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☆ Amazon has lost market share for the Prime Day shopping holiday it invented. Walmart is setting itself up for a bigger slice of those sales.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Yeji Jesse Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Walmart once again is looking to compete directly with Amazon's Prime Day. In previous years, the company held "Rollbacks and More" events in July to compete with Prime Day, and last year Walmart launched a summer savings event called Walmart+ Weekend which took place just before Amazon Prime Day. Walmart is holding a summer savings event called 'Walmart Plus Week' between July 10 and 13, around the same time as Amazon's Prime Day. "Amazon's Prime Day market share will continue to slip, dropping from 62.0% in 2018 to an expected 59.6% in 2023," the report said. Roots of Walmart-Amazon Prime Day rivalryThe yearly battle over customers between Walmart and Amazon's Prime Day could date as far back as 2015.

Persons: Andrew Lipsman, Lipsman, Marc Lore, Jason Del Rey Organizations: Walmart, Amazon's, Service, Amazon, Intelligence, Insider Intelligence, Target, Jet, Target Circle Locations: Wall, Silicon, Amazon

☆ Factbox: Europe's ongoing strike-related travel disruptions
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The travel industry is on high alert for disruption after Europe's peak season last year was hit by cancellations, causing chaos at airports. This summer, air traffic control issues are likely to be the weak spot, according to warnings from Eurocontrol, which manages European airspace. Heathrow Airport security workers on June 23 called off 31 days of strikes planned at Britain's busiest hub. At Birmingham Airport, around 100 security officers and terminal technicians will begin continuous strike action from July 18. The strikes will severely impact the airport's security and terminal maintenance, leading to flight delays, the Unite union said.

Persons: Hannah McKay, Tiago Brandao, Pierre John Felcenloben, Antonis Triantafyllou, Milla Nissi Organizations: British Airways, Heathrow Airport, REUTERS, BELGIUM Ryanair, BRITAIN, Heathrow, Birmingham Airport, Glasgow, FRANCE Air, ATC, Nantes, Ryanair, Reuters, SPAIN Pilots, Iberia Regional Air Nostrum, Air Nostrum, Air Europa, Swedish Transport Workers, Union, Geneva, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, BELGIUM, Belgium, Charleroi, Europe, Gatwick, France, Paris, Orly, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Toulouse, Bordeaux, ITALY, PORTUGAL, Portugal, Iberia, Spain, SWEDEN

☆ The US's biggest arms buyers are looking elsewhere for a next-generation fighter jet, but it won't be easy to find
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

But Washington has proved to be wary of selling those countries US-made stealth fighter jets. That leaves the Gulf states with various non-US options, which don't look all that promising — at least not any time soon. A prototype of Russia's Su-75 fighter jet at the MAKS-2021 air show outside Moscow in July 2021. AP Photo/Alexander ZemlianichenkoIn 2021, shortly after unveiling its Su-75 fighter, Russia offered to co-produce the jet, which is still in development, with the UAE. While China may eventually offer its FC-31/J-35 stealth fighter for export, it must first demonstrate the jet's effectiveness to attract serious buyers.

Persons: —, Sebastien Roblin, Chris Thornbury, Abraham, Abu Dhabi, FCAS, Roblin, Russia's Su, Alexander Zemlianichenko, Abu Dhabi's, Emily Hawthorne, RANE, Hawthorne, isn't, JOHANNES EISELE, Paul Iddon Organizations: Qatar —, Service, United Arab, —, US Air Force, Al Dhafra, Base, Staff, Abraham Accords, Reuters, AP, East, Korea's KF, Yonhap, Cooperation Council, KF, FC, Getty Locations: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Washington, Gulf, United Arab Emirates, Chris Thornbury But Washington, Israel, Riyadh, British, France, Germany, Turkey, Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, Abu Dhabi, Russian, North Africa, Sacheon, South Korea, Seoul, Korea, Zhuhai, AFP, China

☆ Exclusive: Lockheed raises concerns over L3Harris-Aerojet deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Valerie Insinna | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, June 20 (Reuters) - Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) has raised concerns with the U.S. Defense Department and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) about L3Harris's (LHX.N) acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne (AJRD.N), Lockheed's chief operating officer said on Tuesday. Frank St John told Reuters that Lockheed, Aerojet's biggest customer, wanted L3Harris to ensure access to rocket motors, fair pricing and IP protections, adding it had received "little response" from L3Harris over its concerns. If L3Harris continues to be unresponsive, Lockheed wants the Defense Department or FTC to put in place a mechanism to guarantee access to technology, St John said. L3Harris, Aerojet Rocketdyne, the FTC and Defense Department did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment. Lockheed had previously attempted to buy Aerojet in a $4.4 billion deal, but walked away from the acquisition in February 2022 after the FTC sued to block the deal, citing concerns that Lockheed could hinder competitors' fair access to Aerojet products.

