Tag: Berlin (Page 3 of 4)

Mongolian Airlines to Welcome First Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

December 19, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

The Dreamliner will open direct flights between Ulaanbaatar, Berlin, Paris and the West Coast of the U.S.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines (Mongolyn Irgenii Agaaryn Teever) will soon welcome the first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to its fleet, as the airline looks to connect its home base in Ulaanbaatar with major European and North American cities beginning in 2021.

The 787-9 – the longest-range version of Boeing’s Dreamliner widebody airplane – will join MIAT’s fleet via lease from Air Lease Corporation.

“Our vision is to become a globally recognized Mongolian national flag carrier, and we are making a significant step forward by adding the first 787-9 Dreamliner to our fleet,” said Battur Davaakhuu, President and CEO, MIAT Mongolian Airlines. “The Mongolian Dreamliner will fly our passengers direct and in unmatched comfort to their dream destinations. Today is a proud day for MIAT and for all Mongolians.”

The Mongolian flag carrier joins other airlines in Asia – including Hainan Airlines, All Nippon Airways and Vietnam Airlines – that operate long-distance routes using the super-efficient, long-range 787-9. The airplane can fly up to 7,635 nautical miles (14,140 km).

Los Angeles-based ALC purchased the airplane and is providing a long-term leasing agreement for its delivery to MIAT.

“ALC is honored to announce this significant lease placement with MIAT Mongolian Airlines and be the first to introduce the airline to the Dreamliner,” said Steven F. Udvar-Házy, Executive Chairman of Air Lease Corporation. “We are proud to support the national carrier as it expands its fleet with the most technologically advanced aircraft to connect Mongolia with the rest of the world.”

Since the 787’s introduction in 2011, Boeing has booked over 1,400 orders from more than 80 customers. The company will now count MIAT as its newest Dreamliner operator.

“It will be wonderful to see the 787 Dreamliner in MIAT Mongolian Airlines’ livery flying in and out of Ulaanbaatar and connecting Mongolia with key destinations across Asia and Europe. The airline has continued to build on its proud aviation history by modernizing its fleet and operations. We are honored MIAT has selected the 787 and its superior fuel efficiency and range to profitably grow their international network,” said Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing at Boeing. “We are delighted to partner with leading lessor ALC, which has a tremendous portfolio of 787 Dreamliners and other advanced jets, to open a new chapter in MIAT’s history.”

The 787 Dreamliner – the fastest-selling widebody jet in history – allows airlines to reduce fuel use and emissions by 20 to 25 percent and serve far-away destinations. The combination of unrivaled fuel efficiency and long range has helped airlines save more than 36 billion pounds of fuel and opened more than 235 nonstop routes.

MIAT is a leading national carrier dedicated to connecting Mongolia with the rest of the world by providing air transportation services of the highest quality, reliability and efficiency. Based in Ulaanbaatar, the airline currently operates a fleet of four Next-Generation 737s, one 737 MAX and two 767 airplanes.

Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company and leading provider of commercial airplanes, defense, space and security systems, and global services. As the top U.S. exporter, the company supports commercial and government customers in more than 150 countries. Boeing employs more than 150,000 people worldwide and leverages the talents of a global supplier base. Building on a legacy of aerospace leadership, Boeing continues to lead in technology and innovation, deliver for its customers and invest in its people and future growth.

Tesla Move will Draw Further Companies into Germany

December 1, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Tesla’s announcement earlier this month that it will build its first European factory near Berlin will draw further companies from the electric mobility and energy storage sectors into Germany, a state premier told newspaper Die Welt.

“They are already on their way. I’m hearing there are further inquiries with the communities and the regional business development programme. Tesla will cause other companies to follow,” said Dietmar Woidke, premier of the eastern German state of Brandenburg that surrounds Berlin.

He said Brandenburg was already in talks with other companies, declining to identify them due to confidentiality agreements. “I expect that we can announce it before Christmas,” Woidke said.

Tesla’s move is a big boost for Germany as a centre for manufacturing after BMW and Daimler in recent years chose to build new factories in Hungary, and after its auto industry was hit hard by Volkswagen’s admission in 2015 that it cheated U.S. diesel emissions tests.

