Titan Airways said it is adding an Avro RJ100 to its 12-strong London Stansted-based charter fleet of four Boeing 737-300s, four BAe 146-200s, one 757-200 and one 767-300ER. The aircraft can provide flexible seating with variable geometry seats, configured for all economy service with 110 seats, six abreast or 55 business class and 43 economy seats.
Tiger Airways Holdings reported a net profit of S$22.6 million ($17.6 million) for the fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31, 2010, up 60.3% over S$14.1 million earned in the year earlier period. Total revenue for the Singapore-based LCC climbed 22.1% to S$170.4 million while ancillary revenue surged 38.1% to S$34.4 million, representing 20% of the total.
Air China said Sunday it plans to operate a transpacific demonstration flight partially powered by biofuel in the second half of this year. CA is expected to use a Boeing 747 powered by Pratt & Whitney engines on the test flight, and the aircraft manufacturer has agreed to partner with the Beijing-based carrier to provide technical support.
The situation at Cairo airport was described as chaotic as thousands of stranded people waited for information about flights out of the city in the face of continuing civil unrest and rioting in Cairo against the government of President Hosni Mubarak.
Ryanair posted a net loss of €10.3 million ($14 million) for its fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31, slightly reduced from the €10.9 million deficit in the prior-year period despite a 6% year-on-year increase in passengers to 17 million, a 15% rise in the average fare to €34 and a 22% hike in revenue to €746.3 million.
Embraer announced it entered into an agreement with Ukrainian Aviation Group Alliance member Dniproavia for the delivery of 10 Embraer E-190s with options for another five.
Airbus and Boeing both claimed victory from Monday's World Trade Organization decision in their long-running dispute over state aid to their respective commercial programs.
Delta Air Lines on Friday confirmed it would indefinitely suspend its New York JFK-Cairo service, “due to civil unrest” taking place in Egypt. Its last flight departed CAI at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 29. It launched the route June 4, 2008. Emirates Airline will increase daily Dubai-Vienna service to 11-times-weekly Airbus A340-500 service March 27.
Swedish carrier Skyways announced it will increase its route network by 50% from March 28, adding six destinations in Scandinavia and northern Europe: Brussels, Berlin, Stavanger, Bergen, Trondheim and Sundsvall.
US FAA upgraded Croatia to a Category 1 safety rating, up from the Category 2 rating it received in September 2008, following a reassessment of the country's civil aviation authority. Croatia now complies with international safety standards set by ICAO, FAA said.
SAirGroup (formerly Swissair) was responsible for the bankruptcy of Sabena in November 2001, a Belgian court ruled Thursday, although it ordered a much lower payment than the claimants had sought. It said the Swiss group, which held a 49.5% stake in the Belgian flag carrier, did not respect an August 2001 agreement to provide 60% of a €430 million ($589.4 million) cash injection needed to keep Sabena in business ( ATW Daily News, Dec. 24, 2009).
Preliminary figures for 2010 released last week by the Assn. of Asia Pacific Airlines confirmed the strong rebound in traffic demand in the region. In 2010, RPKs for AAPC member airlines grew 9.8% to 700.8 billion while ASKs increased 4.1% to 892.5 billion, resulting in a 4.1 point improvement in load factor to 78.5%. AAPA DG Andrew Herdman said that Asia/Pacific carriers enjoyed a year of “solid growth, with robust demand for both leisure and business travel, and the strong rebound in international trade, led by dynamic growth of the Asia/Pacific region.”
Turkish Technic, a wholly owned subsidiary of Turkish Airlines, is hoping to be a “world class MRO provider” with the completion of its new facility at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen airport.
Singapore Airlines parent SIA Group earned net income of S$288.3 million ($225.4 million) for its fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31, down 28.6% from a S$403.7 million profit in the prior-year period, a decline attributable to S$199.1 million in special charges related to price-fixing fines against SIA Cargo.
Russian aircraft certification authority IAC AR on Friday approved type certification for the Sukhoi Superjet 100 clearing the way for first delivery of the long-delayed aircraft, which rolled out in September 2007 and made its first flight nearly three years ago.
Singapore Airlines parent SIA Group earned net income of S$288.3 million ($225.4 million) for its fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31, down 28.6% from a S$403.7 million profit in the prior-year period, a decline attributable to S$199.1 million in special charges related to price-fixing fines against SIA Cargo.
Gategroup won a four-year contract with Iberia valued at CHF400 million ($424 million) for catering and provisioning services at the carrier's main hubs in Madrid and Barcelona, as well as at 20 other airports in Europe, the US and Latin America. The agreement takes effect in May and will also cover ancillary services. The Assn. of European Airlines expanded its membership to 36 with this month's addition of Air Berlin.
Goodrich Corp. announced it introduced new lighter-weight main wheel and brake assemblies for Boeing 777-200LR, 777F and 777-300ER models. The new wheels and brakes provide a weight savings of 260 lb. (118 kg.) per aircraft, it said. The new equipment is now standard on 777s delivered with Goodrich equipment and will be available in the aftermarket this month.
African Airlines Assn. and the African Union signed an MOU to cooperate on matters related to commercial aviation and recognizing AFRAA as the representative organization for Africa's airline industry. The MOU was signed by AFRAA Secretary General Elijah Chingosho and AUC Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy Elham Ibrahim.
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said Tuesday he is looking at plans to cut the government's stake in Air New Zealand to help slash the country's debt. According to the Associated Press, Key, whose conservative national government faces an election this year, said New Zealand needed to reduce its reliance on foreign debt, which he said was equivalent to 85% of the country's GDP.
The European Commission said it sent Poland a reasoned opinion requesting to establish “transparent and non-discriminatory” procedures for allocating air traffic rights between Poland and non-EU countries in accordance with its obligations under EU law. The respective EU regulation entered into force more than six years ago.
