Air Transport World

SAS Scandinavian Airlines has secured approvals to access a new SEK3.5 billion ($533 million) credit line after getting union buy-in for its restructuring plan.

Chinese carriers are expected to report a collective 25.2% drop in net profit to CNY20.99 billion ($3.34 billion), from CNY26 billion reported in 2011.

ATR inaugurated a new pilot and maintenance training center in Singapore’s Seletar Aerospace Park, joining existing facilities in Toulouse, Paris and Johannesburg. The new center is equipped with a -600 series full-flight simulator and has the capacity to train more than 600 pilots and maintenance crews annually.

Tampa Cargo, AviancaTaca’s Colombia-based cargo airline, has taken delivery of the first of four new Airbus A330-200 freighters.

Russian Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) has gained type certificate in Laos.

Allegiant Travel Co. said it will buy up to nine ex-Iberia Airbus A320 aircraft—seven in 2013 and two in 2014.

The Luxembourg government confirmed Wednesday it has taken over the 35% stake in Cargolux Airlines from Qatar Airways.

Spanish carrier Iberia said it is prepared to discuss the terms of its controversial Transformation Plan after returning to the negotiating table with its unions.

Bombardier has acquired orders from two customers for CSeries aircraft.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has given its conditional approval of the proposed Qantas Airways and Emirates alliance.

An undisclosed North American carrier has signed a letter of intent for 12 Bombardier CS100s, plus options for an additional 18.

A US bankruptcy judge has approved American Airlines’ parent AMR Corp.’s new labor contract with the carrier’s 10,000 flight deck crew.

Latvian carrier AirBaltic has firmed an agreement to acquire 10 Bombardier CS300 aircraft, with 10 options.

The European Commission (EC) has approved a €1.2 billion ($1.6 billion) capital injection by the public owners of much-delayed Berlin Brandenburg airport.

Japanese carrier Fuji Dream Airlines has placed an order for two additional Embraer E-175s valued at $81.6 million.

OLT Express Germany will temporarily suspend 12 routes from German regional airports from early January.

Spring Airlines is expanding services between China mainland and Hong Kong.

Finnair will operate 3X-weekly Helsinki-Hanoi service June 14-Oct. 27, subject to regulatory approvals. Norwegian Air Shuttle will launch a weekly Umeå-Alicante service April 3 and a weekly Karlstad-Alicante service April 9. The services will be operated by Boeing 737-800s.

Russia’s United Aircraft Corp. (UAC) said it expects to end the year with a revenue of RUB180 billion ($5.8 billion), UAC president Mikhail Pogosyan said.

Jordanian charter operator Petra Airlines will switch to primarily scheduled services and become the Middle East nation’s first low-cost carrier (LCC).

FedEx reported net income of $438 million for its fiscal second quarter ended Nov. 30, down 12% from a net profit of $497 million in the prior-year period.

Etihad Airways has acquired 70% of Air Berlin’s topbonus frequent flyer program (FFP) for €200 million ($263.7 million), further strengthening their partnership.

Turkish Airlines has added more destinations to its network from Istanbul Ataturk.