Tag: US (Page 3 of 8)

President Trump Bans Cuban Flights, Except for Havana

October 25, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

WASHINGTON/HAVANA, Oct 25 (Reuters) – The U.S. government said on Friday it would bar U.S. airlines from flying to all destinations in Cuba besides Havana starting on Dec. 10 as the Trump administration boosts pressure on the Cuban government.

The U.S. Transportation Department said in a notice it was taking the action at the request of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to “further the administration’s policy of strengthening the economic consequences to the Cuban regime for its ongoing repression of the Cuban people and its support for Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela.”

The move will bar U.S. air carrier flights to any of the nine international airports in Cuba other than Havana and impact about 8 flights a day.

The prohibition does not impact charter flights. There are no foreign air carriers providing direct scheduled flights between the United States and Cuba.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said in a tweet that his country strongly condemned the move and that it “strengthened restrictions on U.S. travel to Cuba and its citizens’ freedoms.”

Rodriguez said sanctions would not force Cuba to make concessions to U.S. demands.

These flights carry almost exclusively Cuban Americans visiting home at a time when the Trump administration has drastically reduced visas for Cubans visiting the United States. Some 500,000 Cuban Americans traveled to Cuba last year.

The new measure takes effect soon before Christmas and New Year’s when Cuban Americans flock to the island for family reunions.

Further restrictions on Americans traveling to Cuba would be aimed at squeezing the island economically and expanding Trump’s steady rollback of the historic opening to Cuba by Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama. The reversal, along with his pressure on Venezuela, has gone over well among Cuban Americans in South Florida, a key voting bloc in Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign.

Under Obama, the United States reintroduced U.S. airline service to Cuba in 2016. Pompeo said on Twitter on Friday that “this action will prevent the Castro regime from profiting from U.S. air travel and using the revenues to repress the Cuban people.”

According to U.S. officials, JetBlue Airways Corp flies to three destinations in Cuba in addition to Havana from Fort Lauderdale — Camaguey, Holguin and Santa Clara — and American Airlines flies to five Cuban cities beyond Havana from Miami — Camaguey, Holguin, Santa Clara, Santiago de Cuba and Matanzas/Varadero.

American Airlines said it is “reviewing the announcement and “will continue to comply with federal law, work with the administration, and update our policies and procedures regarding travel to Cuba as necessary.”

Jet Blue said it will “operate in full compliance with the new policy concerning scheduled air service between the United States and Cuba. We are beginning to work with our various government and commercial partners to understand the full impact of this change on our customers and operations.”

(Reporting by David Shepardson; additional reporting by Diane Bartz in Washington and Allison Lampert in Montreal; Editing by Chris Reese and Sandra Maler)

Azul Announces Nonstop Service Between Fort Lauderdale and Belo Horizonte, Brazil

August 26, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Three weekly flights starting December 16 – the only nonstop from South Florida to Belo Horizonte

SAO PAULO, Aug. 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — The city of Belo Horizonte, the state of Minas Gerias and its surrounding cities are now more connected than ever from South Florida. Azul, the largest airline in Brazil in terms of daily departures and destinations served announced today nonstop service from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Belo Horizonte in Brazil. Tickets are on sale across all Azul sales channels for the three weekly flights beginning December 16, 2019.

Belo Horizonte will be the fourth city served nonstop in Brazil from Fort Lauderdale. This makes Azul the largest Brazilian airline to serve South Florida in terms of destinations served. In addition to these nonstop destinations, Azul customers can conveniently connect to our 94 daily departures to 38 nonstop destinations from Belo Horizonte. Not only customers in South Florida, but all along the East coast from Boston to Raleigh, customers can connect in Fort Lauderdale to Brazil via our interline and codeshare partners in the US.

Fort Lauderdale is the second U.S. destination being served from Belo Horizonteafter Orlando. With the addition of this new flight, the State of Minas Gerais will have six weekly frequencies to the United States onboard our Airbus A330 aircraft, which accommodates up to 298 passengers.

“This announcement further strenghtens our position as Florida’s leading carrier serving Brazil. Together with our interline and codeshare partners, Azul offers unparalleled service from the entire United States, to more than 100 destinations in Brazil. We are sure our customers in the US will enjoy the award winning A330 widebody service, voted several times as the best Business class, and the best Economy class in South America” says Abhi Shah, Azul’s Chief Revenue Officer.

Service from Fort Lauderdale to Belo Horizonte will be operated by A330 widebody aircraft that feature the award winning Azul Business, Azul Economy Extra and Azul Economy. Each seat features inidivual in-seat IFE along with our award winning customer service.

