- Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI) launched both passenger-to-freighter and passenger-to-combi conversion programs for the Boeing 737-800. Both programs have been studied for the past year and will be marketed as B737-800SF (Special Freighter) (pictured) and B737-800C (Combination Passenger and Freighter). The program development costs are being fully funded by AEI. The modification touch labor will be performed at Commercial Jet’s Miami facility.
- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a US$325,000 (236,054 euros) civil penalty against Alfa Chemistry of Stony Brook, N.Y., for allegedly violating U.S. Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Regulations. The FAA alleges that on two separate FedEx cargo flights, Alfa Chemistry shipped undeclared hazardous material that DOT regulations prohibit from being transported on passenger and cargo aircraft. The company allegedly shipped approximately one pint of Acrolein on April 19, 2013, and three additional pints of it on May 23, 2013. Acrolein can become explosive when combined with air and is classified as a toxic/poisonous material and flammable liquid under DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations.
- Airbus and China have laid the foundation for taking their cooperation into the future as relevant agreements have been signed in Paris by Fabrice Brégier, Airbus president and CEO, and the Chinese parties, witnessed by French President Francois Hollande and visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping. In parallel, China Aviation Supplies Holding Company and Airbus have also signed a General Terms Agreement for the purchase of 70 Airbus aircraft.
- Aeroscraft was selected by the Manufacturing Leadership Council to receive a Product Leadership Award as part of the 2014 Manufacturing Leadership Awards.
- All Nippon Airways ordered a combined 70 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus. ANA selected 40 Boeing wide-body airplanes for its fleet renewal, including 20 777-9X, 14 787-9 and six 777-300ER airplanes. ANA also selected 30 Airbus A320 neo family aircraft (seven A320neo and 23 A321neo).
- Igor Pasternak, founder and CEO of the Aeroscraft Corp., was saluted by the Embassy of the Ukraine in Washington, D.C., for his work to foster greater support for Ukraine’s democracy.
- Throughout April, United Cargo is launching wide-body service to new markets and additional flights on existing routes. United launched daily service between San Francisco International Airport and Taipei, Taiwan. The carrier will add a second daily flight between San Francisco and London on April 8 and a second daily flight between San Francisco and Frankfurt on April 25. United also added a second flight between George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston and Tokyo Narita, and will launch daily service between Bush Intercontinental and Munich on April 24.
- Matheson Flight Extenders (MFE), which provides ground support and terminal handling services, has grown by 20 percent with the addition of four new metro area markets in less than four months, bringing the number of total markets served by MFE to 20 across the continental U.S. and Alaska. The Sacramento, Calif., market was acquired when Evergreen EAGLE Aviation filed for bankruptcy in December 2013. The other three new markets were obtained during a federal government agency competitive solicitation, evaluation and award process. They include Tulsa, Okla.; Charleston, W. Va.; and Orlando.
- Emirates launched its A380 service to London Gatwick.
- The Atlanta Aerotropolis Alliance officially launched at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The new alliance, comprised of leaders from the region’s public and private sectors, will work to enhance metro Atlanta’s position as a global economic leader with a vision of transforming the airport vicinity into an aerotropolis.
- Saudi Airlines Cargo moved 141 wild animals from Johannesburg to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The operation, undertaken on behalf of Riyadh Zoological Garden, used a B747 aircraft to carry the animals, which included giraffes, hartebeests and impalas.
- The Global Air Cargo Advisory Group (GACAG) welcomes the provisional agreement reached between the European Parliament, European Union Council and European Commission on the place of aviation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Under the compromise agreed by the EU’s institutions, flights to and from EU airports will be excluded from the ETS until 2016. But the European Parliament Environment Committee rejected this provisional agreement. GACAG regrets this decision and calls on the European Parliament, in its upcoming vote on the measure, to approve the compromise.
- AMI, a trade-only airfreight and express wholesaler, opened two new offices in Darwin, Australia, and Christchurch, New Zealand.
- In the next step to co-locate operations across the combined network, American Airlines Cargo joined US Airways Cargo’s operations at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. This is the second of 155 across American’s combined network. More co-locations are expected in June.
- Boeing and Air Canada finalized an order for 61 737 MAX airplanes.
- Turkish Cargo is expanding its African freighter services with the introduction of a new weekly service to Tunis, Tunisia, beginning April 5. This marks Turkish Cargo’s 11th dedicated freighter service to Africa.