01 Oct 2018

USA Aviation Industry Newsletter 1 October

Bombardier CRJ Series Certified for Higher Maintenance Intervals Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced 24 September that the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) has granted approval for the maintenance intervals escalation of the CRJ700, CRJ900 and CRJ1000 aircraft. The line maintenance interval (A-check) is extended to 800 flight hours, and the heavy maintenance interval (C-check) at 8,000 flight hours. The maintenance intervals have doubled since the launch of the CRJ aircraft family. The new maintenance intervals are applicable for new production deliveries as well as all CRJ700, CRJ900, and CRJ1000 aircraft in service. Cathay Pacific plans to grow new US services Cathay Pacific will grow its new routes to Seattle Tacoma and Washington Dulles before adding any new US markets, says chief executive Rupert Hogg reported Flightglobal 25 September. Commission clears the creation of a joint venture by Boeing and Safran for the production of auxiliary power units The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the creation of a joint venture by The Boeing Company of the US and Safran S.A. of France. The joint venture will manufacture auxiliary power units ("APUs") that provide electrical power to the aircraft while the engines are shut down. Boeing designs, manufactures and sells commercial aircraft and defence, space and security systems. Safran designs, manufactures and sells aerospace systems as well as aircraft and defense equipment. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns. FAA awards $205 million airport infrastructure funding The US Department of Transportation (DOT) secretary Elaine Chao on Sept. 27 announced the FAA has awarded $205 million in supplemental funding for infrastructure grants to 34 airports. More than half of the airports awarded serve rural communities and mostly general aviation. Japan Airlines and American Airlines Announce Nonstop Service to Seattle, Strengthening Pacific Joint Business International Network Japan Airlines (JAL), together with its Pacific Joint Business partner American Airlines, announced 21 September that the carrier will expand its trans-Pacific network with service between Narita International Airport (NRT) in Tokyo and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), starting March 31, 2019*. This will be JAL’s sixth West Coast route operating between Japan and North America. The top 20 U.S. cities with the highest travel demand from Japan account for 84 percent of the market and Seattle is the fifth largest destination after Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Las Vegas. Kenya Airways wins US approval for flights to New York JFK Kenya Airways has received the last point of departure (LPD) confirmation affirming that Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) meets US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security standards. “The LPD status will now permit us to fly daily nonstop flights to New York JFK as scheduled on 28 October 2018,” Kenya Airways Group MD and CEO Sebastian Mikosz said in a statement. Southwest Airlines Extends Bookable Flight Schedule Into June 2019 Southwest Airlines announced 27 September its bookable flight schedule has been extended through June 8, 2019. The extension brings an additional new nonstop route linking San Jose, Calif., and El Paso once weekly on Sundays beginning April 14, 2019, as well as resuming Sunday service between San Jose, Calif., and New Orleans. Acumen Aviation © 1 October 2018 All Rights Reserved.