(Reporting by Christoph Steitz; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

Brandenburg’s PM Woidke speaks speaks to the media on Tesla European factory in Potsdam

Vodafone Extends Tech Partnership with Ryanair

November 19, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

FILE PHOTO: Different types of 4G, 5G and data radio relay antennas for mobile phone networks are pictured on a relay mast operated by Vodafone in Berlin

LONDON (Reuters) – Vodafone <VOD> has secured a seven-year technology partnership with Ryanair <RYAAY> to handle services including online booking, passenger boarding and in-flight transactions for the Irish airline in Europe.

The two companies said on Wednesday they had extended an existing partnership for Vodafone Business to support 300 Ryanair sites and some 153 million passengers across 40 countries.

As part of the agreement, the British mobile company will help Europe’s biggest budget airline to speed up the time it takes to connect a new airport or site for use. It should also lead to a faster turnaround of planes.

“Airline passengers will demand even more in the coming years, and we will work alongside Ryanair to help them prepare for the future using our full portfolio of products and services,” said Vinod Kumar, head of Vodafone Business.

Vodafone Business is the mobile operator’s enterprise arm that offers cloud IT services and the connection of unlimited devices on its Internet of Things network for small and multinational companies.

Vodafone Business accounted for 30% of group service revenue in its financial year ending March 31, 2019.

(Reporting by Kate Holton; Editing by Mark Potter)

Germany to Hike Electric Car Subsidies as VW Launches Car

November 4, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

– Germany to expand electric car infrastructure

– German Chancellor asks industry to help with charging

– Volkswagen unveils start of production of its ID.3 electric car

BERLIN, Nov 4 (Reuters) – Germany plans to increase by half the grants available to buyers of electric cars over the five years from 2020, according to a government document seen by Reuters, the latest in a series of measures to speed the adoption of low-emissions vehicles.

According to the document, due to be discussed at a meeting of high-level government and car-company officials on Monday evening, grants for plug-in hybrids will rise from 3,000 to 4,500 euros. For vehicles priced over 40,000 euros the grants will rise to 5,000 euros.

The government wants to have 10 million electric vehicles on the roads by 2030, part of an offensive designed to turn round the German car industry’s perceived laggard status in e-mobility compared to its rivals in the United States and China.

The paper came to light on the day that Chancellor Angela Merkel gave a speech at Volkswagen’s Zwickau factory, where the German watched the carmaker start mass production of its ID.3 electric car, a vehicle costing around 30,000 euros.

“We can now say that Zwickau is a pillar of today’s German auto industry and of its future,” Merkel said at the launch. “Our task as politicians is to create a framework where new technological innovations can take hold.”

Merkel said the government would invest 3.5 billion euros ($3.90 billion) to 2035 in building charging stations for electric cars.

On Sunday she had said Germany needed 1 million charging stations by 2030 and urged carmakers and utility companies to play their part in helping to build the necessary infrastructure.

As part of an auto industry push, BMW plans to build 4,000 electric car charging stations, a source familiar with the discussions said on Monday.

In September, at the Frankfurt auto show, Europe’s carmakers warned governments that the EU rules could be disastrous for profits and jobs because mainstream customers were not buying electric vehicles.

German carmakers are accelerating plans to launch electric vehicles, under pressure from a European Union mandate to deliver a 37.5% cut in carbon dioxide emissions between 2021 and 2030, on top of a 40% cut in emissions between 2007 and 2021.

($1 = 0.8970 euros)

(Reporting by Markus Wacket in Berlin and Joern Poltz in Munich, writing by Thomas Escritt and Edward Taylor; editing by Paul Carrel)

Alstom Digital Train Control System Enters Service on Wuppertal Suspension Railway

September 8, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

A new version of Alstom’s Atlas ETCS train control system has entered service on the Wuppertal Suspension Railway (Wuppertaler Schwebebahn), located in western Germany. Following a contract signed with WSW mobil GmbH, Alstom equipped the entire suspended route, including 31 new vehicles and the century-old imperial wagon (Kaiserwagen), with ETCS, the European standard for train control systems.

