IATA announced leadership changes Tuesday at the conclusion of its 67th AGM in Singapore, confirming former Cathay Pacific Airways CEO Tony Tyler will succeed DG and CEO Giovanni Bisignani
Allegiant Travel Co. named Michael Reichartz senior VP-Marketing. Reichartz was one of the original employees at Travelscape and has served as Expedia VP-Lodging. Reichartz will oversee the company's third-party products, e-commerce/consumer marketing, advertising and corporate communications groups, said Allegiant. Qatar Airways named Marwan Koleilat as CCO. Koleilat joined the carrier in 1997 and has served as senior manager-Commercial Operations East Asia/Southwest Pacific since 2004.
US Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported that US airlines employed 1.5% more workers in March compared to the same month last year. BTS said two network airlines (Alaska Airlines and United Airlines) decreased employment. Delta Air Lines reported 5.1% more workers in March 2011 than in the year-ago month. Continental Airlines, which now includes employees that formerly worked for Continental Micronesia, reported a 0.8% increase.
Flydubai and CTT Systems said the Dubai-based carrier has placed an order for 31 Zonal Drying Systems to be installed in its 737-800s. The systems, which eliminate condensation in the aircraft, will be installed by Boeing at time of production on flydubai’s aircraft, to be delivered from 2011-2015.
Aer Lingus pilots called off their industrial action, which was scheduled to begin Tuesday morning, after management and representatives of the Irish Airline Pilots’ Assn. reached an agreement on rosters for pilots based in the Republic of Ireland ( ATW Daily News, June 1).
Australia's Qantas Airways will sponsor Malaysia Airlines' entry into the oneworld alliance as it looks to form a close partnership with the Kuala Lumpur-based airline as part of its plan to lift its share of the Asian market.
Outgoing IATA DG and CEO Giovanni Bisignani labeled the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme "illegal" and called for airlines' inclusion in the scheme starting next year to be abandoned, warning that a trade war is possible.
LAN CEO Enrique Cueto said he expects Chilean antitrust tribunal TDLC to complete its investigation into the merger between LAN and TAM under LATAM Airlines Group and approve the deal by the middle of July, enabling the transaction to close before the end of 2011.
IATA blamed surging oil prices, unrest in the Middle East and natural disasters across the globe for slashing the airline industry’s projected 2011 profit by 54% to $4 billion from $8.6 billion forecast by the organization in March.
Outgoing IATA DG and CEO Giovanni Bisignani labeled the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme "illegal" and called for airlines' inclusion in the scheme starting next year to be abandoned, warning that a trade war is possible.
Asiana Airlines began codeshare flights with EVA Airlines on Seoul Incheon-Taipei service June 1. Asiana has nine weekly flights to Taipei while EVA has seven; these will now operate as codeshare flights. AnadoluJet launched twice-weekly Ankara-Batumi service Astra Airlines will operate nine-times-weekly Boeing 737-800 Thessaloniki-Moscow Domodedovo service this summer.
British Airways took delivery of its 100th Airbus aircraft, an IAE-powered A320. It is the 205th Airbus single-aisle aircraft delivered to International Airlines Group, formed in January following the merger of BA and Iberia ( ATW Daily News, Jan. 24). BA has already taken delivery of two A318s, 33 A319s, 48 A320s and 16 A321s.
Ancillary revenue from 47 global carriers increased 38% year-over-year to €15.11 billion ($21.46 billion) in 2010, Amadeus reported in its annual “Review of Ancillary Revenue Results,” researched by the IdeaWorks consultancy.
Alaska Airlines has nearly completed outfitting its fleet of 117 Boeing 737s with Gogo Inflight Internet service; it will be 92% equipped "later this month." Nine aircraft will not offer Wi-Fi, including its freighter and combi aircraft, and three leased 737-400s, which will be returned to the lessor in 2012.
Lufthansa completed upgrading its first Boeing 747-400 with new first and economy sections last week. A LH spokesperson told ATW in Frankfurt that this is just “one part of a total of €2.9 billion ($4.14 billion)” fleet restoration program for aircraft interiors through 2015. “This does not include aircraft orders,” the spokesperson explained.
Cathay Pacific Airways CEO John Slosar told ATW that the airline will not launch a low-cost carrier along the lines of the one announced by competitor Singapore Airlines last month
Qantas offered its flight attendants voluntary redundancy as it pares back its growth projections to cope with high fuel costs and intense competition.
Just in time for the Paris Air Show, ATW has launched the ATW Mobile App, featuring articles from commercial aviation’s leading global airline industry magazine, Air Transport World, plus breaking news, a daily airline industry news feed, and newsletter content covering airports, the environment and route developments.
United Continental Holdings started unveiling changes at Chicago O'Hare to "provide a more consistent travel experience for customers on United Airlines and Continental Airlines." The changes, which include more self-service capabilities, new "Premier Access" airport services, new Mileage Plus and OnePass features and benefits, a new onboard menu, aligned policies/procedures and new airport signage, will be introduced at airports across the carriers' global network over the next several months.
