Finnair is setting out its sustainability credentials including the aim to halve its emissions by 2050 as pressure in Europe for airlines to tackle their climate change impact increases. The move to halve its emissions is in line with the industry's wider target, set out by IATA, to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to half their 2005 level by 2050. In the nearer term, the carrier hopes to be achieving zero-growth in its emission levels by next year. Speaking to FlightGlobal, Finnair regional manager for Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia Sebastian Grossmann acknowledged this is an “ambitious target”, but cites several factors working to the carrier’s advantage. For one, its routes between Finland and Asia are among the shortest for flights to Europe, which equate to lower emissions on average. The Oneworld carrier is also in the process of fleet renewal, moving to a newer, more fuel efficient aircraft, like its Airbus A350 and A320neo family fleet. Finnair also in August undertook its first biofuel flights, between Helsinki and San Francisco, as part of its Push for Change campaign. Grossman tells FlightGlobal that the airline is also working to reduce the overall weight it carries on its aircraft. It has already completely eliminated magazines and newspapers on board, and is cutting back on plastic wrapping and other plastics on flights. For instance, amenity kits are no longer wrapped in plastic, and it has stopped giving out individual milk pods on intra-European flights. The move to cut unnecessary plastic use has seen the carrier shave off 4,500kg in plastic a year.

Source: FlightGlobal

Passengers waiting to board Kulula and British Airways flights were left frustrated on Tuesday morning, when cancellations, emanating from a maintenance report, grounded several aircraft. Comair Limited – which serves as British Airways’ South African operator – released a statement early on Tuesday morning, warning passengers of delays affecting domestic routes. According to Comair, planes were grounded on Monday evening after South African Airways Technical (SAAT) released its finding of an audit. In the wake of the report, the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) issued a notice relating to “irregular findings” – effectively halting Kulula and British Airways operations. Comair said:

“Affected aircraft may not be flown until the necessary corrective action has been carried out.

Comair have contingency plans in place and aim to minimise any disruption to its operations. We will keep our customers updated. Customers can check their latest flight status on the relevant websites.”

This isn’t the first that Comair has had a run-in with South African Airways Technical. Last month, during an annual financial report, Comair noted that it had received a significant court settlement from SAAT, which the Kulula and BA operator held accountable for improper maintenance scheduling and parts inventories. Furthermore, Comair lodged a civil claim back in 2006 which alleged that SAA paid travel agents gratuitous amounts to ‘divert’ passengers away from Kulula and British Airways. The Competition Appeal Court ruled SAA’s ‘innovation strategy’ as improper. Comair joint CEO, Glenn Orsmond, confirmed that SAA coughed-up a R1.27 billion settlement.

Source: The South African

Investigators are probing an apparent uncontained engine failure involving a Thai Airways International Boeing 777-300ER during departure from Bangkok. The aircraft had been operating flight TG970 to Zurich, from runway 01L, at about 01:30 on 20 October. Thai says the aircraft had been rolling for take-off when the left-hand General Electric GE90 powerplant failed, prompting the crew to abort the departure. The aircraft – provisionally identified as HS-TKL, a 2012 airframe – had been transporting 339 passengers and 20 crew members. Images circulating on social media, purportedly showing the aircraft's engine but unverified by FlightGlobal, indicate substantial damage to the powerplant's aft right-hand side. Thai says the 777 needed to undergo repair and the passengers had to be accommodated overnight owing to the lack of a spare aircraft.

Source: FlightGlobal