KiwiRail has welcomed the Government’s rapid review into its handling of disruptions to passenger services in Wellington earlier this year and has already moved to change its systems.
Improvements made include:
Use of the TEC to achieve network compliance is now part of a wider Infrastructure Integrated Plan, with a longer-term (12 month) plan around its use nationally. While there have been detailed operating plans for each area the TEC assesses, this change introduces a national level of oversight, linked into when track safety cases expire.
Developing robust processes and procedures around the escalation, prioritisation and approvals required where the TEC schedule cannot be met.This is an important backup if it is looking unlikely the TEC will be able to carry out required work in time. The issues that resulted in the Wellington disruption were escalated too late for KiwiRail to take effective action to avoid the speed restriction being put on the Kāpiti Line.
Developing better resilience around the TEC, through a review of the tasks needed to ensure its successful operation – including a review of existing staff resourcing and formalising training processes. This is to ensure the TEC is able to operate effectively.
Reviewing the maintenance programme for the TEC. The TEC is 41 years old and will be replaced in FY2027. A procurement process for a new vehicle is well underway. The maintenance programme review, and any changes that come from it, will help ensure the TEC can continue operating reliably until the new vehicle arrives.
General Manager Metros Jon Knight says KiwiRail has made a huge commitment to the local commuter rail network, and will work hard to deliver on the Government’s investment.
Artist's notional depiction of NGI in flight. Credit: Lockheed Martin.
Huntsville, Alabama, August 7, 2023 (PRNewswire) – Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) successfully validated designs for all elements of the nation’s Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA).
Through a series of successful and on-schedule Preliminary Design Reviews (PDRs) of all NGI major subsystems, the company demonstrated it has achieved design maturity and reduced risk for critical technologies. NGI is the future of the MDA’s Ground-Based Missile Defense (GMD) system to protect the U.S. homeland against intercontinental ballistic missile threats from rogue nations.
Lockheed Martin is demonstrating engineering work that has been performed in the integrated digital tool chain to drive faster decision making, enhance security, and enable rapid delivery and agility. This approach emphasizes affordability across the program lifecycle. Lockheed Martin’s NGI solution will increase warfighter capability, providing an improved defensive solution to address the complex battlespace now and in the future.
Lockheed Martin’s NGI program is on track for its next major review, the All Up Round PDR. During this next major review, MDA will assess if the program is ready to move forward in the acquisition process through Knowledge Point number one and ultimately on to the Critical Design Review. The first Lockheed Martin NGI is forecast for delivery to the warfighter as early as FY2027.
New service from New York (JFK) to Latin America and the Caribbean begins in May
New domestic service from JFK and Boston (BOS) begins in June
American introduces international flights from New York (JFK) to three cities in Colombia and to Santiago, Chile (SCL); new weekend service to St. Lucia (UVF) and Turks and Caicos (PLS) will operate this summer.
American and JetBlue collectively introduce 33 new domestic and international routes for customers in New York and Boston beginning in June.
Almost 50 codeshare markets are available for purchase on aa.com for travel beginning Feb. 25.
FORT WORTH, Texas — American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ: AAL) and JetBlue (NASDAQ: JBLU) are delivering on their promise to introduce better travel choices on routes to and from New York (JFK, LGA and EWR) and Boston (BOS), as they launch nearly 80 codeshare flights and enhanced schedules on key routes. American is also introducing 18 new routes beginning this summer, including six new routes from JFK to Latin America and the Caribbean. Codeshare flights are available for purchase today for travel starting Feb. 25, and American’s new summer flights from New York and Boston will be available for purchase Feb. 22.
“This is the first step to delivering the best customer proposition with the biggest network in New York and Boston,” said Vasu Raja, American’s Chief Revenue Officer. “In the months ahead, we’ll continue to create a seamless experience that’s easy for our customers, supports our communities and leads to more growth for our team.”
American and JetBlue announcedtheir Northeast Alliance in July, followed by the airlines’ intent to introduce key elements of the alliance after review by the Department of Transportation in January.
