Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) has marked the start of construction work on its new terminal regeneration with a ground breaking ceremony. The privately funded £100m development will transform LBA’s existing terminal building into a modern facility that enhances passenger experience and supporting the region’s economic growth. A plan to build an entirely new terminal was abandoned in 2022 due to planning delays. However, permission had previously been granted to extend the existing terminal, so this was the strategy that was ultimately put in place. READ: Leeds-Bradford Airport designated ..read more

Electric propulsion company MagniX has announced that it has successfully completed the first phase of testing at the NASA Electric Aircraft Testbed (NEAT) facility in Sandusky, Ohio. The testing focused on high voltage (800V) operations and thermal performance. The results confirmed the magni650 electric engine’s exceptional capabilities at altitudes of up to 27,500 feet. The testing is being carried out as part of NASA’s Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration (EPFD) program. NASA awarded MagniX a US$ 74.3m contract in 2021 as a partner for the EPFD, which is aimed at accelerating the En ..read more

Ryanair’s outspoken boss has said that Ryanair will be forced to scrap a planned expansion of UK flights unless it is allowed to hire non-British flight attendants. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, O’Leary attacked ‘insane’ post-Brexit rules that stop the company from hiring workers from other countries at its 13 UK bases. READ: Ryanair launches ‘Future Flyer’ pilot training programme “The UK needs entry-level labour and young kids are no longer willing to do those jobs because there’s full employment,” O’Leary was reported as saying. “People don’t want to be cabin crew anymore. If they d ..read more

Artificial intelligence technology is crucial for the survival and future success of airline MRO providers. That was the massage from Julia Larsson, EMEA director of operations at Web Manuals a digital documentation specialist for the aviation sector. Larsson, who spoke at last week’s Aerospace Tech Week in Munich on digital evolution in MRO, said “it really is time now for MRO to take the lead to go digital”. Web Manuals, which recently acquired Gothenburg-based ManualAI, has launched Amelia, a digital assistant for engineers that can answer their questions more efficiently than paper documen ..read more

Leading aircraft charter specialist Air Charter Service has announced that Arthur Guibert has joined the company as its new chief executive for its Swiss office in Geneva. Guibert said: “It is an exciting time to be joining ACS Switzerland after what was an excellent last quarter of 2023 and a great start to this year. We have a fantastic team here and I cannot wait to get started on the planned growth for the office.” Chris Leach, chairman of Air Charter Service, said: “After working for several years in the hospitality and aviation sectors in France, Belgium and the UK, Arthur joined a priva ..read more

For MRO Management, Jennifer Iversen, vice president of aviation operations and regulatory affairs from the Regional Airline Association (RAA), highlights the crucial need to recruit diverse, skilled aircraft technicians to support the ongoing success and trust in regional airline operations. There are more people flying today than ever before, following the rebound that has been experienced after the Covid-19 pandemic. While airlines compete over everything from which class you can sit in to whether you can bring your carry on onto the aircraft, there is one key area that airlines do not comp ..read more

Lufthansa Technik Malta (LTM) has completed its first base maintenance work on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The C-check on a LOT Polish Airlines’ 787-9 comprised of extensive checks of the various systems of the aircraft and its structure, including composite materials. LTM says it has invested several million Euros in preparing for the technical support of the Boeing 787, including the training of its technical experts and the procurement of the necessary tools and materials. Krzysztof Krolak, vice president of technical operations at LOT Polish Airlines, said: “We are very pleased with the compl ..read more

Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) has signed a five-year agreement to support the maintenance of TAAG Angola Airlines’ Boeing 777s. The contract includes a pool and repair component support plus an MBK (Main Base Kit) for the airline’s fleet of five 777-300s and three 777-200s. The new agreement marks the first exclusive component support agreement between the two firms who state that it symbolises a growing relationship between the two companies. Nelson de Oliveira, chief executive at TAAG, said: “This five-year agreement will ensure the reliable a ..read more

Challenge Group has announced the inauguration of Challenge Technic’s dedicated A-Check line at its new hangar facility in Hannover. Designed to accommodate a variety of aircraft, including the larger B747, the facility will centralise all heavy maintenance works for both Challenge Group’s fleet and third-party clients. The firm says the introduction of this line is a testament to its commitment to best-in-class service, offering time-efficient maintenance that ensures a swift return to service, regardless of aircraft size or weather conditions. Petur Ulfarsson, chief executive of Challenge Te ..read more

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary issued a statement regarding the fallout from the French ATC strike, which led to the cancellation of 300 flights despite the strike being called off on April 24, 2024. The post Michael O’Leary statement on cancelled French ATC strike appeared first on Aviation Business News ..read more