Tag Archives: Transport

Emirates signs $16B service deal with GE Aviation

09 Monday Nov 2015

Posted by in 737 MAX, A350XWB, A380, Airbus, Aircraft, Airlines, Airports, Aviation, Boeing, Bombardier, Business, Business Aircraft, Canada, CS100, CS300, CSeries, Dubai, Dubai Airshow, Embraer, Emirates, GE Aviation, UAE

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GEXEmirates has announced the biggest deal yet of the 14th Dubai Airshow — the UAE national carrier has signed a US$16 billion agreement with GE Aviation for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of the GE9X engines that will power the airline’s fleet of 150 Boeing 777X aircraft over a period of 12 years.

This is the airline’s single largest engine MRO contract to date. Emirates ordered the 150 aircraft at the last show in 2013.

jetEarlier Monday, Indian carrier Jet Airways announced an order for 75 Boeing 737 MAX 8 airplanes.

The order includes options and purchase rights for an additional 50 aircraft, Boeing said.

“Incorporating the latest design and technology features, the highly efficient 737 MAX will allow us to drive our operational efficiency and reaffirms our commitment to providing a best-in-class full service travel experience to our guests,” said Naresh Goyal (below), chairman of Jet Airways.

G2“This order is an endorsement of our confidence in the long-term prospects of the Indian aviation sector, which reflects the positive forecast for the country’s economy and offers tremendous potential for growth and development.”

Jet Airways will be the first airline in India to take delivery of the single-aisle aircraft, said Ray Conner, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

“The 737 MAX will bring new standards for fuel efficiency and economics, and a premium passenger experience to Jet Airways.” The deal is worth about $8 billion.

saaIn other show news:

The UAE Air Force announced the purchase of two new Saab Global 6000 long-range surveillance aircraft.

Under the $1.27-billion deal, a further two Saab 340 jets already in UAE ownership will undergo systems upgrades.

Meanwhile, GE Aviation announced the opening of its Middle East Aviation Technology Center in Dubai. It will serve as a regional customer and product support hub.

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft signed a memorandum of understanding with Abu Dhabi Aviation to work towards the establishment of Abu Dhabi Aviation as an authorized service facility for the Q Series aircraft.

“When a final agreement is reached, Abu Dhabi Aviation will become the first ASF for Q Series aircraft in the Middle East and will offer line and base maintenance services,” Bombardier said.

d2A 3D-printed drone, billed as the world’s fastest, largest and most complex, was unveiled Monday as part of the 3D Printshow.

The jet-engine powered aircraft took just two months to create and can break speeds of 320 kilometres an hour, the show organizers said. It was manufactured by 3D printing-technology leader Stratasys.

“This is the final piece in the puzzle for aerospace and we’re really excited to present it today,” said Jay Shelby of Stratasys.

“We’re here to show manufacturers what can be done when you take this technology and build your design around it. ”

The images are courtesy of Boeing, GE Aviation and F&E Aerospace.

Dubai Airshow in pictures

08 Sunday Nov 2015

Posted by in A350XWB, A380, Airbus, Aircraft, Airlines, Airports, Aviation, Boeing, Bombardier, Buisness, Business Aircraft, Canada, CS100, CSeries, Dreamliner, Dubai, Dubai Airshow, News, Sheikh Mohammed, Transport, Travel, UAE, UAE Space Agency

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A few images from Sunday’s opening of the 14th Dubai Airshow by the emirate’s Ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

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Visiting the brand new two-class Emirates Airbus A380.

Visiting the brand new two-class Emirates Airbus A380.

Touring Qatar Airways A380 with the airline's GCEO, Akbar Al Baker.

Touring Qatar Airways A380 with the airline’s GCEO, Akbar Al Baker.

Touring the CS100 with Fred Cromer, president of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.

Touring the CS100 with Fred Cromer, president of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.

At the UAE Space Agency pavilion.

At the UAE Space Agency pavilion.

The images are courtesy of F&E Aerospace, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Bombardier and the UAE Space Agency.

Dubai Airshow takes off

08 Sunday Nov 2015

Posted by in 3D Printing, A350XWB, A380, Airbus, Airlines, Aviation, Boeing, Bombardier, Business, Business Aviation, Canada, CS100, CS300, CSeries, Dreamliner, Dubai, Dubai Airshow, Embraer, News, Transport, Travel

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OpenThe focus was on partnerships rather than mega deals as Dubai 2015 opened Sunday with more than 1,100 exhibitors from around the world descending on the city to showcase their products.

