IATA yesterday announced the signing of a multinational agreement under which the European Commission as well as the US and six other nations have agreed to consider a liberalization of the restrictions that govern bilateral air services agreements, including a promise "to consider the possibility of a multilateral agreement to waive ownership restrictions."
CSA Czech Airlines named Marek Tybl, head pilot of its ATR fleet, as VP-flight operations and CSOB executive Philippe Moreels as VP-marketing and sales.
TAM flew 2.39 billion domestic RPKs in October, up 22.3% from the year-ago month, against a 9.6% lift in capacity to 3.31 billion ASKs. Load factor rose 7.6 points to 72.3%. International traffic was up 15.7% to 1.64 billion RPKs while capacity increased 15.2% to 2.09 billion ASKs and load factor rose 0.3 point to 78.1%. Copa Airlines flew 570.2 million RPMs in October, up 16.6% year-over-year. Capacity increased 7.3% to 696.3 million ASMs, lifting load factor 6.5 points to 81.9%.
Finnair pilots represented by the Finnish Air Line Pilots' Assn. will strike for a second consecutive day today, forcing the airline to cancel its entire program of more than 200 scheduled flights. AY said leisure flights operated by management pilots will continue "with the help of leasing arrangements" and that "individual changes" to the schedule "are possible." The strike, which also affected Finnair's Sunday schedule, will cost the airline €2-€5 million per day, according to various press reports.
Yemenia adds to Airbus commitment with MOU for 10 A320s Airbus, Boeing say recovery is on the way Etihad invests $750 million in inflight product, MRO CFM strikes deals with Libyan, Tunisair, DAE worth $535 million Additional stories Dubai News from Nov. 16.
Boeing announced the completion of the side-of-body fixes on the second and third 787s. Installation on the first was finished last Wednesday ( ATWOnline, Nov. 13). The aircraft completed comprised the full-scale static test airframe and the second flight test aircraft. "Our focus now is on completing the static test later this month, which will validate the modification.
Cathay Pacific Airways will offer an economy seat with extra legroom on long-haul flights for $100 per sector beginning Dec. 1 and on flights to regional and Chinese destination for $25 from Jan. 1. Premium loyalty program members will continue to have access to the seats for free. CX said there will be 2-4 seats available on "most flights." Offer is available on Dragonair service as well.
AVIC and GE signed a framework agreement Sunday to launch an avionics joint venture targeted at the fast-growing Chinese aviation market. Lorraine Bolsinger, president and CEO of GE's Aviation Systems business, told reporters that GE and AVIC each will hold 50% of the joint venture but she declined to reveal the size of GE's investment. AVIC VP Zhang Xinguo said his company has not yet decided how much to invest and when the JV will be established formally. "Our first priority is to make a bid for the C919 for the short term," Bolsinger noted. The C919, Commercial Aircraft Corp.
United Airlines announced a partnership with ExpressJet Airlines under which the latter will operate 22 ERJ-145s under the United Express brand beginning May 1. ExpressJet will replace contract flying performed by other United Express partners whose contracts expired and were not renewed, including Mesa Air Group. United said ExpressJet offered "the most competitive bid" for the flying.
Rolls-Royce won an order for Trent 700s to power 20 A330s ordered by Air China and scheduled to begin delivery in 2011. The contract is worth $1.5 billion at list prices and includes TotalCare service support. Rolls also said its share of an order from Dubai Aerospace Enterprise for V2500s to power 20 A320s ordered by DAE's finance and leasing arm is worth $110 million. The aircraft, part of an order for 70 announced last year, are scheduled to deliver starting in 2011. Pratt & Whitney said its share is worth more than $112 million.
Airbus parent EADS suffered an €87 million ($130.2 million) third-quarter loss, reversed from a €679 million profit in the year-ago period, as unfavorable foreign exchange rates and slight decline in revenue dragged the aerospace giant back into the red following seven consecutive profitable quarters.
Oneworld is looking to increase further its footprint in Latin America, particularly in Brazil, where Gol is among the potential membership candidates with which it is in discussions, ATWOnline learned last week as the alliance welcomed Mexicana in Mexico City. "Brazil is an important market for us, and Gol is obviously a significant player. They have made great strides in the past two years and, like in India and China, we keep channels open to everyone to review continually our options and their strategy," oneworld Managing Partner John McCulloch said.
