WestJet announced the promotion of Executive VP-Sales and Marketing and Airports Sean Durfy to president succeeding airline co-founder Clive Beddoe, 60, who will remain chairman and CEO of the Calgary-based LCC. Durfy, 40, joined WestJet in late 2004 from Enmax Energy Corp., where he was president and COO of the Calgary power utility. "Over the past two years I have progressively passed many of my duties over to our executive team as a natural progression of the growth of our company," Beddoe said in a statement.
United Airlines has begun using one dual-end, over-the-wing boarding bridge at Denver International Airport. "Our customers, especially those in the rear of the plane, are already telling us they love the convenience of the new bridges. Also, because we can board customers faster, we are able to eventually add more flights without adding new aircraft," VP-Operational Services, United Express and Ted Alex Marren said. The bridge was developed by Debridge Airport Systems. UA said it will expand its use to "additional gates and other airports" soon.
A consortium of United Arab Emirates-based investors is to acquire 90% of SR Technics from its current owners in a transaction valued at CHF1.6 billion ($1.3 billion). The consortium is led by Mubadala Development, the investment vehicle of the Abu Dhabi government, which will own 40% of the Zurich-based maintenance, repair and overhaul company after the purchase is completed in about two months.
UK NATS reported a 3.1% year-over-year increase in the number of flights handled in August despite the uncovering of a terrorist plot Aug. 10 and subsequent security alert. The ATM provider handled 220,408 flights. Overflights showed the greatest increases, with transatlantic flights up 7.1% and nontransatlantic up 18.3% with routes between Ireland and Italy, France, Spain and Germany showing the largest increases. The domestic market improved 0.3%. Traffic at the 15 airports where NATS operates grew 1.2%. The picture was mixed owing to the security alert.
Air France ordered Boeing Class 3 electronic flight bags for its fleet of 777s, comprising 42 in-service aircraft and 13 to be delivered. It is the eighth carrier this year to order the Class 3 EFB, Boeing said, adding the order was the "most significant" to date from a European airline. AF partner KLM was the launch customer for the 777 EFB in 2002. The Dutch flag carrier currently operates 13 EFB-equipped 777s and eventually will have 18.
Dragonair is withdrawing from the Hong Kong-Bangkok route effective Sept. 27, flagging the first rationalization following its acquisition by Cathay Pacific Airways. New CEO Kenny Tang said the route "has not been performing to expectations for some time." Ryanair said its new Malta International Airport service will comprise flights from London Luton (daily from Oct. 31), Pisa (thrice-weekly from Oct. 31) and Dublin (thrice-weekly from Feb. 9, 2007). It said it expects to carry more than 200,000 passengers on the three routes in the first year.
US FAA approved the AmSafe Child Aviation Restraint System safety device for use on commercial flights. The device features an additional belt and shoulder harness that wraps around the seat and attaches to the lap belt and is designed for children weighing 22-44 lb.
World Air Holdings, parent of World Airways and North American Airlines, posted a second-quarter net loss of $7.5 million, down from $5.5 million in net income in the year-ago quarter.
Air Berlin said that competition authorities approved its takeover of dba without restrictions ( ATWOnline, Aug. 18). AB CEO Joachim Hunold now will chair dba's board. Starting this week, dba flights can be booked through AB's website and call center.
Philippine Airlines told stockholders last week that the carrier will continue to push into new markets and modernize its fleet, with evaluations underway for acquisition of five regional widebody aircraft and three long-haul aircraft in addition to the order for 20 A320 family aircraft ( ATWOnline, Nov. 9, 2005) that will begin delivery this month.
TAP Portugal reached agreement with OMNI Aviation of Portugal for the sale of TAP's small leisure carrier White Airways for an estimated €5 million ($6.4 million). White operates one A310-300 and one L-1011-500. According to the terms, the ownership of the L-1011 is transferred to TAP, due for subsequent alienation, while OMNI will operate the A310 currently under lease.