Aircraft orders worth more than US$200 billion were announced at the previous show in 2013, but analysts say they don’t expect any major deals this time as airlines have ordered enough airplanes to meet their demands.

Instead, manufactures like Boeing and Airbus are expected to announce partnerships with regional aerospace companies.

The UAE Space Agency is one of the new exhibitors at the show. The government organization was created last year to regulate and support the country’s space sector.

spaceDubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who opened the airshow, also toured the space agency pavilion.

“With the addition of the UAE Space Agency to our existing exhibitor list, we have added yet another dimension to the Dubai Airshow,” said Michele van Akelijen, managing director of F&E Aerospace, the organizers of the Dubai Airshow.

Dubai 2015 has also added a dedicated 3D print pavilion, 3D Printshow Dubai.

“With (3D printing leader) Stratasys recently reported to have 3D printed more than 1,000 in-flight parts for the Airbus A350 XWB aircraft and GE already developing and testing engines with 3D printed parts, the technology is a natural fit for inclusion in the Dubai Airshow,” the organizers said.

In other show news:

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced that the CS100 flight test program is almost complete.

Fred“Only a few tests remain to be completed and Bombardier is on track to have the aircraft certified this year with Transport Canada,” said president Fred Cromer (right).

“We’re proud to be moving into the entry-in-service and production phase as we look to deliver the aircraft in the first half of 2016 to SWISS, a customer that has been with the program from the beginning.”

airBombardier also announced that Riga, Latvia-based airBaltic will be the launch customer of the CS300 aircraft when it takes delivery in the second half of 2016.

The Latvian flag carrier has 13 CS300 aircraft on firm order and retains options for seven CS300 aircraft.

“Bombardier’s CS300 airliners are integral to the execution of airBaltic’s business development strategy and fleet optimization plan,” said Martin Gauss, CEO of airBaltic.
airbal“The CS300 aircraft has exceeded our expectations in terms of its noise and emissions footprint, aligned with airBaltic’s low environmental impact vision, ” he added.

“Additionally, it will offer airBaltic passengers a widebody, unparalleled in-flight passenger experience, perfectly complementing our modern fleet of 12 Bombardier Q400 turboprops.”

The show runs until Thursday.

Images are courtesy of Dubai Media Office, UAE Space Agency, airBaltic and Bombardier. The CS100 photo is by Abdul Latheef.

Stars of the Dubai Airshow

06 Friday Nov 2015

Posted by in A350XWB, A380, Airbus, Airlines, Airports, Aviation, Boeing, Bombardier, Business, Business Aircraft, CSeries, Dassault Falcon, Dreamliner, Dubai, Dubai Airshow, Embraer, Gulfstream, News, Textron, Transport, Travel

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DubailogoThe 14th edition of the Dubai Airshow opens on Sunday. DAS 2015 is the biggest in the show’s history. More than 160 aircraft will be on display at the five-day show.

Featured below are some of them: The first two-class configured Emirates A380, the Sukhoi Superjet 100, the Bell 429, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the Airbus A350XWB, the Bombardier CS100, the Bombardier Global 6000, the Gulfstream E650ER, the Embraer Legacy 650, the Dassault Falcon 9000LX and the Embraer Phenom 100.

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EmbraerPhenomImages are courtesy of their respective owners. 

CS100 to make Dubai Airshow debut

04 Wednesday Nov 2015

Posted by in Airbus, Airlines, Airports, Aviation, Boeing, Bombardier, Business, Business Aircraft, Canada, CS100, CS300, CSeries, Dubai, Dubai Airshow, Embraer, Emirates Flight Training Academy, Luxury Travel, Phenom, Transport, Travel, UAE

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cs3The all-new CS100 is going to Dubai, after all.

Initially Bombardier had decided to send just the Q400 turboprop,
Learjet 75, Challenger 350 and Global 6000 to the Dubai Airshow.

Today, the Canadian aircraft maker announced that the CS100, in the livery of launch customer SWISS, will be on static display at the show.

The Bombardier lineup will also feature a CRJ900.

