October 20, 2011.

Source: airliners.net

Picture of the Day(26 December 2011)

Finnair Airbus 319-112(OH-LVE) carrying the old livery taking off from Dusseldorf-International(DUS) on   August 17, 2011.

Source: airliners.net

Picture of the Day(25 December 2011)-Merry Christmas!!

TAP Portugal Airbus 319-111(CS-TTN) making a landing at Funchal/Madeira(-Santa Cruz) Airport on May 25, 2006.

Source: airliners.net

Picture of the Day(24 December 2011)

Cathay Pacific Airways Cargo Boeing 747-867/F/SCD making its first type appearance at Sydney-Kingsford Smith International(SYD) on November 27, 2011.

Source: airliners.net

Lufthansa sells bmi to British Airways parent IAG

British Midland International A321. By Rob Finlayson


British Airways (BA) owner International Airlines Group (IAG) reached a binding agreement with Lufthansa Group (LH) to buy British Midland Ltd. (bmi), the companies announced Thursday.

IAG, the parent company of BA and Iberia, will pay €207 million ($271 million) in cash for the loss making UK carrier, although the price is subject to significant reductions if LH decides not to sell bmi subsidiary bmibaby before completion, IAG said.

The deal is subject to regulatory clearance from competition authorities, including the European Commission. The companies said they aim to complete the transaction during the first quarter of 2012.

LH has the option to sell bmibaby and bmi regional before the deal is completed. IAG CEO Willie Walsh said bmi regional and bmibaby “are not part” of the company’s plans. “Buying bmi’s mainline business gives IAG a unique opportunity to grow at Heathrow, one of our key hub airports. Using the slot portfolio more efficiently provides the option to launch new long-haul routes to key trading nations while supporting our broad domestic and short-haul network,” he said.

The deal follows an agreement in principle signed in early November. LH also held negotiations with Virgin Atlantic Airways (VS), which on Thursday said it would ask anti-trust regulators to block the deal.

“Claiming that this deal is about new markets from Heathrow is a smoke screen. This deal simply cuts consumer choice,” VS president Richard Branson said. “BA is already dominant at Heathrow and their removal of bmi just tightens their stranglehold at the world’s busiest international airport. We will fight this monopoly every step of the way as we think it is bad for the consumer, bad for the industry and bad for Britain,” he said.

The purchase of bmi will increase IAG’s number of slots at Heathrow by up to 56 daily pairsat an airport where it already holds about 43% of slots.

Walsh warned that “there is an urgent need to restructure” bmi, but he said “IAG’s purchase of bmi will protect more British jobs than if the airline had been closed and had its Heathrow slots sold off.”

LH CEO and chairman Christoph Franz said, “As part of Lufthansa’s strategic development, the sale means that our customers, shareholders and employees will benefit from a sharpened corporate profile and a stronger financial position of the group.”

LH will remain responsible for bmi staff pension liabilities.

Source: ATW

Picture of the Day(23 December 2011)

Korean Air Airbus 380-861(HL7612) making a landing at Los Angeles International(LAX) on November 14, 2011.

Source: airliners.net

Picture of the Day(22 December 2011)

Pakistan International Airlines-PIA Boeing 777-240/LR(AP-BGY) at Manchester-Ringway International(MAN) on December 3, 2011.

Source: airliners.net

ANA expands: Seattle, San Jose join 'Dreamliner club'

Seattle and San Jose will be the next cities to join the growing global route map of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. They'll also likely become the first U.S. cities to land regular passenger service on the new-age jet.

Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways (ANA) – the first carrier in the world to put the Dreamliner into passenger service –says it will use the new aircraft for an expansion into the United States.

ANA will begin service to both Seattle and San Jose on April 1, with plans for 787 service to Tokyo Narita from each. That start date appears to all but assure that those cities will be the first in the U.S. to land regular service on the 787.

