Transaero took delivery of its first 747-400 last week, bringing its fleet to 29 aircraft. First flight is scheduled this week. Aircraft is powered by RB211-524H2-19s and seats 352 passengers (11 in first class, 56 in business and 285 in economy). Transaero will use the aircraft primarily on flights from Moscow Domodedovo to Singapore and Dominican Republic. It already operates eight 747-200s and -300s.
Air France KLM's nonbinding bid for Alitalia received unanimous approval from the Italian airline's board Friday, setting up an intriguing debate next month when the government will have to decide whether to turn over ownership and management of its flag carrier to a foreign company.
CSA Czech Airlines approved the sale of its Air Czech Catering subsidiary to Italian company Alpha Overseas Holdings. Sale is subject so shareholder approval at a meeting scheduled for next month. "By selling the catering service we will succeed in disengaging ourselves from past debts and freeing up funds for the further development of the company without the help of the owner," President Radomir Lasak said. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Iberia said it will not open its books to a Spanish consortium led by Gala Capital, which approached the airline last month with a suggested offer of €3.60-€3.90 ($5.17-$5.60) per share ( ATWOnline, Nov. 28). "For the board of directors it is essential to maintain a framework of stability and certainty, which is being compromised by the excessive delay in the analysis of the company undertaken by interested third parties who, to date, have not submitted any binding offer," IB said.
The first regional jet manufactured by a Chinese company, the ARJ21-700, rolled out in Shanghai Friday and won its biggest order, 100 aircraft from Kunpeng Airlines. Xi'an-based Kunpeng, a regional joint venture launched by Shenzhen Airlines and Mesa Air Group two months ago ( ATWOnline, Oct. 30), confirmed its intention to adopt the ARJ21 as its main fleet type. Based on its agreement with AVIC I Commercial Aircraft Co., its first ARJ21 will be delivered in 2010.
US federal court in New York upheld a passenger rights law passed earlier this year by the state legislature and signed by Gov. Eliot Spitzer, rejecting the Air Transport Assn.'s assertion that states do not have the authority to regulate airlines. The law, the first of its kind in the US, is set to take effect Jan. 1 and enables the state government to impose fines of up to $1,000 per passenger against airlines operating at JFK, LaGuardia and other New York airports.
The European Commission on Friday issued charges against at least five airlines "concerning their alleged participation in a cartel in the provision of airfreight services in violation of EU rules on restrictive practices."
Bmi is looking for additional capacity, possibly 757s or 767-200s, to support growth on several former BMED routes, Chairman Michael Bishop told ATWOnline at the recent Star Alliance meeting in Beijing. "We are looking for interim aircraft to improve the competitive element of our operation to certain destinations, which I can't disclose at the moment. But I can say that three of the routes that we inherited [from former British Airways franchise operator BMED] look to us as if they are capable of almost immediate development and expansion into bigger aircraft," he said.
China Eastern Airlines is confident that its stake sale deal with Singapore Airlines and parent Temasek will be approved at the shareholders conference scheduled for Jan. 8 despite Air China's calling the move "a wrong step." CEA President Li Fenghua said, "So far we haven't got any indication that it will be vetoed in January. Air China, one of our stakeholders, should have little chance of rejecting it." But Air China VP Fan Cheng holds a different view ( ATWOnline, Dec. 5).
Workers at BAA airports represented by Unite voted to conduct 24-hr. strikes at all seven facilities from 6 a.m. on Jan. 7, 14, 17 and 18 in protest of BAA's decision to close the final salary pension scheme to new members. BAA said in a statement that it would "work hard to resolve this issue."
Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Assn. reassured travelers that it will not disrupt services over the Christmas-New Year break despite its members voting to approve an industrial campaign against Qantas. The union claims the airline has "stalled" negotiations on a new agreement covering 1,700 engineers. The engineers flagged industrial strife late last month over a salary increase ( ATWOnline, Nov. 30).