Fred2“Recognized worldwide as a premier venue for meeting key industry leaders, the Dubai Airshow also represents a great venue and opportunity for us to display our lineup of aircraft and provide an update on the exciting developments ongoing with C Series aircraft’s certification program,” said Fred Cromer, president of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.

“Additionally, it’s a great opportunity to showcase the Q400 aircraft and CRJ900 aircraft’s performance capabilities, making them ideal for different types of operations in a diverse region.”

The CS100 and CS300 made their airshow debut in Paris this summer, but Bombardier was unable to win any new orders at Le Bourget.

Cost overruns, long delays and most crucially a lack of new orders have beset the CSeries program.

The CS100 can carry up to 125 people while the bigger version, the CS300, is meant for up to 160.

In all, Bombardier has won 243 firm orders for the CSeries aircraft, 180 of them for the CS300.

emMeanwhile, Emirates Flight Training Academy has signed a firm order for five Embraer Phenom 100E business jets, with options for five more aircraft. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2017.

A Phenom 100E in the Emirates Flight Training Academy’s livery will be on static display at the Dubai Airshow, which runs from Nov. 8 through Nov. 12.

The organizers say more than 160 commercial, business and military aircraft will be on display at the show.

The Phenom 100E image is courtesy of Embraer.

Boeing says Middle East market hot

04 Wednesday Nov 2015

Posted by in Airbus, Airlines, Airports, Aviation, Boeing, Bombardier, Business, Dubai, Dubai Airshow, Embraer, News, Sheikh Mohammed, Tourism, Transport, Travel, UAE

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The inaugural flight on Oct. 25, 1985.

The inaugural flight on Oct. 25, 1985.

Dubai’s Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum marked the 30th anniversary of Emirates airline last month with a bold statement.

“Our vision for Dubai is clear: we are not building the largest airports in the world. We are building the aviation capital of the world.”

He noted the airline’s humble beginning in 1985 with two leased airplanes and its exponential growth in the past three decades, becoming one of the world’s largest airlines with 240 aircraft in service and another 267 on order.

“Our vision for Emirates for the next 30 years is rooted in innovation: to reinvent aviation with new products, technologies and services.”

Today, the world’s largest manufacturer of airplanes predicted that airlines in the Middle East will need 3,180 new airplanes, valued at $730 billion, over the next 20 years.

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According to the Boeing Current Market Outlook, released ahead of next week’s Dubai Airshow, 70 per cent of that demand is expected to be driven by rapid fleet expansion in the region.

Single-aisle airplanes will command the largest share of new deliveries, with airlines in the region needing more than 1,400 aircraft, Boeing said.

Twin-aisle aircraft will account for a little under half of the region’s new airplane deliveries over the 20-year period, compared to 23 per cent globally, it added.

“Traffic growth in the Middle East continues to grow at a healthy rate and is expected to grow 6.2 per cent annually during the next 20 years,” said Randy Tinseth, vice-president at Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

There is a reason for such rapid growth.

Hub“About 80 per cent of the world’s population lives within an eight-hour flight of the Arabian Gulf.” Tinseth said.

“This geographic position, coupled with diverse business strategies and investment in infrastructure is allowing carriers in the Middle East to aggregate traffic at their hubs and offer one-stop service between many city pairs that would not otherwise enjoy such direct itineraries.”

The Dubai Airshow runs from Nov. 8 through Nov. 12.

The organizers say more than 160 commercial, business and military aircraft will be on display at the show.

Images are courtesy of Emirates and Boeing.

Global 7000 : ‘There’s no competition’

03 Tuesday Nov 2015

Posted by in Airbus, Airlines, Aviation, Boeing, Bombardier, Business, Business Aircraft, Canada, Embraer, GE Aviation, Global 7000, Global 8000, Gulfstream, Luxury Travel, Montreal, News, Toronto, Transport, Travel

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P3P1Work is progressing rapidly at a Bombardier facility in Toronto on what is being billed as the ultimate long-range business aircraft.

The super-luxury Global 7000 boasts of many firsts, among them a four-zone cabin that includes a bedroom.

Two Global 7000 flight test vehicles are being assembled on what the company calls “the most advanced production line in business aviation.”

Two additional test vehicles are in various stages of production.

Coleal, Ouellette and GE's Kathy MacKenzie in Toronto on Tuesay.

Coleal, Ouellette and GE’s Kathy MacKenzie in Toronto on Tuesay.