The entry into service marks the completion of Alstom’s first full train control and signalling contract in Germany. It comprises line-side equipment, such as interlocking, radio block centre (RBC) and necessary line elements via train control systems, as well as an interface to the computer-aided operation control system.

The Wuppertal project represents the very first application of ERTMS Level 3 in which track occupancy is solely realised using train localisation performed by the ETCS equipment onboard the train. Alstom replaced the traditional trackside train detection systems such as axle counters with a digital signalling system whereby the ETCS-equipped vehicles communicate their positions directly to the central computer (or RBC) via radio.

“With the successful implementation of this project, Wuppertal is the first city in Germany to use the European train control system in urban transport. ETCS does not only provide for safer and more efficient train operation, but also serves as a basis for many future technologies,” says Jörg Nikutta, Managing Director of Alstom in Germany and Austria.

Alstom’s ETCS system Atlas was developed in Charleroi (Belgium), while the system components were produced at Alstom’s sites in Villeurbanne (France) and Bologna (Italy). The systems are installed and commissioned in Wuppertal by Alstom staff from Charleroi, Salzgitter and Berlin.

Alstom is market leader for ETCS on-board equipment. Since 2006, Alstom has equipped 8,200 vehicles (3,200 of which are already in operation) and for 18,000 kilometres of line (7,000 in operation) with ETCS equipment. A large part of DB’s ICE fleet has also been running with Alstom’s ETCS technologies on the high-speed line between Berlin and Munich since 2017.

Check out the video about the Wuppertaler Schwebebahn

Bombardier Delivers Final B-series Trains to Perth, Australia

June 24, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Bombardier has supplied and maintained 78 B-series Electric Multiple Units over the last 15 years for Western Australia’s Public Transport Authority (PTA) in a joint venture with Downer EDI

Mobility solution provider Bombardier Transportation announced today that its Australian joint venture with Downer EDI, known as EDI Rail Bombardier Transportation Pty Ltd, is celebrating the final delivery of the B-Series Electric Multiple Unit trains for Western Australia’s Public Transport Authority (PTA). This occasion, which relates to the contract signed in 2016 for 30 additional railcars, was commemorated with an acceptance ceremony for the final train at the Nowergup Rail Depot which was attended by Rita Saffioti, Minister of Transport, Planning and Lands, Western Australia and Elwyn Gearon, General Manager, Transperth Train Operations.

Wendy McMillan, President, South East Asia and Australia region said, “We are very proud to complete the delivery of the B-Series EMU train fleet to the full satisfaction of PTA and providing a comfortable and reliable transport solution for over 60 million commuters every year.” She added, “Bombardier and PTA have worked together for over 30 years and we will continue as long-term partners on local initiatives including development of skilled and sustainable jobs, building a strategic supplier base, enhancing engineering capabilities and offering new technologies and expertise to the important Western Australia mobility ecosystem.”

The 15-year journey for Perth’s B-series train sets included the design, assembly and maintenance by the Bombardier Joint Venture (JV) in Australia. The trains have been manufactured at Downer’s facility in Maryborough, Queensland, with electrical pre-assembly work undertaken by Bombardier at its Australian manufacturing facility in Dandenong, Victoria. With an initial order of 31 three car trainsets, the first train entered service in 2004 and the final delivery will now see a total of 78 EMU trains in service. The Bombardier JV will also continue to provide Fleet Maintenance services to PTA for Transperth’s A- and B- series train fleets until 2026 and employ over 130 people across three sites including Nowergup, which manages the maintenance of the entire B-Series fleet.

The B- series EMU platform has been locally designed by Bombardier in Australia. This latest delivery adds to the more than 1,200-strong EMU vehicle fleet of various designs already operating at high reliability and availability delivered across Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia by Bombardier over the past 40 years.

Bombardier has been investing in Australia for more than 70 years. As a trusted rail industry partner with over 1,000 employees, Bombardier designs, engineers, manufactures and maintains rolling stock across Australia, along with providing signalling, rail equipment, asset management and through-life support to customers and operators.