Boeing Selected for A-10 Thunderbolt II Re-Winging Contract

August 21, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

– Eleven-year award builds on more than a decade of A-10 support

PLANO, Texas, Aug. 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Boeing (NYSE: BA) will continue its legacy of A-10 Thunderbolt II sustainment work under an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract award from the U.S. Air Force (USAF), with a maximum ceiling value of $999 million.

Under the contract, which was competitively awarded, Boeing will be responsible for managing the production of a maximum of 112 wing sets and spare kits. The USAF ordered 27 wing sets immediately at contract award.

“Boeing is honored to be selected to continue as the A-10 Thunderbolt II wing kit contractor,” said Pam Valdez, vice president of Air Force Services for Boeing Global Services. “Our established supply base, experience with the A-10 structures, and our in-depth knowledge of the U.S. Air Force’s requirements will help us deliver high-quality wings to meet the customer’s critical need.”

Boeing will team with Korean Aerospace Industries and other key suppliers to deliver the first wing sets to Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah.

Under a previous contract, Boeing delivered 173 enhanced wing assemblies.

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.

Saab Signs Contract to provide Belgium with a Combat Training Centre

August 19, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Saab has signed a supply contract with the Belgian MoD for the deliveries of training systems to the Belgian Army. The order value is approximately SEK 160 million and deliveries will take place in 2021.

The contract includes providing a complete training centre with infantry simulators, anti-tank simulators, vehicle systems and communication systems for controlling, monitoring and collecting training data to enable detailed analysis of exercises. The support contract will be negotiated separately later on.

One of the requirements was interoperability with NATO, and with Saab’s training system Belgium will be capable of participating in multinational exercises.

“This means Belgium will share the same standards as members in the Interoperability User Community (IUC). They can therefore take part in multinational exercises together with, among others, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the UK and the US 7thArmy,” says Åsa Thegström, head of the business unit Training & Simulation within Saab’s business area Dynamics.

“The Belgian Army has used our training systems for the last four years and have clearly seen the benefits of realistic training. This order strengthens our position as one of the world’s leading suppliers of solutions for combat training,” says Henrik Vassallo, head of the country unit France & Benelux within Saab’s market area Europe.

The business unit Training & Simulation develops, manufactures and markets advanced military training equipment, such as laser simulator systems, instrumented training systems and target equipment. It also provides service and maintenance for delivered systems.

British Airways Sale, a Pair of Club World Seats From £2019

August 12, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Today British Airways has launched a sale offering a pair of Club World (business class) seats from just £2019 return.

There are a range of destinations available for £2019 return for two, including top US destinations such as New York, Miami, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Washington and Dallas. Further afield the £2019 fare for two will take travellers to Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Other destinations are available for marginally more including Beijing, Hong Kong and Bangkok for £2998, Mumbai, Chennai, Lagos and Abuja for £2999, Antigua for £2305, Barbados for £2332 return and Toronto for £2399.

BA Holidays deals are also available, including:

Dubai: Club World flights plus three nights at a 4* hotel from £1069 per person
New York: Club World flights plus three nights at a 4* hotel from £1199 per person
Las Vegas: Club World flights plus three nights at a 4* hotel from £1149 per person
Dominican Republic: Club World flights plus seven nights all-inclusive at a 4* hotel from just £1359 per person

And there are deals to be had in other cabins too with two First class seats to New York and Miami respectively available from £3019.

Members of the airline’s Executive Club will benefit by saving with Avios part payment, securing the same £2019 deal for two people travelling together in Club World by paying just £619 return and 261,000 Avios.

Travel is for selected dates between August 13 and September 30, 2019 and customers need to book by August 19.

To book please visit ba.com/luxury-offers.

Ends August 12, 2019

Notes to editors:

Full terms and conditions can be found at ba.com/luxury-offers.
The sale runs between 12pm today, August 12, 2019 and 11.59pm on August 19, 2019.
Flights and holidays are subject to availability.

Trump Meets With Airline CEO’s Over Qatar Subsidies

July 20, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump met on Thursday with the chief executives of major American airlines to discuss their accusations that subsidies by Qatar and United Arab Emirates are costing jobs in the United States.

The meeting between Trump and the CEOs of American Airlines, United Airlines, JetBlue Airways Corp, FedEx Corp, and Atlas Air included Vice President Mike Pence, the White House said.

