Aeroports de Paris reported a €269.9 million ($366.1 million) profit in 2009, just 1.1% down from the €272.7 million earned the prior year, which Chairman and CEO Pierre Graff said was "thanks to the implementation of the savings plan announced at the beginning of 2009 and the continuation of our commercial and real estate strategy."
Satisfaction with the airport experience "continues to lag behind that of other aspects of the travel industry," J.D. Power and Assoc. reported in its "2010 North America Airport Satisfaction Study", citing a lack of consistency in meeting "expectations of basic needs."
The $1.55 billion upgrade of Los Angeles International's Tom Bradley International Terminal was launched late last month as officials broke ground on a project that will transform international travel to/from the airport.
Airports and airlines have united to warn that a proposed US Environmental Protection Agency rule setting standards on discharges from airport deicing operations would be highly costly, compromise safety and impede efficient operations during winter months.
Airports Council International now expects airport traffic to increase 3%-4% this year following a 2.6% decline in 2009, and also announced that Incheon International again ranked at the top of its annual passenger survey.
Airlines are doing a much better job of keeping track of baggage but it is unclear how much of their success is owed to the fact that there are far fewer bags to track.
US major passenger airlines spent another year in the red, but losses in 2009 were much lower than in 2008 and 2010 is starting to look like it will be a year of recovery.
2010 will be a pivotal year that will set widebody strategies and fortunes for decades to come. The stakes are sky high and the complexity of the aircraft being built is not for the faint hearted.
Enthusiastic leadership and a new ownership structure have transformed CAI. The new Terminal 3 is a showpiece of efficient use of space and technology.
The US Dept. of Transportation's recent tentative decisions involving the oneworld antitrust immunity application and the unrelated slot transfer agreement between US Airways and Delta Air Lines, if finalized, suggest that a significant gap exists between how DOT and the Federal Aviation Administration evaluate domestic and international airline competition matters.
Pratt & Whitney announced a multiyear fleet technical management agreement with Singapore Airlines Cargo under which Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines & Global Services will provide powerplant engineering and on-wing fleet management for SIAC's PW4000s.
CTT Systems said it will supply Thomas Cook Scandinavia with six Zonal Drying Systems for installation onboard the Danish airline's A320s and A321s in April and May.
Safran reported a €376 million ($509.3 million) profit in 2009, up 47% from the €256 million posted the prior year, on a 1.2% lift in revenue to €10.45 billion. Its Aerospace Propulsion segment posted a 2.2% fall in turnover to €5.67 billion. It participated in the delivery of 1,263 CFM56 engines, compared to 1,268 in 2008, and took 795 orders. The segment's operating income rose 7.5% to €628 million. The Aircraft Equipment segment, which includes Labinal, Messier-Bugatti and Messier Services, reported a €73 million operating profit, up 21.7%.
Lufthansa Group airlines flew 13.06 billion RPKs in January, a 17.9% increase from the year-ago month. Capacity rose 20.1% to 17.91 billion ASKs, lowering load factor 1.4 points to 72.9%. LH Passenger Airlines flew 9.2 billion RPKs, up 3.1%, against a 4.7% lift in ASKs to 12.52 billion. Load factor slipped 1.1 points to 73.5%. Skywest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines flew a combined 1.37 billion RPMs in January, up 9.9% year-over-year. Capacity rose 8.4% to 1.87 billion ASMs and load factor was up 1 point to 73.3%.
Carpatair will launch twice-weekly flights from Craiova to Rome Fiumicino and Bergamo on May 24 aboard F70s. Spirit Airlines will operate daily Atlantic City-Detroit service May 20-Nov. 10.
Garuda Indonesia announced the sale of four 737-400s through auction. Arik Air last week took delivery of its fourth 737-800 and 25th aircraft overall. Aircraft seats 16 in business class and 132 in economy. AWAS delivered two A320-200s to Viking Hellas Airlines.
Air Line Pilots Assn. and the Southwest Airlines Pilots' Assn. issued statements last week protesting a proposal from Sen. Jim DeMint (R.-S.C.) that data from cockpit voice and flight data recorders be available to use as evidence when disciplining individual pilots. DeMint is the ranking member of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation's subcommittee on aviation operations, safety and security.
CSA Czech Airlines said it launched a tender to sell its slots at London Heathrow and New York JFK. It operates to LHR twice-daily from Prague and codeshares on Delta Air Lines flights to/from JFK.
British Airways cabin crew represented by Unite last week announced they "unanimously backed the work of their negotiating team attempting to resolve the current dispute" and steered away from setting a date for strike action. Unite members endorsed strike action in a vote that saw 80.7% call for a walkout ( ATWOnline, Feb. 23). The union reportedly has until March 22 before its strike mandate expires under trade union legislation.
South African Airways named SA Express CEO Siza Mzimela as the flag carrier's new CEO. She joined SA Express in 2003. GM-Operations Chris Smyth had filled the position on a temporary basis following the departure of Khaya Ngqula one year ago ( ATWOnline, June 15, 2009). SAA's regional partner reported a ZAR235.4 million ($30.1 million) profit last year.
Ukraine International Airlines posted a UAH7.9 million ($977,400) profit in 2009, down 26.9% from the UAH10.8 million surplus reported in 2008. It was UIA's 10th consecutive year in the black. Revenue climbed 15.8% to UAH2.2 billion but operating income plunged 51.8% to UAH40 million from UAH83 million. President Yuri Miroshnikov said the carrier suffered just a 6% fall in passenger traffic despite a 17% decline in demand in the Ukrainian market. It operates 19 737s.
Third Sukhoi Superjet 100 test aircraft began cold soak testing last week in Yakutsk. Testing will validate standard flight preparation and systems performance after short (up to 2 hr.) and long (at least 12 hr.) parking. Sukhoi said average February temperature at the airport is -35C.
