Austrian Airline Group's acquisition by Lufthansa became official yesterday at a ceremony in Vienna as the German company took control of more than 90% of AAG's shares and insisted that the struggling carrier must become profitable as soon as possible.
United Airlines flew 11.03 billion consolidated RPMs in August, down 3.3% year-over-year, against a 6.2% cut in capacity to 12.8 billion ASMs. Load factor improved 2.5 points 86.1%. US Airways Group said August mainline and regional passenger RASM fell approximately 15% year-over-year and total RASM dropped 13%. Group airlines flew 5.69 billion consolidated RPMs, down 3.9%, against a 3.9% cut in capacity to 6.69 billion ASMs. Load factor fell 0.1 point to 85%.
Boeing received orders for eight 737s and cancellations of two 777s from unidentified customers during the week ended Sept. 1, which along with the Turkmenistan Airlines' 737 order announced on Wednesday ( ATWOnline, Sept. 3) raised its year-to-date net to 70 aircraft. Gross orders number 161 and there have been 91 cancellations in 2009. The 737 (plus 118) and 777 (plus 16) programs are the only ones to receive more orders than cancellations so far.
Etihad Airways yesterday launched thrice-weekly Abu Dhabi-Chicago O'Hare service aboard an A340-500, increasing to six-times-weekly on Oct. 31 and daily from the beginning of 2010. Alaska Airlines launched daily Portland, Ore.-San Jose-Austin service Tuesday aboard a Wi-Fi equipped 737-700. Route becomes twice-daily on March 14. Air Berlin will operate seasonal weekly service from Nuremberg to Araxos and Kalamata beginning May 4.
Singapore Airlines and Airbus reached an agreement to delay the delivery of eight A380s by 6-12 months. SIA's 12th through 19th aircraft will be affected by the new schedule, which will see the 12th delivered in October 2010 rather than April and the 19th arrive in January 2012 rather than January 2011.
Priestmangoode of London was contracted by Turkish Airlines to rebrand the carrier. Redesign will include aircraft interiors, lounges, check-in counters and consultation on a new livery. Work will begin next year with interior retrofits and installation of the new design in THY's 777s scheduled to begin delivery by the end of 2010.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission instituted proceedings in federal court against Garuda Indonesia, the 10th airline now accused of "alleged price-fixing in the air cargo industry," the regulatory body said. ACCC claimed that between 2001 and 2006 Garuda "entered into arrangements or understandings" with other airlines intending to collude on fuel and security surcharges. A hearing has been set for Oct. 22 in Sydney.
EasyJet yesterday announced a proposal to close its Nottingham East Midlands base and reduce flying at London Luton by 20% as it shifts capacity "to more profitable airports" in continental Europe.
International Lease Finance Corp. Chairman Steven Udvar-Hazy told ATWOnline it is "premature to comment" on reports that he is preparing to leave the company he co-founded and later sold to American International Group in order to start a new leasing venture that may bid on some of ILFC's assets. The Wall Street Journal reported this week that Udvar-Hazy was in talks to buy part of ILFC and that a consortium consisting of Greenbriar Equity Group and Onex Partners was bidding on the company.
Embraer announced the delivery of the first of six 76-seat E-170s to British Airways. Aircraft will be operated by BA CityFlyer and is part of a December 2008 order that included five E-190s plus options ( ATWOnline, Dec. 23, 2008). The E-170 obtained steep approach certification in June 2007 to operate at London City. BA's first E-190 will arrive early next year.
Lufthansa Systems signed a five-year deal with Malaysia Airlines to provide its Lido RouteManual navigation charts. MAS eventually will introduce Lido eRouteManual.
Continental Airlines said August estimated consolidated unit revenue fell 16.5%-17.5% from the year-ago month while mainline RASM dropped 17%-18%. CO flew 8.78 billion consolidated RPMs last month, a 3.9% drop, while capacity fell 6% to 10.23 billion ASMs. Load factor rose 1.9 points to 85.8%. AirTran Airways flew 1.85 billion RPMs in August, down 6.1% year-over-year, against a 3.4% cut in capacity to 2.18 billion ASMs. Load factor slipped 2.4 points to 84.9%.
