Trent 1000 issue prompts ANA to cancel 113 flights.

Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 ANA cancels — Photo: Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines powering Boeing 787s continue to cause grief for airlines with Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways (ANA) canceling more than 100 domestic flights from today.

The 113 July 6 to July 12 cancellations are necessary to allow the airline to carry out mandatory inspections on Trent 1000 engines using blades that could wear prematurely.

“We deeply apologize for the inconveniences caused to our customers,” ANA chief executive Yuji Hirako said in a message to customers.

“Over the last two years, we have been working very closely with Rolls-Royce and the regulatory authorities to minimize the impact to our flight schedule.

“However, due to the additional mandatory inspections which were announced in mid-June, we are canceling a limited number of flights.”

No international flights were affected by the inspections and the airline said passengers with reservations on the canceled flights would be re-accommodated to fulfill their travel itineraries.

“Safety is always our top priority for our customers, and we consider these cancellations unavoidable to maintain our highest safety standards,’’ Hirako said.

The engine issue is a massive headache for Rolls-Royce and primarily affects engines known as Package C.

This was compounded when the UK manufacturer announced in June that airlines with older Boeing 787 Trent 1000 engines would need to perform inspections because compressor blades in those engines may also be wearing prematurely.

READ: Rolls-Royce to axe 4600 jobs as problems found in older 787 engines.

The finding that Package B engines in service since 2012 could also be affected by a blade durability issue came as the engine-maker continued to grapple with the fall-out of the issue with its Package C engines.

The package B problem added another 166 engines to about 380 package C engines already under the microscope.

The engine issue has led to flight cancellations and aircraft groundings as airlines faced increased inspections, range restrictions and delays in getting engines repaired. Some airlines have had to lease aircraft to replace out-of-service 787s.

The issue was first uncovered on ANA aircraft in 2016 and the airline is one of several which has experienced engine failures as a result of the flaw.

Passenger demand strong in May despite fare hike warnings

Steve Creedy

Passenger demand remained strong in May despite a slew of predictions about fare increases and warnings about a global trade war.

Global demand rose 6.1 percent to May 2017 and planes flew marginally fuller with a 0.1 percent rise load factor to 80.1 percent, according to new figures from the International Air Transport Association.

Most airlines are now singing from the same hymn sheet when it comes to fare increases and rising fuel costs. IATA last month said it expected an average global increase in fares of about 3 percent this year with jet fuel prices expected to be 26 percent higher than last year.

However, other estimates suggest the fare increases could be higher.

READ: Fares to rise as fuel increases hit profits.

Added to this was another warning IATA director general Alexandre de Juniac about rising trade tensions.

“Last month, IATA released its mid-year economic report showing expectations of an industry net profit of $33.8 billion,’’ de Juniac said.

“This is a solid performance. But our buffer against shocks is just $7.76. That’s the average profit per passenger that airlines will make this year—a narrow 4.1 percent net margin.

“And there are storm clouds on the horizon, including rising cost inputs, growing protectionist sentiment and the risk of trade wars, as well as geopolitical tensions.”

Worldwide international passenger demand growth in May was 5.8 percent, up from 4.6 percent in April.

WATCH: Scary take-off.

International traffic growth was strongest in the Asia-Pacific where demand grew by 8.0 percent with load factors continuing to rise.

“Passenger traffic has continued to trend strongly upwards in seasonally-adjusted terms, buoyed by a combination of robust regional economic growth and increases in the number of route options for travelers,’’ IATA said.

Traffic also rose in other regions with Europe up 6.2 percent, North America rising 4.9 per cent, Africa increasing 3.8 percent and Latin America experiencing a 7.5 increase in international traffic demand for May compared with last year.

The slowest growth was Middle East carriers at just 0.8 per cent, down from 2.9 percent in April.

IATA said an earlier Ramadan might have been a factor in the region’s slowdown “ but more broadly, the upward trend in traffic has slowed compared to last year”.

Domestic demand rose 6.6 percent globally, led by China (11.9 percent) and India (16.6 percent).

“Passenger volumes in India have fallen back in seasonally-adjusted terms in recent months alongside some mixed signals on the economic front,’’ IATA said. “Notwithstanding this, May was India’s 45th consecutive month of double-digit annual RPK growth

“Demand continues to be supported by strong growth in the number of airport connections within the country: some 22 percent more airport-pairs are scheduled to operate in 2018 compared to last year.”

