Cathay Pacific Airways and Dragonair flew 7 billion RPKs in February, up 19% from the year-ago month, against a 15.7% increase in capacity to 9.01 billion ASKs. Load factor rose 2.1 points to 77.6%. JetBlue Airways flew 2.03 billion RPMs in February, a 16.7% rise from the year-ago month. Capacity was up 21.5% to 2.64 billion ASMs, lowering load factor 3.2 points to 76.8%. AirTran Airways flew 1.42 billion RPMs in February, a 28.2% rise from the year-ago month. Capacity rose 14% to 1.82 billion ASMs and load factor soared 8.6 points to 78.1%.
Continental Airlines and Northwest Airlines chiefs hinted that downsizing may be necessary to offset escalating fuel costs. With the per-barrel crude oil price topping $110, analysts have warned that cost cuts achieved during the US industry's restructuring earlier this decade are in danger of being swamped by high energy expenses ( ATWOnline, March 13). CO Chairman and CEO Larry Kellner said in a message to employees that the carrier's fuel costs could rise by as much as $1.5 billion year-over-year in 2008.
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Shamshabad near Hyderabad commenced commercial operations over the weekend. The facility, developed by the GMR Infrastructure-Hyderabad International Airport consortium, is India's first airport built under a private-public partnership model. Capacity is 12 million passengers annually and it is the nation's first airport capable of handling an A380.
GMG Airlines, a private Bangladeshi airline launched in 1998, and Israeli flag carrier El Al announced orders for long-haul Boeing aircraft over the weekend. GMG announced Sunday that it will purchase three 787-9s and three 777-300ERs. Boeing did not confirm, but GMG CEO Shahab Sattar revealed the order to several media outlets. He told Agence France Presse in Dhaka that the deal with Boeing has been "finalized" and that the carrier is "now fine-tuning some details with our financiers. We hope to sign the deal within the next six weeks."
M1 Travel of Lebanon confirmed options on three E-190s in a deal worth $112.5 million at list prices, completing an order for five aircraft placed 13 months ago. M1 retained two additional options. Deliveries of new orders will commence next year.
US Airways pilots who formerly flew for America West Airlines notified the carrier last week of their intention to commence separate contract negotiations, saying they were unable to reach a joint agreement with former US Airways [East] pilots. John McIlvenna, chairman of the union leadership group representing former AWA pilots, claimed that 400 East pilots had been upgraded to captain positions since the merger but that just 40 West pilots were afforded the same opportunity.
Lufthansa Technik is scheduled to open its four-bay A380 hangar today at Ameco Beijing, which will be the world's largest such facility and is part of a massive investment the MRO giant is making in the new jumbo aircraft. LHT Chairman August Wilhelm Henningsen told ATWOnline in Hamburg that the company is investing approximately $100 million in the new hangar, along with another $100 million in a Frankfurt MRO hangar, €120 million in the N3 Engine Overhaul Services joint venture with Rolls-Royce and another €100 million in spares.
Avianca reached a $750 million, 15-year OnPoint Solutions deal with GE Aviation for MRO services on CFM56-5B engines powering 50 A319s/A320s. Work will be performed at GE's Celma shop in Petropolis, Brazil. Avianca took delivery of its first A320 last week, a -200 on lease from CIT Aerospace. It is the first of three aircraft CIT will deliver to the Colombian carrier this year.
Qantas warned senior management and staff, but not the markets, that its fuel bill could climb by A$1 billion ($930.8 million) in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009.
Air France KLM flew 14.95 billion RPKs in February, up 3.7% from the year-ago month, against an 8.4% increase in capacity to 19.81 billion ASKs. Load factor dropped 3.4 points to 75.5%. Lufthansa Group airlines flew 10.91 billion RPKs in February, a 33.4% jump from the year-ago month. Capacity rose 32.3% to 14.45 billion ASKs and load factor increased 0.6 point to 75.5%. Air Canada and Jazz flew a combined 3.81 billion RPMs in February, up 5.8% on the year-ago month. Capacity rose 6.3% to 4.81 billion ASMs, dropping load factor 0.4 point to 79.2%.
Norwegian will abandon the FlyNordic brand from April 5 and fully integrate the Stockholm-based carrier. "Since both companies are working toward the same target groups and the same markets, a single consistent profile will strengthen the brand Norwegian and make the company more visible among our customers," the LCC said. "The company will offer a common service concept and booking system.
