IATA said that Sunday's US Transportation Security Administration announcement concerning more random screening of US-bound passengers not connected with 14 specific countries considered to be security threats "is a welcome step in the right direction" toward a long-term model that is "globally harmonized, risk-based and [which has] efficient process for passengers." TSA now is requiring all passengers who are citizens of or traveled from/through Iran, Sudan, Syria, Cuba, Afghanistan, Algeria, Lebanon, Libya, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen to undergo "enhanced
Japan Airlines President Haruka Nishimatsu suggested that the carrier may resist efforts by the Enterprise Turnaround Initiative Corp. of Japan to push it into a court-monitored bankruptcy restructuring process rather than a more straightforward government bailout, expressing concern that the "image of bankruptcy" could sour the public on the company and lead to adverse consequences.
FlightSafety International will open a learning center in Johannesburg and begin training pilots and technicians working on Q300, Dash 8 and Beechcraft 1900 aircraft in March. SIM AeroTraining of France will manage the facility and maintain the training devices.
Airbus delivered 10 A380s in 2009, one short of its target, as it continued to struggle with production ramp-up ( ATWOnline, Nov. 17, 2009). It plans to hand over up to 20 this year and will announce the precise figure on Jan. 12. To date, 23 A380s have been delivered and 202 have been sold to 17 customers.
Delta Air Lines and subsidiary Northwest Airlines were granted a single operating certificate by US FAA on Dec. 31, an expected move that clears the way for full integration to be completed by late first quarter/early second quarter.
AirTran Airways will open pilot and flight attendant bases in Milwaukee in April. It will station 50 737 pilots and a minimum of 50 717 and 737 flight attendants in the city, where it will employ more than 300 people in all positions. Hawaiian Airlines announced a tentative five-year labor agreement with 418 pilots represented by the Air Line Pilots Assn. The airline said the deal, reached prior to the holidays, provides both increased compensation for the pilots and operational improvements for HA.
Emirates will operate the A380 to Saudi Arabia when it launches a four-times-weekly Dubai-Jeddah service on Feb. 1. The aircraft will seat 14 in first class, 76 in business and 427 in economy. Jeddah will be EK's eighth A380 destination. It began flying the aircraft to Paris Charles de Gaulle on Dec. 29. It currently operates the Jeddah route daily. EK also announced the launch of a daily flight to Prague on July 1 aboard a two-class A330-200.
Turkish Airlines chose Airbus for its narrowbody fleet expansion, yesterday announcing plans to purchase 14 A321-200s and six A319-100s with options for 10 additional A319 or A321 aircraft.
Ryanair will suspend operation of domestic routes to/from its 10 Italian bases on Jan. 23 in protest of a November ENAC decision to accept forms of passenger identification that the airline considers unsecure. Ryanair requires passengers to present either a passport or an EU/EEA national ID card at the gate.
Allegiant Air parent Allegiant Travel Co. signed an agreement to purchase 18 MD-80s from downsizing SAS Group and will take delivery during the first half of this year.
Boeing sold 11 787s to an unidentified customer(s), it said on its Orders and Deliveries website, bringing to 24 the number of gross orders for the aircraft received in the year to Dec. 22 (it has not booked United Airlines' commitment for 25).
AirAsia and Jetstar Airways will announce a far-reaching joint venture Wednesday that will involve a host of backroom functions and joint purchasing, although it is unclear if codesharing will be included in the partnership. Sources in Malaysia confirmed the pending announcement to ATWOnline and said the cooperation between the region's two largest LCCs will be extensive and will help both carriers contain fares and benefit from economies of scale. The unveiling in Sydney will be the culmination of talks that started in late 2008.
EasyJet announced the following new routes: London Stansted to Bodrum, Dubrovnik (each thrice-weekly from May 15), Split and Dalaman (each four-times-weekly from May 14); Paris Charles de Gaulle to Palma (five-times-weekly from July 10), Split (thrice-weekly from July 10), Prague (daily from March 28), Malaga (daily from May 14) and Toulouse (twice-daily from March 28); Geneva to Faro, Brindisi (each twice-weekly from April 3) and Heraklion (twice-weekly from June 19); Bristol to Dalaman (thrice-weekly from July 16), Bodrum (thrice-weekly from July 17) and Heraklion (twice-weekly from J
AVIC's Commercial Aircraft Engine Co. and MTU Aero Engines signed an MOU covering production of a powerplant for the 150-seat C919. ACAC GM Zhang Jian said the partnership with MTU "is based on independent innovation" and that ACAC will safeguard its own intellectual property. Last month, Commercial Aircraft Corp.
Finavia, the state-owned operator of 25 of Finland's 27 commercial airports, has rebranded Helsinki-Vantaa as Helsinki Airport in a €30,000 ($43,200) marketing initiative in partnership with advertising agency TBWA/PHS. The rebranding is intended to reinforce the message that HEL is a modern hub ideal for connections to Asia from both Europe and the North American East Coast owing to its position directly over the shortest great-circle routes connecting the continents.
South Korean Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs confirmed last month that the government plans to float a 15% stake in Incheon International on the Korea Exchange in 2010 as part of its plan to divest 49% of the airport. The remaining 34% will be sold to investors in 2011, the airport said. Foreign investors will be permitted to hold up to 30% of all outstanding shares and airlines will be capped at 5%.
Port Columbus International in Ohio announced a unique arrangement with 10 airlines under which the airport will share 75% of its annual net profit after debt service and capital fund requirements with the carriers in the form of rent credits. "Maintaining a healthy airport begins with helping to ensure the success of our vital airport partners," Columbus Regional Airport Authority President and CEO Elaine Roberts said. "The airport authority believes that the new agreement will prove to be mutually beneficial."
United Airlines waited more than a decade to do it, but we think the carrier made the right choice in deciding to down-gauge its future international fleet with its recent order for up to 150 787s and A350s. According to the company, the 787s will replace its 767s while the A350s take over for its 747-400s, and eventually its 777s assuming purchase rights are exercised. The average seat count will drop by about 19% compared to the aircraft being replaced, resulting in a 10% systemwide seat reduction in the international fleet.
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates New York JFK, New York LaGuardia, Newark Liberty and Stewart International, announced a preliminary $6.3 billion budget for 2010 that calls for flat operating expenses for the second consecutive year and 150 layoffs in response to "an economic downturn that is expected to reduce facility activity more than originally forecasted." It said "priority projects" will be maintained with $3.1 billion in capital spending.
Thirty California airports formed the California Airports Council, which will "dedicate its work to advocacy and education on issues facing commercial airports." San Francisco International Executive Director John Martin is the first president and Jim Lites was named executive director. CAC will seek an increase in the PFC cap to $7.50 from $4.50 (set in 2000) as part of the pending FAA reauthorization bill, which it said will allow airports to invest an additional $2 billion in infrastructure development projects over the next decade.
Meanwhile, airlines throughout the world are attempting to determine how the move will alter the shape of the market in Asia and on lucrative transpacific routes. ANA is one obvious potential beneficiary, though CEO Shinichiro Ito has expressed concern that "the market could be disrupted if discount tickets are offered as a result of JAL receiving public funds" ( ATWOnline, Jan. 21).