The moderating growth in India and China was partially offset by a “mild pick-up” on domestic US routes of 5.5 percent, IATA said.

The perennial tail-end Charlie of IATA’s basket of domestic markets, Australia, recorded 1.7 percent demand growth in May and a 2.5 percent increase in capacity.

JetBlue bets big on Cuba

Steve Creedy

The fact that JetBlue is getting set to launch nonstop Boston-Havana flights from November 10 has implications far beyond connecting two dots on the route map.

It seems to signal that the low fare-high touch US airline is, if not exactly staking its future on Cuban connections, at least looking at the U.S.-Cuban market as one worth cultivating for the long term.

With the addition of Boston, “JetBlue will operate more than 50 weekly flights between the U.S. and Cuba from every one of our East Coast focus cities,” says John Checketts, the carrier’s vice president of network planning.

That means New York JFK, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International and Orlando – along with Boston – are all anchors for the beefed-up Cuba service.

JetBlue was the first U.S. airline to operate full-blown commercial flights between the U.S. and the once-isolated island nation in some 50 years. Even as many competitor carriers pared back Cuban flights after an initial rush to launch them, JetBlue decided to up the ante instead.

READ: No Cigar for US-Cuba flights.

The new Boston nonstop is a Saturday-only affair. JetBlue connections to cities such as Detroit, Cleveland and Pittsburgh—among others—will render Havana just one change of planes away for travelers.

Boston Logan International looms large indeed in JetBlue’s scheme of things.

The airline intends to field some 200 daily departures from BOS in the coming years. JetBlue is also expanding Sunday through Friday flights between Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and Havana’s Jose Marti International.

FLL is a linchpin for the airline’s Cuban operations, serving as well as Cuba’s capital city, Santa Clara, Camaguey and Holguin.

A note to potential Cuba-bound flyers: you must be qualified to a take the trip, belonging to one of the dozen approved categories travel categories outlined by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

And US credit cards generally don’t work in Cuba, so remember to take cash.

Boeing flags controlling interest in Embraer commercial jet unit

Steve Creedy

First it was Airbus and Canada’s Bombardier, now it’s Boeing and Brazil’s Embraer.

Boeing and Embraer Wednesday announced a not unexpected deal to establish a strategic partnership that “positions both companies to accelerate growth in global aerospace markets’.

Assuming they get the necessary approvals, they expect the marriage to be consummated by the end of 2019.

The agreement is not binding but it proposes the formation of a joint venture in the commercial aircraft and services business of Embraer that would strategically align with Boeing’s operations.

Boeing will hold a controlling 80 percent ownership stake in the joint venture and Embraer will own the remaining 20 percent stake.

The transaction values 100 percent of Embraer’s commercial aircraft operations at $US4.75 billion and contemplates a value of $US3.8 billion for Boeing’s 80 percent ownership stake in the joint venture.

Boeing expects the partnership to boost its earnings per share from 2020 and generate estimated annual pre-tax cost synergies of approximately $US150 million by the third year.

“By forging this strategic partnership, we will be ideally positioned to generate significant value for both companies’ customers, employees and shareholders – and for Brazil and the United States,” said Boeing chief executive Dennis Muilenburg.

“This important partnership clearly aligns with Boeing’s long-term strategy of investing in organic growth and returning value to shareholders, complemented by strategic arrangements that enhance and accelerate our growth plans.’’

Embraer chief executive officer Cesar de Souza e Silva added: “The agreement with Boeing will create the most important strategic partnership in the aerospace industry, strengthening both companies’ leadership in the global market.

“The business combination with Boeing is expected to create a virtuous cycle for the Brazilian aerospace industry, increasing its sales potential, production, creating jobs and income, investments and exports, and in doing so, adding more value to customers, shareholders and employees.”

The manufacturers said a finalized agreement would see the joint venture led by a Brazil-based management, including a president and chief executive. Boeing would have operational and management control of the new company, which would report directly to Muilenburg.

The deal will allow Boeing to compete with Airbus-Bombardier in the lower end of the single-aisle market, pitting Embraer’s E2 aircraft against Bombardier’s C Series.

READ: Embraer E190-E2 certified by Brazil, Europe and the US.