Amerijet International, a Miami-based cargo carrier operating 727-200Fs and 767-200Fs, yesterday said it maintained its "commitment, continued focus and strength in providing scheduled cargo services to the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America" despite a strike by 62 pilots and flight engineers represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters that started Aug. 27 following a breakdown in negotiations. The strike is being honored by unions at several other US carriers, according to the IBT, which claimed Amerijet now is attempting to outsource work to foreign airlines.
FAA will give US airlines until early January to replace the Thales speed probes on A330s and A340s with Goodrich probes, according to Bloomberg News, which cited a Federal Register notice it said is scheduled for publication today. EASA already has mandated the replacements be made on A330s/A340s operated by European airlines ( ATWOnline, Aug. 3) in the wake of June's Air France A330-200 accident ( ATWOnline, Sept. 1).
Air New Zealand said flight attendants represented by the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union working on A320s operated by ANZ's Zeal320 transtasman subsidiary have ratified a new labor agreement ( ATWOnline, April 27).
Midwest Airlines will lay off an additional 59 flight crew employees as it replaces its 717s with Republic Airlines E-190s, according to a filing with the Wisconsin Dept. of Workforce Development cited by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The new reductions will take effect Oct. 1, with all of the 717s scheduled to be replaced by Republic-staffed aircraft by December. Midwest cut about 100 positions last month ( ATWOnline, Aug.
Bombardier Aerospace reported a 36.6% dip in fiscal second-quarter operating profit to $154 million from the $243 million posted in the year-ago period. Revenue fell 4% to $2.4 billion in the three months ended July 31 as the company delivered 80 aircraft comprising 51 business jets, 28 commercial aircraft and one amphibian. It delivered 89 in the year-ago period. Its order book for the quarter declined by a net of 38 units as it secured commitments for 15 commercial and 27 business aircraft but suffered 80 business cancellations. It booked 175 orders last year.
Boeing said it completed installation of the GEnx-2B engines on the first 747-8 freighter in Everett. The engine recently completed the first phase of flight testing (100 hr.) following more than 1,500 hr. of ground certification tests, Boeing and GE said. It is rated at 66,500 lb. thrust. The aircraft's first flight is scheduled for the fourth quarter.
Oxford Aviation Academy signed an agreement to work in partnership with the newly formed Gulf Aviation Academy to create a new airline pilot training capability in Bahrain. As part of the agreement, a group of 20 students accepted into GAA's Cadet Pilot Training Program will commence ab initio training at Oxford this month, followed by flight training at OAA centers in Melbourne or Phoenix. Up to 100 students will enter training during the first year.
Cebu Pacific Air earned a PHP1.82 billion ($37.1 million) profit in the first half of 2009, putting it on course to improve upon the PHP15.7 million loss suffered in 2008, the Philippine carrier said. Half-year revenue rose 21.3% year-over-year to PHP11.39 billion as the airline took delivery of A320s and ATR 72-500s and added routes, frequencies and capacity.
SkyEurope Airlines, which suspended operations Monday, released a statement saying the trustee appointed by a Slovak court to oversee the LCC's restructuring "assessed that the company did not have sufficient funds for sustaining operations" and opted to file for bankruptcy.
Jazz Air announced tentative labor agreements with approximately 1,000 customer service agents and some 900 maintenance and engineering employees represented by the Canadian Auto Workers.
Norwegian will launch winter-season flights from Stockholm Arlanda to Barcelona and Tenerife (in October) and Salzburg (December) and from Copenhagen to Geneva, SZG and BCN, as well as Trondheim-Las Palmas service. It also will add third weekly flights to Dubai from CPH and ARN and a weekly service from CPH.
Southwest Airlines yesterday unveiled EarlyBird Check-in, which allows passengers to board the aircraft prior to general check-in, but after Business Select customers and premium loyalty program members, for an extra $10 each way. SWA is known for its unreserved seating and for boarding passengers in groups. The EarlyBird service will be available up to 25 hr. prior to scheduled departure.