Japan Airlines will use the 787 to fly from Tokyo to Boston, but that service won't begin until April 22.United says it expected to begin 787 service in "early 2012," but it seems unlikely to be in a position to put the Dreamliner into scheduled service prior to April.

As for ANA's new routes, the company touted its expansion along the U.S. West Coast.

"Seattle is an important international business hub and home to companies such as Microsoft, Amazon and, of course, Boeing itself while San Jose is in the heart of Silicon Valley," ANA CEO Shinichiro Ito says in a release. "Passenger demand to fly to both destinations is high, not only from Japan but from many Asian cities. The launch of these new services will make ANA the only Japanese airline to operate the two routes, as well as the only carrier to operate the Narita-San Jose route."

ANA will go head-to-head with both United and Delta on the Seattle-Tokyo route, though ANA and United will likely coordinate their service since they have limited antitrust immunity as joint-venture partners.

The addition of San Jose and Seattle will grow ANA's number of U.S. gateways to eight. It currently offers service to six U.S. airports: Chicago O'Hare, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York JFK, San Francisco and Washington Dulles.

The San Jose service is notable for several reasons. For San Jose, it restores a link to Tokyo that the airport lost when American discontinued its San Jose-Tokyo route in 2006. It also returns overseas service to the Bay Area airport, which has struggled with declining flight numbers in recent years.

It also gives ANA a second route in the Bay Area. The Mineta San Jose International Airport is just about 35 miles from San Francisco International, where ANA also offers nonstop service to Tokyo. However, San Francisco is a key hub for ANA's joint-venture and Star Alliance partner United.

"There is strong demand for flights to San Francisco now, so we are expecting solid demand for our Seattle and San Jose flights, too," Ito is quoted as saying by Bloomberg News.

Source: USA Today

Picture of the Day(21 December 2011)

Etihad Airways Airbus 330-243(A6-EYS) starts to take off at runway 23L at Manchester-Ringway International(MAN) on November 19, 2011.

Source: airliners.net

Announcement

The editor will be away from 10 December to 20 December. Thanks.

Picture of the Day(9 December 2011)

Japan Airlines Boeing 777-246(JA772J) with the Arashi(Japanese band) livery at Osaka-Itami(ITM) on November 26, 2011.

Source: airliners.net

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Sets Speed, Distance Records

Boeing has established two world records with the 787 Dreamliner, setting new marks for both speed and distance for the airplane's weight class.

"Speed and distance capabilities are fundamental to the value the 787 brings to the market," vice-president and general manager of the 787 programme, Scott Fancher, said.

"These records are a great way to demonstrate that this airplane is the game-changer we have promised."

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is the first airplane to provide both long distance capabilities with mid-size capacity (210-250 passengers in a three-class seating), allowing airlines to open new, non-stop routes preferred by the traveling public.

The airplane is 20 per cent more fuel efficient than similarly sized airplanes, said Boeing in a statement today.

The sixth 787 – ZA006 – departed Boeing Field in Seattle on Dec. 6, 2011 and completed an around-the-world trip on Dec. 8 that led to two different world records. The 787 now holds the record for the longest flight and the fastest speed around the world for its weight class. Six pilots shared duties during the two days of flying. The route took the airplane from Seattle to Dhaka and back to Seattle.Pic: Courtesy of Boeing

The sixth 787, ZA006, powered by General Electric GEnx engines, departed from Boeing Field in Seattle at 11.02am on Dec 6 and set the distance record for its class (440,000-550,000 lbs) with a 10,710nmi (19,835km) flight to Dhaka, Bangladesh, with credit for 10,337nmi (19,144km).

This record had previously been held by the Airbus A330 based on a 9,127nmi (16,903km) flight in 2002.

Following an approximately two-hour stop for refueling in Dhaka, the airplane returned to Seattle on a 9,734nmi (18,027km) flight.

The airplane landed at 5.29am on Dec 8, setting a new record for speed around the world (eastbound), with a total trip time of 42 hours and 27 minutes.