The meeting also included the CEO of state-owned Qatar Airways, Akbar al-Baker, who was also at the White House last week to tout its decision in June to buy five new Boeing 777 freighters.

The White House did not immediately provide details of the meeting.

Since 2015 the largest U.S. carriers – Delta Air Lines, American and United Airlines – have argued their Gulf rivals are being unfairly subsidized by their governments, distorting competition and costing U.S. jobs – something the Gulf carriers deny.

The Partnership for Open & Fair Skies, a group representing Delta, American, United and aviation unions, said it had a “productive meeting” with Trump.

“The president shares our concerns and instructed us to keep working with the U.S. Department of Transportation, which we plan to do,” Scott Reed, the group’s managing partner, said in a statement.

The CEOs of JetBlue, FedEx and Atlas Air have warned that restricting the rights of Qatar Airways could lead to retaliation against U.S. carriers and added, in an April letter, it could lead to “a rapid unravelling of hard-fought aviation rights around the world when other governments take similar action to shield their state-owned airlines from competition.”

Last week, the CEOs of Delta, United and American wrote a joint USA Today op-ed urging the White House to act “decisively to hold Qatar and the UAE accountable.” They suggested that failing to respond would “signal to other countries that they too are free to exploit American workers.”

In April, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the administration was scrutinizing Qatar Airways’ acquisition of a 49% stake in Air Italy, which has been flying to U.S. destinations since 2018 in a move seen by U.S. lawmakers as flouting a deal not to add new flights to the domestic market.

Both Republicans and Democrats in Congress have said they were concerned that the deal with the Italian carrier contravened an understanding Qatar Airways reached with the United States in early 2018.

Qatar Airways acquired the 49% of Italian airline Meridiana in 2017, rebranded it Air Italy and transformed it into a carrier with five announced nonstop U.S. destinations from Milan.

The Qatari government said in 2018 it was unaware of any plans to launch flights from Qatar to U.S. destinations via stops in Europe known as “Fifth Freedom” flights.

(Reporting by Steve Holland and David Shepardson; Additional reporting by Jeff Mason; editing by Marguerita Choy, Tom Brown and Richard Chang)

BAE Wins $45 Million Extended Range Cannon Contract

July 16, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

The U.S. Army has awarded BAE Systems a $45 million contract for the Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) Increment 1 prototype with the purpose of increasing the range and rate of fire on current and future M109A7 self-propelled howitzers.

The development of ERCA is in collaboration with the Army’s Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Armaments Center.

This prototype phase will address capability gaps in the Army’s indirect fire systems and improve the rate and range of fire with the development of power distribution software and hardware integration solutions. ERCA will be integrated onto the M109A7 and will require the M109A7’s current 39-caliber turret to be replaced with a 58-caliber, 30-foot long gun barrel with the objective of creating firepower double the current range.

“ERCA is a significant technological step forward for the Army’s artillery portfolio,” said Scott Davis, vice president or programs, BAE Systems’ Combat Vehicles business. “We were selected based on our years of experience in the development of self-propelled howitzer systems. Long-range precision fire is a top priority for the Army, and we are pleased to be a partner in efforts to equip soldiers with the latest technology.”

The development program aims to provide the warfighter with extended range while maintaining the weight found in current systems to minimize performance impacts on the chassis. Under separate contracts, BAE Systems is also developing precision guidance kits with anti-jamming capabilities (PGK-AJ) that can operate in the challenging ERCA firing environment. PGK-AJ is compatible with existing and new long-range rounds for multiple firing platforms, including the M109 self-propelled howitzer.

BAE Systems is currently producing the M109A7 configuration for the Army in the low-rate initial production phase.

Development work on ERCA Self Propelled Howitzer will take place at the Army’s Picatinny Arsenal and BAE Systems’ facilities in York, Pennsylvania; Sterling Heights, Michigan and Minneapolis, Minnesota.

F-35 Lightning II Sustainment Work Comes to Milwaukee

July 15, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

President Donald J. Trump visited Derco, which maintains one of the largest and most diversified aircraft spares inventories of over 75,000 unique parts, ensuring customers have the parts available to keep their aircraft flying. Photo by: Todd McQueen, Lockheed Martin

MILWAUKEE, July 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — During a visit to Derco, a Lockheed Martin company (NYSE: LMT), President Donald J. Trump announced more work is coming to Milwaukee. Derco will provide parts warehousing and distribution sustainment for the F-35 Lightning II, supporting the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy and allies around the world.

