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.
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.
Gulf Air launched its five-times-weekly Bahrain-Baghdad service Monday and said it plans to launch flights to both Najaf and Erbil on Sept. 15. Routes to Basra and Solamnia will follow. It said it aims to be the "market leader" in Iraq.
Turkmenistan Airlines placed an order for three 737-700s worth approximately $192 million at list prices, Boeing announced yesterday. Delivery dates were not announced. The Ashgabat-based carrier, established in 1991, currently operates 717s, 737 Classics and NGs, 757s and one 767, according to the manufacturer. In March 2008 it ordered two 737-900ERs and one 737-700, and it signed up for one 777 two months earlier.
Hawaiian Airlines will start charging $10 for the first checked bag on inter-island flights beginning Sept. 14. "Our costs continue to rise and fares have simply not kept pace. We've held the line on this fee as long as possible, but have to remain competitive," Senior VP-Marketing and Sales Glenn Taniguchi said. Premium loyalty program members, business class passengers and those traveling on international tickets including points in Hawaii are exempt.
Finavia, Finland's state-owned air navigation services provider and airports operator, said its board approved discounts on airport, air navigation and security charges for commercial air traffic. The discounts, effective Sept. 1 for the remainder of 2009, will be "approximately 10%." Discounts for 2010 and 2011 will be decided upon later. According to a statement, "the purpose of the discount policy is to improve the operating preconditions of air traffic, especially domestic traffic, which is currently facing challenging times."
Southwest Airlines received a reprieve from US FAA yesterday and now has until Dec. 24 to replace the unapproved parts on approximately 39 remaining 737-300s/-500s as both the regulator and Boeing said the exhaust gate assembly hinge fittings "would not prevent safe operation of the airplanes."
Southwest Airlines announced schedule adjustments for the Jan. 9-March 12, 2010, period featuring elimination of 92 individual flights and addition of another 42, including new service from St. Louis to Boston and Minneapolis-St. Paul beginning Jan. 10. It temporarily will suspend Albuquerque-Portland, Ore., Manchester, N.H.-Pheonix and Kansas City-Seattle service. AirBaltic yesterday launched twice-weekly Riga-Pskov service aboard an F50. IndiGo will launch twice-weekly Kolkata-Dibrugarh service on Sept. 16.
