Messier-Bugatti has begun retrofitting 36 AeroMexico 737-700s/-800s with carbon brakes. It said the program marks the "first actual replacement" of steel brakes on in-service 737NGs.
Blue Wings announced that it was insolvent yesterday, a month after suspending service. The Dusseldorf-based carrier said that "insolvency has become unavoidable since our principal Russian investor [48% shareholder Alexander Lebedev] has not kept his financial promises over the past several months." There is no indication that the carrier may resume flights, and no information was available regarding CEO Jorn Hellwig's effort to purchase Lebedev's stake. Hellwig owns 26% of Blue Wings ( ATWOnline, Jan. 22).
China Eastern Airlines is moving forward with its efforts to recruit a strategic investor as it finalizes the merger process with Shanghai Airlines, according to CEA GM and SAL Chairman Ma Xulun. "We are quite open to introducing a strategic investor and welcome any strategic investor or financial investor as long as they are interested in promoting development," Ma noted.
Copa Airlines and Aero Republica parent Copa Holdings reported a $240.4 million profit for 2009, more than double the $118.7 million earned in the prior year. The 2009 result included a $19.4 million charge related to the retirement of four MD-80s and Aero Republica's transition to an all E-190 fleet, as well as a $58 million noncash gain on the company's fuel hedges. Full-year operating revenue dipped 2.8% to $1.25 billion while operating profit slipped 0.3% to $223.3 million.
AWAS delivered the fourth of six A330-300s to Singapore Airlines. It is acquiring 19 of the type overall. The new 285-seat, two-class aircraft will operate to Australia and Japan.
EasyJet opened a Milan Malpensa-Porto service yesterday that was the LCC's 500th route. Launched in 1995, it now operates 182 aircraft from 19 bases across 28 countries. Earlier this week it began flying from MXP to Casablanca and Agadir and also launched service this month from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Helsinki Vantaa and Agadir, from London Gatwick to Hamburg and Dusseldorf and from Rome Fiumicino to DUS. US Airways launched thrice-daily Charlotte-Melbourne, Fla., service aboard a PSA Airlines CRJ700.
Koito Industries of Yokohama was ordered this week by the Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau to re-test some 150,000 aircraft seats installed on around 1,000 aircraft operated by 32 airlines worldwide and make fixes if necessary. JCAB accused the company of falsifying data from tests on the seats' fire and shock resistance and Koito, which is 20% owned by troubled automaker Toyota Motor Corp., later admitted to the wrongdoing.
Rolls-Royce Group returned to profit in 2009, reporting a £2.22 billion ($3.47 billion) surplus that compared to a £1.35 billion loss in 2008. Revenue rose 14.7% to £10.41 billion, with the civil aerospace segment accounting for 56% of that total. The company said it expected 2010 results to be "broadly similar" to last year's. Rolls delivered 844 engines for civil aircraft last year, down from 987 in 2008. Underlying revenue in the segment dipped 0.5% to £4.48 billion while underlying profit before financing was down 12.9% to £493 million.
SkyWest Inc., parent of SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines, reported 2009 net income of $83.7 million, down 25.9% from a $112.9 million profit in 2008 as yield declined precipitously.
Arlington, Va.-based ARC reported ticket sales through participating travel agencies totaled $5.95 billion in January, up a healthy 10.7% over January 2009. Credit card sales, representing the bulk of agency sales, rose 12.3% year-over-year to $5.37 billion. Total fares excluding taxes and fees grew 11.1% to $5.0 billion. Domestic fares climbed 7.3% to $2.62 billion on a 6.1% gain in transactions, while international fares were up 15.6% to $2.38 billion on a 10% rise in transactions.
AirAsia this week purchased a 30% share in VietJet Air, a proposed Hanoi-based startup that henceforth will be known as VietJet AirAsia. VietJet originally planned to begin flying in the 2009 fourth quarter with either 737-800s or A320s, according to its website. The privately held carrier was launched with VND600 billion ($32.2 million) in capital and is majority held by Sovico Holdings. AirAsia said the airline plans to operate both domestic and international flights and is "currently finalizing" a route network and launch plans.