There was no previous around-the-world speed record for this weight class.

The 787 carried six pilots, an observer for the National Aeronautic Association (NAA), and operations and other Boeing employees -- 13 people in total.

Flight routing on the first segment of the journey took the airplane from Seattle across the US to Nantucket. After crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the airplane entered European air space at Santiago, Spain, and proceeded down the Mediterranean, across Egypt to Luxor, across the Middle East and over India to Bangladesh.

On the second segment, the Dreamliner flew over Singapore, the Philippines and Guam before entering US airspace over Honolulu and returning to Seattle.

Boeing said it holds world records for longest distance flights in five weight classes with records set by the KC-135, 767-200ER (extended range), 777-200 and 777-200LR (longer range).

The 777-200 also holds the speed record for its weight class.

Source: Bernama

Picture of the Day(8 December 2011)

Malev Hungarian Airlines Boeing 767-306/ER(HA-LHC)flying across the sky of Budapest on August 20, 2007.

Source: airliners.net

Picture of the Day(7 December 2011)

Virgin Atlantic Airways Airbus 340-313X(G-VAIR) taxing at London-Heathrow(LHR) on November 24, 2011.

Source: airliners.net

Picture of the Day(6 December 2011)

All Nippon Airways(ANA) Boeing 787-881 Dreamliner taxing to the gate at Tokyo-Haneda International(HND) on November 24, 2011.

Source: airliners.net

Photos, video: Sydney Airport's domestic & international overhaul

A major overhaul of Sydney Airport would see Australia's busiest airport transformed into two 'airline alliance-based precincts' for Qantas and Virgin Australia, with international, domestic and regional services operating under one roof.

The scheme, revealed today by the privately-held Sydney Airport Corporation, would allocate the current domestic Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 exclusively to Qantas, Jetstar and members of the oneworld alliance, with one terminal for domestic flights and the other for international services.



On the other side of the runway, today's international Terminal 1 would become the new home for Virgin Australia and its growing roster of international partners including Etihad, Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines and Delta.



Other international airlines would continue to operate from T1, although they would likely be clustered around their own group of gates.

The change would reduce the time and hassle involved in transit between international and domestic services.

To help give you an idea of the scale of this project, here's how Sydney Airport currently works (or, as some might say, doesn't work).


There are seperate international and domestic terminals, with transfers between the two done via shuttle bus – a free 'scenic ride' around the perimeter of the tarmac if you're with Qantas, or a paid trundle via public roads for connecting to other domestic airlines.

Also makes above is the 'Qantas Jet Base' hangar facility, directly below the domestic terminals. Now here's how Sydney Airport would like things to look, circa 2019, if this massive makeover gets the green light.

We're now looking back towards Sydney, from the other side of the photo shown above.


Virgin Australia's domestic and regional flights would operate from one arm of what is today the international terminal (T1).


Adjacent to this would be all international flights by Virgin Australia and its partners...


... while international airlines not affiliated with Virgin (or Qantas) would be located further down T1.


And here's the new home for Qantas and friends. Under the plan, T2 and T3 become a single mega-terminal for all domestic and regional flights by Qantas, Jetstar and QantasLink.


Some international flights by Qantas and its oneworld partners also appear ear-marked for this terminal, if the image below is any guide.


There'll also be a second international wing built where the Qantas Jet base stands today.


Sydney Airport believes the proposal can become reality by 2019. Here's a video prepared by the airport (and from which we grabbed the images above) to show how the new airport will look.

Source: australianbusinesstraveller

Picture of the Day(5 December 2011)

British Airways Boeing 747-436(G-BNLP) departing from London-Heathrow(LHR) through mist and drizzle on November 12,2011.

Source: airliners.net

British Airways bid for BMI aims to plug Asia gaps

British Airways scrapped long-haul flights from Manchester in 2008, opting to route through Heathrow


British Airways will probably target Korea, Malaysia and other high-growth Asian markets as it examines how to make the best use of operating slots at London’s Heathrow airport on offer with the takeover of BMI.

