Blue1 will launch 12-times-weekly Helsinki Vantaa-Amsterdam service and will increase six-times-weekly HEL-Paris Charles de Gaulle service to 12-times-weekly Jan. 31. Both routes will be operated with 717s. Hawaiian Airlines will launch four-times-weekly Honolulu-Seoul Incheon service Jan. 12.
Air Berlin CEO Joachim Hunold told ATW the carrier has rebounded "slower than expected" from April's volcanic ash-related airspace closures in Europe, which cost it "about €40 million" ($50.6 million) in lost revenue and forced the cancellation of "3,625 flights, resulting in a loss of 600,000 seats affecting 400,000 passengers," he said. Hunold noted that the carrier is considering joining with other airlines for a possible legal action but would not give details.
Air China said it earned net income of CNY4.61 billion ($677 million) in the first half of 2010 owing to "the recovering global economy…[and] accelerated economic growth in China…[and] reasonable control of operating costs."
US FAA yesterday proposed its highest-ever civil penalty, a $24.2 million fine against American Airlines for allegedly "failing to correctly follow" a 2006 Airworthiness Directive regarding MD-80 maintenance.
Air New Zealand credited "innovation and performance improvement" for a near-quadrupling of its net income to NZ$82 million ($57.4 million) for its fiscal year ended June 30 compared to a NZ$21 million profit in the prior year.
[UPDATED FROM ORIGINAL POST] Kenya Airways Group MD and CEO Titus Naikuni said the carrier is considering canceling the nine 787s it has on order, and claimed Boeing has informed him that the Dreamliner's first delivery to ANA will be delayed another three months.
LOT Polish Airlines confirmed it will launch Warsaw–Hanoi flights on Nov. 13. The thrice-weekly service will be operated with a 767-300ER featuring the carrier's new "Economy Class Cabin," CEO Sebastian Mikosz told ATW. Lufthansa will launch twice-daily Munich–Luxembourg service Oct. 31 aboard a CityLine CRJ700.
Qantas said it will boost domestic flights by almost 10% in response to growing demand, particularly from resource-rich Western Australia. The move comes a day ahead of Virgin Blue announcing a total revamp of its product offering to take on Qantas’ vice-like grip on the country’s high-end business and corporate travel market ( ATW Daily News, Aug. 17).
IATA reported yesterday that both international passenger and cargo traffic demand were strong in July but warned that air transport markets have moved into a slower phase of growth.
American Airlines' mechanics rejected a tentative agreement on a new labor contract in voting Tuesday, setting up a potentially disruptive standoff between airline management and the workers.
Australia's Regional Express reported record net income of A$24.6 million ($21.8 million) for its fiscal year ended June 30, up 7.2% over a A$23 million profit in the previous year and surpassing the A$23.6 million earned in FY2007-08.
IATA DG and CEO Giovanni Bisignani called on Australia to focus on infrastructure, training, the environment and liberalization to enable it to reap the broad economic benefits that air transport can generate.
Wataniya Airways will double its Vienna–Kuwait frequencies to six-times-weekly beginning Oct. 31. The additional three flights will be routed via Beirut onboard an A320. Pegasus Airlines will launch daily Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen-Sofia service Oct. 1. Allegiant Air will launch twice-weekly Las Vegas-Moline/Quad Cities service Oct. 14 aboard an MD-80.
Iberia operated 4.98 billion RPKs in July, a 5.3% increase over the year-ago month. Capacity grew 1.9% to 5.69 billion ASKs, lifting load factor 2.8 points to 87.6%. Air New Zealand flew 2.48 billion RPKs in July, up 6.8% on the year-ago month, as capacity rose 1.7% to 2.95 billion ASKs. Load factor rose 4 points to 84.1%.
US FAA yesterday announced Nigeria has achieved a Category 1 safety rating after making improvements to meet ICAO standards. The upgrade will allow Nigerian airlines to fly their own aircraft to the US. In a statement, the agency said the “Category 1 rating is based on the results of a July FAA review of Nigeria’s civil aviation authority."
Alaska Air Group has made the decision to eliminate subsidiary Horizon Air's independent, or branded flying, in favor of moving to a 100% capacity purchase agreement with its major affiliate Alaska Airlines. The information was contained in an internal employee communication from new Horizon Air President Glenn Johnson to the airline's employees. Johnson raised the possibility of the action in AAG's second-quarter conference call with analysts, at which time he also raised questions about the future of the Horizon Air brand.
An Agni Air Dornier 228 was destroyed when it crashed near Shikharpur in Nepal yesterday, killing all 11 passengers and three crew. According to press reports, the turboprop was en route from Lukla to Kathmandu but the pilots decided to attempt to return to the departure airport and crashed in heavy rain. Nepal Newssaid the Nepal Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation will launch an investigation. According to the Kathmandu-based carrier’s website, it operates three Dornier 228s and two Jetstream 41s with a commitment to take a third.
Bombardier said 60% of 222 Q400s it has directed airlines to inspect have been examined, adding that less than 4% of the inspected aircraft have required repairs.
Aer Lingus Group reported pre-tax net income of €15.4 million ($19.5 million) for the second quarter, reversed from a €13.8 million pre-tax loss in the year-ago period, and maintained that it will do "no worse" than break even on an operating basis for the full year.
