American Airlines reported a 2019 first-quarter net profit of $237 million, down 23%. The Boeing 737 MAX grounding is projected to cost Dallas/Fort Worth-based American about $350 million in full-year income, assuming its current plan to have the aircraft back in revenue service by Aug. 19 holds, the carrier reported.
Air China and China Eastern Airlines are likely to add flights between Shanghai and London following a notice of intended decisions in their favor by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).
Groupe ADP increased its 2019 traffic forecast for the Paris airports it operates as overall group traffic edged up 0.4% in the first quarter to 58 million passengers, held back by a decrease in domestic traffic at the Turkish airports run by TAV Airports.
Winter storm-related disruptions and a drop in close-in bookings held Alaska Air Group’s net income flat at $4 million in the 2019 first quarter, the same as the year-ago period.
Kuwait-based hybrid carrier Jazeera Airways reported a 2019 first-quarter net profit of KD1.5 million ($4.9 million), reversed from a net loss of KD0.3 million in the year-ago quarter.
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has confirmed plans to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking addressing handicap accessible lavatories on single-aisle aircraft by Dec. 2, 2019.
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) was forced to cancel 673 flights on April 26 as 1,409 SAS pilots went on strike after an agreement could not be reached on predictable working hours and market-based salaries.
Florida-based LCC Spirit Airlines reported a 2019 first-quarter net income of $56.1 million, reversed from a net loss of $44.9 million in the year-ago quarter.
A trio of unusual events took a toll on Southwest Airlines’ first-quarter financial performance and is driving unit costs up, but long-term fundamentals remain strong, as does the carrier’s confidence in the Boeing 737 MAX.
The Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-powered Airbus A319neo made its first flight April 25, starting a flight test campaign that is to be completed before the end of the year.
The FAA projects passenger growth for US carriers will advance at an average annual rate of 1.8% over the next 20 years—about 0.1% lower than last year’s forecast—increasing by 48% or roughly 424 million passengers from 2018 levels by 2039.
MAX operators in the US and elsewhere are emphasizing a need to plan for the busy summer season to set schedules well ahead of whenever the groundings are lifted.
How do OEMs and airlines reduce emissions while economically serving their customers? The technological and economic challenges posed by this question are huge.
The growth in flights, which might be a positive economic indicator, is straining capacity before planned air traffic management improvements take effect.
The growing number of small US airlines may suggest the industry is on the cusp of a regional airline renaissance, but regional executives say such descriptions are premature.
