Iberia launched twice-weekly Madrid-Brussels and weekly Madrid-Gran Canaria-Nouakchott Boeing 737F cargo service. United Airlines launched daily Los Angeles-Hilo service. It will launch weekly San Francisco-Hilo service June 11. Flights are operated by Continental Airlines. SkyWest Airlines launched daily United Express San Francisco-Idaho Falls service.
Alaska Air Group’s board of directors approved a stock repurchase program authorizing the company to buy up to $50 million of its common stock. AAG has repurchased a total of approximately 7.5 million shares of its common stock for nearly $212 million through similar programs over the past four years. AWAS announced it has secured a $500 million non-recourse warehouse facility to aid in its planned expansion and growth.
Peach Aviation, Japan’s newest low-cost carrier formed by joint venture partners All Nippon Airways and First Eastern Investment, named former Ryanair Chairman Patrick Murphy as a corporate advisor ( ATW Daily News, May 26). Murphy was appointed chairman of Ryanair in 1991 and oversaw its transformation from a traditional full-service regional airline into a low-cost airline. He left in 1994 and started his career as a consultant and advisor to airlines.
Panama-based Copa Airlines announced plans to launch service to Chicago O'Hare; Cucuta, Colombia; and Asuncion, Paraguay in December, bringing total destinations added in 2011 to seven. It commences service to four destinations on Wednesday: Toronto Pearson, Nassau, Brasilia and Porto Alegre. On the same day it will add two connecting banks at its Panama City Hub of the Americas, raising the total to six.
US Transportation Security Administration proposed "the removal of more than 30 Honolulu International Airport TSA employees following an extensive investigation into allegations of improper screening of checked baggage," the agency said in a statement. Included is HNL Federal Security Director Glen Richard Kajiyama, who has been replaced on an acting basis by Stanford Miyamoto, currently HNL's deputy area director.
TAAG Angola Airlines secured a $256 million long-term loan guarantee from the US Export-Import Bank for the purchase of a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with GE90-115B engines, the Ex-Im Bank said.
China Southern Airlines subsidiary Xiamen Airlines confirmed Monday it has been approved by the SkyTeam board for membership as early as year-end 2012.
This brief video provides an overview of International Aero Engines and what has made its V2500 turbofan engine a leader in the single-aisle A320 market.
MTU Maintenance Berlin-Brandenburg signed an agreement with Uruguay-based carrier Pluna covering maintenance of its CF34-8C5 engines. Pluna operates a CF34-powered fleet of 10 CRJ900 jets. The contract runs until December 2017 and is valued at €20 million ($29.2 million).
US Dept. of Transportation said Friday it fined Frontier Airlines $40,000 for failing to display on-time performance for its flights on the carrier’s website in early 2011. “Air travelers have a right to know whether the flight they are buying is chronically delayed or canceled,” said US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
Delta Air Lines and Virgin Australia Airlines said Friday they welcomed the US Dept. of Transportation's final approval of antitrust immunity for the airlines' transpacific alliance, which will allow the carriers to implement a joint venture on service between the US and Australia. DOT tentatively approved ATI for the carriers last month, reversing its prior opposition ( ATW Daily News, May 11).
Virgin America reported a first-quarter net loss of $44.6 million, widened from a year-ago deficit of $35.5 million, owing to “investment in growth and increased fuel prices,” the carrier said.
Chinese airlines reported an aggregate net profit of CNY1.88 billion ($290 million) in May, up 78.1% over net income of CNY1.05 billion in the year-ago month.
The ASTM International Committee on Petroleum Products and Lubricants, which develops standards related to oil products, provisionally approved a new specification for hydroprocessed renewable jet fuel that could clear the way for biofuel blends to power commercial flights, according to US FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt.
Chinese airlines reported an aggregate net profit of CNY1.88 billion ($290 million) in May, up 78.1% over net income of CNY1.05 billion in the year-ago month.