“With a no-compromise approach and forward-thinking technology, we are focused on bringing the game-changing Global 7000 aircraft to market,” said David Coleal, president of Bombardier Business Aircraft.

He noted that Bombardier is employing the highest-calibre technology throughout the entire manufacturing process for the Global 7000 and Global 8000 aircraft program.

“The final assembly line in Toronto features a state-of-the-art automated positioning system that moves the wing structure into place for joining with the fuselage.”

The program’s integrated aircraft ground tests are also making good progress across 15 facilities, the company said.

When the Global 7000 and 8000 program was first announced in 2010, many thought it was in response to Gulfstream’s G650. More than 100 G650s are in service now.

But Coleal doesn’t agree with that argument.

Design Manager Tim Fagan

Design Manager Tim Fagan

“The G650 is not a competitor because of the four-zone cabin,” he said Tuesday as Bombardier showcased the test vehicles to the media.

In fact, Coleal doesn’t think there is another business aircraft currently in operation or in development to compete with the Global 7000.

Powered by the next-generation General Electric engines, the Global 7000 aircraft will have a range of 7,400 NM (13,705 km) at M 0.85 with 8 passengers, and will be able to connect London to Singapore or New York City to Dubai non-stop.

The Global 8000, which is also under development, will have a longer range and feature a three-zone cabinet. It will also be powered by GE engines.

B6“We’re excited by the unprecedented precision and quality we’ve observed on the assembly of the first two flight test vehicles,” said Michel Ouellette, senior vice-president of the program.

“This further validates that Bombardier made the right choice in the technology it is employing to build the most advanced business jet on the market.”

The Global 7000 is expected to enter service in the second half of 2018.

As for customer interest, Ouellette said, “We’ve a healthy backlog of orders.”

A full-scale mock-up of the Global 7000

A full-scale mock-up of the Global 7000

All images are by Abdul Latheef

Bombardier Global 7000 in pictures

03 Tuesday Nov 2015

Posted by in Airbus, Airlines, Airports, Aviation, Boeing, Bombardier, Business, Business Aircraft, Embraer, Global 7000, Global 8000, Luxury Travel, Niki Lauda, Transport, Travel

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Images from the Global 7000 media event in Toronto on Tuesday. All photos are by Abdul Latheef.

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CSeries skips Dubai Airshow

01 Sunday Nov 2015

Posted by in Airbus, Airlines, Airports, Aviation, Boeing, Bombardier, Business, CS100, CS300, CSeries, Dubai, Dubai Airshow, News, Tourism, Transport, Travel

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D1
CSBombardier will be showing off a few of its airplanes at next week’s Dubai Airshow, but the brand new CSeries aircraft will not be among them.

A list of aircraft that will be on display at the show released by the organizers does not include the CS100 or the CS300.

Instead, the Canadian manufacturer is sending the Q400 turboprop, Learjet 75, Challenger 350 and Global 6000 to one of the world’s premier airshows.

The CSeries aircraft made their airshow debut in Paris this summer, but Bombardier was unable to win any new orders at Le Bourget.

Cost overruns, long delays and most crucially a lack of new orders have beset the CSeries program.

300In an effort to resuscitate the CSeries, the Quebec government announced last week that it will invest US$1 billion in the program in exchange for a 49.5 per cent stake in a newly-created partnership.

“This partnership comes at a pivotal time, with the CSeries on the verge of certification,” said Alain Bellemare, president and CEO of Bombardier Inc., in announcing the deal.

“The market is there, our leadership is in place, we have the best product and with the support of the government, we are ready to make this aircraft a commercial success.”

Quebec has also asked the Canadian federal government to match its investment in the single-aisle aircraft project.

The CS100 can carry up to 125 people while the bigger version, the CS300, is meant for up to 160.

In all, Bombardier has won 243 firm orders for the CSeries aircraft, 180 of them for the CS300.

D2The Dubai Airshow runs from Nov. 8 through Nov. 12.

The organizers say more than 160 commercial, business and military aircraft will be on display at the show.

Orders worth more than US$200 billion were announced at the last show in Dubai, but analysts say no mega deals are expected this time.

Images are courtesy of Dubai Airshow and Bombardier.

Wow! Reykjavik for $99 from Canada!