CSA Czech Airlines put up its entire fleet as a guarantee against loans offered by banks and the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade, Czech Civil Aviation Authority sources told media in both the Czech Republic and Austria. The airline reportedly is depending on the cash to maintain operations and expects to report a record full-year loss of €115 million ($158.2 million) for 2009.
British Airways debuted its new first class cabin onboard a 777, featuring a bed widened by 60% at the shoulders, a personal wardrobe, electronic blinds and other amenities. BA said it is investing £100 million ($156.6 million) in the revamp.
Airports in the US Mid-Atlantic and Northeast reopened yesterday as the regions began to dig out from back-to-back storms that produced record snow accumulation in some areas. Seven consecutive days of snow removal were required at Washington Dulles and National, which were open for flights yesterday morning by 11 a.m., the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said.
Norwegian Air Shuttle said it realized "the best annual result" in its history with a 2009 net profit of NOK446 million ($75.5 million) compared to earnings of NOK3.9 million in 2008. "I am very pleased with reporting positive results in a time where the industry is facing challenging market conditions," CEO Bjorn Kjos said. "I am especially pleased with our cost reductions and improved competitiveness."
Malev Hungarian Airlines withdrew its five F70s from service and now is operating a fleet comprising 18 737NGs and four Q400s. The F70s will be returned to AWAS over the next six months. "This simplified fleet structure means a significant reduction in our company's maintenance and operational costs, the positive impacts of which will be apparent even in 2010," CEO Martin Gauss said.
Air France KLM Group reported a net loss of €295 million ($404.6 million) for its fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31, 2009, a 41.9% improvement compared to a loss of €508 million in the year-ago period when results were impacted severely by fuel hedge losses.
The European Commission yesterday said it issued charges against "a number of companies concerning their alleged participation in price-fixing cartels in the airfreight forwarding business" and major air cargo players including UPS and DHL confirmed they were included. Other companies confirming receipt of a formal "statement of objections" from the EC included Panalpina, Kuehne & Nagel and DSV.
Aeronautical Engineers Inc. announced formal launch of an MD-80SF passenger-to-freighter conversion program focusing on modification of MD-81, MD-82, MD-83 and MD-88 series aircraft. It expects initial certification by summer 2011 and plans to certify the program with FAA, EASA, and CAAC. According to AEI, the MD-80SF will offer up to 12 88x108-in. ULDs including a custom 108-in. container, 47,000 lb. of upper deck cargo capacity and up to 4,400 cu. ft. of main deck volume. Conversions will take 75 days.
Thales said Belgocontrol, the Belgian air navigation services provider, inaugurated CANAC2, its new ATC system for Belgian airspace management built on the Thales Eurocat E-product platform. CANAC2 was installed in a new operational room dedicated to en route and approach control inside Brussels Airport's control tower and its contingency tower, as well as in towers at Liege, Ostend, Charleroi and Antwerp.
South African Airways said it is seeking private investors for its SAA Voyager division that administers its frequent-flyer program and its SAA Technical maintenance division. The state-owned carrier would remain in control of the two divisions but wants "equity partners," a spokesperson told Bloomberg News, while denying the move is a precursor to privatizing the airline.
Ryanair will extend its maintenance facilities at Glasgow Prestwick with a second hangar, representing an £8 million ($12.5 million) investment. The 6,000-sq.-m. facility, due to open in October, will create 200 new engineering jobs and join to the LCC's existing 4,000-sq.-m. hangar that opened in 2004. Ryanair operates 29 routes from the airport.
American Airlines yesterday modified standby procedures for travel within and between the US, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands and Canada, stating that for tickets purchased from Feb. 22 it will only allow premium loyalty program members, holders of first- and business-class tickets, those who paid unrestricted economy fares and military personnel to remain eligible to fly standby at no charge on the day of travel for a flight on which they are not confirmed. Holders of standard economy tickets who want to change flights on the day of travel will be charged $50 if space is available.
