Europe

ATW Daily News

Turkish Airlines ready for competition, acquisition

Friday September 5, 2008

Turkish Airlines CEO Temel Kotil told ATWOnline this week that the growing carrier is "ready for tough competition" and that its phase of organic growth is over, saying, "We need to acquire other carriers." [more]

Ice in fuel feed system likely reduced thrust on BA 777

Friday September 5, 2008

UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch said that ice within the fuel feed system "most probably" caused restricted fuel flow to the Trent 800s powering the British Airways 777-200ER that crash-landed about 300 m. short of London Heathrow's Runway 27L on Jan. 17 (ATWOnline, May 22). [more]

Report: FDR reveals Spanair MD-82's flaps not extended

Friday September 5, 2008

Recovered flight data recorder from the Spanair MD-82 that crashed last month on takeoff from Madrid Barajas revealed that the flaps were not extended, according to The Wall Street Journal, which cited sources close the accident investigation. Investigators are examining why an automatic audible warning in the cockpit did not sound and are considering whether an electrical problem caused the alert to malfunction, according to the WSJ, which said preliminary FDR data indicated that both engines were operating normally and that there was no engine fire. The aircraft returned to the gate following an aborted first takeoff attempt owing to a malfunctioning air intake probe but was cleared for a second takeoff, during which it elevated only a few meters before crashing tail first into the runway and catching fire, killing 154 of 172 passengers and crew (ATWOnline, Sept. 3).

Friday September 5, 2008

Saga Airlines, an Istanbul-based charter and ACMI carrier, ordered two 737-800s worth $149 million at list prices. It currently operates four 737s.

Friday September 5, 2008

Lufthansa Flight Training will open a multimillion-dollar center at Munich in October housing three cockpit simulators and training devices for service and emergency training. An E-190 simulator owned by Swiss Aviation Training will go into operation in March 2009 and A320 and A330/A340 simulators owned by LFT will follow. E-190 simulator training will be conducted by SAT.

Italian investor group submits Alitalia bid

Thursday September 4, 2008

Compagnia Aerea Italiana, a group of 16 Italian investors, submitted a "preliminary offer" to buy a large part of Alitalia, the carrier confirmed yesterday. [more]

Spanair pilot reportedly expected passengers to be transferred

Wednesday September 3, 2008

Spanair continued to defend its decision not to move passengers from the MD-82 that crashed last month prior to a second takeoff attempt as reports surfaced that the pilot asked for two busses to be used to transfer passengers to another aircraft following the aborted first takeoff. [more]

Virgin eyes Gatwick ownership

Wednesday September 3, 2008

Virgin Atlantic Airways is considering joining a consortium that may submit a bid for ownership of London Gatwick if airports operator BAA divests LGW, the carrier confirmed (ATWOnline, Aug. 21). "Virgin Atlantic would be interested in possibly bidding to run it, as part of a consortium. We would be able to bring our expertise in customer service into any ownership group," it said. VS declined to confirm reports that easyJet, Ryanair and Monarch Airlines might be part of the consortium, saying, "It is very early days in terms of Gatwick's future ownership and so we cannot comment on parties we may have held talks with--but we are watching developments closely."

Articles

A Difficult Delivery

By Cathy Buyck

Many questions must be answered before the EU and US arrive at an agreement that gives birth to an Open Aviation Area.

Built for Cargo

By Cathy Buyck

Cargolux thrives by devoting its full attention to the freight business

'We Want to Easternize the UK'

By Sandra Arnoult

Eastern Airways takes pride in trying harder

Remaking Air Malta

By Leonard Hill

Turnaround hopes hinge on structural revamp, company culture change.

THY in Transition

By Leonard Hill

Major aircraft order propels Turkish Airlines' vision to become a global carrier

Browse more articles on Europe...

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