Gregory Polek has spent his entire career in aviation journalism with AIN, starting as a proofreader and assistant to then-managing editor Mary Mahoney in 1995 after serving an internship with&nbsp;New Jersey Monthly&nbsp;magazine and completing his B.A. degree in English/Writing at New Jersey’s William Paterson College. By 1997 Polek accepted a position as an associate editor, covering the regional airline beat for&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;in place of retiring industry veteran Don Anderson. The assignment took Polek across North America and Europe to profile regional airlines varying in size and mission from the likes of floatplane operators Kenmore Air and Chalk’s Ocean Airways to regional jet operators such as SkyWest and American Eagle. Today, in his dual role as Air Transport Editor and International Airshow Editor, Polek writes, edits, and manages AIN’s commercial aviation content while overseeing each of the company’s daily international air show publications in Paris, Farnborough, Singapore, and Dubai. Most recently Polek has assumed oversight of daily coverage of the Helicopter Association International’s annual Heli-Expo convention.

Senior Editor

Gregory Polek

Newly launched Japan Airlines low-cost subsidiary Zipair plans to start&nbsp;the world's first transpacific low-cost carrier&nbsp;services&nbsp;once it gains ETOPS approval for its reconfigured Boeing 787-8s sometime this year, JAL and Zipair executives revealed here Tuesday. Plans call for service launch between Tokyo Narita and Bangkok on May 14 and for a second ex-JAL 787 between Narita and Seoul on July 1.

 


Appearing at the Singapore Airshow on Tuesday with Japan Airlines executive officer for procurement Ryo Tamura and Zipair president Shingo Nishida, Boeing commercial sales and marketing vice-president Ihssane Mounir revealed plans to convert the interiors of the Dreamliners from a 206-seat configuration to a dual-class, 290-seat layout. Nishida detailed plans to lighten the airplane by reducing the number of galleys from four to three, removing seat monitors, and using lightweight synthetic leather for the seat upholstery. &nbsp;

 


Nishida described the target market for Zipair as young professionals who don’t necessarily travel on company expense accounts. He defined the class of service as neither low-cost or full service, but rather as “new basic.”

 


“The airline industry has become polarized between low-cost carriers and full-service carriers,” said Nishida. Elements that reflect Zipair’s new basic&nbsp;strategy include plans to fit the airplanes with 18 full-flat seats in business class while the&nbsp;economy section features 17-inch-wide seats installed in a 31-inch pitch layout.

 


“Boeing engineers really helped us a lot [with the conversion design],” said Nishida. “To have 290 seats without compromising passenger comfort is our challenge.”

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

JAL’s Zipair LCC Aims to Fly Transpacific

The first services for the new JAL subsidiary start on May 14 from Tokyo to Bangkok.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

ATR 72 aircraft performs pre-modification flight in Toulouse

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News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Only the piston aircraft segment posted a decline

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Two captains held the prototype 33 feet above the water for 30 seconds

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News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Icing approval would open year-round service to northern communities

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Deal to close this year

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Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

The two NATO allies will purchase seven of the tanker/transport aircraft

Spain and Poland Agree to Buy A330MRTT Tanker Transports

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

GE Aerospace has tested the GE9X, Leap 1A, Leap 1B, and more with the 747.

GE Aerospace Flies Boeing 747 To Test New Engine Tech

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News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

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