Persons: Lockheed Martin, Aerojet, Frank St John, L3Harris, we've, St John, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Lockheed's, Greg Hayes, Chris Calio, Valerie Insinna, Mark Potter Organizations: Lockheed, U.S . Defense Department, Federal Trade Commission, Reuters, Paris, Defense Department, FTC, Aerojet, Thomson Locations: L3Harris, Ukraine

☆ Video shows cockpit of US reconnaissance plane rattling as Chinese fighter jet cuts in front of it
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Chinese fighter jet recently intercepted an American spy plane, the US military said Tuesday. The jet flew right in front of the US aircraft's nose, forcing it to fly through rough turbulence. A video captured from the RC-135's cockpit shows the Chinese fighter jet streak across the sky just ahead of the aircraft before it hits the turbulence. For example, a Chinese J-11 fighter jet in December flew within 20 feet of an American RC-135, forcing it to take evasive actions to avoid crashing. Before that, both Australia and Canada had accused Chinese pilots of cutting in front of surveillance planes and making risky intercepts of aircraft.

Persons: —, Washington Organizations: Western Pacific, Service, Pacific Command, Pentagon, Pacific Joint Force, China Locations: American, Western, South, United States, Beijing, Australia, Canada

☆ WestJet, pilots in tentative deal for 24% hourly raise over 4 years, document shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Allison Lampert | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MONTREAL, May 26 (Reuters) - WestJet Airlines pilots will get a 24% hourly raise over four years, plus other pay and benefits as part of a tentative agreement reached in May, according to a copy seen by Reuters on Friday. The tentative agreement was reached by Onex Corp's (ONEX.TO) WestJet and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) less than 24 hours before the start of an expected strike at Canada's second-largest carrier. The deal, pending approval by WestJet pilots, is expected to put pressure on Air Canada (AC.TO) as the larger rival faces a call from its pilots to narrow the earnings gap with higher-paid aviators in the United States. Air Canada, which is not currently in negotiations, has said it abides by the 10-year contract. After 11 years, a top-paid Air Canada B787 pilot earns C$313.81 ($234.68) an hour, according to an internal table seen by Reuters.

☆ Factbox: Pilots, airlines seek to strike new contracts ahead of peak travel season
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO (LUV.N):The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) in May said its members at the company approved a strike mandate. It added that 98% of its members participated in the vote and 99% voted in favor of authorizing a strike. UNITED AIRLINES HOLDINGS INC (UAL.O):Last year, ALPA said 94% of the nearly 10,000 United Airlines pilots voted to reject a contract offer. SPIRIT AIRLINES INC (SAVE.N):In January, ALPA said pilots at Spirit Airlines voted to ratify a new contract. More than 97% of the union members took part in the vote and 99% of them authorized union leaders to call a strike, if needed.

☆ VistaJet CEO defends company's financials as auditor raises liquidity, debt concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

watch nowVistaJet CEO Thomas Flohr defended his company's financial standing following reports that the fast-growing private charter jet company is facing liquidity and debt trouble. All documents and data was always available to our equity and debt holders," Flohr said. "We as a company, both shareholders and bondholders, [are] only focused on EBITDA, the cash creation of the company," Flohr said. That's as a private company the choice we're making as this conservative policy in place, but we might change it going forward." "Going forward, this infrastructure really allows us to grow the company from approximately $800 million EBITDA to $1.5 billion EBITDA," he said.

☆ The stealth F-22 Raptor's days are numbered, and the Air Force is officially looking for designs for the fighter jet's next-gen replacement
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Air Force is officially seeking designs for the next-gen fighter to replace the F-22 Raptor. "We will lose that edge if we don't move forward now," Frank Kendall, Air Force secretary, said. "No one does this better than the US Air Force, but we will lose that edge if we don't move forward now." There are two of these sixth-generation projects currently underway, one for the Air Force and the other for the Navy. The Air Force has pushed for the retirement of some earlier F-22s, but it has received pushback from Congress.

☆ WestJet union seeks to narrow pay gap between Canada and U.S. pilots as strike looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Allison Lampert | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Pilots at Onex Corp-owned (ONEX.TO) WestJet gave notice on Monday that could allow for strike action as early as May 19, raising fears of travel disruptions during Canada's Victoria Day holiday weekend. Pay is still the outlier," said Bernard Lewall, a union representative with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). "We need to narrow that gap between the North American carriers and WestJet," he said on Tuesday in an interview. Lewall declined to give a specific wage target, but said the airline must pay more to retain pilots. "We hope this measure will help WestJet passengers who otherwise could not travel due to the pilots’ strike,” said Flair CEO Stephen Jones.

