Austriair, a Vienna-based startup scheduled to launch operations this spring ( ATWOnline, Jan. 18), has changed its name to MAP Jet following complaints over the original name from Austrian Airlines. MAP is an Austrian business jet, charter and ACMI operator and has been contracted by Austriair to fly its three wet-leased E-195s. MD Bosoko Rasovic told ATWOnline that the carrier has no plans to extend its initial network beyond VIE, Munich, Frankfurt and Stuttgart.
Ryanair reported a €10.9 million ($15.1 million) net loss in its fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31, a 90.8% improvement from the €118.8 million lost in the year-ago period, and raised its full-year earnings forecast to €275 million from the "lower end" of the €200-€300 million range. Third-quarter revenue was up a slight 1.2% year-over-year to €611.9 million against a 14.5% fall in operating expenses to €610.5 million. Operating profit of €1.4 million compared to a loss of €109.2 million in the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2008.
Australia's Office of Transport Security reported to ATWOnline last week that there were 461 reports last year of air rage incidents, up from 279 in 2008 and 67 in 2007, covering events in which passengers were disruptive, intoxicated or involved in altercations. Labor unions are calling for stiffer penalties. Australian Services Union Federal Secretary Linda White claimed the typical A$5,500 fine is not sufficiently severe. "They are obviously not a deterrent," she said, laying the blame on alcohol and overcrowded airports that produce more aggressive behavior.
SITA implemented its baggage management system comprising BagManager and BagMessage for Middle East Airlines at Beirut. System initially will used for flights handled by Middle East Airlines Ground Handling and eventually will be made available to other handlers at the airport.
The European Commission confirmed yesterday that it is assessing "the effectiveness of proposed commitments" received from oneworld partners British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia designed "to alleviate" its concerns over anticompetitive aspects of their proposed joint venture.
Webjet Linhas Aereas, a Rio de Janeiro Galeao-based LCC, has received an offer from Ryanair to purchase a stake in the carrier. A spokesperson told Bloomberg News that Webjet owner Guilherme Paulus "received a first contact and heard a proposal from Ryanair" and that talks will continue if the Brazilian government passes a law allowing foreigners to own up to 49% of a domestic airline rather than the current limit of 20%. That decision is expected in March. Webjet operates 20 737-300s to 10 destinations.
Delta Air Lines completed the integration of Northwest Airlines' reservation system over the weekend and transitioned all NWA flights and passenger reservations to the DL system, allowing for the retirement of NWA flight numbers and nwa.com. NWA customers will be able to use their original reservation and confirmation numbers, DL said. "Throughout the integration of Delta and Northwest, we've taken a phased, deliberate approach to make the transition simple and seamless for our customers," Senior VP and CIO Theresa Wise said.
Allegiant Air parent Allegiant Travel Co.'s board increased funds available for its common stock repurchase program to $25 million from $10.4 million. The program was launched in January 2009 with $25 million and an additional $10 million was added last July. Allegiant repurchased 637,902 shares with the $24.4 million spent so far.
Alitalia faces its first strike since relaunching one year ago, as flight attendants and pilots represented by FILT CGIL and flight attendants represented by AVIA have planned a 4-hr. work stoppage for Friday. The unions are claiming that AZ did not respect original employee agreements.
AMR Corp. regional subsidiary American Eagle Airlines faces a $2.5 million fine for "operating flights without adequately ensuring the weight of baggage was properly calculated," FAA announced yesterday. The agency said that Eagle operated at least 154 scheduled flights in January-October 2008 for which the baggage weight listed on cargo load sheets did not match data entered into its Electronic Weight and Balance System.
Lufthansa is scheduled to take delivery of its first A380 on May 10 and plans to operate it on select scheduled flights from Frankfurt to Munich and Hamburg in order to familiarize crew and airport staff with the aircraft, while also generating publicity. It will be used for training in Leipzig as well. LH also reportedly is considering using the plane to transport the German national team to the World Cup in South Africa. The tournament begins June 11. Long-haul scheduled services, starting with FRA-New York JFK, will commence once the second A380 arrives in early summer.
Aviareps was selected by Mahan Air as its sales and marketing representative in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg and by Israir Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines as their German GSA.
US President Barack Obama's $3.8 trillion budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 contains $79 billion for the Dept. of Transportation and includes funding for NextGen technology and increased security at airports and onboard aircraft.
Great success stories in commercial aviation are rare even in good times. ATW's Regional Airline of the Year for 2010, Regional Express, is one of those and much more. Remarkably, the Sydney-based carrier has stayed profitable during the worst economic downturn in at least four decades while both rebuilding and expanding a business that was born out of the collapse of Ansett Australia in 2001.
Marking the end of a 10-year effort to manage the UK's controlled airspace more efficiently through new technology and ATC systems, NATS' Prestwick Center entered full operational service last week and will be inaugurated officially on Feb. 5.
Nothing better demonstrates al-Qaeda's total grasp of the reality of aviation security in a post-modern culture than the fact that the world's deadliest and most sophisticated terrorist organization did not even bother to have Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab purchase a roundtrip ticket or check a bag or two of old socks and underwear to allay any possible suspicions that he was on a one-way trip to paradise when he boarded his KLM flight in Lagos last month.
Despite all the advances in airframe durability and engine reliability over the past 50 years that have helped to make air travel the safest form of transportation the world has ever known, one thing has not changed: Bad weather is a threat to be avoided, not confronted. Fortunately, airlines have a weapon in their arsenal that gives them a huge advantage in the never-ending war of wits with Mother Nature--highly advanced weather radar systems.
Riga International home carrier and largest operator airBaltic reiterated its call for the urgent construction of a new passenger terminal and is pressing for private financing as a result of the Latvian government's delay in moving forward. RIX last year bucked the trend of falling passenger traffic and reported solid 10% growth to 4.1 million on a 5% rise in flight movements to 60,087. AirBaltic alone added routes to 12 new destinations. Cargo volume rose 22.9% to 9,429 tonnes.
Auckland Airport reached an agreement to purchase a 24.6% stake in North Queensland Airports, which runs Cairns Airport and Mackay Airport, for A$132.8 million ($117.3 million). AKL Chairman Tony Frankham called the acquisition a "significant milestone. . .for our strategy to grow beyond our core business."