BA’s parent, International Consolidated Airlines Group, last month reached an accord to buy BMI from Deutsche Lufthansa. IAG allocates one-third the number of seats to Asia that it does to the US, leaving it trailing European rivals in tapping travel to some of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

British Airways will also have the capacity available to exploit new inter-continental routes as the London-based company takes delivery of 12 Airbus SAS A380 superjumbos and 24 Boeing Co. 787 Dreamliners starting in 2013. BMI generally serves less lucrative, short-haul destinations using smaller planes.

“There isn’t that much that BMI does out of London that IAG doesn’t do already, or would want to do,” said Chris Logan, an analyst at Echelon Research & Advisory in London. “IAG will cut a lot of BMI’s existing routes and use the slots for long- haul to Asia and perhaps a few additional US destinations.”

British Airways has had limited scope for growth because of a lack of operating positions at Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport, which operates at 99 percent of capacity and won’t be allowed to add a third runway, according to UK Prime Minister David Cameron.

Buying UK-based BMI will add 8.5 percent of total slots to the 44.5 percent that BA and Spain’s Iberia- with which it merged in January to form IAG - already control.

“We’re still moving forward” with the acquisition and currently doing due diligence on BMI, said Laura Goodes, a spokeswoman for IAG.

Prime targets for BA are likely to include Incheon, the biggest hub in South Korea, a country the carrier has never served, and Kuala Lumpur, which it exited in 2001 to focus Southeast Asian operations on Bangkok and Singapore, according to John Grant, a London-based consultant at UBM Aviation.

“British Airways needs to be back in that part of the world,” Grant said. “It’s the perfect time because they’ve got new orders for aircraft coming in. It really is the missing piece of the jigsaw.”

Air France-KLM Group, Europe’s biggest airline, offers 13 weekly flights to Korea and Lufthansa four. The French company also provides seven services to Kuala Lumpur, operated by the Dutch KLM unit. Kuala Lumpur will also probably feature high on BA’s wish list because Malaysian Airline System is set to join the Oneworld alliance that IAG leads, Grant said.

British Airways also currently operates only 26 weekly flights to China, versus 73 at Air France and 47 at Lufthansa. Madrid-based Iberia doesn’t operate any Asian flights, its chief strength being on routes to Latin America.

To maximize the attraction of services to London, British Airways flights need to leave Asia late at night, allowing passengers to sleep on the plane and head straight into morning meetings after arriving at Heathrow, UBM Aviation’s Grant said.

Gulf carriers including Dubai-based Emirates, the biggest airline by international traffic, Qatar Airways and Etihad of Abu Dhabi represent a major threat to any expansion in Asia as they seek to funnel transfer traffic through their hubs on fast-expanding fleets of widebody planes, Echelon’s Logan said.

“It seems like a good idea to expand to Asia, but delivery schedules at Middle Eastern carriers are so aggressive that there’s a risk in the medium term,” he said. “It’s surprisingly easy for airlines to mess up an attractive market by all throwing supply at it at the same time.”

Travellers shouldn’t expect new connections immediately as routes can take as many as two years to set up, Grant said.

Source: arabianbusiness

Picture of the Day(4 December 2011)

Air India Boeing 777-237/LR (VT-ALF) taxing at London-Heathrow(LHR) on May 22, 2011.

Source: airliners.net

Picture of the Day(3 December 2011)

Air Canada Boeing 777-233/LR(C-FIUF) approaching runway 25 of Sydney International(SYD) on July 7, 2011.

Source: airliners.net

Picture of the Day(2 December 2011)

Aeroflot-Russian Airlines Airbus 330-243(VP-BLY) departing from Moscow-Sheremetyevo(SVO) on November 21, 2011. 


Source: airliners.net

Picture of the Day(1 December 2011)

US Airways Airbus 330-323X(N272AY) departing from Manchester-Ringway International(MAN) on August 18, 2007.