“Our alliance with American opens the door for JetBlue to successfully enter into new markets, introducing more choices and our award-winning service and low fares to more customers,” said Scott Laurence, head of revenue and planning, JetBlue. “The alliance is also essential to getting our planes back in the air profitably and crewmembers working again.”
New routes
The Northeast Alliance opens up new growth opportunities for both carriers by finding ways to better utilize existing gates and slots in congested Northeast airports while offering customers a seamless travel experience.
International Growth
On May 6, American will launch three new daily routes from JFK to Colombia – Cali (CLO), Bogota (BOG) and Medellin (MDE) – and will begin flying three times per week to Santiago, Chile (SCL) from JFK on a Boeing 777-200, until flights begin operating daily in November. Sun-seeking customers can also look forward to new Saturday service from JFK to the soothing waves in St. Lucia (UVF) and the beautiful beaches in Turks and Caicos (PLS) beginning on June 5, complementing JetBlue’s existing service..
Domestic Growth
This summer, American will also launch 12 new domestic routes, from New York (JFK and LGA) and Boston (BOS), including the following:
Origin
Destination
Season
BOS
Asheville, North Carolina (AVL)
June 5 – Nov. 6
BOS
Columbus, Ohio (CMH)
Aug. 17, year-round
BOS
Jackson Hole, Wyoming (JAC)
June 5 – Sept. 4
BOS
Traverse City, Michigan (TVC)
June 5 – Sept. 6
BOS
Wilmington, North Carolina (ILM)
June 5 – Aug. 14
JFK
Orange County, California (SNA)
June 2, year-round
LGA
Kansas City, Missouri (MCI)
Sept. 8, year-round
LGA
Key West, Florida (EYW)
June 5 – Sept. 4
LGA
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (MYR)
June 3 – Sept. 7
LGA
Pensacola, Florida (PNS)
June 3 – Sept. 7
LGA
Rapid City, South Dakota (RAP)
June 5 – Sept. 4
LGA
Savannah, Georgia (SAV)
June 3 – Sept. 7
Also launching this summer is previously announced service from LGA to Glacier National Park in Kalispell, Montana, (FCA) and to TVC. As part of the codeshare with JetBlue, all new routes will be operated by American, but available for booking on aa.com or JetBlue.com.
Enhanced schedules in key markets
Customers will soon benefit from aligned schedules in key markets supported by the reciprocal codeshare. Beginning in April, American and JetBlue will offer more flights than any other carrier when they coordinate convenient schedules on the popular New York (JFK and EWR) to Los Angeles (LAX) route. Customers will have the most choices — 14 daily flights — between the two carriers and will have access to the state-of-the art Airbus A321T aircraft or JetBlue’s A321 aircraft featuring Mint. American and JetBlue will also provide enhanced schedules between the following markets:
Origin
Destination
BOS
Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
BOS
MIA
BOS
Washington, D.C. (DCA)
BOS
West Palm Beach (PBI)
LGA
BOS
LGA
DCA
New York (JFK and EWR)
Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
New York (JFK and EWR)
LAX
New York (JFK and EWR)
MIA
New York (JFK and EWR)
San Francisco (SFO)
New York (JFK and EWR)
West Palm Beach (PBI)
Codeshare flights begin next week
Codeshare on domestic flights are available for purchase today for flights beginning Feb. 25. American’s customers will have access to 49 codeshare routes on JetBlue, while JetBlue customers will have access to more than 25 routes on American. The airlines expect to begin codesharing sales on the new international routes soon.* As with all American-marketed codeshare flights, AAdvantage members will be able to earn miles.
São Paulo, Brazil, February 18, 2021 – Embraer (NYSE: ERJ) welcomes the Brazilian Government’s decisions to withdraw its ongoing World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute with Canada regarding aeronautical subsidies and to launch negotiations on more effective disciplines to regulate government support in the Commercial Aviation segment.
At the WTO, Brazil challenged more than USD 3 billion in illegal subsidies that the Governments of Canada and Quebec provided to Bombardier for the launch, development and production of the C-Series program. These subsidies distorted the conditions of competition in the global market for commercial aircraft, causing serious prejudice to Embraer, in clear violation of WTO rules.
