Aviation News, Boeing, Airbus

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2007 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Boeing (NYSE: BA) has said that the newest member of the Boeing Next-Generation 737 family, the 737-900ER (Extended Range), has earned type certification from the United States Federal Aviation Administration.

The company said the type certification was awarded on 20 April.

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2007 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co (NYSE: BA) and Australia’s Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd have confirmed that the carrier has ordered six Boeing 777-300ER (Extended Range) aircraft with options for six more, and will also lease one additional 777-300ER.

Virgin Blue is reportedly planning to establish a new long-haul airline, providing service from Australia to the United States and other destinations.

The six-aircraft order is valued at USD1.5bn at list prices.

Airlogica, one of the leading companies in distribution software and specialists in improving an airlines revenue management options, is very pleased to announce that Air Malta has selected its advanced Flash robotic product.
Flash is expected to contribute immensely to Air Maltas revenue integrity objectives.

(PRWEB) April 3, 2007 — Airlogica, one of the leading companies in distribution software and specialists in improving an airlines revenue management options, is very pleased to announce that Air Malta has selected its advanced Flash robotic product.

Flash is expected to contribute immensely to Air Maltas revenue integrity objectives.

“After we installed Flash in a trial situation we experienced the flexibility of the tool and how it can be used to improve our revenue integrity. We were also impressed by the user friendliness and the broad application across other business areas. Yes, I can say we finally have found the tool we wanted to purchase”, commented Aldo Borg, General Manager Pricing and Revenue Management. “We have started with a Ticketing Time Limit application and will expand to other processes as soon as possible”.

“We are very happy to welcome Air Malta to the growing number of airlines who are recognizing the unique application of technology that our Flash product offers. It proves again there is a need for products which help airlines to improve the revenue integrity of their host reservation systems”, said Peter Pont, Airlogicas General Manager for the EMEA region.

About Air Malta

Air Malta started its flying operations on 1 April 1974 with scheduled services to London, Birmingham, Manchester, Rome, Frankfurt, Paris and Tripoli. Today Air Malta operates a modern fleet of aircraft to over 50 destiations in Europe, North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean, with 200 flights a week.

Air Malta remains the main airline offering the most extensive choice of air servises to and from Malta. No other airline serving Malta is committed to the Maltese community and Maltas economy as is Air Malta. Whether your journey is for business or pleasure, Air Malta is committed to offer a value for money service where each individual passenger can appreciate the true meaning of Maltese hospitality.

Current, Air Malta has a fleet of 13 aircraft. These include 5 Airbus A320s, 5 Airbus A319s and 3 Boeing 737-300s.

About Airlogica

Boeing 737 Aloha Airlines 1-200 by Hasegawa - on sale at $8.95
1-200 Scale. Skill level 2 All Hasegawa Aircraft kits are highly detailed, feature recessed panel lines, detailed cockpit, clear pieces for canopy, great decals and detailed instructions.

Fri, 11 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT
Orbital Express completes first autonomous free flight and capture
Gizmo Emerging Technology Magazine: May 11, 2007 The Boeing Orbital Express system has completed another first by successfully performing a fully autonomous free-flight rendezvous and capture operation. The demonstration of the two-spacecraft system is part of an ongoing Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency mission to validate …