Source: airliners.net

Scoot to launch Sydney services in mid-2012

Singapore Airlines' (SIA) new long-haul low-cost carrier, Scoot, has chosen Sydney as its first destination.

The low-cost carrier will launch a daily service between Singapore and Sydney from mid-2012, said Australia's New South Wales state premier, Barry O'Farrell.

"As the first true no-frills airline operating between Sydney and Asia, we can't wait to bring a whole new way to travel, even better airfares to shake up the industry," said Scoot's chief executive, Campbell Wilson.

Scoot will commence operations with four Boeing 777-200s and expects to receive its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) by the first quarter of 2012.

Source: Flightglobal

Picture of the Day(30 November 2011)

Malaysia Airlines Boeing 747-4H6(9M-MPB) with the hibiscus livery took off from Amsterdam-Schiphol(AMS) on March 10, 2007.

Source: airliners.net

American Airlines files for bankruptcy protection

American Airlines has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and announced that its president, Thomas Horton, has succeeded Gerard Arpey as chief executive.

The carrier today filed voluntary petitions for reorganisation with the Southern District of New York bankruptcy court, citing the move as being "in the best interest of the company and its stakeholders".

Horton said: "We have met our challenges head on, taking all possible action to secure our long-term position. In recent years, even as the airline industry faced unprecedented challenges, American strengthened our domestic and global network; fortified our alliances with the best partners around the world; launched a transformational fleet deal that will give American the youngest and most efficient fleet in the industry; and invested in our product, service and technology to build a world class customer experience.



"But as we have made clear with increasing urgency in recent weeks, we must address our cost structure, including labour costs, to enable us to capitalise on these foundational strengths and secure our future. Our very substantial cost disadvantage compared to our larger competitors, all of which restructured their costs and debt through Chapter 11, has become increasingly untenable given the accelerating impact of global economic uncertainty and resulting revenue instability, volatile and rising fuel prices, and intensifying competitive challenges."

Horton added that the carrier is committed to working "as quickly and efficiently as possible" to restructure the airline and emerge from bankruptcy protection.

American intends to carry out its operations as normal during its restructuring process, and will "maintain a strong presence in domestic and international markets, including our cornerstones in Dallas Fort Worth, Chicago, New York, Miami and Los Angeles", said Horton.



American will enter negotiations with its unions aimed at improving its cost structure.

The airline has $4.1 billion in unrestricted cash reserves and short-term investments, which it said will be "more than sufficient to assure that its vendors, suppliers and other business partners will be paid timely and in full for goods and services provided during the Chapter 11 process".

Source: Flightglobal

Picture of the Day(29 November 2011)

Air Berlin Airbus 330-223(D-ALPF) making a landing at Miami-International(MIA) on 7 July 2011.

Source: airliners.net

Etihad eyes airline tie-ups to expand global reach

Etihad CEO James Hogan. The carrier has a fleet of 63 aircraft that fly to 86 destinations


Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi’s flagship airline, would consider tie-ups with other carriers in a bid to bolster revenues and expand its global reach, its CEO said.

The state-backed airline has previously been linked to stake talks for Ireland’s Aer Lingus and British Midland International (BMI), the loss-making airline likely to be sold to IAG.

“If we see an opportunity to partner with another carrier that drives incremental revenue, strengthens our position in the market ... we’d like to do that,” James Hogan told the Financial Times, adding that Aer Lingus “flies to many parts of Europe that we don’t fly to.”

Etihad has a fleet of 63 aircraft and flies to 86 destinations. It has successfully expanded its reach to a further 118 cities through a series of code-sharing partnerships, the latest of which was a link-up with Russian carrier S7 Airlines.

As Russia’s largest domestic carrier, the partnership will give Etihad access to cities such as Kazan, Samara, Krasnodar and St Petersburg.

