Delta pilots ratify new contract

Brazil's top planemaker Embraer on Thursday announced it won an order from US airline Republic Airways for 47 regional jets, with an option for another 47, at a total potential value of $4 billion at catalogue prices.

Delta Air Lines said it will buy almost half of Virgin Atlantic for $360 million as it seeks a bigger share of the lucrative New York-to-London travel market. Delta plans to form a joint venture with Virgin Atlantic, where the two airlines would share money from the flights operated under the partnership. In order to coordinate the schedules of the two airlines, they’ll need antitrust approval from U.S. and European regulators. Landing rights at London’s Heathrow Airport are limited.

Bombardier Inc. announced Thursday a firm order for 40 of regional jets from Delta Air Lines, valued at $1.85-billion. The order for the CRJ900s come with an option for an additional 30 planes, which, if exercised would increase its value to $3.29-billion. Mike Arcamone, Bombardier Aerospace president, said in an interview the competition was stiff for the contract. But he said it gave him optimism that the regional jet market may be picking up again after a difficult few years.

The regional airliner was climbing past 9,000 feet when its compasses went haywire, leading pilots several miles off course until a flight attendant persuaded a passenger in row 9 to switch off an Apple Inc. iPhone. “The timing of the cellphone being turned off coincided with the moment where our heading problem was solved,” the unidentified co-pilot told NASA’s Aviation Safety Reporting System about the 2011 incident. The plane landed safely.