Aegean Airlines weathered increased competition in Western Europe and soaring fuel prices to post a profit of €35.8 million ($52.6 million) in 2007, up 39% from the €25.7 million earned the prior year, as rising load factors and "distribution efficiencies" resulting from higher Internet bookings boosted its bottom line.
Willis Lease Finance added Aloha Airlines to the North American engine-sharing agreement. Other members include American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, WestJet and Alaska Airlines covering CFM56-7Bs powering 737s. Pool represents more than 500 aircraft to be serviced.
Kenya Airways will suspend its thrice-weekly Paris Charles de Gaulle service on Feb. 26 owing to a plunge in bookings that followed a French government advisory against travel to Kenya. "We are hopeful that we will resume Paris flights for the summer high season once the. . .travel advisory has been removed," CEO Titus Naikuni said. Air Canada and Jet Airways announced a codeshare agreement effective Feb. 28.
Three down, 27 to go; Airbus's Leahy sees 30 A380 orders in 2008 Jetscape orders up to 30 E-190s 'Lessons' from A380 delays, economic conditions drive A350 production strategy ILFC looking at CSeries, advocates twin-aisle 737/A320 successor High-tech runway surface detection system to be installed at Changi Additional stories
Virgin Blue reported an 8.8% decline in profit for the fiscal semester ended Dec. 31 to A$113.3 million fuel ($104.1 million) from A$124.3 million in the year-ago period as competition and heavy investment in future expansion took their toll.
Adria Airways earned a €420,000 ($617,400) profit in 2007 on revenue of nearly €182 million, a result that CEO Tadej Tufek said "has overtaken that of 2006 and is an improvement on what we projected and very much in line with the company's long-term plans and strategy." It reported a €70,102 profit in 2006 and a loss in 2005. Adria carried 1.1 million passengers last year, up 12% from the prior year and 8% higher than forecast. It said load factor "improved" to 67.1%. December passengers rose 25% year-over-year to 72,551.
EasyJet transported 2.8 million passengers in January, up 7.3% from the year-ago month. Load factor slipped 2.9 points to 72%. Allegiant Air flew 304.3 million RPMs in January, a 47.1% increase over the year-ago month. Capacity rose 40.3% to 383.7 million ASMs and load factor was up 3.6 points to 79.3%.
United Airlines promoted United Express and Ted VP-Operational Services Alexandria Marren to VP-onboard service. She will be succeeded by VP-Airport Operations-O'Hare Cynthia Szadokierski. AirTran Airways Senior VP and CFO Stan Gadek will leave the airline on April 30, the carrier announced. A search for his successor is underway.
Aeroflot Cargo, which recently announced the resignation of DG Andrey Goryashko, said it transported 121,879 tons in 2007, with 44,971 tons onboard freighters and the remainder as belly cargo on SU passenger flights. It also said it posted a RUB6.8 million ($277,000) net profit in October and a RUB12.8 million net profit in November. It operated six MD-11 freighters and two 737Fs in 2007 and plans to take delivery of six leased Il-96-400Ts beginning this year.
Emirates said it raised $253 million for the financing of a 777-200LR and a 777-300ER delivered in January. Twelve-year finance leases were underwritten by HSH Nordbank, Mashreqbank.psc and Mizuho Corporate Bank. EK has 53 more 777s on order comprising six -200LRs, eight -200LR freighters and 39 -300ERs.
Airbus said US FAA and EASA have approved reduced training for pilots transitioning from the A320 family, A330 or A340 to the A380. The manufacturer said an A320 family pilot now can be qualified to fly the A380 in 13 working days and an A330/A340 pilot in 12 working days. A pilot with no Airbus fly-by-wire experience requires 24 working days to complete the A380 standard type rating course.
Taipei-based Far Eastern Air Transport is considering introduction of a strategic investor in order to alleviate its debt burden, according to the carrier's Chinese mainland chief, Shi Jianhua. "We are trying to raise money in order to pay off our debt," Shi said. He added that FEAT is negotiating with a variety of unnamed companies, including airlines, regarding an investment. It has debt of $10.7 million and a bank loan of $160 million.
UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch released a Special Bulletin indicating that its investigation into last month's accident involving a British Airways 777-200 at London Heathrow is centered on the fuel pumps and not the engines ( ATWOnline, Jan. 25).
EgyptAir converted six Embraer 170 options into firm orders, the manufacturer announced. Aircraft are worth $189 million at list prices and will begin delivery in 2009. They will be configured with 76 seats and fly for EgyptAir Express. The carrier ordered six E-170s plus the six options in September 2006. Meanwhile, Air France subsidiary Regional converted options for one E-170 and one E-190. Aircraft are worth $69 million at list prices and will be delivered in 2009, Embraer said.
JetBlue Airways took delivery of its first A320 featuring a redesigned cabin that will be available on each of its 88 future deliveries. New interior is 1,050 lb. lighter than its predecessor and results in annual fuel savings of $52,000 per aircraft, JetBlue said. The cabin includes lighter Recaro seats that offer increased personal space created by thinner seat profiles, new sidewall paneling that adds width and shoulder room, 10% more overhead bin space and new LED lighting.
Delta Air Lines CEO Richard Anderson told US Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) that DL and Northwest Airlines have not yet reached a merger agreement but that negotiations continue, Reuters reported. Widespread press reports yesterday said various sources close to the talks revealed that the respective carriers' boards would meet today to review progress on negotiations with the pilots and, if an agreement had been reached with the unions, vote on a merger.
Jat Airways reported a RSD300 million ($5.2 million) profit in 2007, which it said was 50% higher than forecast and its best result in 17 years. It credited its "stable, market-oriented business policy that generated earnings on its own merit without any government assistance." It did not provide a year-ago result. The Serbian flag carrier transported 1.3 million passengers last year, up 8.3% from 2006, and load factor climbed 4 points to 62%.
Frontier Airlines Holdings announced that Executive VP and CFO Paul Tate will resign effective March 21. Frontier said a search for Tate's successor is underway.
SkyTeam Chairman and former KLM chief Leo van Wijk told The Wall Street Journal that Air France KLM intends to inject €3 billion ($4.4 billlion) into Alitalia and to acquire 100% of the ailing flag carrier. "If we get a deal with the Italian government, then we will make a general offer for Alitalia and if it works out, we will delist it," van Wijk told the paper.
Russian authorities extended Lufthansa Cargo's overflight rights through March. They were scheduled to expire at the end of this month, according to press reports. Russia temporarily suspended LHC's rights in a dispute over the location of its hub. The carrier bases in Astana, but Russia prefers that it hub out of Krasnoyarsk ( ATWOnline, Nov. 5, 2007).