In addition to codesharing deals, Etihad has an alliance with Australia’s Virgin Blue and was reported to have held talks with the Irish government to buy its 25 percent stake in Aer Lingus. The Gulf carrier also was reported to have held talks about a partnership with Virgin Atlantic to

Abu Dhabi’s Etihad was reported in October to have held talks with Virgin over a potential partnership, should the British airline make a bid for BMI.

State-backed Etihad would be unable to make a bid of its own due to foreign ownership rules, as is the case in many countries around the world under regulatory requirements.

Emirates Airline, the largest international carrier and Etihad’s rival, has said it will expand through growing its fleet and has little interest in dealmaking. “We believe the M&A process of growth is beset with problems,” he told the paper.

The airline is the largest customer of the Airbus A380 superjumbo, with a fleet of 161 wide-bodied aircraft and orders for a further 190. The carrier, which plans to grow its fleet to as many as 260 by 2018, placed an $18bn order for 50 Boeing 777s at this month’s Dubai Airshow.

Source: arabianbusiness 

Qatar Airways CEO eyes further Indian expansion

Qatar Airways is keen to grow further its presence in India.


Qatar Airways is looking for further expansion opportunities in India for both passenger flights and cargo, the airline's CEO has said.

Akbar Al Baker said he was keen to develop more routes in India, stressing the importance of the "strong market".

He said: "This is a market that is strong and full of confidence. We are eyeing more opportunities here in India and look forward to developing our footprint further to give the travelling public a wider choice of services they deserve, and the cargo community more flights to ease the flow of goods, produce and other shipments to and from India."

Qatar Airways currently operates a total of 110 flights a week in India, a four-fold increase from just a few years ago."Having launched flights to Goa, Amritsar, Bengaluru and Kolkata over the past 24 months, our new routes have facilitated growing demand for more capacity to and from India," Al Baker added.

Qatar is India's largest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) while exports from India to Qatar centre on food, machinery, chemicals, jewellery and textiles.

Al Baker said India played a key role in Qatar Airways' infrastructure. The airline is a key employer of Indian nationals, who represent around 25 percent of the state-backed carrier's 20,000-strong workforce.

Kolkata joined the carrier's Indian routes in July with the launch of daily non-stop services from Doha, becoming its 12th passenger gateway in the country.

The Indian network covers daily flights to Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Goa, Hyderabad, Kozhikode, Trivandrum, Chennai, Bengaluru (Bangalore), with 11-flights-a-week to Cochin and double daily to the capital, Delhi.

During 2011, Qatar Airways has so far inducted 14 destinations into its network and will launch flights to Chongqing in China on Monday.By 2013, Qatar Airways plans to serve over 120 destinations worldwide with a fleet of more than 120 aircraft.

As part of its aggressive growth plans, Qatar Airways placed orders for 90 aircraft at the recent Dubai Airshow.

Source: arabianbusiness

Picture of the Day(28 November 2011)

Delta Airlines Boeing 767-332(N129DL/129) took off from Boston Logan International(BOS) on November 11, 2011.

Source: airliners.net

Picture of the Day(27 November 2011)

KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 747-406 (PH-BFL/FL-004) on approach to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport(AMS)'s shortest runway. Two 747 are preparing to slam their breaks on runway 22!

Source: airliners.net

Boeing Announces 787 Dream Tour

Boeing soon will begin a six-month Dream Tour with its all-new 787 Dreamliner.

Customers and partners around the world will experience the revolutionary technology and passenger innovation offered on the first new airplane of the 21st century.

"The 787 Dreamliner is a game-changing airplane and we're delighted to be able to bring this innovative product to our customers who will soon be receiving their own 787s," said Ray Conner, vice president of Sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes in a statement from Everett, Washington.

"This airplane is now changing the way the world flies, and we want to share that excitement with as many people as we can."