☆ You can fly with your pooch on a specialist pet airline that offers a seat, drinks, and snacks on a private jet for around $9,000
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Private airline company K9 Jets is offering pet-friendly flights on a private jet. The airline is offering flights from New York, Lisbon, and London. Private airline company K9 Jets is offering pet-friendly flights on board a private jet. The airline is offering flights from New York, Lisbon, and London. Passengers looking to book one of the airline's private flights can register their interest via the company's website.

☆ Polish EU border patrol plane avoids collision with Russian jet
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WARSAW, May 7 (Reuters) - A Polish border guard aircraft on patrol for the European Union's border agency Frontex over the Black Sea near Romania narrowly avoided a collision with a Russian fighter jet on Friday, Romania and Poland said. A Russian SU-35 jet carried out "aggressive and dangerous manoeuvres" approaching the Polish aircraft without keeping a secure distance, leading to turbulence, loss of altitude and a temporary loss of control of the plane by the Polish crew, Anna Michalska, a border guard spokesperson, wrote on Twitter on Sunday. "The Russian jet flew just in front of the nose of the Polish plane, crossing its trajectory at a dangerous distance, estimated by the crew at about five metres," Michalska said. After three approaches the Russian jet flew away, Michalska added. "This incident is a further proof of the provocative approach of the Russian Federation in the Black Sea," the ministry said.

☆ Boeing has unveiled a new plane for its 'ecoDemonstrator' program — a modified 787. See all 10 of the company's testbed jets.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Boeing announced a new addition to its fleet of ecoDemonstrator aircraft on Thursday — a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner. While not every experimental technology makes it onto a future Boeing jet, about a third actually have. 2014: Boeing 787Boeing 787 ecoDemonstrator. BoeingIn 2014, the planemaker debuted its second ecoDemonstrator — a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The 787 ecoDemonstrator tested 35 projects, including a collaboration with Delta Air Lines to generate real-time turbulence reports.

☆ Airbus posts lower Q1 profit, delays new freighter
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, May 3 (Reuters) - Airbus (AIR.PA) posted a smaller than expected 39% drop in first quarter core earnings on lower airplane deliveries and a partial recovery in the dollar, offset by strong helicopters. The world's largest planemaker reaffirmed production and financial targets, but said the first deployment of a new freighter version of its A350 jetliner would slip into 2026. Airbus posted adjusted quarterly operating earnings of 773 million euros ($854 million) as revenues dipped 2% to 11.763 billion euros. Analysts were on average expecting adjusted operating profit, which softens such fluctuations to help gauge the underlying businesses from planes and rockets to helicopters and fighters, of 736 million euros on revenues of 11.37 billion. Underlying free cashflow slid to a negative 889 million euros in the first quarter, weighed by lower jet deliveries, from a positive inflow of 213 million euros a year earlier.

☆ Boeing has a delivery problem and it's not good for the airlines that rely on its planes
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

These include the MAX 7, MAX 8, and the MAX 8200, which is a high-capacity version of the MAX 8 variant. American has 42 MAX planes in its fleet and 88 on order. The carrier has 137 MAX planes in its fleet with firm orders for 417, plus another 147 as options. Though Boeing and its partners are still assessing the impact of the most recent delivery stoppage, delivery delays have become a serious trend for the planemaker. And, Boeing said despite its recent 787 delivery pause, it didn't "anticipate a change to our production and delivery outlook for the year."

☆ Russian jet almost shot down a British surveillance plane flying near Ukraine, and only failed because the missile malfunctioned: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Russian jet tried to fire on a British spy plane last year, but the missile malfunctioned, NYT reports. In their telling, the Russian fighter jet pilot misheard the radar operator on the ground as conveying permission to fire, locked on to the British aircraft, and only failed because the missile didn't launch properly. One of the Russian jets "released a missile" in the "vicinity" of the UK plane, which he described as "potentially dangerous." Following the incident, the UK temporarily ceased surveillance patrols, later sending them out with an armed escort. A Russian Su-27 fighter jet seen approaching a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea on March 14, 2023, in video released by the US military.

☆ Boeing just sold hundreds of Dreamliners — now it just needs to figure out how to consistently deliver them
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

This is not the first time Boeing has had to stop 787 deliveries. Despite the latest pause, Boeing said it didn't "anticipate a change to our production and delivery outlook for the year." Henry Harteveldt, travel analyst and president of Atmosphere Research Group, told Insider the Boeing 787 is favorable due to its fuel efficiency, versatility, and passenger comfort. Boeing told Insider it will "continue to produce at a slow rate as we increase back to five per month." "In the case of the 787, you've got components coming in from many countries around the world," he told Insider.

