Bureaucratic wrangling and funding problems have hampered the search for the cockpit voice recorder of a crashed Lion Air jet, prompting investigators to turn to the airline to foot the bill in a rare test of global norms on the probe’s independence. Weeks of delays in the search for the second ‘black box’ may complicate the task of explaining how 189 people died when the Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX crashed into the Java Sea on Oct. 29. Indonesian investigators said budgetary constraints and the need for approvals had limited efforts to raise the main wreckage and find the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), thought to hold vital clues to Indonesia’s second-worst air disaster. “We don’t have further funds to rent the ship,” a source at Indonesia’s transport safety committee (KNKT) said, in reference to specialized equipment needed for the search. “There is no emergency fund for us, because there is no legal basis,” the source said on condition of anonymity. “We have already asked the coordinating minister for the economy, but there is no regulation and it would need to be discussed by the parliament,” the source added. The clock is ticking in the hunt for acoustic pings coming from the L3 Technologies Inc cockpit voice recorder fitted to the jet. It has a 90-day beacon, according to an online brochure from the manufacturer. Safety experts say it is unusual for one of the parties to help fund an investigation. Under UN rules, such probes must be conducted independently to maintain trust in any recommendations made to prevent future accidents.<br/>
unaligned
US private investment firm Castlelake LP has struck a deal to buy a portfolio of about 30 narrowbody planes from AirAsia Group for a total price of roughly $800m, people familiar with the transaction said. The deal underscores the strong appetite of funds to invest in the global aircraft leasing sector, which is benefiting from growing demand on the back of a rise in low-cost carriers and passenger traffic. For AirAsia, the deal marks another move to monetise its assets as Asia’s biggest budget airline seeks to transform itself into an asset-light, digitally focused firm. The carrier is cashing in on a booming leasing sector after ordering hundreds of Airbus planes at bargain prices in recent years to become one of Airbus’ biggest customers. Castlelake, a global fund focused on alternative investments, has been stepping up its exposure to aviation assets. In June last year, it raised $1 billion from investors including family offices, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and pension funds. “Castlelake is growing at a fast pace and looking to buy aviation assets,” said one of the people. “This is one of their biggest deals in Asia with one airline.” Castlelake clinched the deal from Malaysia’s AirAsia after edging out US lessors, funds and leasing units of major Chinese banks in a tightly contested deal, said the people.<br/>
Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines’ joint venture SunExpress will increase capacity by 15% for the summer 2019 season in response to strong demand in Turkey. CEO Jens Bischof said, “We will grow with new aircraft, bringing our fleet to a total of 80 jets, the largest fleet in the history of SunExpress.” Of the 80 aircraft, 18 Boeing 737-800s will operate for subsidiary SunExpress Germany and six Airbus A330s will fly for Lufthansa’s LCC Eurowings. Several 737-800s are also wet-leased to Turkish Airlines’ LCC AnadoluJet. In 2019, SunExpress will add two 737-800s and the first five 737 MAX 8s to its fleet. SunExpress has 60 737s on order, which includes a mix of -800s and MAX 8s. In Summer 2019, the carrier will operate to more than 90 destinations in 30 countries. The carrier’s main growth will be in Turkey, its core market. SunExpress will offer 3.5m seats to Antalya. New routes from Antalya also include flights to Oslo (Norway), Gothenburg (Sweden), Eindhoven (Netherlands) and Prague (Czech Republic). <br/>
Thailand NokScoot will enter the South Asia market as it prepares for its inaugural nonstop service from Bangkok to New Delhi on Dec.18. Flying 4X-weekly, the route will be serviced by the airline’s Boeing 777-200, configured in high-density seating with 391 in economy and 24 in premium economy, known as ScootBiz. India’s SpiceJet has been flying this route since 2017. Thai Airways, Air India, and Jet Airways also fly nonstop service between the two cities. “NokScoot believes these flights will appeal to both leisure and business travelers going to and from Delhi, which is the fourth most populous urban area in the world. Passengers on the new route can also conveniently make easy connections from and to key domestic destinations around India,” NokScoot CEO Yodchai Sudhidhanakul said, adding the Don Mueang-based carrier will add another Indian destination in the 2019 1H. The announcement comes two months after it launched 4X-weekly service to Japan Osaka in October and will increase the frequency to 6X-weekly starting Feb. 2, 2019. Sudhidhanakul said the route has seen strong demand and NokScoot will continue to increase frequencies and destinations to Japan.<br/>
A California man has filed a lawsuit against two US airlines after his pinky got stuck in his first-class seat armrest, forcing firefighters and a mechanic to intervene to free the finger. Stephen Keys, an actor who has starred in "Soul Plane" and "Big Time Rush," claims in his suit -- filed in Los Angeles Superior Court against American Airlines and SkyWest Airlines Inc. -- that he suffered severe emotional distress and weeks of pain after the September 9 incident on board a flight from Reno, Nevada to Los Angeles. The mishap took place after he raised his armrest to reach for his seatbelt and his pinky got stuck in a small hole under the armrest, according to the suit. "The spring mechanism embedded inside of this hole in the armrest applied intense pressure to plaintiff's finger, immediately inflicting injury, swelling and pain," the suit alleges. It adds that Keys repeatedly tried to free his pinky as fellow passengers looked on, "causing his dire situation to become a humiliating public spectacle." Keys claims he suffered for nearly an hour as flight personnel and firefighters tried to dislodge the finger. An airline mechanic finally disassembled the armrest and freed the pinky.<br/>