The December schedule for the 787 Dream Tour includes six stops in Asia, Africa and the Middle East:

Dec. 4-11: China with stops in Beijing, Guangzhou and Haikou to visit customers, partners, and government officials including representatives from Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), Air China, China Southern, Hainan Airlines, Aviation Industries of China (AVIC) and Chengdu Aircraft Industrial Co. (CAC).

Dec. 11-16: Africa with stops in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Nairobi, Kenya to visit Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways.

Dec. 16-19: Middle East stop in Doha to visit Qatar Airways.

Specific dates for the subsequent segments of the tour will be announced about one month prior to the events.

Additional tour stops are being planned for January through April 2012 and will be detailed in future announcements.

Many of the stops will include opportunities for local media to tour the airplane and talk with Boeing executives and pilots.

Aviation enthusiasts can follow the progress of the 787 tour at www.newairplane.com.

Videos, photos and reports from the tour stops as well as an inside look at the airplane, will be featured beginning with the first stop next week.

Dream Tour Airplane

The Dream Tour airplane, ZA003, has been retrofitted with special interior features designed to highlight the unique cabin features and performance capabilities of the Dreamliner.

The flight test equipment on board ZA003, the third 787 to be built, has been removed and a stunning new interior has been installed.

The airplane also has received a refreshed Boeing livery.

"Our flight test airplane has turned into a show piece," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program.

"Anyone who has seen the inside of a flight test airplane will be amazed at the transformation. All of the 787 passenger features are here."

Visitors will be greeted by the spacious signature 787 entryway sky light and gathering area.

The LED lighting, standard on all 787s, will be demonstrated throughout the tour airplane.

Visitors will experience the dynamic affect of this new technology to make meal time more enjoyable, sooth passengers during restful periods and gently wake them following a long flight.

Visitors also will find a luxurious business-class cabin with a dozen lay-flat seats, an overhead crew rest compartment and an economy class section.

A large open space between the two economy class sections allows Boeing to spotlight the features of the 787 with displays and demonstrations.

The exterior of the airplane has been repainted in the standard Boeing livery.

Source: Bernama

Picture of the Day(26 November 2011)

Air France Boeing 777-328/ER(F-GSQK) approaching Los Angeles International(LAX) by passing the LAX employee parking lot after a 11 hours flight from Paris, France on September 6, 2006.

Source: airliners.net

Picture of the Day(25 November 2011)

Thai Airways International's Boeing 747-4D7(HS-TGW) with the Star Alliance's livery rotate in a large steep angle at Phuket International Airport(HKT) on December 19, 2004.

Source: airliners.net

Picture of the Day(24 November 2011)

Air Asia X's Airbus 340-313X(9M-XAC) with the Oakland Riders livery lifting off from Paris-Orly Airport(ORY) on November 4, 2011.

Source: airliners.net

Qantas reveals new Airbus A380 layout

Qantas' flagship Airbus A380 fleet will get a makeover next year, with the business class cabin being pared back while 42 seats are added to the premium economy and economy sections.

A Qantas spokeswoman confirmed that while the swanky first class cabin remains at the point end, an extra 39 seats will be squeezed into the economy cabin situated behind this, boosting the 'cheap seats' count from 332 to 371.

On the A380's upper deck, eight seats will be dropped from business class (going from 72 down to 64) while the rear premium economy section will gain three seats (up from the current 32).

That makes a total of 484 seats, or 34 more than today's A380 tally.

Qantas already has 10 A380s with two more for delivery by year's end. Those final two superjumbos will be delivered in the current configuration, and starting in 2012 the dozen double-decker jets will all be retrofitted to the new layout.

This will make 2012 a big year for the big bird, with Qantas also set to trial in-flight internet on a limited number of A380 flights early next year and the possibility of introducing the A380 onto the Sydney-Dallas/Fort Worth service.

Source: Australian Business Traveller

Picture of the Day(23 November 2011)

Qatar Airways Boeing 777-2DZ/LR lifting off runway 3L at Johannesburg-OR Tambo International(JNB) on November 4, 2011.

