Iran Civil Aviation Org. banned airlines from leasing Russian-built aircraft following two July accidents involving a Tu-154M and an Il-62 in which a combined 185 people were killed ( ATWOnline, July 27). "Eastern planes would be able to operate in the air sector only when they are brand new and made according to our order," CAO head Mohammad Ali Ilkhani was quoted as saying by Reuters.
IATA said that while June passenger traffic figures indicated "some stabilization in air travel demand," noting that even the fall in premium demand "moderated," premium revenue "was still declining at a rate close to 40% in June." In a "Premium Travel Monitor" issued yesterday, the organization explained that "the issue now is that this stabilization of passenger numbers is partly being achieved at the expense of much lower yields as airlines seek to boost cash flow by making more cheaper seats available. Revenue from premium travel fell an estimated 33% in Q1 and 41% in Q2."
ST Aerospace yesterday signed a three-year maintenance service agreement with Copa Airlines covering maintenance, repair and overhaul of the carrier's fleet of 28 737NGs and 15 E-190s as well as an additional 11 E-190s operated by subsidiary Aero Republica. The contract, an extension of a previous accord signed three years ago that allowed ST Aerospace to launch services in Panama, commences immediately and is valued at $18.5 million.
Austrian Airlines flew 1.71 billion RPKs in July, an 11.6% decrease year-over-year. Capacity was down 11.7% to 2.14 billion ASKs, leaving load factor level at 79.8%. Aer Lingus flew 1.72 billion RPKs in July, up 0.2% year-over-year, against a 1.5% increase in capacity to 2.09 billion ASKs. Load factor fell 1 point to 82.3%.
Estonian Air resumed thrice-weekly Tallinn-Helsinki service. Kenya Airways will launch twice-weekly Nairobi-Ndola service Sept. 17. Rex Regional Express will launch 17-times-weekly Townsville-Mackay service Oct. 1 aboard a 34-seat Saab 340. Iceland Express said it will operate weekly Reykjavik-Keflavik-Birmingham service for 13 weeks beginning in the 2010 summer. Jet Airways launched four-times-weekly Mumbai-Riyadh service aboard a 737-800 and will begin twice-weekly Bangkok-Gaya-Varanasi flights Oct. 6.
SITA announced that it became "the first platform provider" to achieve certification demonstrating that its Common Use Passenger Processing System "is fully compliant with the pre-released version of the IATA CUPPS Technical Specification." SITA's CUPPS pilot started in January at Orlando International.
Hainan Airlines earned a net profit in the 2009 first half, according to Chairman Chen Feng, who declined to reveal the exact figure. The carrier is scheduled to release a detailed financial report for the year's first six months at the end of August. HNA posted net income of CNY311 million ($45.4 million) in the first half of 2008.
CSA Czech Airlines detailed its workforce reduction plans, saying that 860 of its 4,600 employees will be let go and the cuts will affect all areas of the company. The carrier will lay off about 140 pilots (about 25%) and 240 flight attendants, the Mlada fronta DNES newspaper reported. The least affected group will be administrative employees, of whom 15% are to be dismissed.
Hawaiian Airlines said it has hired more than 100 maintenance, service, contract, ramp and cleaning personnel "in recent months" and plans to add 170 more employees (including 25 pilots and 30 flight attendants) by early next year as it prepares for the April delivery of its first A330-200. It currently has 3,756 employees. It signed an order for six A330-200s and six A350-800s, plus purchase rights for six of each type, 18 months ago.
Turkish Airlines firmed up its order for seven 289-seat A330-300s. It signed an MOU at the Paris Air Show ( ATWOnline, June 22). Delivery is scheduled to begin in September 2010. THY currently operates seven A330s.
Avianca said it plans to sell up to COP500 billion ($246.5 million) in bonds on the Colombian BVC on Aug. 25 in order to finance the acquisition of new aircraft and pay down debt. Two years ago the carrier placed an order for 33 A320 family aircraft and five A330-200s plus options for 27 and five respectively ( ATWOnline, May 31, 2007). It said in yesterday's statement that its commitment with Airbus now numbers 34 aircraft and it has 12 787s on order. Delivery of the Airbus aircraft already has begun.
Eight US airlines operating at Los Angeles International have signed a multiyear deal for the supply of a renewable synthetic diesel fuel for use in ground service equipment, an arrangement that Rentech, the Los Angeles-based fuel manufacturer, called "the first of its kind."
An estimated 100 Midwest Airlines employees will lose their jobs following its acquisition by Republic Airways Holdings, a Republic spokesperson confirmed yesterday to ATWOnline.
Libyan Airlines signed an MOU with OnAir to install mobile and inflight Internet service on its seven new A320s, which it expects to start taking next year.
Air China reached an agreement with CITIC Pacific to purchase a significant portion of the latter's stake in Cathay Pacific, raising its share in the Hong Kong carrier to 29.99% from 17.49%.
Gulfstream International Airlines parent Gulfstream International Group announced a $2.2 million second-quarter profit, reversed from a $3.5 million loss in the year-ago quarter. Result largely was due to a $2 million noncash tax benefit, although the Florida-based regional was profitable on the operating level as well with a $984,000 surplus comparing to a $5.5 million deficit in the second quarter of 2008.
Continental Airlines yesterday announced that Oct. 27 will be its first day as an official member of Star Alliance. Separately, it said it will operate daily Houston Intercontinental-Edmonton flights beginning Nov. 1 aboard a 737-500.
Kenya Airways workers represented by the Aviation & Allied Workers Union called off a two-day strike Sunday after reaching an agreement with management on a pay increase, KQ said in a statement. Flights from Nairobi were delayed Friday and Saturday as some 3,000 workers went on strike over pay. The new plan includes an interim wage award of 10% for the first year and another 10% for the second, the airline said.
Southwest Airlines Pilots Assn. confirmed in a statement issued Friday that the union's refusal to integrate its seniority list with that of Frontier Airlines led to the impasse that scuttled SWA's bid for the Denver-based carrier ( ATWOnline, Aug. 17).
Turkish Airlines flew 21.3 billion RPKs during the first seven months of 2009, up 12.4% over the year-ago period. Capacity rose 19.7% to 30.6 billion ASKs and load factor fell 4.5 points to 69.5%.
US Air Transport Assn. predicted a 3.5% year-over-year drop in the number of passengers traveling globally on US carriers over the Sept. 2-Sept. 9 Labor Day holiday period. It expects that an estimated 16 million travelers, down from 17 million last year, will take to the skies. "Passengers should expect airports to be less crowded, but planes will be at or near capacity during this Labor Day holiday period," ATA President and CEO James May said.
Ryanair yesterday announced that it will close nine of its 10 routes to/from Manchester and switch them to "lower-cost competitor" airports such as Nottingham East Midlands, Leeds Bradford and Liverpool on Oct. 1, citing MAN's refusal to lower its charges.
Australia and New Zealand are expected to move toward common air travel borders this week, cutting red tape and airfares. New Zealand Prime Minister John Keys and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd are expected to announce Thursday the streamlining of arrivals and departures that may see transtasman flights operating from domestic terminals and elimination of departure taxes and duplication of quarantine, customs and security checks.
