Ryanair transported 4.3 million passengers in November, up 11% year-over-year. Load factor rose 1 point to 79%. EasyJet transported 3 million passengers in November, up 3.4% year-over-year. Load factor rose 3.1 points to 83.9%.
Dallas-Fort Worth International Thursday opened the first quadrant of a new perimeter taxiway system it said will eliminate hundreds of the up-to-1,500 daily runway crossings. Testing and research on the concept in conjunction with US FAA and NASA began in 2003. FAA paid for 75% of the $67 million cost of the first section on DFW's southeast side. Data from use of this quadrant on the airport's busiest side will be collected and analyzed before planning for the other three sections is completed.
Austrian state holding company OIAG's supervisory board approved the sale of its 41.56% stake in Austrian Airlines Group to Lufthansa for €366,268.75 ($464,865) on Friday, continuing the German airline's aggressive European shopping spree.
AirAsia said Friday that majority shareholder Tune Air is "unable to secure financing" for its bid to acquire the remaining shares of the carrier and take it private owing to "tight credit market conditions." Tune Air, which holds a 30.9% stake in AirAsia, said in October it was "considering" the step ( ATWOnline, Oct. 10). But the global credit crunch means that it "is unable to form a firm intention to proceed," AirAsia said in an announcement to the Bursa Malaysia.
European Commission is expected to announce on Dec. 16 its decision on the proposed merger of Vueling Airlines and Clickair. Competition authorities were notified of the merger on Nov. 11 ( ATWOnline, Aug. 1).
Kartika Airlines of Jakarta signed a deal with Sukhoi Civil Aircraft for 15 firm Superjet 100s worth $448 million plus 15 options, the manufacturer announced Friday, according to press reports from Moscow. Deliveries of the 95-seat aircraft are scheduled to begin in 2011. Kartika operates 737-200s.
Deutsche Post's DHL Exel Supply Chain unit won a 10-year, multimillion-dollar deal with British Airways to provide inflight catering services for domestic and short-haul flights from London Heathrow. Contract takes effect in April 2010 and calls for up to 13 million meals annually, inflight retail, media and comfort items as well as waste management and wash-up responsibilities. Northern Foods will prepare the meals under a subcontract with DHL.
Continental Airlines completed installation of Panasonic eFX on-demand inflight entertainment systems in the economy cabins of its 39 757-200s. All aircraft will be in service by Dec. 23. In-seat power ports also were installed. IFE installations continue on CO's 777s, with 14 of 20 aircraft outfitted and the remainder scheduled to be complete by May. CO also announced an agreement with LiveTV allowing it to offer 80 channels of DirectTV programming throughout its 737NG and 757-300 fleets.
Bmibaby announced the following route suspensions: Service from Birmingham to Rome Fiumicino, Milan Orio al Serio, Lisbon, Madrid and Birmingham from March 29 to Oct. 24; Manchester-Madrid from March 29 to Oct. 22; Nottingham East Midlands-Prague from March 29 to Oct. 23. Changes are "in response to a weakening of demand, which is being impacted upon by the current economic climate," it said. It will operate a new thrice-weekly EMA-Menorca service May 22-Oct. 24.
US Bankruptcy Court judge Friday blasted Mesa Air Group's plans to re-brand its Hawaiian inter-island subsidiary go! as Aloha Airlines and refused to approve Yucaipa Cos.' purchase of Aloha Airlines' intellectual property rights. Yucaipa, the former controlling shareholder of Aloha, outbid Hawaiian Airlines in a bankruptcy auction (it paid $750,000) last week for the rights to the Aloha name and, under on an agreement it reached with Mesa ( ATWOnline, Dec. 2), go!
SkyEurope Airlines reported a €59.4 million ($75.4 million) loss in the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, more than double the €24.1 million suffered in the prior year, as benefits from a restructured and streamlined network failed to materialize in time to offset record fuel costs.
