Pratt & Whitney, maker of the Geared Turbofan that will power the newly launched Mitsubishi Regional Jet, "currently [has] several proposals out with various airlines and we are confident that there will be additional orders throughout this year," according to Todd Kallman, president of Pratt's Commercial Engines unit. ANA placed the first MRJ/GTF order last week ( ATWOnline, March 28).
Seattle-based cargo company offered to buy the cargo operations of Aloha Airlines, which declared bankruptcy March 20 ( ATWOnline, March 25). The Associated Press reported that Saltchuk Resources placed a bid for Aloha's cargo assets, equipment and service lines. Saltchuk has 6,000 employees and has been active in Hawaii since 2000. It also owns Northern Air Cargo, the largest cargo carrier in Alaska.
Air France KLM will retain 4,191 out of approximately 7,400 AZ Servizi workers under a new plan submitted to unions last week rather than the 3,300 it originally anticipated, according to a document accessed by Reuters ( ATWOnline, March 26). It eventually plans to cut an additional 500 positions, the news agency reported, and still plans to cut approximately 1,600 employees from Alitalia's flying operation and close the cargo subsidiary in 2010.
China Eastern Airlines and AVIC I launched their Joy Air joint venture in Beijing Friday with an eye on supporting the development of domestically produced aircraft and tapping the regional market in western China.
AirAsia X, as expected, signed for an additional 10 392-seat A330-300s, bringing the airline's commitment to the type to 25. The additional 10 aircraft will be delivered to the long-haul LCC progressively over the next five years.
Malaysia Airlines told the Bernama national news agency that it has "yet to make a decision" on the replacement for its 737s and A330s, but according to CFO Azmil Zahruddin that decision is close. The airline has issued RFPs for 55 narrowbody and 55 twin-aisle aircraft and a recent unidentified order posted by Boeing for 85 aircraft made up of 35 787s, 40 737s and 10 777s has some analysts speculating that MAS is the buyer ( ATWOnline, March 14). The airline has a fleet of 111 aircraft.
JetBlue founder and Chairman David Neeleman is trying his hand at starting yet another airline and signed a contract yesterday for 36 E-195s to operate in Brazil. The new carrier will be based in Sao Paulo, where Neeleman was born, and is targeting a 2009 launch. It eventually will serve most major Brazilian markets, flying up to 76 195s by 2013. The agreement with Embraer includes options on 20 aircraft plus 20 purchase rights. The firm order is valued at $1.4 billion and the 118-seaters will feature LiveTV satellite IFE, a first for a Brazilian airline.
Record revenue helped El Al return to profit in 2007 as the Israeli carrier posted $31.7 million in net earnings compared to a $33.9 million loss in 2006, when hostilities with Lebanon exacted a heavy toll on the bottom line. Turnover of approximately $1.93 billion was the highest in El Al's 60-year history, it said, and represented a 16% increase from the prior year. Operating result swung to a $71.4 million profit from an $8.5 million deficit.
Delta Air Lines yesterday grounded 117 MD-88s to inspect wiring, leading to an expected 275 flight cancellations through early today. The move came a day after American Airlines began wiring inspections on all 309 of its MD-80s. AA's inspections continued yesterday, leading to more than 130 flight cancellations in addition to the 325 it cancelled Wednesday ( ATWOnline, March 27). Inspections stem from US FAA's audit of domestic airlines' compliance with agency airworthiness directives.
London Gatwick announced that passengers will be able to carry more than one bag through security from March 31. The restriction limiting passengers to one item of cabin baggage was lifted at other BAA airports in January ( ATWOnline, Jan. 7).
London Heathrow Terminal 5's long-anticipated opening yesterday was marred by numerous technical problems, including the failure late in the day of the facility's much publicized high-tech baggage handling system. The £4.3 billion ($8.6 billion) terminal, used solely by British Airways, has been touted as the antidote to customer service problems at the busy airport, but its first day of operation was far from smooth.
Airbus said yesterday that it has "terminated negotiations" with MT Aerospace regarding the divestiture of three German industrial plants and conceded that talks with other companies on sales of plants in the UK and France, while still ongoing, are proving difficult in the current economic environment. As part of its Power8 restructuring program, Airbus and parent EADS committed to partially or completely selling off major industrial plants to "partners" that will share in the risk, development and construction of the A350 XWB.
ANA yesterday effectively launched the 70/90-seat Mitsubishi Regional Jet program with an order for 15 plus 10 options for the MRJ90 with delivery scheduled after 2013.
Lufthansa Systems will continue to provide its Lido Operation Center flight planning solution to Finnair under a five-year contract extension. Agreement covers various IT solutions to optimize routing calculations.
Delta Air Lines flight attendants will vote between April 23 and June 3 on whether to unionize, the US National Mediation Board told the carrier yesterday. Assn. of Flight Attendants-CWA, seeking to represent the group, recently gathered signatures from a majority of DL's 12,000 flight attendants, surpassing NMB's 35% threshold for calling a unionization vote. More than half the FAs will have to cast ballots in favor during the voting period for unionization to occur. Past efforts to organize DL cabin staff have been unsuccessful.
Bombardier confirmed that German LCC airberlin is the customer that placed a firm order for 10 Q400s plus 10 options last October. The airline had requested that its identity be kept confidential at that time. The firm order contract is valued at $267 million and would rise to approximately $540 million if all options are exercised. It marks the company's first turboprop order. AB expects to receive four Q400s this year and the remaining six in 2009. The 76-seaters are intended primarily to replace F100s, which Berlin-based Germania operates for AB.
Aeroflot CEO Valery Okulow confirmed SU's interest in investing in either Jat Airways or CSA Czech Airlines as both Eastern European carriers approach privatization ( ATWOnline, March 4). He was speaking to La Tribune. Meanwhile, a source close to Austrian Airlines Group confirmed to ATWOnline that there recently have been talks between SU and AAG but they ended without the Russian carrier deciding to invest. Aeroflot derives 37% of its revenue from its European network.
UK Office of Communications yesterday approved the use of mobile phones on UK-registered aircraft once approved by EASA and UK CAA. "If such approval has been secured, it will be a matter for individual airlines to judge whether there is consumer demand for these services," it said, adding that an onboard communications system may be switched on by cabin crew once the aircraft reaches 3,000 m.
Air China is eyeing Shanghai Airlines and plans to deepen cooperation with its Star Alliance partner following the formal rejection of its bid for Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines last month. Sun Yu, CA's head of planning, revealed that the carrier keeps "close contact" with SAL and plans to expand their collaboration. "But whether we can reach an agreement with SAL is up to the Shanghai municipal government," the airline's controlling stakeholder.
Ryanair is reviewing all of its major costs, including airport expenses, staffing, fuel and currency exposure, in an effort to offset the rise of oil prices to more $100 a barrel.
Star Alliance carriers Air Canada, Air China, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and United Airlines each completed the transfer of their operations to Beijing International's Terminal 3 yesterday. The move was part of the collocation plan developed as a result of Air China and Shanghai Airlines joining the alliance last year. A similar collocation will be completed at Shanghai Pudong on April 29.