Republic Airways Holdings converted 11 E-175 options, Embraer announced. Aircraft will begin delivery in July 2008 and will be operated by Shuttle America on Delta Connection flights. They are worth $341 million at list prices, Embraer said. Republic is the world's largest E-Jet operator with 76 170s and 25 175s. Its E-Jet order book totals 29 firm and 74 options. Shuttle America will configure its 175s with 12 first class and 64 economy seats. It currently flies 44 170s, including 16 for DL.
Vietnam Airlines and its leasing arm Vietnam Aircraft Leasing Co. firmed up commitments for 10 A350 XWB-900s and 20 A321s worth a combined $3.8 billion at list prices ( ATWOnline, Oct. 2). Contracts were signed in Hanoi by Vietnam Airlines CEO Pham Ngoc Minh and Airbus COO-Customers John Leahy. The A321s will be delivered from 2012 and the A350s from 2016. VN will take the A350s and 10 A321s while VALC will acquire the remaining A321s.
Air New Zealand Engineering Services signed a NZ$45 million ($34 million), five-year contract with Virgin Blue for heavy maintenance of its 50-strong 737-700/-800 fleet. ANZES has carried out heavy maintenance checks on Virgin Blue's 737s at its Christchurch base for the past three years. The deal renews a contract due to expire at year end.
US Dept. of Transportation, while not formally setting a final cap for flights at Newark, said in a filing issued Friday that its study of operations at the airport over the past year revealed that average capacity was 83 flights per hr. DOT announced last week that flights would be capped at 82-83 per hour at JFK likely starting in March and that a cap would also be imposed at EWR ( ATWOnline, Dec. 21).
S7 Airlines launched thrice-weekly Moscow Domodedovo-Vladivistok flights aboard an A310-300. KrasAir will launch weekly Moscow Domodedovo-Salzburg service on Dec. 29 aboard a 757.
TAM said it will adjust its domestic schedule from today as further restrictions take effect at Sao Paulo Congonhas ( ATWOnline, Sept. 26). Its daily slots will be reduced to 106 from 117, with total movements at the airport dropping from 33 to 30 per hr. between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. and to 16 between 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
Virgin Atlantic Airways cabin staff represented by Unite voted with a 71% majority to conduct two 48-hr. strikes, the first beginning at 6 a.m. on Jan. 9 and the second at 6 a.m. on Jan. 16. "Their pay lags behind many other airlines who fly the same business and holiday routes," Unite said, claming that British Airways flight attendants earn up to £10,000 ($20,087) more per year flying comparable routes. Unite members last month rejected a 4.8% pay raise.
Kingfisher Airlines and Deccan Aviation boards have decided to merge the companies, according to widespread press reports from India, paving the way for Kingfisher to gain clearance to operate internationally next year ( ATWOnline, Oct. 15). Kingfisher parent UB Group holds 46% of Deccan and recently renamed its low-cost airline Simplifly Deccan, repainting its aircraft in red-and-white Kingfisher livery. The two brands will remain after the merger, with Kingfisher the full-service carrier.
Big Sky Airlines, a subsidiary of MAIR Holdings, will shutter its US East Coast operations as a Delta Connection partner on Jan. 7. MAIR plans to sell seven Big Sky Beech 1900s and will attempt to offload its operating certificate as well, President Paul Foley said. Big Sky has been operating the 19-seat turboprops under codeshare with DL since April.
TAP Portugal expects to report positive results for 2007, its second straight year in the black, despite increasing competition from low-cost carriers. "All parameters are good, even very good, and they would have been a lot better if we did not face these very high fuel prices," CEO Fernando Pinto told ATWOnline during the Star Alliance meeting last week in Beijing. The carrier made €7.3 million ($11.4 million) in 2006 ( ATWOnline, March 14).
Aviapartner announced a joint venture with 2Serve of Cyprus aimed at expanding ramp handling services at Larnaca and Paphos. The contract transfers 2Serve's business and gives Aviapartner 51% of the new company, Aviapartner Cyprus, to be headed by current 2Serve GM Ian Hay.
