Norwegian is hopeful it can reach an agreement with Boeing on compensation for its grounded 737 Max fleet by the end of the year. The Scandinavian budget carrier was one of the first airlines to demand compensation from the US manufacturer over the grounding of the Max in the wake of two fatal crashes. In a video message posted on social media network Twitter in March, Norwegian's then-chief executive Bjorn Kjos said the airline would "send the bill to those who produce this aircraft", to cover the cost of deploying alternative jets on routes previously operated by the Max. Speaking on a podcast released 18 December by Norway-based investment bank DNB Markets, Norwegian's acting Geir Karlsen said that he hoped "to come to an understanding" with Boeing "before the end of the year". He expects that, in addition to compensation, the agreement will cover "a new schedule of plane deliveries". Norwegian had 18 Max jets in service at the time of the aircraft's global grounding. Cirium fleets data shows that the carrier has a further 92 Max jets on order. The airline said in July that the grounding would negatively impact its 2019 financial results by NKr700 million ($78 million). It is not yet clear when the Max will be cleared by regulators to take to the skies again. Boeing will suspend 737 production in January and Southwest Airlines has pushed the return of the Max to its flight schedule from early March to mid-April.

Source: Cirium

The holidays are officially upon us. During this year’s 18-day winter holiday travel period, U.S. airlines expect to transport 47.5 million customers, with nearly 12 million of those flying with American. The 130,000 American Airlines team members across the globe are gearing up to take care of those flying with us during the busy holiday rush that will last from Dec. 19 until Jan. 5. U.S. airlines expect 47.5 million customers to travel during this 18-day travel period. About 12 million will fly American. American Airlines expects 6,853 departures accross the globe on the 20th of December.

Source: World Airline News

Chemical analysis of impact traces has convinced Argentinean investigators that an unmanned aerial vehicle collided with an Embraer 190 shortly before it commenced its final approach to Buenos Aires. Argentinean investigation authority JIAAC says the Austral Lineas Aereas twinjet – operating from Rosario on 22 December last year – struck a foreign object at 4,080ft, some 20nm northwest of Jorge Newbery airport, but subsequently landed safely. Examination of the region of impact, on the fuselage, found an oily gel-like substance as well as fibres. Swabbed samples were analysed by a metallurgical laboratory at the National University of La Plata, which determined that they largely contained carbon, oxygen and nitrogen. These results suggested the material was carbonfibre while the oily substance appeared to contain organic compounds known to be present in batteries. “According to the results from the material analysed, it was confirmed that the object that struck the [Embraer] was an unmanned aerial vehicle,” says JIAAC. While investigators combed the area in which the drone was likely to have crashed – based on the aircraft’s height and speed, as well as wind direction – no debris was located. “Remains of the [drone] could have provided important information for the inquiry,” says JIAAC, providing data on its mass, performance, and operator. But based on data from a European Union Aviation Safety Agency study, the drone was probably in the ‘medium’ or ‘large’ category. The drone had been flying at night over a populated area within the control zone of Jorge Newbery airport, in the vicinity of the final approach path to runway 13. Regulations prohibit the operation of drones in controlled airspace without special authorisation, the inquiry points out. But it states that it could not determine whether the drone was complying with the rules.

Source: Cirium