About Bombardier Transportation

Bombardier Transportation is a global mobility solution provider leading the way with the rail industry’s broadest portfolio. It covers the full spectrum of solutions, ranging from trains to sub-systems and signalling to complete turnkey transport systems, e-mobility technology and data-driven maintenance services. Combining technology and performance with empathy, Bombardier Transportation continuously breaks new ground in sustainable mobility by providing integrated solutions that create substantial benefits for operators, passengers and the environment. Headquartered in Berlin, Germany, Bombardier Transportation employs around 40,650 people and its products and services operate in over 60 countries.

Lufthansa Orders 40 Boeing 787-9, Airbus A350-900 Airplanes

March 13, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

BERLIN (Reuters) – Lufthansa has ordered 20 Boeing 787-9 and 20 additional Airbus A350-900 long-haul planes to replace its older four-engine aircraft as it seeks to boost the fuel efficiency of its fleet, the airlines group said on Wednesday.

The German company said it has also agreed to sell six of its 14 Airbus A380 planes back to Airbus in 2022/2023 for economic reasons.

Airbus said last month it would scrap production of the A380 superjumbo from 2021 following lacklustre sales. The decision reflected a dearth of orders as airline bosses shied away from bulky, larger planes that are harder to fill.

Qatar airways said last week it would phase out its A380 planes from 2024.

Lufthansa said the new aircraft will be delivered between late 2022 and 2027. It did not disclose how much it had paid for the planes which have a list-price investment volume of $12 billion (9.1 billion pounds), but said it had negotiated a significant price cut.

“In addition to the cost-effectiveness of the A350 and B787, the significantly lower CO2 emissions of this new generation of long-haul aircraft was also a decisive factor in our investment decision,” Chief Executive Carsten Spohr said in a statement.

Lufthansa currently operates a long-haul fleet of 199 aircraft. It said the new, more economical aircraft will lower its operating cost compared to earlier models by around 20 percent.

The airline will also seek to reduce the complexity of its fleet over the next few years by taking seven aircraft types out of service to help reduce maintenance costs and the supply of replacement parts.

(Reporting by Caroline Copley; editing by Thomas Seythal and Michelle Martin)

German Government in Talks with Airbus on 600 million Euro A380 Loan

March 4, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

BERLIN (Reuters) – The German government on Monday said it was in talks with Airbus about 600 million euros (514 million pounds) in outstanding loans for developing the A30 superjumbo jet, which Airbus now plans to scrap.

A spokeswoman for the German Economy Ministry confirmed the value of the outstanding loans, first reported by Funke Mediengruppe newspaper chain, but said it was premature to discuss how the issue would be resolved.

“We are analysing the consequences and discussing the issue with the company,” the spokeswoman told a regular government news conference.

(Reporting by Andreas Rinke and Tassilo Hummel; Writing by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Michelle Martin)

A380-family-stage

Airbus and Dassault Sign Joint Concept Study Contract

February 6, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Paris / Munich, 6 February 2019 – France and Germany have awarded the first-ever contract – a Joint Concept Study (JCS) – to Dassault Aviation (stock exchange symbol: AM) and Airbus (stock exchange symbol: AIR) for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme. The launch of the JCS was announced by the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, and her German counterpart, Ursula von der Leyen, at a meeting today in Paris.

The decision by both countries represents a milestone to secure European sovereignty and technological leadership in the military aviation sector for the coming decades. Starting date for the two-year study is 20 February 2019.

Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, said: “This new step is the cornerstone to ensure tomorrow’s European strategic autonomy. We, as Dassault Aviation, will mobilize our competencies as System Architect and Integrator, to meet the requirements of the Nations and to keep our continent as a world-class leader in the crucial field of
Air Combat Systems.”

Dirk Hoke, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, said: “FCAS is one of the most ambitious European defence programmes of the century. With today’s contract signature, we are finally setting this high-technology programme fully in motion. Both companies are committed to providing the best solutions to our Nations with regard to the New Generation Fighter as well as the systems of systems accompanying it. We are truly excited about having been given this opportunity and appreciate the trust placed in both our companies.”

This planned Next Generation Weapons System will consist of a highly capable manned “New Generation Fighter” (NGF) teaming with a set of new and upgraded weapons as well as a set of unmanned systems (Remote Carriers) linked by a Combat Cloud and its Ecosystem embedded in a System-of-Systems FCAS architecture.

