Europe's volcanic ash-related airspace closures caused international scheduled passenger traffic (RPKs) to slump 2.4% in April compared to April 2009, IATA reported. Capacity (ASKs) fell 5%. "The ash crisis knocked back the global recovery, impacting carriers in all regions. Last month we were within 1% of pre-crisis traffic levels in 2008. In April that was pushed back 7%," said IATA MD and CEO Giovanni Bisignani.
Airbus announced that South African Airways ordered five A320s, boosting an earlier commitment for the type to 20 from 15 previously. Aircraft, which will be delivered from 2013, will be powered by IAE V2500s. SAA recently agreed to lease six A330-200s from Aircastle for delivery in 2011 ( ATWOnline, Dec. 18, 2009). It already operates a fleet of 11 A319s, six A340-200s, six A340-300s and nine A340-600s.
Boeing, along with Honeywell UOP, United Technologies and AECOM, will work with Air China and PetroChina in a collaborative effort to establish a sustainable aviation biofuel industry in China as part of a broader sustainable aviation biofuel agreement between China's National Energy Administration and the US Trade and Development Agency.
Aegean Airlines reported a first-quarter net loss of €25.6 million, reversed from a €4.6 million net profit in the year-ago period, despite a 3% hike in revenue to €114.8 million and a 17% jump in boardings to 1.4 million. Scheduled flight revenue declined 3.3% to €91.2 million whereas revenue from charter operations heightened 38.5% to €1.8 million and revenue from passengers’ airports charges was up 43.1% to €16.6 million. The €29.5 million operating loss compared with a breakeven result last year.
FAA yesterday announced the final rule describing the performance requirements for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out, a foundation stone of NextGen, and setting a 2020 deadline for aircraft to be equipped when operating in US-controlled airspace.
The US airline industry won a small but significant victory in its bid to challenge the legality of the EU's plan to apply its Emissions Trading Scheme to non-EU airlines yesterday when the English High Court of Justice said it would refer the case to the European Court of Justice.
AJW Aviation expanded its power-by-the-hr. contract with Libyan carrier Buraq Air to include two 737-400s. Turkish Technic signed an aircraft paint services agreement and a five-year wheel & brake maintenance services agreement with SunExpress covering the carrier's 737-800s. Work will be performed at Turkish Technic's Istanbul hangar. Separately, it signed a C check maintenance services agreement with Kyrgyzstan's Kyrgyz Airways covering one 737-300.
PowerJet, the Snecma/NRO Saturn joint venture, announced yesterday that 100% of certification tests have been completed on the SaM146 engine that will power the Sukhoi Superjet 100. Speaking to reporters at the Regional Airline Assn. Annual Convention in Milwaukee, PowerJet Chairman and CEO Jean-Paul Ebanga said the last medium-bird ingestion test was conducted successfully yesterday and the engine is in the "home stretch" toward EASA certification "sometime this summer."
China Southern Airlines is accelerating its market exploration at Xinjiang with plans to launch a regional airline to serve the Autonomous Region in northwest China. This week CAAC announced a series of measures to encourage air transport development in Xinjiang, including boosting the number of airports from 14 to 21 by 2015, providing financial aid to carriers and increasing regional flight frequencies to domestic hub airports.
Ryanair is increasing its footprint in Spain further and will open its 42nd base at Barcelona El Prat in September with five 737-800s and 20 new routes, a mix of domestic and international destinations. It already has five bases in Spain, at Alicante, Girona, Madrid, Malaga and Reus. The new BCN base represents an investment of more than $350 million, the LCC said.
Airspace closures as a result of Europe's volcanic ash crisis cost the world $4.7 billion in lost GDP during the first week April 15-21, according to a study by Oxford Economics that was presented at the World Travel and Tourism Council's 10th Global Travel & Tourism Summit. The study, commissioned by Airbus, found that subsequent, more limited closures raised the cost to $5 billion through May 24.
Continental Airlines yesterday announced plans to serve Auckland from its Houston Intercontinental hub beginning Nov. 16, 2011, using a 787 to operate the 7,400-mi route. CO said it is the first airline to "formally announce specific route plans for its 787 fleet." The carrier, which has agreed to merge with United Airlines, has 25 Dreamliners on order with deliveries beginning in August 2011. Subject to government approval, service will be operated daily, with five-times-weekly service during certain periods in the first year of operation, CO said.
US National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Deborah Hersman called on US regional airlines to "take the initiative" on safety issues by going beyond "minimum requirements," particularly regarding pilot hiring/training and pilot fatigue.
Lufthansa Technik AG won a long-term contract from China Airlines to provide total component support services for the carrier's 18 A330-300s and six A340-300s. SIA Engineering signed a S$42 million fleet management program contract with Royal Brunei Airlines to provide maintenance and fleet management services for its fleet of six 777-200ERs on lease from Singapore Airlines.
Lufthansa Systems said that Contact Air will continue to use its Lido/RouteManual navigation charts under a five-year contract renewal. LHS will provide Lufthansa Italia with its Lido FlightBag, eRouteManual and TakeOff solutions.
AerCap Holdings reached agreement to sell six A320s to Dublin-based operating lessor Avolon. Four of the aircraft were manufactured this year and are part of the AerVenture portfolio, a joint venture between AerCap and Abu Dhabi investment holding company Waha Capital. The other two are owned by AerCap and were manufactured in 2008. All aircraft have been sold with leases attached.
