KLM Takes Delivery Of Eco-Friendly Aircraft

KLM has taken delivery of a new Boeing 777-300 long-haul aircraft that is reportedly more environmentally friendly than its predecessors.

The plane is the first to leave the manufacturer’s plant using a new form of paint that does not include chromate, a development that reduces the environmental impact of the painting and stripping processes.

KLM has ordered a total of seven Boeing 777-300 planes, which are considered the most fuel efficient and environmentally friendly in their class.

Commenting on the new paint being used by the aircraft manufacturer, Ype de Haan, KLM’s vice-president of operations, said: “Developments such as these in the airline industry fit perfectly into KLM’s policy.

“We aim to be the innovative market leader in environmental and climate care.”

KLM’s new addition to its fleet is also unusual as it features the silver and dark blue colour scheme of the SkyTeam airline alliance, to which the carrier belongs.

All SkyTeam members will be painting one per cent of their fleet in a silver and dark blue livery in anticipation of the tenth anniversary of the group in 2010.

The Amsterdam-based airline’s new aircraft will operate its first commercial service, a flight to Nairobi, on August 28th.

Airport Staff Indicted On Human Smuggling Charges

Two ticket agent contractors for Delta Airlines and an airport employee have been indicted for conspiring to smuggle illegal immigrants into the United States. Diana Telemaque and Felicia Brown, the ticket agents, were arrested Thursday along with baggage handler Daniel Confidente.

According to a statement by the U.S. Department of Justice, Telemaque and Brown allegedly sold tickets to illegal immigrants. All three have been accused of aiding an unspecified number of illegal immigrants in getting into the United States from May 2008 to July 2009.

Many illegal immigrants try to get into the U.S. Caribbean territory every year – some to stay, others to use it as a jumping-off point to the mainland United States.

A Delta spokeswoman says that the airline is cooperating with the government and that Telemaque and Brown, who were contractors rather than full employees, have been dismissed.

The three suspects were released on bail of $10,000. If convicted, they could face up to a decade in prison.

Number of Airport Incidents Recorded Last Year

There was a notable decline in the number of airport incidents between January and June 2009 compared to the same period of time in previous years.

This is according to figures from the UK Airprox Board (UKAB), which revealed a total of 60 incidents during the first six months of the year involving commercial, general aviation and military aircraft.

In each of the previous five years, the average number of incidents during the same time frame stood at 88.

Ian Dugmore, UKAB’s director, said the reduction is “particularly welcome” news.

“However, we need to acknowledge that the decline in commercial air transport and general aviation incidents may be partly due to traffic reduction during the recession,” he explained.

Mr Dugmore went on to say that unauthorised incursions into controlled airspace can cause disruption and delay to passengers travelling on flights.

Earlier this month, the Civil Aviation Authority revealed that UK airports accommodated 17 million fewer passengers last year than the total recorded in 2008.

US Airlines Schedule changes at 300 U.S. airports

USA TODAY analyzed domestic airline schedule data from OAG — Official Airline Guide for December 2008. The data reflects what airlines had reported to OAG regarding their December schedules as of November 3.

The analysis examined domestic schedules because that’s where airlines are making the deepest cuts.

This graphic shows how national airline service is being affected by the reductions in flying capacity that airlines are making in response to high fuel prices and a slow economy.

All figures cited are preliminary because airline schedules change frequently and some announced changes may not be reflected in the latest OAG data available to USA TODAY.

Some of the cutbacks reflected in this analysis have already occurred.

Airlines can reduce flying capacity two ways. One is to cut the number of daily flights on a route or at an airport, which results in fewer seats. The other way is to swap big planes with smaller ones that have fewer seats. That option reduces seats too but may maintain the same number of flights.

USA TODAY chose to examine changes in the number of seats because that method takes into account both kinds of capacity reductions. But readers should understand that not all airports shown to be losing seats will necessarily show the same percentage decline in flights and some may not have fewer flights at all.

This graphic will be updated periodically.

USA TODAY has also produced another interactive graphic that examines how capacity cutbacks are affecting nonstop domestic flights to major U.S. hub airports during the upcoming holiday seasons.

source : US Today

Airlines Companies (American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia) Joint Business Flight

American Airlines, British Airways, and Iberia have received final approval from the US Department of Transportation to create a joint business governing flights between North America and Europe.

Under the joint business agreement, the three airlines will co-operate commercially on flights between the US, Mexico and Canada, and the European Union (EU), Switzerland and Norway, while continuing to operate as separate legal entities. They will expand their codeshare arrangements on flights within and beyond the US and EU, increasing the number of destinations that the airlines can offer customers.

By working together, the airlines plan to expand customer choice by supporting routes that would not be economically viable for a single airline.

Willie Walsh, CEO of British Airways, said: “This is a great day for all three airlines and the oneworld alliance. We have waited 14 years to bring the benefits of the trans-Atlantic joint business to our customers and level the playing field with the other two global alliances. As we have argued all along, the EU-US market is highly competitive and Heathrow’s liberalization in 2008 opened it up even further. We are delighted that the US and EU authorities have recognized this.”