The JCS is based on the bi-nationally agreed High Level Common Operational Requirements Document (HLCORD) signed at Berlin Air Show ILA in April 2018 between the Defence Ministers of France and Germany as well as respective national concept studies.

Its aim is to conceptualise the different FCAS capabilities and to pave the way for future design, industrialisation, as well as an estimated full operational capability by 2040. The study will prepare and initiate demonstrator programmes for launch at the Paris Air Show in June 2019.

Rafale B de l’Armée de l’Air Française en opérations extérieures (Opération Serval) – Vue en vol au dessus du Mali. Equipé de la nacelle Damoclès et de GBU-12.

Story from http://www,airbus.com Image from http://dassault-aviation.com

United Announces New Nonstop Between Denver and Frankfurt

November 29, 2018 / WIL BALDWIN

DENVER, Nov. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — United Airlines (UAL), the U.S. carrier with the most service to Germany, today announced it will begin its 15th daily nonstop flight between the United States and Germany from its hub at Denver International Airport. The airline announced it will begin year-round service between Denver and Frankfurt, Germany, beginning May 2, 2019, subject to government approval. Tickets are now available for purchase on united.com.

United’s new service between Denver and Frankfurt is the only nonstop service from Denver to Germany by a U.S. carrier and is the airline’s ninth flight between the United States and Frankfurt. United currently operates daily nonstop service between Frankfurt and its hubs in Chicago, Houston, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington Dulles.

Denver (DEN) – Frankfurt (FRA) starts May 2, 2019
Flight	Frequency	City Pair	Depart	Arrive	Aircraft
UA 182	Daily	DEN – FRA	3:40 p.m.	09:20 a.m. ⁺¹ ^day	Boeing 787
UA 181	Daily	FRA – DEN	11:05 a.m.	1:20 p.m.	Boeing 787

From Denver, United will connect more than 60 cities across the Western United States including Las Vegas, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Seattle to Frankfurt.

“United is committed to expanding our global network for our customers and our employees and we are excited to continue this growth with the addition of new service between Denver and Frankfurt,” said Patrick Quayle, United’s vice president of International Network. “From the mid-continent United States to the rest of the world, United offers customers more choice and more international flights and destinations than any other carrier.”

United Airlines has served the Denver community since 1937 and is the only airline to continuously operate service in Denver – operating 6.5 million flights and serving more than 580 million customers.

“We are appreciative to have such a great partnership with United Airlines and that they continue to grow and invest in Denver with the addition of this new year-round transatlantic service,” said DEN CEO Kim Day.

United Airlines in Germany

United Airlines has continuously served Germany for more than 28 years, when the airline began daily service between Frankfurt and its Chicago and Washington Dulles hubs. In addition to United’s new daily service between Denver and Frankfurt, the airline offers customers daily, year-round service to Frankfurt from its hubs in Chicago, Houston, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington Dulles. United also operates daily nonstop service from Munich to Chicago, Houston, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington Dulles, and year-round nonstop service between New York/Newark and Berlin/Tegel. Additionally, United offers seasonal service between Munich and San Francisco. All flights are conveniently timed to connect at United’s U.S. hubs with an extensive connecting network to destinations throughout the United States and beyond.

United Airlines in Denver

Denver International Airport, a United hub since 1937, offers customers more than 400 flights daily across its domestic network and more than 15 international flights to key business and leisure destinations in five countries in Europe, Asia and the Americas. The airport is the region’s key gateway to international economic and tourism development.

Customers traveling to the U.S. from Frankfurt can conveniently connect to hundreds of U.S. destinations including easy connecting services between Denver and Jackson Hole and Aspen, popular ski destinations for European visitors.

About United

United Airlines and United Express operate approximately 4,700 flights a day to 356 airports across five continents. In 2017, United and United Express operated more than 1.6 million flights carrying more than 148 million customers. United is proud to have the world’s most comprehensive route network, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark/New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. United operates 760 mainline aircraft and the airline’s United Express carriers operate 546 regional aircraft. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 193 countries via 28 member airlines. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United’s parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol “UAL”.

SOURCE United Airlines

For further information: United Airlines Worldwide Media Relations, 872-825-8640, media.relations@united.com

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