U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT) Source: US DOT U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT) Source: US DOT Close

In April 2018, the reporting carriers posted an on-time arrival rate of 81.3 percent, up from both the 78.5 percent on-time rate in April 2017 and the 80.9 percent mark in March 2018. Reporting carriers canceled 1.0 percent of their scheduled domestic flights, an improvement over both the 1.6 percent cancellation rate posted in April 2017 and the 2.8 percent rate in March 2018.

Airlines reported one tarmac delay of more than three hours on domestic flights, equal to one such tarmac delays reported in March 2018. In April 2018, airlines reported no tarmac delays of more than four hours on international flights, equal to no such tarmac delays reported in March 2018. All reported extended tarmac delays are investigated by the Department.

The carriers posted a mishandled baggage rate of 2.39 reports per 1,000 passengers, an improvement over both April 2017’s rate of 2.54 and March 2018’s rate of 2.59.

Bumping/oversales data, unlike other air carrier data, are reported quarterly rather than monthly. First quarter 2018 bumping/oversales data were released in the May 2018 Air Travel Consumer Report. January-June 2018 and second quarter 2018 bumping/oversales data will be available in the August 2018 Air Travel Consumer Report.

In April 2018, U.S. airlines reported one incident involving the death, injury, or loss of an animal while traveling by air, equal to the one report filed in April 2017 and down from the three reports filed in March 2018. April’s incident involved injury to one animal.

DoT received 1,169 complaints about airline service from consumers, down 38.7 percent from the total of 1,908 filed in April 2017 and down 2.1 percent from the 1,194 received in March 2018. Additionally, DoT received a total of 73 disability-related complaints, up from both the 66 complaints received in April 2017 and the 60 complaints received in March 2018. All complaints alleging discrimination on the basis of disability are investigated.

The DoT also received six complaints alleging discrimination - four complaints regarding race, one complaint regarding color, and one complaint regarding religion. This is down from both the total of 12 complaints recorded in April 2017 and the nine complaints recorded in March 2018. All complaints alleging discrimination are investigated to determine if there has been a violation(s) of the passenger’s civil rights.

CAE Flight Simulator Source: CAE CAE Flight Simulator Source: CAE Close

CAE recently inaugurated a new Boeing 787 full-flight simulator at CAE Madrid. The inauguration was attended by government officials, Air Europa, and CAE employees. Later this summer, a new Airbus A350 will also be deployed at CAE Madrid. Furthermore, one Boeing 737NG will also be deployed at CAE Barcelona in the second half of 2018. These latest additions also complement the ATR 72-600 deployed in the fall of 2017. All CAE 7000XR Series FFSs are equipped with CAE Tropos 6000XR visual system, offering unprecedented realism. CAE announced last fall additional training capacity and network enhancements at CAE Amsterdam, CAE Madrid and CAE London Gatwick.

In February, Norwegian Airlines extended its pilot training agreement with CAE for the provision of additional Boeing 737 pilot and cabin crew training, to support the airline’s growing training needs across the region. In addition to training at CAE Copenhagen, CAE Stockholm, and CAE Oslo, the airline’s pilots and cabin crew will now also train at CAE London Gatwick and CAE Barcelona. CAE has been Norwegian’s training partner of choice for more than a decade, providing pilot, cabin crew training and crew resourcing services.

Last quarter, BA CityFlyer extended its nearly one decade partnership with CAE for the provision of Embraer E190 pilot training services. Under the agreement, BA CityFlyer’s pilots will continue to train at CAE Amsterdam and CAE London Gatwick for three years.

With the new deployments, CAE Madrid will provide pilot training for Airbus A320, A330, A340, A350; ATR 72-600; Boeing 787; Bombardier CRJ 200/900NG/1000, Q300; and Dornier Do328TP platforms, bringing the total number of simulators available to 12. CAE Madrid is the training partner of choice of Spain’s major airlines and low-cost carriers, providing cadet training for tomorrow’s captains, and training more than 10,000 pilots and cabin crew every year.

In addition to the new Boeing 737NG, CAE Barcelona also offers Airbus A320 pilot and cabin crew training.

These new deployments complement the 60+ FFS available in more than 15 training centres and aviation academies across Europe, including CAE Amsterdam, CAE Barcelona, CAE Brussels, CAE Copenhagen, CAE London Gatwick, CAE Madrid, CAE Manchester, CAE Oslo, and CAE Oxford.

TAP Air Portugal A330-900neo Source: Airbus TAP Air Portugal A330-900neo Source: Airbus Close

TAP is the launch operator for the A330-900neo, and will be equipping the cabins with two different seat models from Recaro: the CL3710 economy class seat and the CL6710 business class seat.

The CL6710 provides passengers with their own area and direct access to the aisle. Seat length, seat width, and the various possible seat positions, such as the relax position and the completely flat bed, are designed to enable passengers to rest comfortably. When changing positions, the seat moves at a predefined angle intended to optimally support the passenger's body at all times.

TAP Air Portugal has been a Recaro customer for many years. "We are very proud to deliver the seats for the first A330neo and to once again cooperate successfully with TAP. It clearly reflects the strength of a successful collaboration between two powerful brands in the industry," said Mark Hiller, Chief Executive Officer of Recaro Aircraft Seating.

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