SITA won a seven-year contract from Syrian Arab Airlines to implement and maintain a global hybrid network solution for the carrier's worldwide IP connections.
Sabre signed a contract for a five-year extension of a 10-year deal with First Air to continue supplying the Canadian carrier with its SabreSonic Customer Sales and Service solution.
BAE Systems Asset Management placed one BAe 146-200QT freighter with Indonesia's PT Nusantara Air Charter. It won an exclusive remarketing mandate from European Turboprop Management AB of Sweden, the previous manager of the aircraft.
The world's airlines will lose $9 billion this year after shedding $10.4 billion in 2008, IATA DG and CEO Giovanni Bisignani said Monday. Addressing delegates at the 65th IATA Annual General Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Bisignani said, "There is no modern precedent for today's economic meltdown" and expressed doubt that growth will resume by year end, making the case instead for an "L-shaped" recovery. "I am a realist. I don't see facts to support optimism," he said.
Jeppesen reached agreement with Flybe to provide the regional carrier with a broad complement of services including flight planning, charts and its Airside Services program that is designed to help "airlines transition from paper to electronic systems."
GuestLogix launched its OnTouch onboard merchandising service powered by its Mobile Virtual Store onboard transaction platform. It said OnTouch is "now live with several of its services available on a leading global carrier" and that it is "ready for immediate implementation" by airlines.
TAP Portugal launched a carbon offset program with IATA enabling passengers to pay compensation for the carbon dioxide emissions resulting from their flights. The proceeds will be given to the Aquarius Hydroelectric Project, a renewable energy project in Brazil. It is the first such program to be launched in conjunction with IATA. The industry-wide scheme designed by the association calculates CO2 based on a methodology developed by ICAO. IATA is the administering entity for the TAP program and will arrange the purchase of carbon credits and manage and provide offset tracking.
Malev Hungarian Airlines said it expects its 2009 operating result to rise by HUF1.5 billion ($7.5 million) over last year's, which it did not reveal, while flying approximately 3.1 million passengers. "We are going to make changes to the Malev fleet, schedule, commercial activities and headcount in the second half of the year," CEO Martin Gauss said in a statement. "Together, these will enable us to improve our results this year against 2008.
American Airlines flew 10.38 billion system RPMs in May, down 11.7% from the year-ago month. Capacity dropped 8.8% to 13.11 billion ASMs and load factor fell 2.6 points to 79.2%. American Eagle flew 622.9 million RPKs, down 14.3%, against a 14.5% fall in ASMs to 849.6 million, lifting load factor 0.2 point to 73.3%. United Airlines flew 9.54 billion consolidated RPMs in May, down 12.3% year-over-year. Capacity decreased 10.2% to 11.92 billion ASMs, dropping load factor 1.9 points to 80%.
Afrijet Airlines of Nigeria and ATR announced the signing of a Heads of Agreement deal for the purchase of four 68-seat ATR 72-500s worth a combined $80 million. Aircraft wil be powered by PW127Ms and will feature the Elegance cabin and IFE. Afrijet launched as a cargo carrier in 1999. Its passenger fleet currently comprises MD-82s and -83s.
LOT Polish Airlines launched LOT Charters, which will operate six LOT 737-400s and one 767 on long-haul flights to holiday destinations. The airline said the dedicated fleet is expected to carry 400,000 passengers by year end, which "would allow the company to reach a 25% market share and establish a leading position among charter carriers operating on the Polish market."
Fifty airlines that so far have reported first-quarter financial results have posted a combined $3.3 billion net loss for the period, IATA reported yesterday, also noting that revenue from cargo is expected "to show a record decline in 2009."
United Airlines sent a request for proposals to both Boeing and Airbus "that could result in a potentially significant number of aircraft that could ultimately replace our widebody fleet," according to a letter to employees from Chairman and CEO Glenn Tilton obtained by ATWOnline, with The Wall Street Journal pegging the potential order at 150 aircraft.
Alaska Airlines and technicians represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Assn. tentatively agreed to a two-year contract extension through Oct. 17, 2011, covering 665 employees. Employee ratification is expected to be completed by late July.
Virgin America and V Australia reached an interline agreement effective June 8. It is VX's first interline relationship. The airlines both serve Los Angeles.
Engine Alliance and Emirates signed a fleet management agreement for GP7200 MRO valued at more than $3 billion over the life of the contract. EK has more than 250 of the A380 powerplants on order.
Air Berlin raised €23 million ($32.7 million) from the issuance of approximately 6.6 million new shares (representing 10% of its share capital), which it said were placed with "institutional and professional investors" at €3.50 per share.
Aviacsa, a Monterrey-based LCC operating 25 aircraft, was grounded temporarily by Mexican authorities after maintenance irregularities were discovered, according to press reports. Las Vegas is its only international destination. Aviacsa protested the decision, claiming on its website, "It should be noted that the observations that were detected in these inspections do not threaten the airworthiness and the safety of aircraft."
JetBlue Airways said it is raising its stock offering announced earlier this week to 23 million shares from 20 million and pricing them at $4.25 each. Lufthansa is expected to purchase 3.6 million of those shares. The offering of convertible debentures due 2039 also will be raised to $175 million from $150 million.
French officials leading the investigation into the Air France A330-200 that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean Sunday night about 400 mi. northeast of the Fernando de Noronha archipelago cautioned against "hasty interpretations or speculation" regarding the accident's cause, particularly since no wreckage from the aircraft has been recovered.
