star

Air Canada continues to evaluate closer ties with United, as competitors WestJet and Delta work towards a joint venture between Canada and the USA. "We'll have to go back and look at how we can strengthen our JV with United," said Michael Rousseau, CFO of Air Canada, in response to being asked how the carrier plans to respond to Delta and WestJet. Delta and WestJet reached an agreement for a transborder joint venture in July, paving the way for the carriers to seek antitrust immunity from regulators and implement their pact in 2019. "We currently have certain routes that are carved out of that JV, and we'll have to go back to the drawing board to see if there are some value we can add to both carriers by extending that JV," he said. Air Canada and United do not operate a joint venture between Canada and the USA, despite Rousseau's comments. However, they have the "ability" – as Air Canada has indicated in multiple annual reports since 2012 – to implement one with 14 transborder markets excluded under a 2012 agreement with Canada's Commissioner of Competition. The airlines have had antitrust immunity to cooperate in the market since 1997. The airlines also cooperate across the Atlantic under a three-way joint venture with the Lufthansa Group. Air Canada clarified that, in his comments, Rousseau was "referring to our long-standing, integrated relationship with United" and "how it might help us respond to developments in the North American market". He was not referring to a transborder joint venture.<br/>

Indian investigators have determined that an Air India Airbus A320 conducted a destabilised approach to Jammu and landed a third of the way down runway 36 before overrunning. The aircraft dipped below the glideslope after descending past 500ft and reached maximum deviation at just 180ft, before it began to regain the approach path at 160ft. When the aircraft started to flare at 55ft, its pitch increased from 2° to 6° nose-up before reducing to 3°. The A320’s high pitch angle and prolonged flare led to the aircraft’s floating above the runway, at just 2ft for 4s, before it finally touched down – at 145kt – some 2,400ft along the 6,890ft runway. Its nose-gear remained off the runway for a further 4s before contact. The pilots had received an auto-brake fault message when they extended the landing-gear, and opted to apply maximum reverse-thrust and full manual braking after touchdown. But the Indian air accident investigation board states that the captain “experienced lack of braking” and, in a bid to slow the aircraft, twice applied the parking brake during the roll-out. The A320 nevertheless overran and came to a halt on rough ground, with its main landing-gear 24ft off the runway end. <br/>

Air NZ has revealed plans to begin operating its first two Airbus A321neos on short-haul international routes in November. While the carrier has not confirmed the first A321neo delivery date, it has scheduled the initial flight for Nov. 12. A second aircraft will also enter service during that month. The first of the airline’s A320neos is scheduled to arrive in February. The airline has seven A321neos and six A320neos on order for its international fleet. These aircraft will be used to replace A320ceos on routes to Australia and the Pacific Islands. Air NZ also has seven A321neos on order for its domestic fleet. The A320/A321neos for the international fleet will be delivered through late 2019. The domestic A321neos are scheduled to be delivered between 2020 and 2024. Air NZ is configuring the A321neos with 214 seats, an increase of 46 compared to its A320ceos. The A320neos will have 165 seats. Middle seats on the new aircraft will be 3 cm wider than in the current fleet, and aisle and window seats will be 1 cm wider. A slimline seat design will help give passengers 7% more useable space. Other features on the international neo fleet will include overhead lockers that are 25% larger, IFE systems with a larger 10-in. screen, USB charging points and Wi-Fi connectivity.<br/>