Airbus Woe at Paris Show.

Airbus' appearance at the Paris Air Show has been blighted by misfortune, with two key planes damaged.

The wing tip of its demonstration A380 superjumbo struck a building at Le Bourguet airport venue during taxiing.

Gearbox problems have stopped its A400M military transporter from performing a scheduled aerial display, although it will still take part in a fly-past.

It left Boeing able to steal the limelight on the first day of the show with its new, lengthened 747-8 jumbo.

The US rival said it had already received 17 orders for the enlarged plane,

The firm also claimed the first confirmed deal of the show: an order for six 777 planes worth $1.7bn (£1.1bn) from Qatar Airways.

Eco-plane

Despite its bad luck at the opening, Airbus is expected to put in a strong showing at this year's show with a string of orders expected for its new low-emission A320neo plane.

The medium-haul 150-seater planes are a redesign of the traditional A320 that cuts emissions by 15%, reducing clients' carbon footprints and their fuel bills.

The European firm has already received demand for 330 of the eco-planes from airlines including Virgin American, IndiGo and Tam, as well as from the plane leasing firm ILFC.

However, the $16bn 180-plane order from IndiGo, which is the biggest single order by far, is still stuck in negotiations.

Airbus signed deals for a further 100 planes last week, with budget carriers Cebu of the Philippines and GoAir of India.

Another 200 planes are expected to be ordered by Malaysia's AirAsia, with the related plane engine order said to be going to the French-American firm CFM.

And Scandinavian airline SAS is expected to follow suit, with plans to buy 30 A320neos worth $2.4bn, with engines from CFM.

Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar al-Baker said that he too expects to buy the Airbus planes, on top of the 777 order already placed with Boeing.

Upgrade delays

Boeing is considering whether to upgrade its 737 planes in response to the apparent popularity of the A320neo, or whether to develop a new plane altogether.

The US firm said it intended to take its time over the decision and would not be making an announcement at the air show.

Airbus announced on Saturday a two-year delay to its new stretched A350 jets.

The A350-1000 will not be delivered until 2017, as Airbus wants to give Rolls Royce more time to develop engines for the plane.

The standard A350-900 is still expected to be ready by late 2013.

Separately, Rolls Royce signed a $2.2bn contract with Brazil's Tam airline to deliver engines for 27 Airbus A350 XWB aircraft, as well as a 12-year servicing contract.

Also in Brazil, manufacturer Embraer said it had signed deals to sell 39 of its Embraer 190 regional planes, worth $1.7bn.

Qantas axes 350 jobs,

 

A DECISION by Qantas to offer voluntary redundancies to its 7000 cabin crew has sparked fears that tough times are ahead.

Discount carrier struggles to fly in Caribbean

 

The Caribbean's first discount airline is having a rough time getting off the ground and the company's Irish chief executive blames political fear of competition for the region's government-affiliated carriers.

Aer Lingus faces pilot action as talks break down

 

Industrial action by pilots set to start Tuesday

- Talks between Irish airline Aer Lingus (AERL.I) and its pilots union broke down on Saturday forcing the airline to prepare contingency plans for industrial action it warned could cause a full cancellation of operations.

Low Budget Carrier to be Launched by Singapore Airlines

 

Singapore Airlines has announced that it is to start up a budget long haul carrier. They are likely to be ready to start taking on passengers within the year. The airline will own most of the company but it will be managed independently bythem.

Victory for former Miss World who sued Ryanair

 

 

Rosanna Davison, former Miss World and daughter of singer Chris de Burgh, has been awarded £70,000 in damages after suing no-frills airline Ryanair for defamation.

 

 

A jury at the High Court in Dublin ruled that publicity by the airline implied that Ms Davison was racist, xenophobic, jealous and narrow-minded.

 

Kuwait seizes Iraq airline assets in Jordan.

 

Kuwait has seized assets of Iraq's national airline in Jordan, officials have said. This is the latest step in a row between the neighbouring states over war reparations.    Iraqi Airways has filed an appeal against the decision in Jordan, said Karim al-Nuri, a media adviser to the Iraqi Transportation Ministry.

iPads For Pilots

 

Alaska Airlines is dumping paper flight manuals for its pilots in favor of electronic documents stored on company-issued iPads.   Yes, the Seattle-based carrier will be the first major U.S. airline to make the switch from paper to iPad when all its pilots receive a tablet by mid-June. Alaska is making the switch "as part of an on-going effort to use technology to enhance flight safety, improve efficiency and protect the environment," according to a statement from the airline.

Korean takes delivery of first A380

 

Korean Air has celebrated the delivery of its first Airbus A380 at a ceremony in Toulouse, France, becoming the sixth operator of the aircraft since it was introduced in 2007.

 

Air France crash–report comes out.

The Air France flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris plunged into the Atlantic because the aircraft's speed sensors gave invalid readings, France's Bureau of Investigation and Analysis (BEA) said Friday.

But findings are mixed and some are doubting some of the official findings.

Most surprising of the findings came the news that at the very start of the incident,  the captain was NOT in the cockpit.

Virgin Atlantic expects to unveil new partnership within months

 

VIRGIN boss Sir Richard Branson said yesterday up to three suitors of his Virgin Atlantic airline are set to bid for a stake in the company, with an announcement on the tie-in due within the next three months.

Delta Passengers to Enjoy New Gatwick Lounge -

 

It has been revealed that American airline Delta has made an agreement with lounge developer No.1 Traveller to allow its customers to enjoy luxury treatment at Gatwick Airport. Under the new scheme, Delta's Elite Members and those flying in Business Class will be allowed to enjoy Gatwick's new 'super lounge'.

Virgin America Comes To Chicago

 

Chicago travellers have another airline option as of Wednesday, when Virgin America launched its first operations out of O’Hare International Airport.

Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, along with Chicago officials and business leaders, visited the airport Wednesday to welcome two inaugural Virgin Airlines flights that arrived at O’Hare’s Terminal 3, according to a release from the city’s Department of Aviation.

Qantas says pilot demands putting airline at risk

 

A damaging industrial row between Australian airline Qantas and its pilots could threaten the future of the carrier, chief executive Alan Joyce said.

International pilots on the "Flying Kangaroo" are poised to take their first strike action in 45 years after negotiations on pay and conditions with management broke down last week.

Manchester United stars take to the skies daily with Turkish Airlines

 

Chris Smalling, Nani, Wayne Rooney and Darren Fletcher in the Turkish Airlines pre-flight safety film

They are used to flying down the wings and are masters of rescuing themselves from sticky situations. Now Manchester United's stars are using those skills off the pitch in a new pre-flight safety video for club sponsors Turkish Airlines.