Although Brazil has a strong case, the WTO dispute became ineffective to address the Canadian subsidies and to remedy the distortions generated in the market. After Bombardier exited the Commercial Aviation segment and transferred the C-Series program (now called A220) to Airbus, which has a second assembly line in the United States, the trade dispute against Canada at the WTO is no longer the most effective means to achieve Brazil’s and Embraer’s goal of reestablishing a level playing field in this sector.
Embraer also supports Brazil’s initiative to launch negotiations for more effective disciplines on government support in the commercial aviation segment, as the best way to achieve this goal, as previously seen with the successful experience of the OECD’s Aircraft Sector Understanding (ASU), signed in 2007 to regulate export credits. Ultimately, Embraer believes that commercial aircraft manufacturers should compete against each other based on the merits of their product, not on the amount of funding they receive from their governments.
Rolls-Royce has signed an agreement to sell the Bergen Engines medium speed gas and diesel engines business to TMH International, the international branch of TMH Group, for net proceeds of approximately EUR 150m.
TMH Group, based in Russia, is a leading engineering company in rail transport technologies and the world’s fourth largest supplier of rail rolling stock. It offers a full range of products and services including medium-speed engines for rail applications with current production of more than 850 engines a year. Established in 2002, TMH is privately-owned and employs 100,000 people across 25 sites worldwide. The acquisition of Bergen Engines, based in Bergen, Norway, is part of TMH’s strategy to diversify its business activities, expand its product portfolio and international footprint.
Bergen Engines will be operated as a stand-alone business by TMH International, which is headquartered in Switzerland. TMH International already operates in Argentina, Cuba, Egypt, Germany, Hungary, Israel and South Africa.
The agreement follows a strategic review by Rolls-Royce of Bergen Engines announced in February 2020. The sale includes the medium speed engine factory, service workshop and foundry in Norway; engine and power plant design capability; and a global service network spanning more than seven countries. Since 1946, Bergen Engines has supplied over 7,000 engines to marine and power generation customers worldwide, of which around 4,000 are still in operation. Bergen Engines’ long-term relationship with Kongsberg Maritime, distributor of Bergen medium speed engines to the maritime market, is planned to continue as is.
Rolls-Royce has signed an agreement to sell the Bergen Engines medium speed gas and diesel engines business to TMH International, the international branch of TMH Group, for net proceeds of approximately EUR 150m.
Bergen Engines plant in Hordvikneset near Bergen, Norway
TMH Group, based in Russia, is a leading engineering company in rail transport technologies and the world’s fourth largest supplier of rail rolling stock. It offers a full range of products and services including medium-speed engines for rail applications with current production of more than 850 engines a year. Established in 2002, TMH is privately-owned and employs 100,000 people across 25 sites worldwide. The acquisition of Bergen Engines, based in Bergen, Norway, is part of TMH’s strategy to diversify its business activities, expand its product portfolio and international footprint.
Bergen Engines will be operated as a stand-alone business by TMH International, which is headquartered in Switzerland. TMH International already operates in Argentina, Cuba, Egypt, Germany, Hungary, Israel and South Africa.
The agreement follows a strategic review by Rolls-Royce of Bergen Engines announced in February 2020. The sale includes the medium speed engine factory, service workshop and foundry in Norway; engine and power plant design capability; and a global service network spanning more than seven countries. Since 1946, Bergen Engines has supplied over 7,000 engines to marine and power generation customers worldwide, of which around 4,000 are still in operation. Bergen Engines’ long-term relationship with Kongsberg Maritime, distributor of Bergen medium speed engines to the maritime market, is planned to continue as is.
Bergen Engines has been a part of Rolls-Royce since 1999 and has approximately 950 employees, with the majority based in Bergen, Norway. In 2019 the business generated revenues of £239m which were consolidated within the results of our Power Systems business.
The transaction has been approved by the boards of both Rolls-Royce and TMH and is expected to close in the second half of 2021.
JetBlue (NASDAQ: JBLU) today announced it has reached a tentative agreement with the Transport Workers Union (TWU), regarding the process toward a contract for JetBlue’s inflight crewmembers.
