Airline News April 2005

Airguide Online, April 30, 2005

Boeing sales chief says he will not book money-losing deals. Boeing will not lose money on contracts simply to boost its market share, Scott Carson, head of Boeing's commercial sales, said. Carson was named to the commercial sales position in December and is charged with selling the 787 jetliner. He also said Boeing expects to book more orders for jetliners in 2005 than European rival Airbus. Apr 5, 2005

FAA proposes rule requiring insulation changes on 800 Boeing jets. The Federal Aviation Administration proposed a rule that would require airlines to replace insulation on about 800 Boeing jets. The FAA is concerned the insulation may lose its resistance to fire as it ages. However, it does not believe the insulation is an imminent threat to safety. Apr 4, 2005

Disabled passengers might in the future benefit from a revolutionary new chair being tested on British Airways flights from Manchester. The Amazon chair has been developed as a joint venture between OCS Ltd, who provide all wheelchair 'meet and assist' services at the airport and the manufacturer AAT (GB) Ltd. Together they approached British Airways for permission to try out the chair on its fleet of small single aisle aircraft at Manchester. Because of its size and flexibility, the Amazon chair is particularly suited for regional type aircraft and enables disabled passengers to be lifted up the aircraft steps and wheeled down the aisle. With its lightweight design there is less risk of strain or injury to both passengers and operators.http://www.alber.co.uk Apr 30, 2005

Hassi Messaoud in Algeria is British Airways latest destination. A center for oil and gas production the city lies close to the Tunisian border, 350 miles south of Algiers. Starting June 7 2005 there will be two Gatwick flights each week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, operated by Boeing 737 aircraft. The airline also flies to the Algerian capital five times weekly. Hassi Messaoud is the sixth new BA route out of Gatwick this summer the others being Bucharest (Romania), Salonika (Greece), Sofia (Bulgaria), Split (Croatia) and Vilnius (Lithuania). http://www.ba.com Apr 11, 2005

British Airways has terminated its franchise agreement with Air Kenya Aviation Ltd, trading as Regional Air. The announcement follows the Kenyan based airline's decision last week to temporarily suspend its operation. The airline, based at Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Airport, operated three Boeing 737-200s on short haul East African routes. http://www.ba.com Apr 18, 2005

India is in the news again with British Airways the first airline to unveil its plans for the subcontinent following the speedy further expansion of what was a recent upgrading of the bilateral between the London and Delhi. Under the new arrangement UK airlines can operate 42 flights each week from Heathrow to Mumbai (left) and the Indian capital from October 2005. This will rise to 49 flights per week from March 2006 and 56 flights per week from October 2006. From October 2005, UK airlines can operate seven flights per week from the UK to Bangalore and to Chennai. This will rise to 14 per week to both cities from March 2006. BMI, a major beneficiary of the arrangements, which allow the airline to introduce long haul from Heathrow, initially four times weekly service to Mumbai from May 5. Expect Sir Michael Bishop to announce further expansion at that time. http://www.ba.com http:/www.flybmi.com Apr 22, 2005