US Transportation Security Administration admitted this week that it inadvertently posted sensitive airport passenger screening procedures online. A 93-page manual detailing a variety of nonpublic information including methods for screening passengers, technical settings for explosive detection system machines and pictures of identification cards used by members of Congress and federal air marshals was posted on a federal procurement website last spring with sensitive portions supposedly redacted.
Bmi CEO Wolfgang Prock-Schauer said this week that he believes the "potential" exists to turn around the loss-making UK carrier and confirmed it recently sold several London Heathrow slots to address the group's liquidity shortage.
EasyJet CEO Andy Harrison will step down at the end of June 2010 in order "to seek new challenges," the carrier announced yesterday, adding that Michael Rake will take over from David Michels as the group's chairman effective Jan. 1, at which point Michels will resume the role of senior independent director. Rake, who also is chairman of telecommunications company BT Group, joined the LCC's board in June as deputy chairman and senior independent director. Harrison joined easyJet from motoring group RAC in December 2005.
Contact Air, a regional partner of Lufthansa Group, is cutting 40 pilot and 40 flight attendant positions as LH reduces the number of flights operated by 50-seat aircraft, a Contact spokesperson told Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung. Contact flies several ATR 42-500s and employs 370 people.
American Airlines and Gol announced a codeshare arrangement under which AA will place its code across Gol's domestic network of 49 airports. Launch is pending government approval. The airlines began linking their loyalty programs in August. AA serves five Brazilian destinations.
Brussels Airlines yesterday became the 26th member of Star Alliance in ceremonies in the Belgian capital, 12 months after it was invited to join and following the conclusion of a strategic partnership with Lufthansa, which acquired 45% of parent SN Air Holding in June.
Several US airline executives yesterday expressed cautious optimism that the revenue environment will improve in 2010, while US Airways President Scott Kirby was outright bullish about the coming year. Speaking at the Next Generation Equity Research Airlines Conference in New York, available via webcast, executives said demand has improved steadily since September and predicted the trend will continue into 2010. "I anticipate demand to remain strong," Delta Air Lines CFO Hank Halter said.
Boeing announced the completion of the first GEnx-2B engine runs for the 747-8 freighter. "The engines and all the systems performed as expected," 747 Program VP and GM Mo Yahyavi said.
China Eastern Airlines will decide which global alliance to join prior to the Chinese New Year on Feb. 14, according to MD Ma Xulun. SkyTeam continues to be the favorite, which likely would lead to Shanghai Airlines' withdrawal from Star Alliance. CEA's acquisition of SAL received final approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission last month ( ATWOnline, Dec. 1).
AerData, the Amsterdam-based provider of software and back office services for aircraft asset managers, acquired EFPAC Ltd. from TES Aviation Group. According to AerData, UK-based EFPAC develops and supplies asset management software for aircraft engines that combines technical aspects of engine management with financial reporting on maintenance costs.
AirTran Airways and JetBlue Airways, both profitable through the first three quarters of 2009, said during yesterday's Next Generation Equity Research Airlines Conference that they are maintaining a positive outlook for the current quarter and 2010. "We've successfully repositioned ourselves for both good times and bad," AirTran Senior VP-Finance, Treasurer and CFO Arne Haak said. Capacity measured in ASMs is expected to shrink 2%-3% for the full year but should grow 7% in the fourth quarter on a 7%-8% decrease in unit revenue. "Yields are improving.
Arlington, Va.-based ARC reported that ticket sales through participating travel agencies totaled $5.12 billion in November, up 6.7% over the year-ago month and the strongest performance in more than a year.
Star Alliance is holding exploratory talks with Ethiopian Airlines and will discuss the African carrier's potential membership at its chief executive board meeting today in Brussels, Star CEO Jaan Albrecht confirmed to ATWOnline. "We have been talking to them as part of our strategy to fill in our white spots on the world map," he said, pointing out that that while small in market share, Central Africa is showing strong growth. A decision on ET is not "imminent," he stressed, and an announcement can be expected in the first half of 2010.
Airlink, South African Airways' regional partner, faces possible grounding by the Civil Aviation Authority following Monday's E-135 runway overrun in George ( ATWOnline, Dec. 8). Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele asked for the results of a CAA audit by Friday, which he will use to make a decision, according to press reports from South Africa.
Malev Hungarian Airlines expects to lose HUF5-HUF7 billion ($27.1-$38 million) this year, reduced from HUF10 billion in 2008, CEO Martin Gauss told Pester Lloyd this week. The carrier is shooting for a profitable 2012.
United Airlines will invite Embraer to make an offer when the carrier is ready to renew its narrowbody fleet, Chairman, President and CEO Glenn Tilton told Reuters. "We are going into the narrow-bodied market next year. We are going to invite Embraer into that competition," he said.
Continental Airlines said the overallotment option has been exercised on the convertible note offering announced this week and that it will issue $230 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.5% convertible notes due 2015 ( ATWOnline, Dec. 8). Net proceeds are expected to be around $224 million.
Aer Lingus announced the resignation of CFO and Head of Short-haul Operations Sean Coyle. He will leave EI at year end. Meanwhile, CEO Christoph Mueller warned that the airline remains at risk of a Ryanair takeover. He told The Financial Times, "If Aer Lingus isn't capable of mastering its own destiny, then of course the likelihood that some form of non-independence might occur is more likely." Ryanair is permitted to make a third bid for EI after late January.
Delta TechOps signed a five-year agreement with Skymark Airlines of Japan to provide CFM56-7B maintenance in partnership with Evergreen Aviation Technologies.
Air Algerie signed a deal for four ATR 72-500s worth approximately $82 million, ATR announced yesterday. Aircraft will seat 66 passengers each and will deliver next year. The carrier already operates eight of the type. "The ATRs allow us to open up regions not able to receive other types of aircraft. We are therefore doubly satisfied to be able to provide high-quality public service and coverage over all the national territory," AH President, CEO and MD Abdelwahid Bouabdallah said.
Thales signed a five-year repair-by-the-hr. agreement with EVA Air for support and maintenance of a selection of avionics equipment aboard its 11 A330s.
Skyworld Aviation placed two Saab 340As with Romania's Direct Aero Services. Aircraft will operate on freight contracts and support passenger operations of sister carrier Blue Air.
French BEA opened an investigation into the Nov. 29 Air France A330-200 flight from Rio de Janeiro Galeao to Paris Charles de Gaulle that issued a mayday call after encountering extreme turbulence ( ATWOnline, Dec. 2). Analysis of the incident could provide supplementary insight valuable to the inquiry into the loss of Flight AF447, BEA said. The agency also said it will release a second report into that accident on Dec. 17.
Commercial aviation's carbon footprint in 2009 will fall 7% from the "just under" 670 million tonnes of carbon dioxide produced in 2008, IATA DG and CEO Giovanni Bisignani said at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. The global recession is responsible for a 5% reduction, while strategies employed by airlines resulted in a further 2% cut. "Shortening routes, spreading best practice in fuel management and using more efficient ways to land are among the measures that we are implementing to reduce emissions. Since 2004, our. .
Aircastle announced the placement of a second A330-200 with Avianca. Aircraft seats 30 passengers in business class and 222 in economy. Debt financing was arranged and provided by Calyon and supported by a guarantee from Coface, Aircastle said.
