Sunday, June 3, 2012
JetBlue gets OK to build new international arrivals expansion at JFK’s Terminal 5
JetBlue is already the largest domestic airline at JFK and continues to increase its international presence, carrying more than 2 million travelers on international routes from the airport last year. Its many international destinations from JFK include Barbados, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Mexico, Saint Lucia, St. Maarten, and Turks and Caicos – all of which will soon enjoy the seamless experience of arriving into T5i.
With today’s Board approval, the airline will add an additional 145,000 square feet of space on three levels onto Terminal 5, which opened to widespread acclaim in 2008. T5i will include dedicated gates to accommodate JetBlue international arrivals and capable of handling wide-body aircraft operated by partner airlines. A new Federal Inspection Site to handle United States customs and immigration checks will be constructed, eliminating the need for JetBlue international arrivals to be processed at JFK Terminal 4. The airline intends to break ground on T5i as early as this summer and tentatively aims to complete construction in early 2015.
JetBlue’s home base of operations at Terminal 5 – the newest terminal at JFK – focuses on efficiency and customer comfort. The 635,000-square-foot terminal currently boasts 26 gates distributed throughout three concourses and includes a 55,000-square-foot central retail and concession Marketplace. T5 is currently equipped to accommodate up to 250 daily departures.
LOT Polish Airlines returns to Beijing
Resumption of the Chinese route is another stage of LOT Polish Airlines’ “East Meets West” strategy that has been implemented since 2011. Opening the new Beijing destination was possible thanks to favorable takeoff and landing slots at the Beijing airport, negotiated by LOT. Last year, the Polish carrier also got approval from the Russian authorities to fly over Siberia, thus enabling it to use the shortest air corridor. Among other things, this agreement with Russia will significantly decrease fuel consumption and duration of the flights to Beijing.
The carrier’s hub at Chopin Airport in Warsaw is aspiring to become the connecting center of Central Europe. LOT Polish Airlines operates this connection jointly with Air China (Beijing) on a code-share basis. This allows LOT to use the extensive sales network of the Chinese carrier
Malaysian Airlines
Air India strike leads to biggest revenue loss
The strike by Air India pilots entered the 26th day Saturday, pushing up the airline's revenue losses to more than Rs.350 crore, one of the biggest loss suffered by it in any strike.
"The loss is on account of ticket cancellation, unused labour and bulk of Boeing 777 fleet being grounded," an Air India official said.
"We expect to stabilise our operations and cut the losses to less than Rs.5 crore a day from today (Saturday)," he added.
The Indian Pilots Guild (IPG), representing aviators of the erstwhile Air India, went on strike May 8 against the move to train their counterparts from Indian Airlines on the soon-to-be-inducted Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
On Friday, the carrier shifted to an interim plan to salvage its international operations that have been crippled by strike.
"The loss is on account of ticket cancellation, unused labour and bulk of Boeing 777 fleet being grounded," an Air India official said.
"We expect to stabilise our operations and cut the losses to less than Rs.5 crore a day from today (Saturday)," he added.
The Indian Pilots Guild (IPG), representing aviators of the erstwhile Air India, went on strike May 8 against the move to train their counterparts from Indian Airlines on the soon-to-be-inducted Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
On Friday, the carrier shifted to an interim plan to salvage its international operations that have been crippled by strike.
DGCA officials under scanner for misuse of travel facilities
According to media reports, the vigilance wing of DGCA has detected misuse of this facility where certain officials let private individuals to fly free using AICs.
The officials under the scanner for misusing AICs include suspended joint DG A K Sharan; senior air safety officials Bir Singh Rai and T S Gopinath.
Indian Pilots Guild ready to set aside demands if recognition is restored
The Indian Pilots Guild (IPG), leading the Air India pilots' strike, today said it was ready to set aside all demands to end the strike if the government restored recognition to the union.
"As Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has assured us that our demands will be looked into, we all are ready to set aside our other demands and resume duties forthwith. But then we want the government to re-recognise the union to enable us represent the pilots during deliberations on the Dharmadhikari Committee report," an IPG spokesperson told PTI here.
The IPG was de-recognised and services of 101 pilots were terminated after they started reporting sick from May seven.
There has so far been no official response to the statement, but sources said the IPG has already gone to court to seek restoration of its recognition.
"As Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has assured us that our demands will be looked into, we all are ready to set aside our other demands and resume duties forthwith. But then we want the government to re-recognise the union to enable us represent the pilots during deliberations on the Dharmadhikari Committee report," an IPG spokesperson told PTI here.
The IPG was de-recognised and services of 101 pilots were terminated after they started reporting sick from May seven.
There has so far been no official response to the statement, but sources said the IPG has already gone to court to seek restoration of its recognition.
Dubai -Toronto Flight, First Ever A380 Diverts to and Lands in Ottowa
Pilots diverted to Ottowa because Ottawa International Airport has a 10,000-foot runway. An A380 requires at least 9,875 feet
According to Global Toronto, the jet nearly ran out of fuel after being rerouted due to torrential rains in Toronto.