A surge in new aircraft orders helped boost Embraer's 2007 net income to $489.3 million, a 25.4% increase over the $390.1 million earned in the prior year. The Brazilian manufacturer reported sales of $5.25 billion, up 39.6%. Its firm-order backlog increased 9.3% over the previous year, reaching a record high of $18.8 billion, and comprised 764 firm orders plus 786 options.
US FAA last week mandated "significant upgrades" to aircraft cockpit voice and flight data recorders. All voice recorders in aircraft carrying more than 10 people must capture the last 2 hr. of cockpit audio instead of the current 15-30 min. New rule also requires an independent backup power source for voice recorders to allow continued recording for 9-11 min. if all power sources are lost or interrupted.
Rolls-Royce last week won a $2 billion deal from US Airways for Trent 700s to power up to 30 A330-200s, as well as a Trent 700 order from EgyptAir. Along with an accompanying TotalCare services agreement, the US contract includes powerplants for 15 firm and up to 15 additional aircraft. "This decision further establishes Rolls-Royce as a true engine partner with US Airways," R-R Civil Aerospace President Mark King said. Execution of definitive contract agreements is expected in the coming months and delivery is scheduled to begin next year.
ABX Air won a US FAA STC for the Wingspeed Corp. XLLink Flight Information Architecture it selected last year for voice and data communications on 13 767-200SF charter aircraft.
Queen Elizabeth II officially opened London Heathrow's Terminal 5 Friday, launching a £4.3 billion ($8.7 billion) facility that BAA and British Airways hope will transform LHR from an airport with a poor customer service reputation into a modern, more efficient gateway. New terminal, at which operations will start March 27, will be able to handle as many as 30 million passengers annually. BA will be the sole airline occupant.
Alaska Air Group board authorized the repurchase of an additional $50 million in common stock. It recently bought back 10% of its outstanding stock for $100 million. New acquisition will be financed with cash on hand.
After suffering from continuous setbacks on its trunk routes, Tianjin-based Okay Airways will shift its focus to the regional market when it takes delivery of its first MA60 turboprop this month, according to Chairman Liu Jieyin. Its second MA60 is expected to be introduced in April. Last summer, Okay signed an aircraft lease agreement with AVIC I for 10 MA60s ( ATWOnline, July 6, 2007). It currently operates five 737s to 22 domestic destinations.
Airbus projected last week that Russian airlines will need more than 900 passenger aircraft valued at $79 billion over the next 20 years to meet demand for both replacement and fleet growth. Russian passenger traffic is expected to increase 6.2% annually on average over the next two decades, faster than the world average of 4.9%, Airbus said.
UK airports handled 241 million passengers in 2007, up 2.4% on the prior year, according to UK CAA, which noted that growth was "slower than that seen over the last decade and continues a trend which began in 2005." Transport movements at UK airports grew 1.8% year-over-year to 2.5 million, rising 2.6% at the five London airports that contribute 58% of the country's total passenger numbers. Majority (58%) of UK passengers, or 139 million, were bound for or arriving from continental Europe, up 3.1% from 2006. Largest increases were to/from Poland (30.7%) and Italy (6%).
Bmi commenced a daily A320 London Heathrow-Tel Aviv, its 38th route from LHR. Low-cost subsidiary bmibaby will launch twice-weekly Cardiff-Barcelona on May 24, becoming thrice-weekly June 18.
Spanair launched a new four-class fare structure dubbed Spanairx4, calling the concept "modern and versatile" and one that will set it apart from domestic competitors. The classes are labeled "business," "avant," "economy plus" and "economy." Business offers passengers a 30-kg. baggage check-in allowance (10 kg. more than economy plus and economy), lounge access and preferential service onboard, including free catering and "blocking of the middle seat" to provide more space. It also offers flexible and penalty-free options for booking changes, including on day of flight.
MNG Technic will perform C checks on Air Slovakia's single 737 and 757 as well as UK charter carrier Flightline's only MD-83. Work will begin this month.
Lufthansa, which last week announced a doubling in full-year earnings, is not resting on its profitable laurels but instead is committed to investing in its premium product, executives told ATWOnline. A new first class cabin (in anticipation of the A380), an improved business class seat with greater recline and its own private jet fleet ( ATWOnline, March 10) are in the cards for the German giant.