“From here in Milwaukee, you are supporting magnificent aircraft, and soon you’ll support the unstoppable, stealth F-35 Lightning II,” said President Trump. “I am thrilled to be back in the great state of Wisconsin with the extraordinary men and women of Derco. We are here today to celebrate the triumphant return of American manufacturing, and everything we are doing to keep the assembly lines rolling.”

Derco is growing its workforce by 15 percent by the end of the year. Because of its culture and skilled workforce, Derco has been named one of the Top Workplaces in Milwaukee for the past four years. Approximately 20 percent of Derco employees are veterans.

Derco initially will support the management and delivery of 1,500 different F-35 parts to locations around the globe. This increased work will create more skilled jobs for repair technicians, operations personnel and supply chain management experts.

The F-35 is the most advanced, survivable and connected fighter jet. The United States’ program of record is for 2,456 aircraft, and Lockheed Martin is set to deliver 1,000 more to allied nations.

To support the growing business, Derco is investing in its facility and is breaking ground to expand the campus. Derco is also looking to add to its 1,200 suppliers to develop repair capabilities for the F-35 in Milwaukee. Currently, the F-35 provides $1.2 million in economic impact across the supply chain in Wisconsin.

Photos of President’s Trump visit to Derco: https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-NPRRqk/

For additional information, visit our websites: www.f35.com and www.lockheedmartin.c om/derco

U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters from the 58th Fighter Squadron, 33rd Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla. perform an aerial refueling mission with a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 336th Air Refueling Squadron from March ARB, Calif., May 14, 2013 off the coast of Northwest Florida. The 33rd Fighter Wing is a joint graduate flying and maintenance training wing that trains Air Force, Marine, Navy and international partner operators and maintainers of the F-35 Lightning II. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Donald R. Allen/Released)

Strong SUV, Truck Demand Drive U.S. June Auto Sales Higher

July 2, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

July 2 (Reuters) – Automakers including Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV and Hyundai Motor Co on Tuesday reported a rise in U.S. sales for June, lifted by strong demand for sport utility vehicles and trucks.

Automakers have focused on selling the more profitable larger SUVs and trucks and had offered heavy discounts of up to 30% or more on their most popular models in June amid a slowdown in the broader market.

U.S. auto sales are slowing after a long bull-run that has satiated replacement demand.

Fiat Chrysler said its sales rose 1.9% to 206,083 vehicles in June, driven by a 45% surge in sales of its Ram trucks.

Hyundai said its sales rose 1.5% to 64,202 vehicles in the month, boosted by a 36% increase in sales of its Santa Fe sport utility vehicles.

GM and Ford are yet to report their sales numbers.

Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc said its June sales rose 10.5% to 12,317 vehicles due to an increase in sales of its seven-seater Outlander and Eclipse Cross SUV’s.

(Reporting by Ankit Ajmera in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli and James Emmanuel)

Ten Killed in Dallas Area Private Plane Crash

July 1, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

(Reuters) – Ten people were killed on Sunday when their private turboprop airplane crashed into a hangar during takeoff and burst into flames at the municipal airport in Addison, Texas, outside Dallas, an airport official said.

The twin-engine Beechcraft BE-350 King Air was destroyed by fire from the crash, according to Darci Neuzil, deputy director of Addison Airport, a general aviation facility located about 10 miles (17 km) north of downtown Dallas.

She said the plane had been headed for Florida when it took off at about 9 a.m. local time. Nobody on the ground was reported hurt, Neuzil added.

The plane had just lifted off the runway at the south end of the airport when it veered left, dropped its left wing and slammed into the hangar, the Dallas Morning News reported online, citing Addison fire department spokesman Edward Martelle.

There were no survivors among the 10 people who were aboard the aircraft, Neuzil said. Their identities were being kept confidential as authorities worked to notify next of kin.

“It’s a very sad day for Dallas County,” a local judge, Clay Jenkins, told the Dallas Morning News, which reported the plane had been en route to St. Petersburg, Florida. “My prayers are with the families we’re notifying about this tragedy.”

There was no official word on the cause of the crash. CBS News, citing unnamed sources, reported that the plane lost an engine on takeoff.

Video footage of the immediate aftermath showed flames and heavy, dark smoke billowing from the hangar, which according to local media was unoccupied at the time. Still photos posted online also showed a large gash in the side of the building.

Investigators from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board were due to arrive on the scene later in the day, Neuzil told Reuters.

No further details about the circumstances of the crash were immediately available, Neuzil said.

Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles and Daniel Wallis in New York; Editing by Sandra Maler

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