Aircraft Engineer News

Protecting non ATOL passengers from airline failure

2009 seems to have finished on a somewhat mixed note with positives and negatives all round. The long awaited first flight of the Boeing 787 has finally taken place, with the 2nd aircraft (painted with the ANA livery) flown approximately two weeks later. A much welcomed lift in the aviation gloom!!

Over 9,000 applications for 1 cabin crew job

The crisis in the UK employment market was laid bare yesterday after research showed that as many as 10,000 people have been applying for a single job.

EasyJet expands free online check-in service

No-frills airline easyJet will now allow customers with hold baggage to check-in online for free.

Oil price will sit at $80 per barrel

According to a report released yesterday by HSH Nordbank, the oil price will sit at $80 per barrel for the foreseeable future. While oil was at a low of $50 per barrel at the beginning of 2009 as a result of the financial crisis and related drop in oil demand...

Qantas passengers exposed to toxic air, alleges book

QANTAS allowed a Boeing B747 plane to continue operating for nine months even though it was leaking oil, an unauthorised history of the airline claims. During this time, a flight engineer was overcome by toxic fumes believed to have been caused by the oil leak. Repeated inspections failed to find the cause of the problem and the oil was continually topped-up but passengers were never told of the possible toxic air problem, the book alleges. Engine oil leaks are believed to directly contribute to toxic fumes being pumped into cabin air on older aircraft, the book alleges. The allegations detailed in the book reveal that between July 2007 and July 2008 there were 31 reports by Qantas crew members concerned they had been exposed to toxic fumes while working on various planes.

HOW BAD IS THE SITUATION AT BA?

After British Airways asked its 40,000 employees last week to work without pay - and about 800 agreed to it for up to one month - the UK flag carrier now wants to make between 3,000 and 4,000 employees redundant (largely among cabin crew), freeze pay levels for two years, and permanently change working conditions.

COURTROOM TIFFS AS MESA ACCUSES DELTA OF SABOTAGE

Delta Air Lines has been legally barred from ending its regional flying contract with Freedom Airlines, the subsidiary of Mesa Air Group. A federal appeals court ruled yesterday to uphold a preliminary injunction on Delta.

BRITISH AIRWAYS FAILS TO AGREE DEAL WITH UNIONS ON PAY AND CONDITIONS.

British Airways has failed to meet its self-imposed deadline to secure an agreement on pay and conditions for its 40,000 staff after trade union officials adjourned talks on a two-year pay freeze and 4,000 redundancies.

800 BRITISH AIRWAYS STAFF TO WORK UNPAID

They were asked to work for nothing - and 800 BA staff have volunteered to work unpaid for up to a month to help the struggling airline cut costs.

£25M RESEARCH CENTRE FIRST IN UK

A £25m centre to develop technologies for the aerospace, energy and car industries is to open near Glasgow.

AIRLINES SEEK SAFE BERTH IN STORM

Iata members were in sombre mood at their annual meeting

BOEING CUTS GLOBAL PLANE OUTLOOK

Boeing has seen demand from airlines fall sharply.

DOWNTURN OVERSHADOWS KEY AIR SHOW

The new Russian plane, the Sukhoi Superjet 100, stands on the tarmac on June 11, 2009 during the preparation days prior the opening of the week long 48th international Paris Air Show at Le Bourget airport

FIRST ORDERS FROM PARIS AIR SHOW

The first deals have been done at this year's Paris Air Show, with Qatar Airways ordering 24 Airbus A320 jets.