Qantas has grounded two more Boeing 737-800s found to have structural cracks, a day after it removed one aircraft that was found to have a similar issue from service. The carrier says in an update that it has completed preliminary inspections on 33 of its 737s which have higher flight cycles. Cirium fleets data shows that Qantas operates 75 737-800s.
At the heart of inspections is a structure known as a "pickle fork", which connects the wing to the fuselage of 737-800s. Cracking of the structure could result in failure, affecting the integrity of the aircraft and potentially resulting in loss of control. Regulators had urged airlines with 737NGs with more than 30,000 flight cycles to inspect their aircraft immediately for cracks. Aircraft that have logged 22,600-30,000 cycles are to be inspected within the next 1,000 cycles. Qantas says that the three grounded aircraft have flown around 27,000 flight cycles, but did not provide further details. “Qantas is working with Civil Aviation Safety Authority and Boeing to resolve this issue, which involves some complex repair work. All three aircraft are expected to return to service before the end of the year,” the Oneworld carrier adds. On 31 October, Qantas slammed what it called “alarmist” comments by its engineers’ union to ground the entire 737 fleet, saying it was "irresponsible and completely inconsistent with advice from regulators and the manufacturer". Earlier last month, civil aviation authorities in Indonesia grounded three older 737NGs after inspections revealed similar structural cracks.

Source: FlightGlobal

South Africa's finance minister has told the country's parliament that discussions are being held with investors with a view to freeing flag-carrier South African Airways from state support. Tito Mboweni said, in a medium-term budget policy statement on 30 October, that SAA would probably never be self-sufficient as it stands. "[The airline is unlikely to ever generate enough cash flow to sustain operations in its current configuration," he told parliament. "I am pleased to learn that there are conversations involving SAA and potential equity partners, which would liberate the fiscus from this SAA 'sword of Damocles'." Mboweni said that the government, instead of funding "ordinary workers" travelling on old rail services from townships, had "essentially chosen to subsidise the middle-class and wealthy" who could afford to fly. "Which then begs the question," he said. "How long are we going to be on this flightpath? Forever? I think not."

Source: FlightGlobal

Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia is to be rebranded as Sunclass Airlines after the collapsed tour operator Thomas Cook Group's Northern Europe division was acquired by a trio of investors. The investors include Strawberry Group, the fund controlled by businessman Petter Stordalen, as well as Altor Funds and TDR Capital. Strawberry Group and Altor will each hold 40% with TDR taking the remaining 20%. This investment consortium will provide a "strong and long-term" Nordic majority ownership of the leisure company and its 2,300 personnel, says Strawberry Group. Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia has continued operating despite the liquidation of its parent company in September. The collapsed leisure firm's Northern Europe operation is also known as Ving Group, and includes tour operator activities in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland – among them firms such as Spies and Tjareborg. Ving Group says its core business is chartered holiday travel with Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia accounting for 85% of its volume. Group chief executive Magnus Wikner says the investors' "long experience" in the industry combined with financial strength will give the company "long-term stability" and the opportunity to develop. Stordalen says the company has a portfolio of "strong Nordic brands" and amounts to a "crown jewel" among the region's tour operators. "It's a fantastic business that has ended up in a very unfortunate situation," says Altor partner Harald Mix. He says that, through a restructuring scheme, the new owners will secure SKr6 billion ($620 million) in liquidity and guarantees. The various operations are being moved to a new group, with some of the component firms filing for a technical bankruptcy to enable them to be taken over by the newly-established group being set up by the consortium. Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia will be renamed Sunclass Airlines. The carrier currently operates around 14 aircraft, a mix of Airbus A330s and A321s.

Source: FlightGlobal