Air France-KLM Group has secured a vital agreement with pilots which will enable the budget operation Transavia to conduct domestic services in France. French pilot union SNPL has strongly backed the agreement, with members voting over 90% in favour after a turnout of nearly 83%. Air France-KLM says the vote illustrates the “responsibility” that cockpit crews are taking in the “crucial juncture” as the company plots a recovery from the air transport downturn by overhauling its notoriously loss-making French domestic network. French domestic flights have faced strong competition from budget rivals as well as the high-speed rail network, and Air France wants to capitalise on a deal, signed last year, permitting the expansion of Transavia’s French fleet beyond 40 aircraft. Transavia already operates from bases at Paris Orly, Lyon, Nantes and Montpellier on over 100 routes within Europe and the Mediterranean region. Air France will reinforce the Orly base with Transavia domestic services, while holding on to specific routes – including Toulouse, Nice, Marseille and Corsica – with its ‘La Navette’ shuttle operation. But its plan also involves surrendering routes from Paris Orly where a competing rail link of up to 2h 30min exists. Transavia will be used to expand from a mini-hub in Lyon, as well as its other two bases at Nantes and Montpellier. The budget airline’s route network is yet to be detailed. “Development of Transavia on the French domestic market is a key step in the [Air France] strategic plan to improve its financial performance,” says Air France-KLM Group, adding that Transavia will enable Air France to be competitive in “each sector in which it operates”. Air France’s regional carrier Hop will complement both the Transavia operations from Lyon and the Air France network at the flag carrier’s Paris Charles de Gaulle hub. All the changes will take effect by 2023. “Air France’s domestic market is one of our group’s strategic assets,” says Air France chief Anne Rigail. “Connecting the French regions and linking them to the rest of the world is integral to our business. To ensure this activity continues, it is now essential to restore its balance.” SNPL states that the vote, which concluded on 12 August, “clearly illustrates the pilots’ desire to get involved” in both the future direction of Air France and the development of Transavia’s French operation.

Source: Cirium

Rolls-Royce is inspecting Airbus A350-900-powering Trent XWB-84 engines after "unexpected wear" was found on intermediate-pressure compressor (IPC) blades in several engines nearing their first regular overhaul. The UK manufacturer disclosed the information ahead of an airworthiness directive from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, "to address any potential speculation which may result". Rolls-Royce says the issue was identified during "routine inspections" on a "small" number of engines with ages of four or five years. Noting that "currently just over 100 Trent XWB-84s" in that age bracket are in service, Rolls-Royce says: "We have inspected the majority of them and found signs of wear on an average of only one or two IPC blades in a minority of those inspected. We have also taken the precaution of sampling a number of younger Trent XWB-84 engines and have found no unexpected wear." The affected engines were approaching their first overhaul. "None of these engines have experienced any abnormal in-flight operation," says Rolls-Royce. "However, we are inspecting all other Trent XWB-84 engines of a similar service life as a precaution." The Trent XWB is the sole engine available for the A350. Trent XWB-84s are used on the A350-900, which entered service in 2015. The larger A350-1000, which entered service in 2018, is equipped with Trent XWB-97s. Rolls-Royce says the IPC blade issue can be addressed through "limited... additional work" during "existing shop visits". Noting availability of replacement parts and spare engines, the manufacturer stresses: "We do not expect this issue to create significant customer disruption or material annual cost." Chris Cholerton, president of the manufacturer's civil aerospace division, states that the Trent XWB-84 has achieved "unequalled on-wing reliability" and that engines nearing their first shop visit have required "no unplanned maintenance". He adds: "It is reassuring to see that our proactive inspection regime has enabled us to identify and swiftly address this issue and minimise any potential impact on our customers." Rolls-Royce has been severely affected by blade-durability issues on Trent-series engines, particularly the Trent 1000 – an option on the Boeing 787. There were widespread groundings of these long-haul aircraft as engines required unscheduled shop visits. The Trent 1000 issues included premature blade deterioration in the IPC and the intermediate- and high-pressure turbines.

Source: Cirium

Boeing’s commercial activity slowed to a trickle in July, when the company handed over just four jets and took in no new aircraft orders. Detailing its July activity on 11 August, the airframer also revealed eight new cancellations for the 737 Max, bringing the total for the month to 43. Those previously unannounced Max cancellations include two more jets axed by Avolon, five cancelled by prospective Canadian start-up Jetlines and one Boeing Business Jet removed by an unnamed customer. Avolon has already disclosed cancellations of about 100 Max jets. A total of 35 cancellations had already been announced in July: 20 from lessor Alafco and 15 from AerCap. The July performance reflects the troubled, pandemic-hammered state of the airline industry and ongoing travel restrictions, Boeing says. Those factors have spurred order cancellations and delivery deferrals and hindered the ability of customers to travel to the USA to receive new jets, it adds. “Although we are starting to see some air traffic recovery in some places, the industry as a whole continues to grapple with the impact of the virus,” Boeing says. “We continue to work with customers as they… evaluate their fleet requirements.” The four aircraft deliveries in July included one 767 Freighter, one 777F and two 787s. Boeing adds that the low level of July deliveries also reflects tweaks in “production timing”, meaning some have shifted from July into early August. In addition to cancellations, Boeing reduced its backlog by another nine 737 Max to align with “ASC 606” accounting adjustments. Though Boeing still holds contracts to sell those jets, the company does not expect the deals will close due to factors that can include the financial condition of the customers. With the four deliveries, 43 cancellations and nine downward accounting adjustments, Boeing’s backlog in July declined by 56, from 4,552 to 4,496 jets. To date, Boeing has delivered 74 aircraft: nine 737s (including NG and military variants), one 747, 15 767s, 11 777s and 38 777s. Boeing this year has booked 59 orders. But its net figure for 2020 is negative to the tune of 836 aircraft, owing to cancellations, accounting adjustments and order conversions.

Source: Cirium