Boeing has submitted a patent for a projection system as part of its efforts to improve the flying experience for customers. The system would be attached to a bulkhead, adjacent to the ceiling of the cabin. The projected image could move, such as a depiction of clouds in the sky or a shooting star, or the image could be static, such as a scene from the plane’s destination. The device could also include a sound system. Technology would rely heavily on LED lights, which last significantly longer than, for example, tungsten halogen lights, and provide the colours required to create the system’s themes, moods and effects. Boeing is “exploring” the technology as part of a bid to improve the “sense of physical space” passengers feel, said Kent Craver, regional director, cabin experience and revenue analysis for Boeing. <br/>
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Boeing has announced plans to open its first European commercial factory in South Yorkshire, creating at least 30 jobs. If approved, the GBP20m plant will be built next to an existing research centre founded in 2001 by Boeing and the University of Sheffield. The company said the factory, at Catcliffe in Rotherham, could also lead to new jobs in the supply industry. The plant will manufacture hi-tech aircraft components. President of Boeing Europe, Michael Arthur, said: "We, as a company, want to start making these very sophisticated components - actuation systems, the gearing systems on wings, and Sheffield is a good place to come," he added. The factory, which will produce actuators for 737, 737 MAX and 777 aircraft, will be next to the AMRC centre. Boeing said it would also increase its commitment to research at the site. <br/>
New data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics indicates that airlines are getting better at delivering aircraft and passengers consistently and on time. The data comes through the most recent annual report from the agency, which includes recently released 2016 numbers and pulls on time performance data from all major US carriers regularly. According to the report, airlines through 2016 canceled flights at a rate of 1.17%, a 22 year low. Last year, that rate was 1.5%. The global uptick in performance can partially be attributed to better run operations overall, but the improvements have also been fuelled by aggressive gate and flight management on ultra-tight schedules. <br/>
While Nigeria has about 9 functional local airlines in 2017, it had 150 registered local airlines in the year 2000, an official has said. A spokesperson for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) described the drastic reduction as one of the achievements of effective regulation by his agency. The spokesman, Sunday, absolved the regulatory agency of any responsibility for the problems being encountered by some domestic airlines. Two of Nigeria’s major local airlines, Arik and Aero, have been taken over by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) over their huge debt profiles. While AMCON has blamed mismanagement of the airlines as the main problem, airline operators have blamed multiple charges by agencies like NCAA for the problems confronting the airlines. <br/>
Airbus expects African operators to buy about 990 new planes over the next 2 decades to meet increasing demand for passenger and freight services on the continent. While making up only 3% of overall global demand, the planes will more than double the number of such aircraft on the continent, according to Airbus’ VP for sales in Africa and India, Hadi Akoum. The company forecasts passenger traffic in Africa increasing by 5.6% a year over the next 2 decades, higher than the 4% global average. Underpinned by a growing middle class, the number of air passengers in Africa is forecast to increase by almost two thirds to 303m by 2035, according IATA. The top 10 fastest-growing markets in percentage terms are expected to be African nations including Sierra Leone, Mali, Rwanda, Togo, Uganda and Zambia. <br/>
Egypt expressed frustration Saturday at Britain's refusal to lift a suspension of flights from the UK to Sharm al-Sheikh, imposed after Islamic State brought down a Russian airliner in 2015. The issue of airline security came up in talks involving visiting British foreign minister Boris Johnson, Egypt's president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and foreign minister Sameh Hassan Shoukry. Johnson praised Egypt as a longstanding friend of Britain and said they were strong allies against terrorism and extremist ideas. But Shoukry said Britain's continued suspension of flights to Sharm al-Sheikh was unjustified. "The continuation of the halt of the British airline to the Egyptian tourist destinations despite the progress that has been made in securing airports is completely not understandable and unjustified," the Egyptian foreign ministry said. <br/>
Chinese airlines are rapidly increasing flights to the Philippines following the relaxing of visa requirements between the two countries in Oct 2016. Since then, 675,700 Chinese tourists visited the Philippines in 2016, up 37.1% over 2015. Local industry analysts predicted this figure will continue to grow quickly this year. Over the past 3 months, more than 10 Chinese carriers have applied to open nearly 40 international routes to Kalibo and Cebu in the Philippines. Seven Chinese carriers currently operate routes to the Philippines with 24,000 weekly flights. Local analysts point out many domestic airlines need to find new Southeast Asian markets—such as the Philippines—to make up for decreased demand in the Thailand market after the govt tightened tourism restrictions following the death of Thailand’s king last year. <br/>