Qatar Airways signs agreement to explore GTL fuels Boeing, Emirates still discussing shorter 747-8I Gulf Air commits to refleeting, will order 35 aircraft within weeks Additional stories Dubai News from November 12, November 13, November 14
Nile Air, a startup Egyptian airline that plans to launch operations in the 2008 first quarter, placed a firm order for nine A321s valued at nearly $800 million and signed an MOU "to base its future fleet on the A321," Airbus said. The Cairo-based carrier plans to serve Riyadh, Jeddah, Medina, Dammam, Kuwait, Dubai, Doha and Bahrain with passenger and freight service. "The A321 is the perfect solution to provide our required balance between volume, cost efficiency and return on investment," Nile Air Chairman Nasser A. Al-Tayyar said.
China Eastern Airlines expects to improve its financial and operational performance greatly on international routes through its planned cooperation with Singapore Airlines, according to CEA Board Secretary Luo Zhiping. "Currently we [lose] between CNY1 million ($134.000)-CNY2 million in one flight from Shanghai to New York," Luo said. "And our average load factor of business class/first class is 30%-40% in international routes while this figure is more than 90% [for] SIA, so we hope to raise our figure to 70%-80% in partnership with SIA."
TAM and United Airlines launched their new codeshare agreement yesterday, enabling both carriers' customers to earn and redeem frequent-flier miles/points on the partner. "By combining the two networks, TAM customers may now purchase tickets on United Airlines operated flights between Brazil and the United States. . .[and also] connect to several destinations in the United States," UA said. "United Airlines will offer service on flights operated by TAM from Miami and New York [JFK] to the cities of Sao Paulo and Manaus, enabling passengers to connect to several points in Brazil."
Jeppesen signed a contract with outsize freight specialist Volga-Dnepr Airlines for Jeppesen's e-Link services providing secure access to charts, Notams and data electronically.
Adria Airways, a regional airline based in Ljubljana, placed a firm order yesterday for two CRJ900s and one CRJ1000 collectively valued at $122.7 million. Adria currently operates seven CRJ200s and two CRJ900s.
Delta Air Lines acknowledged yesterday, after it was revealed that a shareholder is urging it to merge with United Airlines, that its board has established a "special committee. . .to review and analyze strategic options. . . including potential consolidation transactions."
Bmi launched a reciprocal codeshare agreement with EgyptAir on flights between London Heathrow and Cairo, effectively doubling the number of weekly nonstop services available to 14. The agreement follows on from the launch by bmi on Nov. 4 of a daily LHR-Cairo service and the formal invitation of EgyptAir into Star Alliance ( ATWOnline, Oct. 18). Separately, bmi will launch thrice-weekly LHR-Dammam flights early next year aboard A330s, bringing to three the number of destinations served in Saudi Arabia.
Precision Conversions said it redelivered a 757-200PCF freighter to DHL-European Air Transport following conversion. The RB211-535-powered aircraft is DHL's first 15-pallet-position converted freighter.
Lufthansa Systems said Silverjet chose its Lido Operations Center flight planning application. Silverjet operates three 767s in an all-business-class configuration from London Luton to New York.
SR Technics concluded a seven-year Integrated Component Solutions agreement with Air India covering component services for A330-200 aircraft with a potential worth of approximately CHF19 million ($16.9 million). Under the accord, SRT will provide full component support including exchange, component maintenance, logistics and access to a consignment stock based at Mumbai.
DAE Capital strikes first aircraft lease deals Bombardier's CSeries to be powered by Pratt's GTF Carson: Boeing slightly ahead of 787 schedule Airbus on a roll, firms three more orders in Dubai Additional stories Dubai News from November 12, November 13
Airbus received Category IIIb approval from EASA to utilize Thales' MLS precision approach and landing system on A320 family aircraft. British Airways will be the first to use MLS, implementing it at London Heathrow on A320s and A321s. "MLS uses microwave signals that are less susceptible to interference. . .from other aircraft moving on the airport surface or buildings than the current [ILS]," Airbus said.
Sky West Inc., parent of SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines, reported third-quarter net income of $42.9 million, up 5.4% from a $40.7 million net profit in the year-ago quarter. Operating revenue increased 10.6% to $875.6 million while expenses rose 11.2% to $783 million, producing operating income of $92.4 million, up 5.4%.
European Parliament yesterday voted as expected to include aviation in the EU's Emissions Trading System from 2011 and to place tighter pollution caps on airlines than initially had been proposed by the European Commission. The move sets up a likely legal challenge from the US and any number of nations opposed to the EU's unilateral action.
Transavia.com finalized an order for seven 737NGs valued at $523 million plus three options. The order, which is for -800s but allows for the substitution of other NG models, previously was listed by Boeing as unidentified. The Air France KLM subsidiary said the new 737s will be equipped with blended winglets and replace older aircraft in its fleet. CFMI valued the engine order at $95 million.
Emirates inaugurated its new engine test cell in Al Awir. The $45 million cell will be able to handle aircraft engines and APUs up to and including the GE90-115B powering the airline's 777-300ERs.
Spanair CEO Lars Nygaard "has requested to leave his position with immediate effect," parent SAS Group said yesterday. He plans to "assume a new position outside the SAS Group," it added. Spanair CFO Marcus Hedblom was named new CEO.
Mexico's flag carriers AeroMexico and Mexicana have seen their share of the domestic market decline from 84% to 50% since 2000, Mexicana Chairman Gaston Azcarraga said last week at the ALTA conference in Cancun.
KLM Engineering & Maintenance was contracted by Pegasus Airlines to overhaul five CFM56-7Bs plus two options. KLM E&M will provide two leased engines to the Istanbul-based carrier as part of the deal.
Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, parent of Atlas Air and Polar Air Cargo, posted third-quarter net income of $32.4 million, four-and-a-half times more than a net profit of $7.1 million in the year-ago quarter. President and CEO William Flynn said the positive earnings resulted from its ongoing effort to "optimize" its fleet of 32 747-200/-400 freighters and cut costs. He noted that aircraft utilization was up 4.1% to more than 11.4 hr. daily. Cost-cutting and efficiency initiatives provided $15 million in savings for the quarter, he added.
ExpressJet continued to expand its branded flying, launching flights from Reno to Ontario, Long Beach, Spokane and Tucson. It also started Monterey Peninsula-Long Beach service as well as Santa Barbara-San Diego-Sacramento and Omaha-Tucson flights.
