Ryanair opened its newest base at Malaga yesterday with four 737-800s. In the coming days it will launch almost 20 new routes, expanding its network at the Spanish airport to 44 domestic and international routes and 360 weekly flights. The LCC said the base represents an investment of more than $250 million. It expects its operations at the airport will grow to serve more than 2 million passengers annually.
ATR reappointed Filippo Bagnato as CEO, stating that the move "responds to the aim of ATR’s shareholders, Alenia Aeronautica and EADS, to ensure the continuity of the ATR program management and its further growth, keeping up strong relationship with customers and privileged confidence from them." He succeeds Stephane Mayer, whose three-year mandate has expired, the joint-venture company said.
US airline passenger revenue soared 21% in May compared to May 2009 based on data provided by a sample of its member carriers, the Air Transport Assn. reported. It marked the fifth consecutive month of year-over-year improvement and the strongest gain in 2010. May passenger numbers rose 2% year-over-year while average yield jumped 17%. International passenger revenue grew 36%, led by a 51% gain in transpacific markets.
British Airways announced that it reached agreement with the trustees of its two main pension plans, New Airways Pension Scheme and Airways Pension Scheme, concerning a recovery plan to address the plans' combined deficit that stood at £2.7 billion ($4 billion) as of March 31, down from £3.7 billion one year earlier.
SkyTeam member airline CEOs meeting in New York this week to mark the alliance's 10th anniversary formally signed an agreement with China Eastern Airlines to begin its process for becoming a full member and upgraded the status of Air Europa and Kenya Airways from associate to full membership.
Air Austral will launch twice-weekly Saint Denis-Bordeaux-Nantes service Feb. 10 aboard a 777. Delta Air Lines will launch daily Minneapolis St. Paul-Mexico City service Dec. 18 aboard an A319, subject to government approval. It also will extend daily MSP service to Paris Charles De Gaulle using a 767-300ER from seasonal to year-round and increase five-times-weekly MSP-London Heathrow service using a 767-400ER to daily for its winter schedule.
Three Thai Airways crewmembers were injured Sunday when their flight on descent into Osakastruck severe turbulence over the Pacific Oceanat about 16,500 ft. The three flight attendants were taken to a hospital after the aircraft, a 777 en route from Bangkok, landed at Osaka Kansai. Flight 622 was carrying a total of 244 passengers and crew. Unlike the flight attendants, the passengers were seated and wearing seatbelts in preparation for landing and none were reported injured in the incident.
Dubai Airports announced that Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International, the emirate's new massive five-runway airport that is slated to become operational for passenger flights in the 2011 first quarter, has been cleared to commence cargo operations on June 27. It said the facility passed a series of operational tests conducted June 20 when an Emirates Airline 777-200F touched down following a flight from Hong Kong, marking the first live test of flight operations at the airport.
Malaysia Airlines said yesterday that it has made clear to Airbus its disappointment in the delayed delivery of its A380s and is seriously considering canceling its order. MAS has six A380s on order and originally was supposed to receive its first in May 2008. CEO Azmil Zahruddin told reporters yesterday following the carrier's AGM that the first A380 now is scheduled to be delivered in the 2012 second quarter, its fourth delivery date. "MAS hopes to make a decision this year on whether we'll cancel the A380 orders," he said. "We are not happy."
Qatar Airways announced that its expansion is continuing "with vigor" and it will launch five new routes from its base in Doha to Europe and Asia over a four-month period starting in October.
Australia's Virgin Blue is planning to change its name, introduce a business class and operate domestic routes with larger aircraft in a bid to become a more potent, direct competitor to Qantas, according to sources at the Brisbane-based carrier.
Swiss International Air Lines took delivery of its seventh A330-300 last week. The carrier expects its last two A330-300s on order for delivery to arrive in August and December respectively. The aircraft are replacing Swiss's A330-200s.
Honeywell signed a contract with Tiger Airways to provide a full suite of safety avionics including its IntuVue 3-D weather radar for the carrier's 50 new A320s. The aircraft are expected to be delivered starting in late 2010 and continuing through 2015. Honeywell's full suite will include an Air Data Inertial Reference Unit, Flight Management System, next-generation Aircraft Collision and Avoidance System, Flight Data Recorder, Cockpit Voice Recorder and Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System.
United Airlines launched its first-ever service to Africa over the weekend with a 767 flying from Washington Dulles to Accra. The service between the US and Ghanian capitals will be daily. "With the addition of service to Accra, United now offers customers nonstop service to points on six continents," Senior VP-Worldwide Sales and Marketing Jeff Foland said.
Calgary-based WestJet announced Friday that it cut its full-price fares by an average of 25% across its entire 68-city North American and Caribbean network. The successful LCC, which has an estimated 35%-40% share of the Canadian domestic market, said the introduction of "everyday value fares" will result in lower fares across its entire schedule up to 330 days ahead of departure.
