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Swiss International Air Lines (Swiss), which is to be fully acquired by Lufthansa by end-2007, yesterday said it did not expect any shift in its “Airbus only fleet” expansion programme.

Felix Rodel, Director, head of Swiss Sales Middle East Africa, Pakistan & Iran, said in Dubai that irrespective of the impending full take-over by Lufthansa, which boasts both Boeing and Airbus aircraft in its fleet ” the Swiss airline would continue its expansion programme in line with its policy of building an all-Airbus fleet by adding another three aircraft from the European manufacturer.

The arrival of two Airbus 330’s kicked off the company’s long-haul fleet expansion in 2006, and three more Airbus A340’s are expected to join its fleet in the coming months.

source: khaleejtimes

Airlines unable to fly because of problems with deicing equipment during a winter storm left hundreds of passengers stranded on jets overnight at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

The exact number of planes stuck on the tarmac Friday night and Saturday morning was unclear, but irate passengers and airport officials said as many as a dozen may have been involved.

Pilots and officials blamed some of the problems on a shortage of deicing fluid and a new federal regulation giving pilots a narrow window to get their planes in the air once the chemicals are applied. The change has meant some jets need to get doused repeatedly if their takeoffs are delayed.

source: The New York Sun

A Russian airliner made a crash landing Saturday in the Volga River city of Samara, killing five people and leaving 51 injured, a government official said.Emergency Situations Ministry Spokesman Viktor Beltsov described the accident as a “‘hard landing'” of a Tu-134 plane. The NTV television channel said the plane landed on its fuselage after the landing gear failed to come down.

source: Chron.com

Beginning this June, US Airways customers will be able to enjoy seamless travel between the United States, the island of Singapore and exciting southeast Asia destinations, thanks to a codeshare cooperation between Singapore Airlines and US Airways subject to both United States and foreign government approval.

source: travelvideo.tv

Moscow may deprive European airlines of the right to fly over Russia due to alleged flightpath violations, Russia’s Federal Air Navigation Agency said in a statement Friday.

source: Jurnalo

Arkia Airlines Ltd. is considering a $120 million investment to buy or lease four 70-100 seat jets with a range of 2,000 miles for flights to Cyprus and other regional destinations. The airline is examining CRJ 700 and CRJ 900 jets building by Canada’s Bombardier Inc. and Embraer 170 and 175, built by Brazil’s Embraer-Empresa Brasileira De Aeronutica SA. Arkia initially plans to buy or lease two planes, followed by two more at a later date.

These planes use short runways, which means that they can operate out of Tel Aviv’s Sde Dov Airport. Arkia is planning several flights per day, including to Cyprus, where it began to fly at the beginning of March.

source: Globes

After decades of being known by air travelers for serving peanuts and little else, has Southwest Airlines Co. become the frills carrier?

The Dallas-based discounter hasn’t added amenities. But legacy carriers are taking freebies away, cutting costs by eliminating pillows, selling snacks and even experimenting with charging for soft drinks.

Southwest has started to poke fun at its traditional rivals in national television ads. In one spot, a customer is asked to insert coins to use an overhead bin, open a window shade and even recline his seat. In another, a flight attendant ticks off a list of charges for such basics as visiting the restroom and pushing the call button.

source: post-gazette.com

JetBlue cancelled 215 flights on the East Coast Friday due to a winter storm, according to a spokesman for the discount airline. Other airlines, including American Airlines and Delta, have canceled flights on a smaller scale.

Of the cancelled flights, 210 arrived or departed from New York-area airports: Kennedy Airport, LaGuardia Airport or Newark’s Liberty Airport.

Four flights from Boston and one from California were the others cancelled.

Last month JetBlue lost $30 million after thousands of people were stranded at airports and in planes on the tarmac.

source: AHN

A new summer flight to the Costa Blanca by low-cost airline flyglobespan has been cancelled before its first take-off.

The airline announced in October it would be starting flights to Murcia from Aberdeen on Sundays and Wednesdays from April 29.

But it removed the Wednesday flights from its website without warning on Wednesday and confirmed to callers they would not be going ahead “‘for technical reasons'”.

Last night, flyglobespan confirmed it was a lack of passengers which had prompted the decision which has left some travellers furious.

source: The Herald

British Airways is to fly from Glasgow to London City, providing an important direct air link for businessmen between Glasgow’s growing financial services sector and the capital.

And with fares starting from just £39 one way, including all taxes and charges, it will also appeal to leisure passengers.

BA subsidiary BA CityFlyer will operate the route to the London Docklands aiport.

source: thisishertfordshire.co.uk