Environment ministers from 27 EU member states agreed on a proposal to be submitted to the UN climate summit in Copenhagen next month calling for emissions from aviation to be cut by 10% by 2020 from 2005 levels. The EU proposal also calls for all parties to work through ICAO to enable an agreement in 2010 and approved by 2011. It supports the use of global market-based instruments to reduce emissions from these sectors and said such instruments should be developed within ICAO.
Boeing and China are moving toward a cooperative agreement for research and development for developing biofuels. The US aerospace manufacturer is talking with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese universities about a partnership that would involve the commercialization of jatropha. China has been active in the biofuel area for some time, with jatropha being planted since 2007. Wild and cultivated, the plant is to be found in Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou provinces as well as the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.
KLM will become the first airline to conduct a biofuel demonstration on a passenger-carrying flight later this month. The flight is set to take place on Nov. 23 and will operate with a 747-400 with one engine running on a mixture of 50% camelina-based fuel and 50% jet fuel. It will carry "a select group of passengers," according to the carrier.
Civil Air Navigation Services Organization, while welcoming the ICAO High Level Meeting agreement on aviation emissions against a backdrop of difficult economic and political circumstances, expressed disappointment that the meeting did not recommend any actions for member states to undertake themselves to assist the aviation industry in meeting its environmental goals.
Japan joined FAA, Airservices Australia and Airways New Zealand as a partner in the ASPIRE (Asia and South Pacific Initiative to Reduce Emissions) program. ASPIRE flights use a range of optimized operational procedures and ATC routings, including tailored arrivals, to save time and fuel and were launched last year by Air New Zealand.
Aviation sector could face a shortfall of 77 million tonnes of CO2 when it enters the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme, according to a report from RDC Aviation and Point Carbon. At a carbon spot price of €13.25 per tonne (as of Nov. 11), that amounts to a shortfall of €1.02 billion ($1.53 billion).
Air Canada last week began offering a Preferred Seat option to economy passengers, allowing them to reserve "specific exit row and bulkhead seats with extra seat pitch" on all flights. Prices start at C$14 ($13.36) per segment. Aeroflot announced a similar service last week called "Comfort+," which offers seats with increased pitch. Seats are available at airport check-in for RUB700 ($24.30).
Mexicana is pursuing plans to renew its long-haul fleet and is continuing talks with both Airbus and Boeing for six A350s or 787s, Grupo Mexicana CEO Manuel Bora told ATWOnline last week in Mexico City, although he does not expect the carrier to turn a profit this year.
Jazz Air parent Jazz Air Income Fund reported third-quarter net income of C$25.3 million ($24.1 million), down 20.2% from C$31.7 million in the year-ago period, on a 13.2% drop in revenue to C$379.7 million. The Canadian regional said expenses lowered 12% to C$344.9 million.
Copa Airlines and AeroRepublica parent Copa Holdings reported third-quarter net income of $43.1 million, up 87.4% from a $23 million profit in the year-ago quarter, an increase it attributed to "a solid and resilient business model based on developing the most comprehensive and convenient network for intra-Latin America travel and a very competitive cost structure." It recorded a $5.1 million noncash fuel hedge gain and a $14.6 million charge related to the retirement of four MD-80s as AeroRepublica transitions to an all E-190 fleet.
Air France last week announced a simplification to its European medium-haul product that from April 1 will feature just two classes of service, Premium business class and Voyageur economy. Stressing that its service "will not be that of a low-cost carrier," AF is cutting both fares and costs in the back of the aircraft. Economy passengers will pay to check a second bag and will have seat choice at check-in. For €10 ($14.95), they can reserve a booking and fare for "several days" before confirming, AF said.
Airbus said EASA has certified all A330 models for ETOPS "beyond 180 min.," which will be available as a customer-selectable option that will extend diversion distance up to 1,700 nm. (240 min. of flying at one-engine speed under "standard conditions").
ILFC reported a third-quarter profit of $245.8 million, up 9.4% year-over-year, on a 3.7% lift in revenue to $1.35 billion. Nine-month profit climbed 16.6% to $685.7 million. As of Sept. 30 the lessor owned 991 aircraft, with 11 more classified as finance and sales-type leases, while providing fleet management services on another 99. It has 125 new aircraft scheduled for delivery through 2019 including five in the 2009 fourth quarter.