01 Thursday Oct 2015

Posted by in Airbus, Airlines, Aviation, Business, Iceland, Montreal, Montreal Airport, News, Pearson Airport, Reykjavik, Toronto, Tourism, Transport, Travel, WOW air

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W6Iceland’s only low-cost airline is making an irresistible offer to Canadians travelling to Reykjavik: $99 one way from Toronto or Montreal, tax included!

For an additional $149, passengers can travel one way to several destinations in Europe, including London, Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen and Amsterdam.

WOW air made the announcement in Toronto on Thursday ahead of the launch of flights from Toronto and Montreal in May.

Service from Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau will begin May 12 and Toronto’s Pearson on May 20. The flights will be operated, using a fleet of Airbus A320 family aircraft, on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Wow2“WOW air prides itself on offering the lowest fares possible as well as the biggest smile and the friendliest service,” said Skuli Mogensen (right), owner and CEO.

“I’m thrilled to now announce our new routes to Canada, especially as I lived in Montreal for nearly a decade and also because the Icelandic people feel a special affinity for Canada.”

The airline said its entry into the Canadian market was expected to create an estimated 100 jobs.

Launched in November 2011, WOW air flies from Reykjavik to 20 destinations in Europe and the United States.

Its expansion into the Canadian market follows the launch of transatlantic services from Boston and Washington, D.C., in early 2015, the airline said.

Wow5“We have just had our best summer ever and, with these new routes launching in May 2016, next summer is another chance to break records,” said Mogensen.

“These great Canadian cities will become our newest destinations but I look forward to announcing even more in the not-too-distant future!”

All images are courtesy of WOW air.

CS100: ‘The quietest in its class’

10 Thursday Sep 2015

Posted by in Airbus, Airlines, Aviation, Boeing, Bombardier, Business, Canada, CS100, CS300, CSeries, EASA, Embraer, Environment, FAA, ICAO, News, Toronto, Tourism, Transport, Travel, TSB

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CS1
The message was loud and clear as the all-new Bombardier CS100 made its Toronto debut Thursday: It’s the quietest aircraft in its class.

The company told a gathering of government officials and airline executives that the “aircraft’s noise performance and its outstanding short-field capability make it ideal for city centre operations.”

The CS100 is the smaller version in the CSeries and is on course for certification later this year.
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The aircraft that debuted in Toronto was in the colours of launch customer SWISS, or Swiss International Air Lines, and is expected to make the first commercial flight before the middle of next year.

The CS100 can carry up to 125 people while the bigger version, the CS300, is meant for up to 160.

It is not the first time Bombardier is stressing the efficiency of the aircraft. Just before this year’s Paris Air Show, the company declared that the performance of the CSeries was “better than advertised.”

“We announced previously that the CSeries aircraft are exceeding their original targets for fuel burn, payload, range and airfield performance,” said Rob Dewar, vice-president of the program.

“Now we are delighted that the CS100 aircraft’s noise performance tests have confirmed it as the quietest in-production commercial jet in its class.”

The company said the first production CS100 will soon start function and reliability testing, signalling the start of the final flight testing phase.

Fred2“For these tests, the aircraft will operate on a commercial airline type of schedule from key airports in North America.”

In all, Bombardier has won 243 firm orders for the CSeries aircraft, 180 of them for the CS300.

No new orders were announced Thursday but Fred Cromer (above), president of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, was very optimistic.

“The momentum continues to grow,” he said.

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All images are by the author.

Boeing sees no turbulence in China

25 Tuesday Aug 2015

Posted by in Airbus, Aircraft, Airlines, Aviation, Beijing, Boeing, Business, China, China Current Market Outlook, News, Single-Aisle, Transport, Travel, Wide-body

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b2Even as China struggles with the slowest pace of economic growth in years, Boeing is forecasting that the country’s aircraft fleet will almost triple by 2034.

In its annual China Current Market Outlook released in Beijing on Tuesday, the American aircraft manufacturer projected a demand for 6,330 new airplanes worth $950 billion over the next 20 years.

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“Despite the current volatility in China’s financial market, we see strong growth in the country’s aviation sector over the long term,” said Randy Tinseth, vice-president of marketing at Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

“Over the next 20 years, China’s commercial airplane fleet will nearly triple: from 2,570 airplanes in 2014 to 7,210 airplanes in 2034.”

