WENCOR CLAIMS TO BE one of the largest PMA holders in the world and currently has US FAA authority to manufacture more than 2000 PMA parts. Based in Utah, the company boasts more than 3,500 customers worldwide, including more than 250 airlines. A major aerospace engineering, distribution and manufacturing enterprise, it offers aftermarket parts and services to commercial and military aerospace industries worldwide. The Wencor Group is made up of three entities that have long-established roots in the aviation parts supply industry: Wencor, Dixie Aerospace and Kitco Defense.
New Zealand's new Prime Minister, John Key, criticized the UK's expanded Air Passenger Duty on passengers. He told Radio NZ that he had raised the matter of the tax with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and had pointed out to Brown that "it's not necessarily rational."
Titanium, named after the Titan deities of Greek mythology, works well for aircraft production because of its high strength to low weight ratio as well as its resistance to corrosion. About half of its global demand is driven by the aerospace industry. The metal is the ninth-most-abundant element in the Earth's crust, so there's plenty of it to go around, but the processes of extraction, reduction, melting and fabrication are not easy. The tools and technologies required to fashion titanium into high-performance aircraft parts are sophisticated, proprietary and expensive.
Air Canada and Jazz flew 3.9 billion combined RPMs in October, down 3.9% from the year-ago month. Capacity fell 5.9% to 4.86 billion ASMs, lifting load factor 1.6 points to 80.2%.
Mexicana CEO Manuel Borja, who saw his company's takeover bid for rival Aeromexico rejected by Mexican authorities last year ( ATWOnline, Oct. 19), said he remains a "firm believer that the Mexican market should become consolidated." Speaking at last week's ALTA Airline Leaders Forum in Cancun, Borja said he was in favor of competition but only among airlines "that have differentiating points." He said Mexico needs "different models in the market.
Thales signed a contract with Aviation Training Centre of Tunisia for a second A320 full flight simulator to be combined with a Thales Formation System Trainer.
UK's revised Air Passenger Duty, under which passengers will be charged ascending fees based on distance traveled, continued to be criticized heavily around the world following its Nov. 24 unveiling. The scheme, effective Nov. 1, 2009, is designed to hold passengers accountable for the "environmental impact" of their travel ( ATWOnline, Nov. 25). "This is another cash grab by the [UK] Treasury, thinly disguised as an environmental measure," IATA DG and CEO Giovanni Bisignani said.
British Airways will resume service to Jeddah (aboard a 767) and Riyadh (777) with five-times-weekly flights from London Heathrow beginning March 29. BA suspended the routes in March 2005. Ryanair will begin a daily London Gatwick-Dusseldorf Weeze service on Jan. 7. The new route switches from Stansted, where the LCC has reduced winter capacity 20% ( ATWOnline, Sept. 24). Shenzhen Airlines launched four-times-weekly Nanning-Singapore service.
Virgin Atlantic Airways is considering additional aircraft orders, possibly for 777s or the A350 XWB, while it is in talks with Boeing on compensation for the delay of its 787s. A potential new order is separate from discussions regarding replacement/interim lift for the delayed Dreamliners ( ATWOnline, Nov. 11), although part of an order could substitute the options and purchase rights the carrier has on an additional eight and 20 787s, respectively.
KLM appointed Air France KLM GM-Singapore Vincent Knoops as senior VP-corporate communications effective Dec. 1. American Airlines named Southwest Division MD-Line Maintenance Ken Durst as the carrier's new VP-line maintenance, succeeding the retiring Danny Martinez.
Virgin Blue announced an upgrade of its premium economy product designed to lure more passengers from Qantas. Launched in March, premium economy now will feature free meals, drinks (including alcohol) and seatback IFE ( ATWOnline, Oct. 25, 2007).
El Al reported a third-quarter net profit of $30.4 million, down 25.3% from $40.7 million in the year-ago period, a result President Haim Romano called "remarkably gratifying in light of the difficult business situation and the signs of international economic recession." The Tel Aviv-based airline said high fuel costs and "effects of exchange rates" owing to the dollar's weakness against the shekel during the quarter were the primary drivers of the profit decrease.
