Airline Nation

pIndian carrier Kingfisher Airlines is returning some of its leased aircraft and has started to retrench some workers in an effort to cut costs and stem its losses.br //p

Australia’s flagship airline, Qantas, has received the first of 20 Airbus A380s on order, at a ceremony in Toulouse, France. The Rolls-Royce powered aircraft was handed over to Qantas Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Dixon and Qantas CEO-Designate, Alan Joyce by Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO and John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers.

Lufthansa has firmed up its second major takeover in the European air transport sector since the 2005 acquisition of Swiss International Air Lines, announcing that it is taking control of Brussels Airlines.

Honeywell is proposing to thwart shoulder-fired missile attacks on civilian aircraft on takeoff by using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as decoys and chaff and flare dispensers.

(Credit: American Airlines) Leaders of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, which represents some 19,000 workers including American Airlines flight attendants, asked American Airline’s management this week to consider adding filters to its in-flight Wi-Fi access to prevent passengers from viewing porn and other inappropriate Web sites while in-flight. … In fact, American Airline’s spokesman Tim Smith told Bloomberg that the “vast majority” of customers already use good judgment in what’s appropriate to look at while flying versus what’s not.

THE KINGFISHER Airlines set an international landmark after its first direct flight (IT-001) to London took off from the Bangalore International Airport at 9.20 am in the morning on Wednesday (September 3). The Airbus (A330-200), which has a non-stop journey to London’s Heathrow Airport, had a delayed departure because of the inaugural ceremony and related functions.

Brazil’s Varig Airlines got delivered two 737-800s with the new livery. The 737-800s are equipped with Blended Winglets and Boeing’s special short-field performance package designed for short runways such as Santos Dumont in Rio de Janeiro.

Airlines may report combined losses of about US$5.2-billion this year, almost US$3-billion higher than forecast in June, as economies slow and fuel costs erode earnings, the International Air Transport Association said.