QantasLink is increasing its fleet of 717-200s from eight to 11 as part of a renewed operating agreement with National Jet Systems for an additional five years. Qantas Group GM-Regional Airlines Narendra Kumar said the move will increase QantasLink's total jet and turboprop fleet to 49 aircraft, which typically serve regional routes within Australia. NJS provides crews and maintenance for the 717s. The first additional aircraft will enter service in August and be based in Perth, with the other two entering service in October.
LAN Airlines yesterday converted 15 options for A320 family aircraft into firm orders. The options were part of the carrier's 2005 order for 25 firm A318s and A319s ( ATWOnline, July 1, 2005). LAN and its affiliates currently operate 15 A319s and 15 A320s, Airbus said.
American Airlines will make an announcement regarding fleet renewal "in short order," according to Chairman and CEO Gerard Arpey, who conceded that the carrier's more than 300 MD-80s burn too much fuel. He said 737NGs may be a viable replacement.
SAS Scandinavian Airlines was hit by a 4-hr. wildcat strike by approximately 1,600 flight attendants in Copenhagen yesterday that resulted in several cancellations. SAS expected operations at CPH to return to normal by late yesterday, according to press reports.
Virgin Blue Holdings confirmed its order for six 777-300ERs with options for six more, and will lease one additional -300ER from ILFC. The order for the six is worth $1.5 billion at list prices and was listed last week on Boeing's website as unidentified ( ATWOnline, March 19). The aircraft will be used to establish a new long-haul airline next year providing service from Australia to the US "and other destinations." ( ATWOnline, Feb. 22).
JetBlue Airways, burdened by winter weather and related operational problems in the current quarter, yesterday lowered its full-year estimated operating and pre-tax margin forecasts from its February guidance ( ATWOnline, Feb. 22). Operating margin range will be 7%-9%, down from the 8%-10% forecast last month, and pre-tax margin will be 2%-4%, down from 3%-5%. First-quarter projections did not change.
Saudi Arabian Airlines will sell 49% of its catering unit to a coalition of Saudi and Spanish firms for $373.4 million, according to the Arab Air Carriers Organization.
Boeing reached a deal with Nippon Cargo Airlines to manage "a significant portion" of the carrier's spare parts inventory under its Integrated Materials Management program. "This program is an especially good fit for us with our 747-400 [freighters]," NCA MD and Senior VP-Engineering and Maintenance Takuzo Nomura said. "It will help us manage our costs." Under IMM, Boeing and other suppliers will own parts that NCA normally would keep in inventory.
Air Dolomiti named Jorg Eberhart VP-marketing, network and commercial. OnAir, the SITA-Airbus joint venture, appointed ARINC VP and MD-Europe, Middle East and Africa Graham Lake as CCO.
Japan Airlines reached a deal with four unions early Tuesday, avoiding a one-day strike that had been scheduled for that day, Reuters reported ( ATWOnline, March 20).
FedEx reported net income of $420 million for its fiscal third quarter ended Feb. 28, down 2% from $428 million earned in the year-ago quarter, on a 7% rise in revenue to $8.59 billion.
American Airlines and United Airlines, the only US carriers permitted to operate to London Heathrow, are backing adoption of a tentative US-EU open skies accord, on which EU transport ministers are scheduled to vote today, even though it could hurt them in the London market.
While its domestic competitors suffered through a difficult 2006, TAM established itself as the dominant airline in Brazil with a BRL808.8 million ($389 million) profit that represented an 89.6% surge over 2005 net earnings of BRL426.5 million according to US GAAP accounting standards.
Norwegian will operate four-times-weekly Stockholm Arlanda-Paris Orly flights beginning May 4. CSA Czech Airlines will place its code on Delta Air Lines' four-times-weekly Atlanta-Prague service from May. Flights operate five-times-weekly June 4-Sept. 1.
FedEx said it plans to launch next-business-day domestic express service in China from May 28, with Okay Airways operating an air cargo network using 737 freighters in support. FedEx plans to provide 19 Chinese cities with next-business-day, time-definite delivery and another 200 cities with next-day but not time-definite service. It will operate a hub-and-spoke system centered at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International in Zhejiang Province. The Hangzhou hub initially will be able to sort up to 9,000 packages per hr., the company said.
TUI AG, parent of Hapagfly, Hapag-Lloyd Express, Thomsonfly, TUIfly Nordic, Arkefly, Corsair and Jetair, suffered a €846.6 million ($1.13 billion) loss in 2006, reversed from a €496.3 million profit the year before, owing to restructuring expenses and required depreciations. The company unveiled a restructuring plan in December that includes the merger of its airline brands under the TUIfly.com name ( ATWOnline, Dec. 18, 2006).
Goodrich reached a deal with Shanghai Airlines to supply wheels and electrically actuated brakes for its nine 787s, which it will put into service starting next year.
Triad International Maintenance Corp. is working to diversify its operations while expanding into new parts of the world since being taken private in a financial transaction completed last December, according to Executive VP and CMO R. Gene House, who joined the company last July after more than four decades with United Airlines. House's boss, President and COO Ron Utecht, is also a United alumnus with 39 years with the airline.
US FAA said it plans to hire nearly 1,400 air traffic controllers this year for a net increase of 189 over 2006 hiring levels. It plans to hire and train more than 15,000 controllers over the next decade. It currently employs 14,618.
Menzies Aviation parent John Menzies plc yesterday announced the resignation of CEO Patrick Macdonald while reporting a 9% year-over-year drop in its full-year profit to £35.8 million ($69.6 million). Menzies Aviation was the company's best-performing unit, posting a 25% rise in profit to £16.6 million. It did not announce a successor.
Cargolux this week placed a follow-on order for three 747-8 freighters valued at $845 million plus two options, bringing its total firm orders for the type to 13. It is the co-launch customer for the 747-8F along with Nippon Cargo Airlines ( ATWOnline, Nov. 16, 2005). It also has 10 purchase rights. Boeing said it now has a combined 87 firm orders for the 747-8F and the 747-8 Intercontinental passenger version.
Lufthansa is exploring transferring its Moscow airport operation from Sheremeteyvo to Domodedovo. "We are discussing such a move," LH Executive VP-Marketing and Sales Thierry Antinori told ATWOnline, adding that an announcement may come this year. DME is making an effort to woo the carrier and a source close to the airport told this website that the move could happen in time for the summer 2008 schedule. Star Alliance member Austrian Airlines switched to DME last month ( ATWOnline, Feb.
US Dept. of Transportation yesterday tentatively approved Virgin America's plan to "reconfigure its ownership and management structure" and said the carrier could earn its operating certificate if it meets certain conditions, including replacing CEO Fred Reid, who has overseen the certification process since he left Delta Air Lines in April 2004.