The companies said they also plan to create another joint venture to promote and develop new markets and applications for defense products and services, especially the KC-390 multi-mission aircraft.

They expect to finalize the financial and operational details of the strategic partnership in the coming months.

It will then be subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals, including approval from the Government of Brazil.

The manufacturers said the transaction would have no impact on either company’s financial guidance for 2018 or Boeing’s plans to return free cash flow to shareholders.

Ryanair faces historic strike action

Steve Creedy

ryanair faces legal action — Photo: Ryanair

Ryanair is facing a summer of industrial unrest after cabin crew joined Irish pilots in planning strike action.

The budget airline’s cabin crew issued a charter this week that included demands for a fair living wage, stable rosters and an end to requirements they pay costs for items such as water on flights.

The charter stemmed from a summit organized by the International Transport Workers’ Federation and the European Transport Workers’ Federation representing about 80 percent of Ryanair’s cabin crew workforce.

READ: Ryanair warns of European air traffic meltdown.

Cabin crew told the media they were forced to travel to Ireland to open bank accounts to receive their pay and were forced to report to work in person when sick to provide written details of symptoms.

“The charter contains demands on economic conditions, safety and rostering, a fair and supportive work culture, agency employment, the right to sick pay and sales targets,” the ITF said. “A key demand is also that employment contracts explicitly recognize national law and jurisdiction in the country a worker is based.”

Ryanair decided to recognize unions in December but the ITF said little progress had been made in the past six months and there had been no concrete improvements in pay and working conditions.

“If Ryanair fails to respond promptly and appropriately then it risks industrial action over the summer,’’ it said. “ The ITF and the ETF support all lawful industrial action undertaken by their national affiliates with the aim of winning a fair deal for workers.”

Ryanair only employs about a quarter of if its 8000 crew and outsources much of the work to agencies.

The carrier’s cabin crew in Spain, Portugal, Italy and Belgium are planning strikes, according to Bloomberg.

Pilots have also voted to take strike action in its home market of Ireland next week.

The Irish Air Line Pilots Association told Bloomberg a poll of cockpit crew produced a 94 to 1 vote in favor of industrial action with a walkout set for July 12.

Ryanair has described the demands as “pointless” and says cabin crew get sick pay, a 400-euro annual uniform allowance and could earn up to 40,000 euros a year.

Check it out before you fly with Emirates’ virtual reality

Steve Creedy

Want to know what you’re getting into — or even what you’re not getting into but would probably like to — before you hop on an Emirates aircraft?

Now you can.

The airline is offering 3-D immersive web virtual reality technology to allow you to explore the cabins on its Airbus A380 and, soon, its Boeing 777 aircraft.

The technology gives you a 360-degree view and is easy use as long as you pay attention to the small icons.

In first class, you start out in the aisle but by clicking on an icon can enter suite 2K. Clicking on more icons gives you a brief of various features in the suite such as entertainment options and the minibar.

You can turn the cabin mood lighting on or off but don’t bother pressing any of the buttons on the seats — they don’t do anything.

The feature is available for all three classes and for the onboard bar and the first class shower spa on the A380.

READ Boeing 777X in good shape says Emirates

A useful feature in economy is that it shows you what an extra legroom seat looks like. You can also check out a window seat.

Another button allows you to switch between decks allowing those in economy to shoot upstairs to see how the other half travels.

This new feature is available on emirates.com and users can get a hands-free 3D experience by using any virtual reality headset such as Google Cardboard.

The software, created in conjunction with award winners Renacen, is also compatible with all devices without the need for external applications or plugins.

Emirates senior vice president Alex Knigge said the airline continued to invest in a world-class digital experience for passengers and pleased to be the world’s first airline to introduce the cutting-edge web VR technology.

‘In our usability tests with customers, we found that they particularly appreciated the 3D seat and cabin models when selecting their seats,” he said.

The airline said customers accessing emirates.com via their mobile devices or the Emirates app for iOS and Android will also be able to explore their seats before checking in online with the 3D seat map.

This tool allows customers to navigate from one seat to another and to book their preferred seats from within the 3D environment.

Sydney Airport trials facial recognition to ease passenger pain

Steve Creedy

facial recognition Sydney Airport — A Qantas facial recognition check-in kiosk at Sydney Airport. Photo: Sydney Airport.

