More noise for residents during Heathrow runway repairs

Residents living under the Heathrow flight path have been warned by the BAA to expect prolonged aircraft noise for 6 weeks due to "critical" repairs. Most planes land from the east and take off facing west, but the arrival and departure runways are swapped daily at 3pm (runway alternation). From 13 September only the southern runway will be used for arrivals, so there will be no respite for those in areas like Wandsworth, Putney,Richmond and Hounslow.

Emirates plan for recycled A380 shower water scuppered by regulators

Emirates was forced to drop its initial plan to recycle the water used by its Airbus A380 fleet's on-board showers, rather carry up to 500kg of additional water, after it fell foul of regulators. The airline, which received its first A380 last week, put the 489-seater into service on 1 August between Dubai and New York. There are two shower cubicles by its 14 first class cubicles. The A380 carries 1,700 litres of water, and would need 25% more for the showers.

Ryanair to pull out of Belfast City Airport at end of October

Ryanair is pulling out of Belfast City Airport, saying the reason is the public inquiry delaying a planned runway extension. Ryanair has been operating from George Best Belfast City Airport since 2007, and flies around 800,00 passengers per year from there to 5 UK airports - Bristol, East Midlands, Prestwick, Liverpool and London. from November, Ryanair will switch its one Belfast City-based aircraft to another European airport, with the loss of 50 Ryanair jobs.

Failure to extend Belfast City runway "clips Ryanair's wings"

Ryanair had hoped to carry huge numbers of passengers to and from Belfast City airport, but wanted the runway extended. The application to extend the runway by 590 metres in the direction of Belfast Lough is awaiting an inquiry and has been delayed for years. Ryanair claims it is having to pull out of the airport because of the short runway. The real reason is likely to be that its northern Ireland operations were not making money, and cuts were due this winter.

Airline says rise in APD threatens premium economy seats

The first UK customer of the world’s newest passenger jet, Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner, is looking at ditching popular premium economy class seats on the aircraft because of the rise in APD in November. Thomson Airways is drawing up seating plans for the 787 ahead of its scheduled delivery in just over a year. The Government may still go for a per plane tax, rather than continue with APD. Premium economy seats are cheaper than business class, but have more legg room. They are taxed at the same rate as business or first class for APD. (FT)

A "winning argument for airline economics and passenger comfort"? - the airline stand up seat

An Italian company, Aviointeriors, is proposing a much denser form of aircraft seating for part of the plane, to cram more passengers into a plane. Their new form of seating - the SkyRider - would take only 23" rather than the current 28 - 30". The passenger's body assumes a dynamic upright position. This would allow airlines to offer lower priced seats.

Cluster of air crashes raises safety fears

Four fatal air crashes in the past 2 weeks have lifted the number of significant deadly commercial airline accidents so far this year above that for the whole of 2009. Nearly 70 people have died since August 16 in crashes in Colombia, Nepal, China and the Democratic Republic of Congo, taking the total number of fatal accidents to 13 this year. Last year there were 10 crashes involving aircraft with paying passengers and 15 or more seats. (FT)

Airlines’ shares up as recovery gains pace

Airline share prices have risen more than 70% from their lowest point at the beginning of last year, outperforming the broader equity market, as investors bet on a strong recovery in the highly cyclical aviation business. The airline industry has been steadily recovering to the extent that Iata upgraded its forecasts in June to predict a collective industry annual net profit of $2.5bn this year, up from the $2.8bn loss it had forecast only in March. (FT)

Boeing delays delivery of 787 Dreamliner aircraft until next year

Boeing is delaying delivery of its first new-generation 787 Dreamliner aircraft until early 2011. Japan's All Nippon Airways was due to take delivery of the aircraft at the end of this year. The 787 project has already been delayed for more than 2 years, following a series of hitches. The setback is due to the availability of a Rolls-Royce engine needed for the final phases of flight testing. All Nippon may get their aircraft in the first quarter of 2011.(BBC)

Spain's Iberia returns to profit in 2nd quarter of 2010

Iberia, which is merging with BA, returned to profit in the 2nd quarter of 2010, posting gains of 31 m euros (£25.5m). This contrasts with the 73 m-euro loss suffered in the same period of 2009. It had reined in costs by 5.9% in the 1st half of 2010 by "lower spending on fuel, the good results of seat supply cuts, and cost-containment measures". There had been stronger demand in international markets, and especially in business traffic. (BBC)