The agreement is subject to a ratification process which includes final documentation, review, and consideration by JetBlue’s TWU leadership team before being distributed to inflight crewmembers for a final vote.
Ed Baklor, vice president inflight, JetBlue, said: “We are pleased to come to this tentative agreement and look forward to bringing the contract to a vote with our inflight crewmembers. Thank you to both negotiating committees for their efforts over the past two years to reach this agreement.”
Ian Deason, head of customer experience, said: “I want to thank our amazing inflight crewmembers for their commitment to safety and for continuing to always deliver the best experience in the skies during this especially challenging time for our industry.”
Boeing [NYSE: BA] and the U.S. Space Force successfully completed the first major engineering design review for the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS)-11+ communications satellite. This successful review demonstrates that Boeing is ready to proceed to the final system design phase. Production will begin next year at Boeing’s El Segundo factory, with delivery scheduled for 2024.
WGS-11+ features a modern digital payload that performs at twice the operational capability of its predecessors, increasing the availability of military-grade communications. Leveraging advances in Boeing commercial technologies, it will provide secure communications to connect U.S. and allied forces globally.
The current WGS constellation, consisting of 10 satellites, is the backbone of the U.S. military’s global communications system, providing flexible, high data-rate connectivity. Users include all U.S. military services, the White House Communications Agency, the U.S. State Department and international partners.
“Completing this engineering design review is a key milestone and brings us one step closer to delivering this groundbreaking satellite to the warfighter in record time, significantly improving capacity and coverage to our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and allies,” said Col. John Dukes, chief of the Geosynchronous/Polar Division at Space and Missile Systems Center Production Corps.
“WGS-11+ uses narrower spot beams to deliver a stronger, more reliable connection exactly where it’s needed, which means better performance and greater flexibility than ever before,” said Troy Dawson, vice president of Boeing Government Satellite Systems.
In addition to U.S. military forces, the WGS constellation provides service to international partners including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg, New Zealand, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Norway.
– Air New Zealand is supportive of today’s news mandating the wearing of masks or face coverings on public transport, including aircraft, from Monday 31 August due to Covid-19
Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran says customers flying from Auckland have been required to wear masks while it has been at Alert Level 3 and it has been recommended for customers travelling from other ports.
“We will now start to review our domestic network and will be contacting customers who may be affected by the extension of current Alert Levels.
“We understand the impacts these disruptions cause to our customers and we’ll do our best to get our customers to where they need to be.”
Fare flexibility is still in place and the airline encourages those who no longer wish to fly to opt to hold their fare in credit through its online booking tool.
The airline has been operating a reduced domestic schedule to and from Auckland while it has been at Alert Level 3. The majority of the rest of Air New Zealand’s network has remained unchanged but with physical distancing in place.
(Reuters) – Emirates Group is planning to cut about 30,000 jobs to reduce costs amid the coronavirus outbreak, which will bring down its number of employees by about 30% from more than 105,000 at the end of March.
The company is also considering speeding up the planned retirement of its A380 fleet, the report added, citing people familiar with the matter.
An Emirates spokeswoman said that no public announcement has been made yet by the company regarding “redundancies at the airline”, but that the company is conducting a review of “costs and resourcing against business projections”.
“Any such decision will be communicated in an appropriate fashion. Like any responsible business would do, our executive team has directed all departments to conduct a thorough review of costs and resourcing against business projections,” the spokeswoman said.
Emirates, one of the world’s biggest long-haul airlines, said earlier this month that it will raise debt to help itself through the coronavirus pandemic, and may have to take tougher measures as it faces the most difficult months in its history.
The state-owned airline, which suspended regular passenger flights in March due to the virus outbreak that has shattered global travel demand, had said that a recovery in travel was at least 18 months away.
It reported a 21% rise in profit for its financial year ending March 31, but said the pandemic had hit its fourth-quarter performance.
It said it would tap banks to raise debt in its first quarter to lessen the impact of the virus on cash flows.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru and Alexander Cornwell in Dubai; Editing by Catherine Evans and Jan Harvey)
FILE PHOTO: An Emirates Airbus A380 airliner lands at Nice international airport, France