Source: Airliners.net

Picture of the Day(22 November 2011)

Singapore Airlines Airbus 330-343E(9V-STA) making a landing during a rain at Singapore Changi Airport on March 19,2010.

Source: Airliners.net

Copa, Avianca-Taca to join Star Alliance in April 2012

Copa Airlines 737-800. Courtesy, Boeing


Copa Airlines CEO Pedro Heilbronn confirmed that Copa and Avianca-Taca will join Star Alliance in April 2012.

Speaking in Rio de Janeiro during the ALTA conference, Heilbronn told ATW, “We hope that Star carriers from overseas will fly into Panama City (PTY). But so far nothing is concrete right now.”

Earlier this year, the carrier increased arrival/departure banks to 6X-daily at its Hub of the Americas in PTY. Heilbronn said Copa will add 10 Boeing 737-800s next year as some 737s are paid off and could be parked, if necessary, he said.

The fast-growing airline showed no interest in the 737-900 series. Heilbronn also ruled out adding a long-haul fleet connecting PTY with Europe or Asia. “We have still many destinations available to expand in North and South America,” he said.

Copa Holdings, parent of Panama's Copa Airlines and Copa Airlines Colombia (formerly Aero Republica), posted third-quarter net income of $70.3 million, nearly on par with a $71.5 million net profit earned in the prior-year period. The carrier said full-year consolidated capacity will be 21% higher than 2010 capacity while 2012 capacity will increase another 20%.

Source: ATW

Picture of the Day(21 November 2011)

KLM-Royal Dutch Airline's Airbus 330-203(PH-AOL) operating as KL681 making a final approach at Vancouver International Airport(YVR) on February 27, 2009.

Boeing Makes History With Orders & Commitment For 359 Airplanes Within A Week

Boeing's history-making week has resulted in orders and commitments for 359 airplanes.

"This has been an outstanding week for our customers and our employees," Boeing Commercial Airplanes' president and chief executive officer, Jim Albaugh said.

"We're pleased that in planning for their future, our customers have chosen Boeing airplanes," he said in a statement today.

Boeing has now set a record for 777 orders in a single year with 192 to date. That surpasses the previous record of 154 set in 2005.

The company also announced two record-setting deals with Emirates and Lion Air, as well as other deals during and after the Dubai Airshow:

* Emirates Airline ordered 50 777-300ERs, with options for 20 more.

* Oman Air ordered six 787-8s.

* Qatar Airways ordered two 777 Freighters.

* Lion Air committed to buy 201 737 MAXs and 29 Next Generation 737-900ERs.

The agreement also includes purchase rights for an additional 150 airplanes.

* Aviation Capital Group (ACG) committed to buy 35 737 MAX airplanes and finalised a firm order for 20 Next-Generation 737-800s.

* Singapore Airlines finalised order for eight 777-300ERs.

* An unidentified customer ordered eight 777s.

"We continue to see worldwide expansion in air traffic, and as a result, strong customer demand for our products and services," added Albaugh.

"Our product strategy is playing out as we expected with our wide-body offerings being the airplanes of choice and the 737 MAX enjoying tremendous customer acceptance."

Demand for Boeing's airplanes is also fueling and sustaining American jobs. Since the start of this year, Boeing has added more than 11,000 jobs in its commercial airplanes division. As production rates increase across all airplane programs, the company will continue to hire a highly skilled workforce that is critical for the future of aviation.

Source: Bernama

Picture of the Day(20 November 2011)

TAM Airlines's Boeing 777-32W/ER(PT-MUB) flying across the skies of Germany on September 10, 2011

Source: Airliners.net

Picture of the Day(19 November 2011)

Emirates's Airbus A380-861(A6-EDI) approaching Manchester Ringway International Airport(MAN) on October 17, 2011. The aircraft operates as EK017 from Dubai, after 7 hours and 50 minutes of flight journey.

Picture Source: Airliners.net