The European Parliament took a step Tuesday toward the adoption of a so-called "just culture" in aviation among EU member states with the adoption of a new law intended "to ensure the independence of accident inquiries."
Citing careful capacity management and stronger-than-expected traffic and yield recovery, IATA on Tuesday raised its 2010 net profit forecast for the airline industry to $8.9 billion, a dramatic increase over the previous estimate of $2.5 billion made in June (ATW Daily News, June 8).
Citing careful capacity management and stronger-than-expected traffic and yield recovery, IATA on Tuesday raised its 2010 net profit forecast for the airline industry to $8.9 billion, a dramatic increase over the previous estimate of $2.5 billion made in June (ATW Daily News, June 8).
US Airways plans to launch seasonal service from Charlotte to Madrid and Dublin in May 2011. Madrid service, which starts May 4 and ends Oct. 29, will be operated with 767-200ERs. Dublin service, which runs from May 6 to Sept. 30, will be operated with 757-200 ETOPS aircraft. Finnair will launch six-times-weekly Helsinki-Seoul Incheon services and five-times-weekly Helsinki-Nagoya flights starting in December.
Estonian Air signed a contract for the delivery of three CRJ900NGs between early 2011 and 2012. The contract replaces the original agreement with Bombardier that was announced in March 2008.
Humberside-based Eastern Airways announced Monday it reached an "agreement in principal" with Plymouth-based Sutton Harbour Group to acquire wholly owned subsidiary, Air Southwest. Pending regulatory approval, the agreement is expected to be finalized in October. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition will enable Eastern Airways, the UK’s second largest regional airline, to expand its network into the South West of England.
Cathay Pacific and Dragonair traffic figures for August continued the recovery trend for 2010 with growth at nearly 10% for passengers compared to the year-ago period. The two airlines carried 2.4 million passengers in August, up 9.7%, and carried 149,000 tonnes of cargo, up 13.1% from the year-ago period. ASKs were up 7.1% to 10.05 billion with RPKs up 7.6% to 8.49 billion, resulting in a rise in load factor of 0.3 points to 84.4%. Cargo load factor increased 0.7 points to 72.7%.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission rejected an application from Sydney Airport Corp. for an increase in aeronautical charges for regional airlines. The application provoked a sharp reaction from Sydney’s largest regional operator, Regional Express, which accused the airport of understating the revenue it extracts from the airline.
Airbus announced that Malaysia Airlines firmed options for two A330-200Fs, doubling its orderbook for the freighter variant of the twinjet. The aircraft will be powered by Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engines and will be operated by Malaysia's cargo subsidiary, MASkargo. Delivery dates and value of the deal were not released.
Spirit Airlines, the closely held Fort Lauderdale-based low-fare airline, had a net loss of $2.8 million in the first half of 2010, compared to net income of $41.5 million in the year-ago period.
More than 70 passengers and crew who were aboard a Qantas A330 that suffered air data inertial reference unit spikes in October 2008 are suing Airbus and Northrop Grumman over the incident ( ATW Daily News, March 9, 2009).
British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell opened the World Route Development Forum in Vancouver by proposing to eliminate the province’s aviation fuel tax of C$0.02 per liter for international and transborder flights.
Lufthansa Systems was selected by EgyptAir to deploy its Lido/Flight solution. The carrier will also use the Traffic Flow Restrictions add-on, which LH Systems said will achieve "additional fuel savings by taking the highly complex issue of temporarily restricted airways into account." The IT provider estimates the flight planning solution can lead to as much as 5% in fuel savings for the airline.
SAS Group announced it reached a final agreement that will result in SAS divesting its 49% stake in Tallinn-based Estonian Air to the Estonian government ( ATW Daily News, June 7).Under a deal announced Friday, the Estonian government will provide approximately SEK200 million ($28.3 million) in a new rights issue and SAS will convert approximately SEK20 million in loans into equity.
Ethiopian Airlines named COO Tewolde Mariam CEO-designate, saying he will officially replace retiring CEO Girma Wake on Jan.1, 2011. Mariam has been with the airline in various capacities for 25 years. Wake has been CEO since February 2004 and has successfully led one of the most ambitious growth periods in the company's history ( ATW Daily News, Jan. 21).
Kam Air Executive VP Timor Shahab told ATW that the Afghani carrier is evaluating the renewal of its medium-haul fleet and will purchase “three A319s or A320s in early 2011.” He noted that next year the carrier plans to add one 767-300ER to its long-haul fleet. Currently, KMF operates one MD-82, one MD-83, one 767-200, two DC-8-63Fs, one Ilyushin 76 and a fleet of 23 Russian-built helicopters. It has a staff of 360.
Airline and government officials speaking at the ATAG Aviation & Environment Forum in Geneva enthusiastically welcomed Thursday's statement by UNFCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres endorsing ICAO as the proper venue for an international framework agreement on addressing aviation's role in climate change.
Russian Technologies signed a firm order Friday for 50 737NGs valued at $3.7 billion at list prices plus 35 options. The state-owned company plans to lease the aircraft to Aeroflot, according to multiple reports.
The French BEA last week confirmed the earlier findings of prosecutors that the incorrect cleaning of critical angle of attack sensors and pilot error were to blame for the loss of an A320 operated by XL Airways on a return-from-lease acceptance flight off the coast of France in November 2008 (ATW Daily News July 1, 2010).
United Airlines and Continental Airlines said Friday that each carrier's stockholders overwhelming voted to approve the companies' merger, and stated that the way is cleared for the all-stock transaction to close by Oct. 1.
Airline and government officials speaking at the ATAG Aviation & Environment Forum in Geneva enthusiastically welcomed Thursday's statement by UNFCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres endorsing ICAO as the proper venue for an international framework agreement on addressing aviation's role in climate change.