The chairman of Okay Airways' controlling shareholder Juneyao Group, Wang Junjin, promised Friday that the troubled airline will resume flying "as soon as possible" following a one-month shutdown imposed by CAAC. China's first privately run carrier, launched in 2005, Okay announced last week that it will suspend passenger transport for one month starting Dec. 15 owing to conflicts between Juneyao and airline management. Okay's cargo cooperation with FedEx will continue to operate as usual.
Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies will provide Dubai-based Silver Air with MRO services on three 737-200s and a 737-300 under a Total Care Solution agreement.
US Air Transport Assn. announced the election of United Airlines Chairman, President and CEO Glenn Tilton as chairman, effective immediately. He will serve two years and succeeds former Northwest Airlines Chairman and CEO Doug Steenland. CFM International named Chaker Chahrour executive VP, effective Feb. 1. He is currently head of sales and pole executive for GE Aviation in the Asia/Pacific based in Singapore. He will succeed Bill Clapper, who will be on special assignment as he transitions to retirement later in 2009, CFM said. Chahrour joined GE Aviation in 1979.
French Bureau d'Enquetes et d'Analyses, responsible for investigating aviation accidents, said it cannot explain why an Air New Zealand A320 crashed into the Mediterranean Sea on approach to Perpignan on Nov. 28 ( ATWOnline, Dec. 2). "At this stage of the inquiry, nothing explains why the aircraft left its trajectory and crashed into the sea," BEA said in a statement.
Boeing is set to announce the fifth delay to its 787 program, with first flight expected to be pushed back to the second quarter of 2009 and insiders suggesting the aircraft will lift off in late May. The new delay, first revealed by ATWOnline on Oct. 30, is expected to be confirmed by the manufacturer late next week ahead of its third-quarter results announcement on Dec. 15.
Compagnia Aerea Italia's purchase and relaunch of Alitalia received final approval by Italian and European competition authorities yesterday, with the former stipulating that at least 10% of seats on each flight be available at the "cheapest price." Those fares would be based on the lowest prices offered by AZ and Air One in the previous travel season. The Italian authorities also reserved the right to issue an additional ruling once CAI chooses either Lufthansa or Air France KLM as its foreign investor.
UK government delayed its decision on building a third runway at London Heathrow until January. The consultation process closed Nov. 9 and a decision was expected this month.
In an effort to win support from Aer Lingus shareholders, particularly the Irish government and employees who hold 25.1% and 14.2% stakes respectively, for its renewed all-cash takeover offer, Ryanair yesterday committed to recognizing EI's unions, restoring daily Shannon-London Heathrow service and ceding control of EI's LHR slots to the government.
Sun Country Airlines received US Bankruptcy Court approval for a line of credit that will allow it to restore employees to full pay and meet other financial obligations. The Minneapolis-based carrier, which is working its way through Chapter 11 restructuring ( ATWOnline, Oct. 20), was paying workers just 70% of their salaries. SCA did not reveal the origin of the debtor-in-possession financing, but news reports named Elite Landings, another subsidiary of SCA parent Petters Group Worldwide.
United Airlines said 1,190 of the 7,000 workers it plans to cut by the end of 2009 ( ATWOnline, Oct. 9) will be laid off early next year. It did not break down the cuts, but the Chicago Tribune reported that 700 mechanics and 490 customer service representatives will be let go beginning Jan. 11. UA said the layoffs "are part of the difficult but necessary actions we are taking to enable United to compete."
Turkish Aerospace Industries reached a $500 million deal with Airbus to produce parts for A350s. Agreement will create 400 direct jobs and indirectly employ 1,200, the companies said.
Finnair said the one-week closure of Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (see story above) will cost the carrier approximately €4 million ($5.1 million), with "consequential effects. . .expected to increase the final cost total further."
Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of the Argentine congress, approved a bill Wednesday to expropriate Aerolineas Argentinas, calling it a "public utility." It is expected to be passed by the Senate this month. AR owner Grupo Marsans has threatened to make a $1 billion claim at the World Bank's arbitration tribunal if the expropriation goes ahead ( ATWOnline, Nov. 25).