☆ NASA delays Boeing Starliner's debut crewed voyage
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Joey Roulette | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Starliner's debut crewed mission, which will carry commander Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams, to the International Space Station will be a crucial moment for Boeing's space unit. The delay comes as Boeing and NASA performed extra testing on several areas of the spacecraft. "Boeing has conducted more than a dozen Starliner battery thermal runaway tests, stressing the battery cells beyond their intended limit. Federal procurement data shows NASA has agreed to pay Boeing at least $24.8 million for the upgrade of that system. NASA and Boeing's aim to have the valves redesigned for future missions initiated a dispute with Boeing's propulsion system supplier.

☆ Even with F-16s, Ukraine's pilots still wouldn't be 'out of the woods' against Russia's air force, US officials say
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Polish and Slovakian MiG-29s would add to Ukraine's fleet and be familiar to Ukrainian pilots but won't bring much more capability than Ukraine's current MiG-29s. 'The hard work'A pilot exits a Polish Air Force F-16 at an airbase in Poznan in November 2006. If the US or another NATO country elected to supply Ukraine with F-16s, Kelly said his first question would be "what sustainment depot are they going to use? "Again, that's just for the short-term of being able to launch or recover aircraft," Baum said. Ukraine's new jets would also be flying against Russian air-defense weapons that have claimed dozens of Ukrainian aircraft and continue to contest the airspace around the front lines.

☆ Mistakes by the US's top spies allowed China to turn a deadly mid-air collision into an intelligence coup
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( James Bamford | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +36 min

On April 1, 2001, a US EP-3 spy plane collided with a Chinese fighter jet over the South China Sea. One of eleven left in the fleet, the tired 1960s-era spy plane bristled with porcupine-like antennas. Within minutes, however, the fighters had reached the lumbering spy plane, and while Zhao Yu hung back about a half-mile, Wang Wei rapidly closed in. In severe trouble, he immediately radioed the base, telling them he was unable to maneuver and being sucked in by the spy plane. "You are not allowed aboard the aircraft," Osborn said.

☆ China still seeking answers a year after plane crash
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BEIJING/WASHINGTON, March 20 (Reuters) - China's aviation regulator said Monday investigators were still looking into the cause of the crash of China Eastern Airlines' Flight MU5735, almost a year after the plane came down, killing all 132 people on board. On the eve of the anniversary, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said experts had already inspected more than 100 pieces of wreckage. NTSB investigators also traveled to China. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said last week the agency has had a "really good working relationship with China" during the investigation. A final report into the causes of the crash could take two years or more to compile, Chinese officials said last year.

☆ Beijing still seeking answers a year after China Eastern plane crash
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

While the MU5735 tragedy like all aircraft disasters was complex, the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder of the aircraft were recovered days after the crash, he added. A final report into the causes of the crash could take two years or more to compile, Chinese officials said last year. Boeing declined to comment and China Eastern did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder were sent to a U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) laboratory in Washington, a move Beijing had supported despite rising political tensions between the two countries. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said last week the agency has had a "really good working relationship with China" during the investigation.

☆ EasyJet cabin staff in Portugal plan early April strike over pay
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LISBON, March 17 (Reuters) - EasyJet (EZJ.L) cabin staff in Portugal will go on a three-day strike in early April to demand higher wages to compensate for the soaring cost of living, the SNPVAC union of civil aviation flight personnel said on Friday. Workers at the British low-cost airline, who also seek better working conditions, are planning to walk out between April 1-3. "Due to the economic climate, easyJet workers have lost purchasing power over the last three years," SNPVAC said in a statement. "The increase in the cost of living suffocates workers and jeopardises the well-being and comfort of their families." Reporting by Patricia Vicente Rua; Editing by Andrei Khalip and Jan HarveyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Two Indian pilots were grounded after a photo of coffee and snacks balanced dangerously on cockpit controls was shared on social media
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A photo shared on social media showed an uncovered cup of coffee perched on a plane's cockpit controls. Indian airline SpiceJet grounded the two pilots, adding that disciplinary action would follow. The photo, which was shared widely on social media, does not show the pilots' faces. "All pilots are aware of the dangers of spilled liquids in the cockpit," he said, per the media outlet. Indian aviation rules allow pilots to have food and drink in the cockpit but under strict guidelines, per BBC News.

☆ I've flown business class three times — and on a private jet twice. Here's which is better.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

"If people need to fly, they will fly," VistaJet's Qi told Insider in October 2022. "No one likes to pay more money, but we live in a world where inflation is close to 10% and the most precious resource of our members is time." Courtesy of VistaJet

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