Aerolineas Argentinas aircraft will sport the logo of the country's new Estrategia Marca Pais branding campaign implemented by the national tourism office and foreign affairs ministry. A 747-400 was the first aircraft to be emblazoned with the logo, which also will be featured at airports AR serves.
Thomas Cook Airlines (UK) gained CAA approval to become the country's first carrier to use GPS-based RNAV technology on approaches. Two Thomas Cook A330s are fitted with RNAV hardware and software and 12 training captains have been involved in simulator training. The carrier is working in close conjunction with CAA to pilot the system, largely on its Canadian and Caribbean flights. Thomas Cook plans to have all 70 of its A330 pilots trained to use the system by year end. It is working on introducing RNAV on its 19 757s and eventually on its A320s.
Cathay Pacific took delivery of its 100th aircraft, an A330-300, yesterday in Toulouse. The aircraft is painted in a commemorative livery and joins 26 of the type in the CX fleet. A further five will be delivered through 2008.
Hong Kong Express Airways said it received approval to fly to Chengdu, Nanning, Wuhan, Jinan and Yantai, bringing to 11 the number of cities it will serve on the Chinese mainland. CEO Andrew Tse said the new destinations are part of an expansion strategy that will see it gain access to "top tier cities such as Beijing and Shanghai in the not-too-distant future." HKE flew 13,899 passengers in July aboard 377 flights.
AD Aerospace was contracted by British Airways to provide video security systems protecting baggage from theft and tampering during loading and unloading. The systems monitor the baggage hold.
AirTran Airways announced the cancellation of 31 flights yesterday and today into and out of Miami, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Fort Myers as the area braces for Tropical Storm Ernesto. Other carriers announced revisions to rebooking and cancellation policies, and Delta Air Lines said it "proactively cancelled some flights." Separately, AirTran and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters announced the ratification of a five-year labor agreement covering approximately 40 ground support equipment mechanics and related employees in Atlanta, Baltimore and Orlando.
Air France flights to the US (except Detroit and Cincinnati) will be concentrated at Paris Charles de Gaulle's Terminal 2E from today. Flights that were handled at 2E, mainly to Africa, will be transferred elsewhere in T2. AF operates 22 daily flights to 13 US cities.
Boeing yesterday named Nagpur in central India as the location of a new MRO facility intended to address growing demand for maintenance services in India. The manufacturer's commitment to invest up to $100 million in the facility was part of Air India's order for 68 aircraft ( ATWOnline, Jan. 12), which was finalized in January.
AirAsia reported net income of MYR126.9 million ($34.3 million) for its fiscal year ended June 30, an increase of 14% over net income of MYR111.6 million last year, on a 28% jump in revenues to MYR856 million. "The revenue growth was driven by a 30% growth in passengers carried, a 4% decline in average fares and a higher contribution mix from ancillary income," the carrier said in statement. "The lower fares enticed strong traffic growth and improved load factors."
US National Transportation Safety Board issued "urgent" recommendations upon conclusion of its investigation into the uncontained CF6-80A failure in June on an American Airlines 767 parked at Los Angeles International Airport ( ATWOnline, June 15).
EADS neither confirmed nor denied reports that Vneshtorgbank, a state-owned Russian bank, has acquired a 4.5%-5% stake in Airbus's parent company. Russian newspaper Vedomosti reported yesterday that Vneshtorgbank purchased $1 billion worth of EADS shares.
TAP Portugal posted a €51 million ($65.2 million) loss in the first six months of 2006, a €3 million improvement compared to a €54 million loss in the year-ago period, and the carrier said its board of directors still hopes to end 2006 "with positive financial results." All other indicators of the company's activity "showed a positive trend," TAP reported, highlighted by a 17% increase in operating revenue to €710 million from the €606 million generated in the first six months of 2005.
MAXjet Airways will launch twice-weekly Las Vegas-London Stansted service Nov. 2. The all-business-class carrier currently operates scheduled services out of New York JFK and Washington Dulles. Earlier this month, MAXjet said it had reached "an agreement in principle" to add its fourth and fifth 767s early next year. It will introduce its third aircraft next month and said it is considering expanding into Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Embraer announced the closure of a $500 million syndicated standby facility with BNP Paribas, which the manufacturer said will reduce its debt costs. The facility comprises a $250 million trade finance credit facility and a $250 million revolver credit facility.
SkyEurope Holding AG announced an agreement with York Global Finance II for injection of €38.8 million ($49.6 million) of fresh capital into the airline as part of a €56.3 million financing package that also will include a €17.5 million public rights offering.
JetBlue Airways named System Chief Pilot Scott Green, an A320 captain, VP-flight operations effective Oct. 1. Germanwings named Thomas Winkelmann MD effective Sept 1. He formerly was VP-the Americas for Lufthansa. AerCap Group named GECAS CFO Keith Helming as its new CFO. Helming succeeds Heinrich Loechteken, who will assume the new position of chief investment officer.
Aer Lingus and the Irish government yesterday formally announced details of their plan to float more than 50% of the government's shares in the airline on the Dublin and London stock exchanges in late September. Net proceeds of the IPO will be used primarily to finance expansion of the carrier's short-haul and long-haul fleets in addition to a one-off pension contribution. The sale is expected to raise €400-€500 million ($509.9-$637.4 million) in fresh equity.
CAAC announced it will double fuel surcharges on domestic flights under 800 km. to CNY60 ($7.50) per passenger and raise surcharges on flights of more than 800 km. to CNY100 from CNY60. The changes are effective Sept. 1, according to press reports
Gate Gourmet won a three-year contract to provide catering and logistics services to GB Airways. GG also signed a deal with Jetstar Airways to supply catering services on its long-haul routes beginning in November. It already supplies Jetstar's domestic routes.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines removed five of its 13 aircraft from service because it cannot afford maintenance and is cutting international flights as a result, Deputy GM Khan Mosharraf Hossain was quoted as saying by Reuters. The aircraft--two DC-10s, one A310 and two F28s--were sent abroad for service. Biman will cut frequencies on routes to Europe and Asia. It ended its New York JFK service last month. It is projecting a BDT6.91 billion ($96.3 million) loss for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007. It owes BDT12 billion to Bangladesh Petroleum Corp., Reuters reported.