Icelandair Group reported a third-quarter net profit of ISK4.39 billion ($30.5 million), up 65% on a pro forma basis from ISK2.66 billion last year, but warned that "the future outlook is uncertain" because of the slowing global economy ( ATWOnline, June 30). Revenue rose 51% to ISK41.47 billion while expenses increased 53% to ISK35.28 billion owing in part to a 110% jump in fuel costs to ISK9.98 billion. EBITDA lifted 40% to ISK6.18 billion.
Virgin Atlantic Airways asked the European Commission to reject what the carrier called the "virtual merger between two of the world's biggest airlines" and yesterday submitted a document to competition authorities outlining its objection to the antitrust alliance between American Airlines and British Airways. The Commission opened its investigation into the tie-up, which also includes Iberia, in August ( ATWOnline, Sept. 1).
Lufthansa opted not to wait for a decision on a foreign partner for the restructured Alitalia and will be launching its own subsidiary at Milan Malpensa, called Lufthansa Italia, in February. Six former Germanwings A319s will comprise the venture, designed to take advantage of AZ's cutbacks in Lombardy. LH originally had planned to base Air Dolomiti E-195s at MXP but instead has decided to pursue its own Italian Air Operator Certificate ( ATWOnline, April 29).
Siem Reap Airways International, the Cambodian carrier blacklisted by the EU this month ( ATWOnline, Nov. 17), suspended domestic services on Nov. 22 and will suspend international flying on Dec. 1 as it works to "clarify" the EU ban. Siem Reap GM Lao Santi said the airline was forbidden to fly aircraft registered in Cambodia into the EU but that its flights "are entirely operated on a wet-lease basis, at and to international standards."
Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International, which suspended takeoffs Tuesday after antigovernment protesters stormed the airport ( ATWOnline, Nov. 26), was closed completely yesterday as the political crisis deepened and governments throughout the world warned citizens against traveling there. The protesters, calling themselves the People's Alliance for Democracy, claimed they had taken control of BKK and that airlines would have to seek their direct authorization to land.
Air New Zealand last week announced that up to 200 long-haul cabin staff, recruitment, airline operations and technical operations planning and management employees will be laid off. "We have been working hard on a series of initiatives to minimize the need for redundancies," CEO Rob Fyfe said, mentioning pilot leave without pay, introducing part-time hours for cabin crew, leaving empty positions unfilled and freezing executive salaries, among others.
Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International suspended all takeoffs yesterday after protesters seeking to force the resignation of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat stormed the airport. The passenger terminal was overtaken by the protesters amid an increasingly unstable situation throughout the capital. Protesters also blocked roads leading to the airport. "For the safety for passengers, we have to stop flights out of the airport temporarily until the situation returns to normal," Airport Manager Serirat Prasutanon said. Incoming flights still were operating, according to some reports.
United Airlines expects to record $232 million in cash fuel hedging losses and $138 million in noncash mark-to-market hedging losses in the fourth quarter based on Nov. 20 closing forward curve prices, it said yesterday in a US Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
TAM flew 1.96 billion RPKs in October, up 7.3% from the year-ago month. Capacity rose 15.8% to 3.02 billion ASKs and load factor fell 5.2 points to 64.7%. International RPKs grew 35.2% to 1.41 billion against a 26.3% lift in ASKs to 1.82 billion, sending load factor up 5.1 points to 77.8%. Gol flew 1.79 billion RPKs in October, down 17.5% year-over-year. Capacity was level at 3.14 billion ASKs and load factor dropped 12 points to 56.8%.
Qantas warned that its full-year pre-tax profit may fall 64% from its previous guidance of A$1.4 billion ($888.1 million) to A$500 million for the current fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, nearly halving the $A970 million earned in the 12 months ended last June 30.
Virgin America launched Aircell's Gogo inflight Internet on Nov. 22 via an air-to-ground video during a YouTube Live user event in San Francisco. A segment of the show was streamed to audiences on the ground and online from an altitude of 10,688 m. VS is on course to become the first US airline to offer fleetwide inflight Internet. Target is set for the second quarter of 2009.
