Note to readers: ATW is pleased to introduce a new feature to our website: Observation Deck. Each month, industry consultant and veteran George Hamlin will provide his unique perspective on air transport history and how the events of the past continue to shape the industry today.
Japan and the US officially signed an MOU on Monday, setting the stage for the implementation of the "open skies" accord the two nations agreed to late last year.
Copa Holdings, parent of Copa Airlines and Copa Airlines Colombia (formerly Aero Republica), flew 652.4 million consolidated RPMs in September, 8.6% growth over the year-ago month. Capacity increased 16.1% to 926.1 million ASMs while load factor fell 4.9 points to 70.5%. ExpressJet Airlines flew 737 million RPMs in September, up 20% year-over-year. Capacity climbed 16% to 939 million ASMs, lifting load factor 2.2 points to 78.5%.
Cathay Pacific Airways CEO Tony Tyler told ATW in Perth that the carrier is still keeping the door open on possible A380 or 747-8 orders, while urging Boeing to improve its "fantastic" 777. "The 777-300ER is a fantastic aircraft but it’s going to need to improve to compete with the A350-1000," he said. "Sure, the A350-1000 is not a Hong Kong–New York aircraft but it certainly is a Hong Kong–Europe aircraft. And so if they are going to sell more 777s to us they will have to improve it."
Embraer announced Friday it has signed a contract with Fuji Dream Airlines of Japan for an E-175, which will have a single-class configuration with 84 seats. The order also includes an option for one additional aircraft. This deal is already included in Embraer’s firm order backlog for the third quarter of 2010, as being from an undisclosed customer. Value of the transaction was not supplied.
Air transport industry stakeholders welcomed the signing of an MOU between US Dept. of Agriculture and FAA last week to develop aviation biofuels from forest and crop residues and other green feedstocks.
All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines have both secured regulatory approval from the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism for their respective transpacific joint ventures with Continental Airlines and United Airlines, on one hand, and American Airlines on the other.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Jim Albaugh said on Thursday that the company has "pulled back inside some elements of engineering [on the 787-9], which in the past had been on the outside—specifically activities surrounding composites."
AirTran Airways parent AirTran Holdings reported third-quarter net income of $36.3 million, more than triple the $10.4 million profit it earned in the year-ago period, and also announced last week that it reached a tentative agreement with its 1,700 pilots on a new labor contract.
Messier Services signed an agreement with SriLankan Airlines covering landing gear MRO and exchange for all five A340-300s operated by the carrier. Work has already started at Messier Services Asia in Singapore and will be completed in 2010. SR Technics signed a three-year engine services contract with Biman Bangladesh Airlines under which it will provide engine maintenance, overhaul and repair services on six PW4000s powering Biman's A310s.
Alitalia and Jet Airways signed an MOU to codeshare on seasonal winter flights to Italian and Indian destinations. Eastern Airways will increase 10-times-weekly Newcastle–Cardiff flights to 11-times-weekly with new Sunday service starting Oct. 31. World Airways received US FAA authorization to operate Polar routings, allowing the carrier to eliminate intermediate stops for several routes, reduce flight times and save fuel.
Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air parent Alaska Air Group reported record third-quarter net income of $122.4 million, up 39.7% from $87.6 million in the year-ago quarter. Chairman and CEO Bill Ayer said this quarter’s results represented the “best adjusted quarterly profit in our history” and were driven by “increased traffic, stable yields and good cost management through improved productivity and lower overhead.”
Air Arabia on Friday will take delivery of its first new Airbus A320 out of an order for 44 A320 family aircraft announced in 2007, Air Arabia Group CEO Adel Ali confirmed to ATW on the sidelines of the AACO AGM is Cairo this week. The CFM56-5B-powered A320 will be deployed at its main base at Sharjah International and support "exciting" expansion foreseen in its winter schedule. A second A320 is scheduled for delivery in December and a further five will arrive in 2011. Deliveries continue through 2015.