Non-stop flights from Washington (Dulles) to London
This was revised on September 3, 2006. Note that starting on October 1, the MAXJet flight will leave at 20:15 (8:15 in the evening.) Click here for details.
The traveler looking for a non-stop flight from Washington Dulles (IAD) has a variety of options. Here they are with a few comments:
Flight: BA 224 (British Airways)Departure: 08:05Arrival: 20:15Flight Time: 7 hours 10 minutesAircraft: Boeing 777
British Airways offers four classes: First, Club World, World Traveller Plus, and World Traveller, which mean First, Business, Economy Plus, and Economy respectively. The First Class product is outstanding. Business Class offers a completely flat bed. World Traveller Plus gives you a significantly better seat than World Traveller, but there is no difference in the food and wine service.
It is rather nice to be able to leave the United States and arrive in the United Kingdom last thing at night, and frequently there seems to be great availability of this flight. Free drinks in all classes.
The serious shortcoming of British Airways is that, if you fly on a discounted ticket, they reward you with only 25% of actual miles, which means that you need to fly 50 times before you get a free ticket!
British Airways uses Boeing 777 on this flight, which is a good modern plane.
Flight: UA 922 (United Airlines)Departure: 09:28Arrival: 21:45Flight Time: 7 hours 22 minutesAircraft: Boeing 767
The other morning flight. United has really become a little bit spartan during these troubled times, and they no longer server caviar and Dom Perignon in first class. Business class is OK although, unlike much of the competition, it does not offer flat beds. And you have to pay for drinks in Economy. Economy Plus gives you more leg room, but the seat and the food are the same. You usually do not have pay for Economy Plus as this is one of United?s ways of rewarding its elite members of the frequent flyer plan, but they seem to be experimenting with charging passengers to sit in this area.
You earn miles in United?s Mileage Plus program, and you can spend these miles on any Star Alliance flight. If you are Premier Executive you can earn a free transatlantic ticket with just 11 flights. (That is why I fly United rather than BA.)
The 767s are becoming a little old, and I see that as a disadvantage of this flight.
Sometimes I have found it easiest to get the deepest discounts on this flight.
Flight: UA 918 (United Airlines)Departure: 18:03Arrival: 06:20Flight Time: 7 hours 22 minutesAircraft: Boeing 777
My previous comments on United apply here, but note that UA 918 is on a 777, which is much nicer than a 767. Economy seats on United?s 777 at 2-5-2. Unless you get stuck in the middle of the center aisle, which has never happened to me, this turns out to be a pretty nice arrangement. For me, I dislike the timing of this flight because you cannot get a full day?s work done and then travel, In other words, it combines the disadvantage of an overnight flight without the benefit of being able to do a day?s work.
Flight: UA 920 (United Airlines)Departure: 18:28Arrival: 06:55Flight Time: 7 hours 32 minutesAircraft: Boeing 767
Too early in the day, and a Boeing 767. Avoid this flight.
Flight: BA 216 (British Airways)Departure: 18:35Arrival: 06:55Flight Time: 7 hours 20 minutesAircraft: Boeing 747
Although I have not taken this flight for some time, I am beginning to find 747s a little bit too old for my liking. And I don?t like the time of this flight. Avoid.
First and Business Class passengers have the advantage of being able to use BA?s wonderful arrivals lounge at Heathrow, and they can eat in the lounges at Dulles Airport before they leave.
Flight: VS 022 (Virgin Atlantic)Departure: 18:40Arrival: 07:05Flight Time: 7 hours 25 minutesAircraft: Airbus 340
Virgin does everything a little bit differently. The Upper Class is quite an experience, but passengers need to remember that it is a Business Class product ” not First Class, although it beds are certainly comparable to first class beds, the food and wine are not. Two wonderdul features in Virgin?s Upper Class are the on-board massages and the bar.
The departure lounges and arrivals lounges are outstanding
Passengers who accumulate miles on Continental and Singapore Airlines will be happy to know that this flight runs as CO 8242 and SQ 2522. (However, although you can fly on Singapore Airlines using United miles, they will not let you book flight SQ 2522 using Mileage Plus miles. A pity!)
Flight MY 200 (MAXjet Airways)Departure: 19:30Arrival: 08:30Flight Time: 8 hours
This seems like a very interesting way to get to London, but I have never been on this flight. You pretty much get Business Class quality at highly discounted rates. The lowest available fare at the moment seems to be $2,503 including all taxes. Note that this flight arrives at Stansted Airport (STN) and not Heathrow (LHR). This is a disadvantage for travellers wishing to go to the West End or west London, but it could actually be good for people wishing to make connections on discount airlines like EasyJet to the rest of Europe. People on this flight get to use the Northwest Lounge in Terminal B. Reports say that there are some beverages, but little food.
I have never traveled on this flight, reviews of this flight can be found here.
Flight: UA 924 (United Airlines)Departure: 21:53Arrival: 10:00Flight Time: 7 hours17 minutesAircraft: Boeing 777
Nice aircraft. Good frequent flyer plan. And you can do a day?s work and then fly. This is the flight I usually try to take.
Flight: BA 292 (British Airways)Departure: 21:55Arrival: 10:10Flight Time: 7 hours15 minutesAircraft: Boeing 777
The timing of this flight suits me, and I like British Airways. The only bothersome thing is their frequent flyer plan if you are flying on a discounted seat in economy. I have been on this flight all of BA?s four classes. First was the best!
They also gave me a bottle of the delicious Louise Champagne from Pommery as a gift at the end of the flight!

Fri, 11 May 2007 10:45:43 GMT
EADS Insider-Trading Probe Expands as A380 Phone Call Reviewed
Jean Galli Douani said he met with French financial police at their headquarters May 2 at the request of investigating judge Xaviere Simeoni. Douani who unsuccessfully tried to buy Airbus planes said he taped a phone call with an Airbus executive about the A380 discussions at the March 2006 meeting.

Fri, 11 May 2007 00:00:00 EST