Sydney Airport is facing the future in more ways than one as it begins a trial of sophisticated biometrics aimed at improving the way passengers move through its facilities.

The airport is working with Australian carrier Qantas to trial facial recognition technology to give passengers a “couch-to-gate” experience.

Once fully tested, officials say, passengers will be able to complete most stages of their journey through the airport using their face as their access identification.

The initial phase of the trial will test the facial recognition technology in four key steps in the passenger journey: check-in, bag drop, lounge access and boarding. Additional steps proposed for future trials include mobile check-in and automated border processing.

The trial will involve Qantas international passengers but for now they will still need to use their boarding passes and border security will remain unchanged.

Participating passengers also need to consent to the trial, which promises it will adhere to the strictest privacy standards and comply with all relevant legislation.

A Sydney Airport spokeswoman said the trial at this stage was about data collection and matching and the manual system would run alongside the new system so the latter could be validated.

“Over time, the trial is collecting data of the selected Qantas passengers and moving them through that process so we can see where there are additional things that need to happen and also getting feedback from customers,’’ she said.

Sydney Airport chief executive Geoff Culbert said the test was the most extensive biometrics trial to date and part of a broader focus on investing in technology to make the airport experience easier and more convenient for passengers.

“We’ve worked with Qantas from the outset and are delighted to be partnering with them as we trial this technology,’’ he said

“In the future, there will be no more juggling passports and bags at check-in and digging through pockets or smartphones to show your boarding pass – your face will be your passport and your boarding pass at every step of the process.”

Qantas Chief Customer Officer Vanessa Hudson said there was an increasing need for airlines and airports to offer faster and more convenient airport experiences.

“Qantas customers will not only be able to check in for their flight using the technology, it is also available for our lounge staff who can create a more personalized experience when passengers arrive,” she said.

A number of airports globally have been investigating facial recognition as a way of boosting throughput and making life easier for passengers.

READ: Orlando to achieve US first with full international biometric boarding

The Airports Council International and the International Air Transport Association are working together on a range of projects to make the system more efficient and effective and allow to cope with strong growth in the sector.

These include the New Experience in Travel and Technologies (NEXTT) project looking at how the industry and government can work together to take advantage of new and emerging technologies to make airport processes smoother, faster and cheaper.

Virgin Australia connects Perth and Hobart

Steve Creedy

Virgin Australia is promising cheaper, quicker flights between Tasmania and Western Australia when it links Hobart and Perth from September 17.

The three times weekly service operated by Boeing 737 aircraft recognizes Tasmania’s growing popularity as a tourism destination as well as the lure for Tasmanians of Western Australia’s café and beach culture.

The new service will provide almost 55,000 seats between the two state capitals, creating what Virgin Australia general manager network, revenue and alliances Russell Shaw described as “an important connection between two unique capital cities”.

Operating, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, it will save at least an hour of travel and means passengers can avoid connecting through Melbourne. Fares start from $A269 one-way.

“Virgin Australia is proud to deliver a faster, more convenient and affordable way to travel between Hobart and Perth,” Shaw said.

Virgin has increased capacity to Tasmania by up to 24 percent.

It recently added two return services per week to Hobart from Brisbane and two from Sydney. It also added a seasonal Brisbane-Launceston return service.

Tasmanian officials welcomed the tourism benefits of the new Perth route.

“The Tasmanian Government warmly welcomes this new service which will increase the opportunity for people to experience Tasmania’s unrivaled natural environment, world-class produce and events,” Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman said.

Virgin also this week started daily flights from Sydney to Hong Kong and announced it would return its Melbourne-Hong Kong service to a daily footing.

READ Virgin Australia to service Hong Kong daily from Sydney and Melbourne.

Both services use Airbus A330 aircraft and the move means there will less of the popular A330 product on Australian trans-continental routes.

This is a blow to travelers that Virgin Australia boss John Borghetti has indicated would be softened by the introduction of a new business class on the less popular Boeing 737s.

However, the airline has yet to release details or timing for the new 737 product.

Seat crunch to live on after FAA rejects rule change

Steve Creedy

Korean Air boss rejects economy crush — No go on Korean Air long-haul.

Guard your knees — the US Federal Aviation Administration will not be changing the rules on economy legroom after rejecting claims that cramped conditions and bigger passengers pose a safety risk.

