SkyEurope Airlines secured a €15 million ($22 million) loan from York Global Finance, the LCC's largest shareholder. It said it will use the funds "to continue with the execution of its turnaround plan without diluting shareholders' interests through the issuance of new capital." It lost €24.1 million in the fiscal year ended Sept. 30.
Singapore Technologies Aerospace said subsidiary ST Aerospace Supplies will open an import, export and logistics facility, Guangzhou Aerospace Technologies & Engineering, to support customers in China and component maintenance-by-the-hour program participants. The 130-sq.-m. facility includes a warehouse and office at Guangzhou Baiyun. Initial investment is $500,000. Operations will commence immediately.
Yemenia Yemen Airways signed an agreement with Djibouti Airlines to help the African carrier renovate its eight aircraft and upgrade its operation, the Yemeni government news agency reported. Djibouti Airlines reportedly has secured financing from "a number of foreign investors" and would receive $12 million in a first phase.
The China Eastern Airlines/Singapore Airlines deal appears increasingly less likely to go through, with Air China stating yesterday that it is planning a counterbid while a change in CAAC leadership signaled that Beijing may be cooling to the stake sale. Li Jiaxiang, president of Air China parent China National Aviation Holding Co., was promoted to head China's aviation ministry on Dec. 28 and is known to be skeptical about foreign investment in Chinese airlines.
US Airways announced the recall of "more than" 200 flight attendants effective Feb. 15. Notices were sent in late December to furloughed US cabin staff. Recalled employees will be assigned to Charlotte, Philadelphia, Washington National, New York LaGuardia or Boston.
UK airports operator BAA yesterday withdrew a plan to close its final salary pension scheme to new employees, removing the threat of a series of strikes scheduled at its seven airports. BAA airport firefighters, security, maintenance, administrative and clerical staff belonging to the Unite union had voted to stage two 24-hr. strikes and one 48-hr. work stoppage this month, although they called off the first, scheduled for Jan. 7, after BAA agreed to negotiate ( ATWOnline, Dec. 24, 2007).
Monarch Airlines carried 3.7 million passengers on its scheduled services last year, a 15.8% increase over 2006. The launch of eight new routes contributed to the surge, the airline said, noting it will continue its eastern Mediterranean expansion and will launch a new Manchester-Murcia service next month.
Martinair's supervisory board elevated Diederik Pen to COO. Mesa Air Group named Freedom Airlines President Jorn Bates as COO-Mesa Airlines and Joe Serratelli, most recently VP-operations and productivity for Delta Air Lines subsidiary Song, as COO-Freedom Airlines. Mesa Airlines VP-Flight Operations Mickey Morman was promoted to VP-safety and regulatory compliance for MAG, Mesa Airlines VP-Safety and Regulatory Compliance Eric Gust was named to succeed Morman and Mesa Airlines Senior Director-Dispatch Zaka Khogyani was named the carrier''s director of operations.
AirTran Airways said it will remain headquartered in Orlando and plans to build a permanent, "hurricane-hardened" systems operation control center at MCO. It said the existing SOC was damaged in a 2004 storm. It will add 121 jobs to an Orlando-based workforce numbering 300. Separately, AirTran reached a long-term deal with IAI's Bedek Group for landing gear maintenance on its current and forthcoming 737NG fleet to total 115 aircraft. Contract value was not disclosed.
Continental Airlines said mainline and consolidated unit revenue each climbed 5.5%-6.5% in December compared to the year-ago month. Consolidated traffic rose 1.9% to 7.62 billion RPMs against a 3% climb in ASMs to 9.69 billion. Load factor fell 0.8 point to 78.7%.
TAM signed a loan agreement with BNP Paribas to finance up to $117.1 million in pre-delivery payments on 30 Airbus aircraft scheduled to arrive through 2010. Separately, TAM launched daily Sao Paulo Guarulhos-Madrid service aboard an A330. The Spanish capital is its fifth European destination.
Aeroflot removed its final Tu-134 from service, RIA Novosti reported ( ATWOnline, Feb. 19, 2007). Final flight of the 14-strong fleet was on Dec. 31 from Kaliningrad to Moscow. The aircraft seats 76 passengers.
Panasonic Avionics said Grupo Marsans selected Panasonic eX2 IFE systems for installation on 12 A330-200s operated by Aerolineas Argentinas and Air Comet. First delivery is scheduled for August.
Singapore Airlines on Monday began advertising its fares inclusive of all taxes, surcharges and fees. "In some markets, this may mean we look more expensive than our competitors at first glance. But we think consumers understand that there are a variety of extras that form part of the ticket price now," Executive VP-Marketing and Regions Huang Cheng Eng said. SIA has published all-inclusive prices on its website since November. Separately, SIA extended the contract of CEO Chew Choon Seng to December 2010, replacing a deal set to expire in June 2009.
Wizz Air and GECAS announced a sale and leaseback transaction covering six A320s scheduled for delivery in 2009 and set to be leased for 11 years each. The companies have similar deals covering eight additional A320s to be delivered over the next two years. Separately, Wizz announced summer schedule enhancements including 15 new weekly flights from Budapest (with new service to Gothenburg, Oslo Torp and Treviso) and a fifth A320 based at Katowice that will contribute to an expanded program scheduled to include new flights to Varna.
Alitalia announced the sale of three of its 13 slot pairs at London Heathrow for €92 million ($134.2 million). It called the slots "nonstrategic" and said it will report a €54 million gain on its 2007 balance sheet and a €38 million gain in 2008.
ABX Air, the Wilmington, Ohio-based airline primarily focused on transporting DHL cargo around the US, said it completed the previously announced $332 million purchase of Cargo Holdings International, the Orlando-based outsourced air cargo services provider that counts global logistics firm BAX/Schenker as its main client ( ATWOnline, Nov. 5). ABX created a new holding company, ABX Holdings, of which ABX Air and CHI are now separate wholly owned subsidiaries.
Vinci, a French construction and services company, confirmed the purchase of a 3.3% stake in Aeroports de Paris. ADP initiated an IPO in June 2006 but the French state still holds 68.4%.
Fischer Advanced Composite Components announced delivery of the passenger cabin for the ARJ21. Components include ceiling and sidewall panels, hat racks, cockpit dividers and other equipment. Final assembly will take place in Shanghai later this year.
Finnair Technical Services reached an eight-year, €200 million ($291.7 million) deal with Aeroflot Cargo to provide airframe, engine and component MRO services for its MD-11s. Aeroflot Cargo is FTS's largest customer outside Finnair Group. Approximately one-quarter of FTS's annual turnover comes from third parties. Finnair has sold its two owned MD-11s to SU Cargo, which will operate six of the type next year.
Air China parent China National Aviation Holding Co. said Monday that China Eastern Airlines needs to renew discussions with Singapore Airlines on the high-profile stake sale, arguing that the HK$3.80 price set for each of the additional shares tailored for SIA is inadequate.
Boeing announced/finalized several aircraft deals over the holidays, including the signing by British Airways of a contract for 16 787-9s and eight 787-8s worth $4.4 billion at list prices. The deal, originally announced in September ( ATWOnline, Sept. 28), includes options for 18 787s and 10 purchase rights. Brazil's Gol converted its 34 remaining 737-800 options into firm orders and signed a new deal for 40 additional aircraft to be delivered in 2012-14. It now has ordered 161 of the type.
