WestJet, which launched its first scheduled Caribbean service with Toronto-Nassau flights last November, announced additional international operations yesterday, with new seasonal flights planned from YYZ to Montego Bay, Puerto Plata and Punta Cana. The destinations are part of an expanded schedule that includes increased winter service to Hawaii and the launch of a number of routes, including daily YYZ-Los Angeles service from Dec. 15.
Three weeks after insisting it would see the process through to the end, Aeroflot yesterday announced it would withdraw from the bidding for the Italian government's stake in Alitalia.
All 22 passengers and crew aboard the PMTair An-24 that was lost Monday on its way from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville ( ATWOnline, June 26) were confirmed killed, according to press reports from Cambodia, where officials are targeting stormy weather as the likely cause. Wreckage was discovered on a mountain in southern Cambodia after a two-day search.
Rolls-Royce said Singapore Airlines placed a Trent XWB engine order worth $800 million at list prices, plus a 12-year TotalCare services agreement, covering the 20 A350-900 XWBs SIA ordered in Paris ( ATWOnline, June 25). Deliveries are scheduled for 2013-15.
In what clearly can be called an unprecedented decision, the European Commission yesterday moved to prohibit the proposed takeover by Ryanair of smaller rival Aer Lingus.
Southwest Airlines said yesterday that it will slow its growth to contend better with weak economic conditions and fuel costs, lowering capacity growth to 6% from 8% for the 2007 fourth quarter and full-year 2008, dropping unprofitable routes, adding new ones (including five new destinations from Denver) and taking delivery of 19 net aircraft next year instead of the previously planned 34. Additionally, in what may be a bid to win more business fliers, it will unveil a new "boarding/seating method" in the fourth quarter, replacing its open seating policy.
Spanair cancelled 62 flights Monday as a result of a one-day strike called by the SITCPLA flight attendants union. Last week the carrier signed a labor agreement with the CCOO and STAVLA unions, which represent a majority of its cabin staff, but SITCPLA opted to move ahead with its strike threat. It plans to conduct another work action on July 1, when Spanair will cancel 25 of its 373 flights.
Lufthansa Systems announced that S7 Airlines signed a five-year contract for deployment of IT solutions supporting its schedule management processes. The carrier has been flying with LHS FMS data since 2004.
Cebu Pacific said it plans to launch service from Manila to Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen and Macau in September and October with fares that are 85% lower than those currently available on the routes. Daily flights to Shanghai and Xiamen will begin Sept. 12 and 26 respectively. Four-times-weekly Guangzhou service will launch Oct. 10 and thrice-weekly Macau service the following day. British Airways will transfer flights from Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston Intercontinental from London Gatwick to Heathrow effective March 30.
Tiger Airways' impending entry into the Australian market ( ATWOnline, May 30) is altering the dynamics of the country's route structure. This week, Qantas low-cost subsidiary Jetstar Airways announced plans to operate on the major Sydney-Brisbane route from December. The move represents a departure from the convention of not linking major capital city airports, a policy that protected QF from direct competition.
Ryanair said yesterday that it expects the European Commission to block its proposed €1.48 billion hostile takeover of Aer Lingus and vowed to fight the decision vigorously.
Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise will change its name to BOC Aviation effective July 2. The move follows its acquisition by the Bank of China ( ATWOnline, Dec. 18, 2006). SALE has a portfolio of 75 aircraft flying with 29 airlines and has 63 on order with Boeing and Airbus for delivery to 2012.
The US Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported that a group of 21 US passenger airlines, consisting of the seven largest network, low-cost and regional carriers based on operating revenue, reported a collective system operating profit margin of 2.7% for the 2007 first quarter, the group's first profitable first quarter since 2000 and its fourth consecutive following years of heavy losses.
Snecma Services Chairman and CEO Jean-Lin Fournereaux sees a big change for his organization when it comes to competing in the market for CFM56 maintenance, repair and overhaul. "We are now more and more working as a network," he told ATWOnline at last week's Paris Air Show. As an example, he pointed out that last February, Sichuan Snecma Aero Engine Maintenance in Chengdu performed its first overhaul of a CFM56-3 belonging to a Western customer. Prior to that, the Chengdu JV handled engines only for Chinese customers.
Kunming Airlines, which aims to become the first privately run carrier in Yunnan Province, obtained operational approval from CAAC. Founder Wang Qingmin noted that he and an unidentified partner will hold a 60% stake in the new carrier while Sichuan Airlines will hold the remainder. He did not reveal the total investment amount. Kunming Airlines will adopt an "air travel plus tourism" market model and focus mainly on intra-provincial routes. Located in southwestern China, Yunnan is home to numerous resorts and is a popular tourist destination.
Messier Services Americas, based in Queretaro, this month delivered its first overhauled landing gear, an A320 main gear. It did not identify the customer.
Lufthansa Cargo will transfer all flights from Cologne to East Asia and the US to Leipzig beginning Oct 27. LHC said the move is related to the opening of the new DHL Express Europe hub at LEJ next year. Since March 2004, the two companies have partnered on a joint network connecting Europe, the US and Asia. LHC will operate its own flights from LEJ to Atlanta, Seoul Incheon and Istanbul Ataturk.
IATA's five-month extension to May 31, 2008, for the transition to 100% e-ticketing for tickets processed through its Bank Settlement Plan ( ATWOnline, June 5) will give airlines needed time to reach the goal, though truly achieving "100%" even by the later deadline remains unlikely, experts said yesterday during the ATWOnline webcast "100% e-ticketing by 2007--A work of fact or fiction?" Rob Drotar, SITA's head of product and portfolio management-PTS Reservations, said e-ticketing is "the foundation" on
ASC of Germany registered with ICAO as a supplier of communications recording solutions. ICAO's Technical Cooperation Program evaluates solutions for aviation security and use by airports in national and international operations. ASC said its "registered equipment meets requirements to record, archive and play back air traffic communications in compliance with ICAO's Standards and Recommended Practices."
