21 May 2018

USA Aviation Industry Newsletter 21 May

Air Lease Corporation Announces Delivery of Boeing 737 MAX 8 Aircraft with Travel Service Air Lease Corporation announced 17 May the delivery of one new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft on lease to Travel Service (SmartWings). This aircraft is the first of two 737 MAX 8 aircraft scheduled for delivery to Travel Service, with the next aircraft delivering in 2019. Atlas Air Worldwide Endorses Preservation of United States-United Arab Open Skies Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. announced its support for the Record of Discussion signed Friday, May 11, 2018, by the United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) relating to market-based transactions and financial transparency of airlines of the two countries. In its May 17, 2018, Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding the United States-United Arab Emirates Open Skies Understanding, the White House aptly noted that the UAE’s commitments are limited to subjects not covered by the U.S.-UAE Open Skies Agreement. Condor launches new Frankfurt to Phoenix route Condor celebrated its maiden flight from Frankfurt (FRA) to Phoenix (PHX) in the US state of Arizona on 18 May. The state, also known as the Grand Canyon State, will be served non-stop from Frankfurt on Mondays and Fridays during summer 2018. The Boeing 767 took off today at 11:40 a.m. for Phoenix under flight number DE2026. JetBlue Announces Retirement of General Counsel JetBlue announced 18 May that James Hnat, the airline’s longtime corporate secretary, executive vice president corporate affairs and general counsel, will be retiring from his role effective June 30. Mr. Hnat will continue to advise the company with respect to its investment in JetSuite and JetBlue Technology Ventures through the end of 2018 and will continue to serve on the JetSuite Board of Directors. JetBlue Announces Senior Leadership Changes JetBlue announced 18 May it has named Joanna Geraghty to president and chief operating officer, along with other changes to the company’s senior leadership in the coming weeks designed to enhance day-to-day operations and better support execution of its longer term strategic initiatives. Geraghty will report to Robin Hayes, who will remain chief executive officer and who will continue to oversee the company’s long-term strategy, its structural cost program and efforts to achieve superior margins, and its focus on expanding and evolving into new businesses such as JetBlue Travel Products. Southwest Airlines may launch international flights from Baltimore Southwest Airlines is mulling flights to Canada or Europe from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) sometime in the next few years, according to CEO Gary Kelly. For 2019, the focus, however, will be on Hawaii. Routes to Canada would depend heavily on traffic from Canadians, while routes to Europe would rely on codeshare agreements with other airlines. Southwest plans to set up foreign currency and foreign language capabilities, as well as technologies to enable codeshares within the next five years, according to Kelly, as it would be needed for the expansion of its international flights Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding the United States-United Arab Emirates Open Skies Understanding The United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have reached an understanding related to the United States–UAE Open Skies agreement that will benefit pilots, flight attendants, machinists, and other working men and women in America’s airline industry. In the newly negotiated understanding, it was recognized that government subsidies undermine healthy and fair competition. The UAE has committed to financial transparency and will adhere to internationally-recognized accounting, disclosure, compliance, and auditing standards to make its practices more open and subject to public view and scrutiny. Lastly, the UAE informed the United States that its air carriers have no current plans to begin any new commercial “Fifth Freedom” flight routes, which are of particular concern to the U.S. carriers. The understanding mirrors the one made with Qatar earlier this year. Acumen Aviation © 21 May 2018 All Rights Reserved.