The FAA also indicated it does not have a problem with seat pitches — the distance between seats — as low as 27 inches, although it doubted airlines could sell a configuration that tight. The lowest seat pitch currently is about 28 inches but many legacy carriers offer 31 to 32 inches.

In a decision that will be welcomed by airlines, the FAA told advocacy group Flyers Rights in a letter that it has no evidence that there is an immediate safety issue requiring a change to existing rules.

The US regulator said nothing in letters or submissions from the consumer organization “demonstrates that current seat dimensions (width and pitch) hamper the speed of passenger evacuation, or that increasing passenger size creates an evacuation issue.”

“The reason that seat width and pitch, even in combination with increasing passenger size, do not hamper the speed of an evacuation is the timeline and sequence of evacuation,’’ the FAA said.

“The time it takes passengers to get out of their seats, even if those seats are relatively narrow and close together, is less than the time it takes for the emergency exits to begin functioning and for the line that begins forming in the aisle to clear.”

The FAA was forced to revisit the issue after a federal court judge last year ordered it to address concerns about what she described as “the incredibly shrinking airline seat”.

READ: Seat crunch court ruling could affect the way we fly.

“As many have no doubt noticed, aircraft seats and the spacing between them have been getting smaller and smaller, while American passengers have been growing in size,” Judge Patricia Millett said.

The court ruling came after Flyers Rights petitioned the FAA in 2015 to regulate seat space.

The agency refused so Flyers Rights took legal action, arguing that narrower seats and closer spacing were “endangering the safety, health and comfort of airline passengers.”

In her ruling, Willet expressed doubts about an FAA assertion that seat spacing did not affect the safety or speed of passenger evacuations.

“To support that conclusion, the Administration pointed to (at best) off-point studies and undisclosed tests using unknown parameters,” she said.

The FAA, which has made available videos of evacuation tests for public review, said it had no evidence that a typical passenger, even a larger one, would take more than a couple of seconds to get out of his or her seat.

It noted that although some airlines had operated with a seat pitch of less than 30 inches for decades, pitches below 30 inches “are still not common today”.

Seat pitch was also unlikely to go below 27 inches under current technology and regulations, it said.

Regulations require that seats did not deform in a crash to a point where they impede egress and the FAA said this effectively resulted in a minimum of nine inches between the front of the seat cushion to the nearest point on the back of the seat in front.

It said seat bottoms were typically 18 inches front-to-back and had been for many years. This meant the pitch of a compliant seat was unlikely to go below 27 inches “even if a carrier could persuade passengers to purchase tickets for flights with seat pitches that low”.

The FAA’s decision comes after airline chiefs attending the International Air Transport Association annual meeting in Sydney last month warned against any move to regulate the amount of leg room provided to economy passengers.

READ Airline chiefs warn against legroom regulation

Eat like on an astronaut with Lufthansa’s ‘space food’

Steve Creedy

Luftnasa space food ISS Gerst — Astronaut Alexander Gerst with one of LG Group's creations. Photo: Lufthansa

Lufthansa passengers will get a taste of space travel on some long-haul flights as the German carrier offers food developed for astronauts on the International Space Station as part of its business class menu.

The chicken ragout with mushrooms is one of the options developed by LSG Group, Lufthansa caterer, for European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst and his crew.

it is available on long-haul flights departing Germany in July and August.

Gerst, a geophysicist and the space station’s first German commander, started the “Horizons’ mission June 6 and was supplied with “bonus” meals developed by LSG in consultation with the space agency.

WATCH Virgin Galactic fires up.

The meals are in addition to the usual fare of the ISS crew will be consumed on special occasions to foster team spirit and motivate them during their six-month stay aboard the station.

LSG had to consider the particular requirements of food meant to be consumed in zero gravity and developed six special meals requested by Gertz.

They included typical dishes from the astronaut’s home region, Swabia, such as Maultaschen and Spätzle, and his preferred international dishes, such as Chicken Ragout with Mushrooms.

“In order to ensure that the meals fulfilled the specific health and safety requirements of the mission, the LSG Group team needed to design them to be low sodium and able to maintain a shelf life of two years,’’ Lufthansa said.

The latest mission is conducting research into areas ranging from cancer, the immune system, robotics and quantum physics.

A new member of the crew is CIMON “the flying brain”, a medicine ball-sized intelligent assistant developed by European aerospace giant Airbus and IBM.