Alaska Airlines' last MD-80 was retired Friday, leaving the carrier with a fleet of 108 737s including 69 737NGs. It has eight more NGs scheduled for delivery this year. AS began a program in 2006 to retire its 26 MD-80s and replace them with 737NGs. It noted that the 737-800, of which it now has 37, burns 850 gal. of fuel per hr. compared to 1,100 by the MD-80. "A common fleet type also will result in lower costs for maintenance, training and flight crew scheduling," it said.
Spanish Public Works Minister Magdalena Alvarez revealed Friday that Spanair considered transferring passengers aboard the MD-82 that crashed Aug. 20 to another aircraft after its first takeoff was aborted before ultimately deciding to clear it for a second takeoff.
Australian Transport Safety Bureau released a preliminary report on its investigation of last month's Qantas 747-400 decompression and fuselage hole incident ( ATWOnline, July 31), saying it is "evident that one passenger oxygen cylinder had sustained a sudden failure and forceful discharge of its pressurized contents into the [forward] aircraft hold, rupturing the fuselage in the vicinity of the wing-fuselage leading edge fairing." It added, "The cylinder had been propelled upward by the force of the discharge, puncturing the cabin flo
Malaysia Airlines subsidiaries MASwings and Firefly each took delivery of a new ATR 72-500 that will replace an F50. It is MASwings' first ATR 72 and Firefly's second.
Turkish Airlines appears to be developing the financial muscle required to be a leader in European consolidation as it reported a first-half profit of $208 million, a figure it said represented a 219% increase from the year-ago semester.
European Commission opened its investigation into whether the transatlantic joint business agreement between American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia for flights violates European antitrust regulations. The trio applied two weeks ago for worldwide antitrust immunity from the US Dept. of Transportation together with oneworld partners Royal Jordanian and Finnair ( ATWOnline, Aug. 15). An EC spokesperson said the probe is not the result of competitors' complaints and was launched under the regulator's own initiative.
Lufthansa Systems won a four-year deal with Tirana International for its ELWIS cargo handling solution. Part of LS's AdvancedCargo Suite, ELWIS integrates wireless technology using wireless PCs, handheld devices and forklift-mounted terminals and offers real-time tracking and tracing over shipment lifecycle.
Rising revenue and demand were little match for soaring fuel prices and the reduced value of the Malaysian ringgit as AirAsia posted a second-quarter profit of MYR9.4 million ($2.8 million) that represented a 95% plunge from the MYR185.1 million earned in the year-ago period. Still, CEO Tony Fernandes called it a "commendable performance" and said that the company will continue to "grow the business and expand the route network."
Lufthansa is in "constructive negotiations" with SN Airholding, parent of Brussels Airlines, about an equity investment worth 45% of the Belgian company with an option to take it over fully later. The confirmation follows speculation of a tie-up last spring after Chairman Etienne Davignon acknowledged that SN was negotiating an alliance membership and stated without naming LH that "a possible financial participation of a new shareholder could only be considered under the condition that the sustainable future, the identity and the autonomy of Brussels Airlines are guaranteed."
Luxair Group board approved the purchase of an additional Q400 and said it will decide on the purchase of a fifth Q400 at the end of September. Luxair Luxembourg Airlines will take delivery of its fourth 72-seat Q400 in late 2009. Aircraft will replace an ERJ, keeping the carrier's fleet at 11 units.
GE Aviation won a six-year OnPoint solution contract from Virgin Blue covering MRO services on CFM56-7Bs operated by Blue and its Pacific Blue subsidiary. Contract is valued at $300 million.
Air Berlin's second-quarter net profit rose 38.3% to €8.3 million ($12.2 million) compared to €6 million in the year-ago period if the 2007 results of LTU, AB's acquisition of which was approved in last year's third quarter, are included.
Ottawa-based Zoom Airlines suspended operations yesterday and both its Canadian and UK airline subsidiaries will file for bankruptcy protection, the low-fare leisure carrier announced. Founders Hugh Boyle and John Boyle said in a statement that the airline was profitable last year but that it could not overcome soaring fuel prices. Zoom operated a fleet of five 757s and 767s on transatlantic routes. The BBC reported that Zoom aircraft were detained at Glasgow International and Calgary over the past two days for nonpayment of air traffic control charges.
EgyptAir is the customer for two 777-300ERs previously listed as unidentified on Boeing's orders and deliveries website, the manufacturer announced yesterday. The aircraft are worth $529 million at list prices and will feature MS's new business class layout, which includes 49 lie-flat seats with 78-in. pitch. Delivery dates were not announced, but the airline is scheduled to take the first of six -300ERs on lease from GECAS in January 2010 ( ATWOnline, Dec. 3, 2007).
Air France KLM, which bid unsuccessfully for Alitalia in the spring, is willing to take a stake in an ongoing reorganization effort. "If it can be confirmed that the new company will be profitable, Air France KLM is ready to take out a minority stake in the new company's capital alongside the investors identified by the Intesa Sanpaolo bank," the group said in a statement yesterday.
Thomas Cook, Lufthansa and TUI subsidiary TUI Travel are in "early discussions" regarding a merger of their subsidiary carriers Condor Airlines, Germanwings and TUIFly Deutschland, Thomas Cook announced yesterday. "No commercial terms have been agreed. There is no certainty that any transaction will result and a further announcement will be made if and when appropriate," the company said. LH owns 24.9 % of Condor, with the remainder held by Thomas Cook.
TAM announced a revision to its international growth plan comprising the addition of two 767-300s to its fleet before year end, meaning it will close the year with 125 aircraft in operation. During the remainder of 2008 it will launch Sao Paulo Guarulhos-Lima, GRU-Orlando International, Belo Horizonte-Miami and Rio de Janeiro Galeao-New York JFK.
Grupo Marsans took delivery of its first directly purchased A330-200 for its Air Comet subsidiary. The PW4000-powered, 283-seat aircraft is part of an order for 17 -200s placed in December 2006 ( ATWOnline, Jan. 9, 2007).
US Air Transport Assn. announced yesterday that its request for suspension of the Sept. 3 auction of two slots at Newark was granted by the FAA Office of Dispute Resolution Acquisition ( ATWOnline, Aug. 27). It said it "fully expect[s] that the process will result in a determination that FAA lacks the legal authority to conduct the auction."
United Airlines, which last month said it would slash 5,500 frontline workers by the end of 2009 ( ATWOnline, July 23), will furlough 1,550 flight attendants effective Oct. 31. The carrier said it hopes to achieve as many of the cuts as possible via voluntary programs, but added that it must lower its flight attendant workforce by 10% by the end of October and will make as many involuntary reductions as necessary.
Citing unprecedented fuel costs, slowing economic growth in its main markets and weakness in the US dollar and UK pound, Aer Lingus reported a net loss of €20.6 million ($30.3 million) for the first half of 2008, reversed from a €6.8 million profit in the year-ago semester.
Ryanair will cease daily flights from Cork to Nottingham East Midlands and Glasgow Prestwick on Oct. 26 and Oct. 28 respectively, citing "the 20% increase in charges being imposed on these two routes by Cork Airport."
Turkish Airlines confirmed yesterday that it is among the carriers that will bid for Austrian Airlines ( ATWOnline, Aug. 27). A THY spokesperson told ATWOnline, "We are interested, but we won't give more details. We are in talks already." It has notified both Austrian authorities and the Istanbul Stock Exchange of its intentions.
