AVIATION NEWS BRIEFS

*VIRGIN AMERICA has become the 1st Airline to order the re-engined A320neo, after committing to 30 of the type. The agreement was disclosed in Toulouse, France, today. The order covers 60 A320 aircraft in total, 30 of which are the A320neo. "Virgin America will become the launch customer," said Airbus, although it said no engine selection has been made.

*Boeing will restart the 787 certification operations today. Currently based in Yuma, Arizona, 787 test aircraft ZA004 will re-launch FAA certification operations for the type with a validation of the fuel jettison system. This will be the first flight test for certification credit since ZA002's November 9 fire that placed the regulatory validation of Boeing's new flagship on hold. Today will also feature the 1st flight of a production 787, ZA102, the 9th 787, which wears a white fuselage and an ANA tail. Boeing has yet to announce a revised schedule for the 1st 787 to ANA.

*Mexican low-cost carrier INTERJET has placed an order for 15 Superjet aircraft, plus 5 options, choosing the long-range version of the aircraft. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2nd half of 2012. The carrier will operate them in a 98 seat configuration.

*AER LINGUS has canceled at least 2 flights today after cabin crew refused to operate with controversial new rosters that went into effect today. A spokesman said that a number of other staff had refused to operate other flights today under the new program, which was put in place to cut costs. However, the spokesman said the carrier managed to operate the flights concerned with the assistance of other cabin crew personnel. Aer Lingus warned cabin crew staff last week that failure to comply with the new rosters would be a breach of their contract of employment. It said that a continued refusal would result in them being put off duty and removed from the payroll.

*KOREAN AIRLINES will begin its Airbus A380 services with a flight between Seoul's Incheon Airport and Tokyo's Narita Airport on June 1. The same aircraft will then operate a flight from Seoul to Hong Kong on the same day after returning from Narita. KAL said it will expand A380 services to Bangkok once its 2nd aircraft arrives. Flights to New York will have an A380 option from August once a 3rd aircraft arrives, while KAL passengers can fly on the A380 to Los Angeles from October after a 4th aircraft arrives. The carrier ordered 10 A380s, with the 1st 5 to be delivered by the end of 2011 and an additional 5 by 2014. It's A380s will have only 407 seats: 12 first class and 301 economy class seats on the first level, and the 94 business class "Prestige" seats on the upper deck.

*AIR FRANCE Flight 22, a Boeing 777, had to make an emergency diversion to Keflavik, Iceland, today, January 17. While inflight overhead the Atlantic, about 400 miles SW of Iceland, the Co-Pilot declared an emergency, reporting that the Captain had fallen seriously ill. The 777 was diverted to Keflavik and landed there 75 minutes. Emergency Services met the aircraft and transported the Captain to hospital. There is no word on the nature of the illness or the Captain's condition.

*BRUSSELS AIRLINES Flight 2045, an Avro RJ100, had to return to Brussels, Belgium, yesterday, January 16, after the crew could not retract the landing gear.

*ESTONIAN AIR Flight 143, a Boeing 737, had to make an emergency return to Tallin, Estonia, yesterday, January 16. According to media reports, a drinking water pipe burst, sending water into the passenger cabin. The water caused a number of electrial systems to also fail. The 737 landed safely back at Tallin about 50 minutes after its initial departure and was removed from service for repairs.

*KINGFISHER Flight 4817, an ATR72, had to make an emergency return to Bangalore, India, yesterday, January 16, after the crew reported a right hand engine fire. The crew shut the engine down and landed back in Bangalore, about 10 minutes later with Emergency Services responding. According to Kingfisher, there was no fire in the right hand engine. However, media reports say that Emergency Services did douse a fire and in interviews with the press, several passengers also report that the engine was on fire. The ATR was removed from service and the incident is under investigation.

*AIR FINLAND Flight 661, a Boeing 757, had to divert to Paris, France, on Saturday, January 15, due to a right hand fuel indication that was not within expectations. The aircraft was removed from service.

*MIDWEST AIRLINES Flight 6180, a Boeing 737, had to make an emergency return to Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, on Saturday, January 15, due to cabin pressurization problems. The 737 was repaired and returned to service later the same day.

*EGYPT AIR Flight 61, an A321, had to reject takeoff from Luxor, Egypt, on Monday, January 10, after suffering a bird strike. There was no word on whether the A321 was damaged in the incident.