The Week in brief
- Boeing has broadened its Landing Gear Overhaul and Exchange Program to include the 777-200LR (longer range), 777 Freighter and 777-300ER (extended range) models. The company believes this expansion will provide customers with greater landing gear support service. After all, Boeing Director of Material Services Landing Gear Programs John Borst remarked, “landing gear exchange is a proven service that helps airlines operate more efficiently by providing service-ready landing gear when they need them."
- Fiji's Air Pacific has canceled its order for eight Boeing B787s. Air Pacific originally ordered five of these aircraft in 2006 and had taken purchase rights on three additional 787-9s. The aircraft were scheduled to be delivered this year. No reasons for the cancellation were given.
- TAP Cargo will begin five weekly flights between Miami and Lisbon this summer. According to TAP Cargo, it hopes to capture more traffic between Europe and Miami with the launch of these direct flights. Moreover, the company also aspires to increase traffic between Portugal and Latin America. This summer, TAP will also operate seven weekly Lisbon-to-Newark, N.J., flights and three Oporto, Portugal,-to-Newark flights.
- Copa Airlines has secured guaranteed funding for five 737-800 aircraft scheduled for delivery this year from J.P. Morgan. The $178.5 million loan includes 12-year financing terms and will back all direct Boeing purchases scheduled for delivery to Copa Airlines in 2011. “We are very pleased with J.P. Morgan’s support in securing our 2011 aircraft financing needs under very competitive terms. These five 737-800s will play an important role in our future growth plans,” Copa Holdings CFO Victor Vial said in a statement.
- National Airlines has joined the list of freight carriers at Dubai World Central (DWC) — Al Maktoum International airport. Its maiden flight was a B747-400BCF departing from Hong Kong. Andrew Walsh, vice president, cargo and logistics, Dubai Airports, believes the addition of National Airlines will benefit both parties. “It’s a great proposition for both National Airlines, which is major player in the freight business, as well as for DWC, which is still in its early stages, but is destined to become Dubai’s airport of the future in the coming decade,” Walsh said in a statement. With the inclusion of National Airlines, Al Maktoum International is now home to 18 different airlines.
- The Japanese airline Star Flyer has ordered two A320 aircraft from Airbus. The planes are the airline's first purchase — it operates five leased A320s — and Star Flyer plans to use the vehicles on increased routings in Japan and to Korea.