B1Boeing projected that the main growth would be in the single-aisle airplane (left) sector with a demand for 4,630 aircraft while the widebody (below) segment will require 1,510 new airplanes.

Boeing also noted that Chinese airlines have more than doubled their long-haul international capacity over the past three years.

B2“Enabled by China’s growing middle-class population, new visa policies and the underlying strength of its economic growth, this expansion is expected to continue, and in fact accelerate,” Tinseth said.

Images are courtesy of Boeing.

Cochin becomes world’s 1st fully solar-powered airport

20 Thursday Aug 2015

Posted by in Air India, Airlines, Airports, Aviation, Bosch, Business, Calicut, Cochin, Electricity, Environment, God's Own Country, Kannur, Kerala, Kochi, Kozhikode, News, Pollution, Tourism, Transport, Travel, Trivandrum

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Cial2Cial 5Cochin International Airport (COK) in southern India was opened just 16 years ago. This week it is celebrating a major environmental milestone – it has become the world’s first fully solar-powered airport.

More than 46,000 solar panels laid across 45 acres are generating 12MW of power, enough to run the airport smoothly.

“Now, Cochin airport will have 50,000 to 60,000 units of electricity per day to be consumed for all its operational functions, which technically make the airport absolutely power neutral,” its operator, Cochin International Airport Ltd., said in a release.

CIAL has been a trendsetter since its launch in the late 1990s. Cochin is the first Indian airport to be built under a public-private partnership model.

Cial1The company forecasts the project will help mitigate carbon emissions by more than 300,000 tonnes in the next 25 years. That is equivalent to planting three million trees, it said.

The busiest airport in Kerala state and the fourth largest in India, Cochin handled nearly seven million passengers in 2014-15.

The project was built by Bosch Energy and Building Solutions.

Images are courtesy of CIAL.

Austrian quits ‘unsustainable’ Dubai

20 Monday Jul 2015

Posted by in Aircraft, Airlines, Airports, Austrian Airlines, Aviation, Business, Colombo, Dubai, Dubai Airports, Emirates, IATA, Lufthansa, Mauritius, Miami, News, Tourism, Transport, Travel, UAE, Vienna

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AustrianDubai is a hot destination for many airlines, but not so for Austrian Airlines. Not anymore.

The Lufthansa subsidiary announced Monday it will stop offering direct flights from Vienna to Dubai as of September in the wake of intense competition and price wars.

“Unfortunately, the Vienna-Dubai route has become unsustainable for us,” said CCO Andreas Otto.

Austrian, which began flying to Dubai in 1996, said up to 800 seats per day were on offer on the Vienna-Dubai route.

The last Austrian flight to Dubai will be on Sept. 13, returning home next day.

“The capacities which will become available will be deployed for attractive, new destinations, such as Miami, Mauritius and Colombo starting in October,” Otto said.

The image is courtesy of Austrian Airlines.

ATR tests ‘green’ airplane

08 Wednesday Jul 2015

Posted by in Airbus, Aircraft, Alenia Aermacchi, ATR, Aviation, Clean Sky, Environment, Europe, European Union, Transport, Travel

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atrAn ATR “green” aircraft has made its first flight as part of Europe’s Clean Sky initiative.

The Clean Sky Green Regional Aircraft Flying Demonstrator took off from Toulouse, France, at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday and returned two hours later.

ATR said the purpose was to test new and more effective composite insulating materials and sensors integrated into a panel of the airplane’s forward fuselage section.

The flight also tested new generation of optical fibres for improved identification of micro-cracks, the company added.

“The objective of such advanced technologies is to reduce the aircraft weight, fuel consumption, emissions and noise level.”

ATR has been part of the project financed by the aeronautical industry and by the European Union since its launch in 2008. The aim is to reduce emissions and noise pollution by half by 2020 from 2000 levels.

Clean“Today’s successful flight shows the real progress accomplished in introducing large pieces of innovative materials in regional aircraft,” said Eric Dautriat, executive director of Clean Sky.

“The outcome opens the door to further improvement to the environmentally friendly planes people expect.”

ATR2A second flight, planned for later this year, will check out improvements to the electrical distribution, energy dispersal and the air conditioning systems.

ATR is jointly owned by Airbus Group and Alenia Aermacchi of Europe. It has sold more than 1,500 aircraft to 190 airlines.

Images are courtesy of ATR and Clean Sky.