VLM Airlines will launch an 11-times-weekly Antwerp-Manchester service beginning Oct. 30. It will add three F50s to operate the flights, bringing its fleet to 19 F50s. Jetstar Airways will replace Qantas on the Sydney-Townsville route from Oct. 29 with five weekly flights aboard an A320. Nok Air of Thailand will cancel 30 flights on Sept. 28 to avoid the expected chaos surrounding the opening of Bangkok's new Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Jet Airways opened its $15 million hangar at Mumbai Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport. It can handle C checks and major MRO on 737 family and ATR aircraft, accommodating two of the former and one of the latter at once. "This significant improvement in the maintenance infrastructure of Jet Airways will form a solid basis for the further expansion of the airline," CEO Wolfgang Prock-Schauer said. Separately, Jet this week unveiled its Sky Screen on-demand IFE system available in both classes aboard its 737-800s.
Oneworld redesigned its website that now features an interactive route map, more accessible schedules, country and language specific sites, itinerary planning aids and other enhancements.
Berlin-Brandenburg International, which aims to replace the city's fractured three-airport system with a single modern facility, was started yesterday as officials held a groundbreaking ceremony for the €2 billion ($2.57 billion) project slated to open in 2011. "BBI will greatly enhance Berlin's ability to compete on an international level; it will bring more visitors to the city, create international air connections and generate more jobs," Governing Mayor of Berlin Klaus Wowereit said.
AeroRepublica of Colombia is adopting the logo and livery of Copa Airlines. Both carriers are subsidiaries of Copa Holdings. "Our new image combines the best of both companies," said AeroRepublica CEO Robert Junguito. It is Colombia's second-largest domestic airline, offering service to 12 cities plus Copa's Panama City hub.
United Airlines flew 10.6 billion system RPMs in August, a 1.5% increase over the year-ago month. Capacity climbed 3.2% to 12.69 billion ASMs, dropping load factor 1.3 points to 83.5%. Gol flew 1.34 billion RPKs in August, a 72.4% increase over the year-ago month. Capacity rose 47% to 1.75 billion ASKs and load factor was up 11.3 points to 76.9%.
Swissport International renewed its deal with United Airlines for an additional five years and now will provide cargo services for the carrier at an eighth US airport, New York JFK.
Frontier Airlines placed a firm order with Bombardier yesterday for 10 74-seat Q400 turboprops with 10 options and said it plans to launch a wholly owned subsidiary carrier to operate the aircraft. The new unnamed airline will "use its fleet of Q400s to bring low-cost service to underserved markets in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region," Frontier said in a statement. "The subsidiary expects to serve as many as 18 destinations using the new aircraft and to create 300-400 new jobs." Destinations will be announced at a later date.
Oasis Hong Kong Airlines, which will launch 747-400 service to London Gatwick on Oct. 25, unveiled its fare structure, inflight product and other details this week in Hong Kong. Oasis has acquired two 747-400s from Singapore Airlines configured for 278 in economy class and 81 in business class. Service will operate four-times-weekly through Nov. 24, when it will become daily.
ABX Air won a new four-year contract to manage US Postal Service terminal handling services in Indianapolis in a deal expected to generate $17.7 million in revenues through October 2010. ABX, whose main US client is DHL, has managed the USPS Indianapolis sort facility since 2004. It has similar handling contracts with USPS in Dallas and Memphis.
Israeli government today will lift the air and sea blockade of Lebanon at 6 p.m. local time, according to a statement from the prime minister's office cited by press reports. International forces will monitor the airports and coastline. Several airlines, including Qatar Airways, Gulf Air and British Airways, had expressed concern over the lack of access to Beirut and declared their intentions to fly there despite restrictions.
CanJet Airlines, a Halifax-based LCC that launched operations in 2000, announced yesterday that it will discontinue scheduled services on Sept. 10 due to "rising business risks" and turn its focus to increasing its charter business. The subsidiary of IMP Group currently operates nine 737-500s and one dash 300 to 13 destinations in Canada, New York and Florida and runs charter services to the Caribbean.
