Continental Airlines concluded its best quarter since 2001 with a net profit of $198 million, nearly double the $100 million earned in the second quarter of 2005. "After five years of challenges and hard work, it's great to see a payoff for everyone's efforts. But, even with the progress made, we must continue our focus on eliminating unnecessary costs," Executive VP and CFO Jeff Misner said.
Austrian Airlines Group is looking for further cost-cutting measures and is considering reducing or ending service to Australia. According to a source close to airline management, Austrian pays €400,000 ($500,600) in operational costs for each one of its nine weekly 777-200ER rotations to Australia, where it serves Sydney six-times-weekly and Melbourne thrice-weekly. The route is being pressured by high fuel prices and fierce competition from Middle Eastern carriers operating between Europe and Australia.
Jetstar will transition to assigned seating on all Australian domestic flights from Oct. 29. It already offers assigned seating on its transtasman services.
ARINC and Bird Consultancy Services announced the introduction of GLOBALink VHF data link communications at Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai airports. Separately, ARINC was selected by Atlantic Southeast Airlines to provide integrated air/ground communications services. Full installation of the required avionics on ASA's fleet of more than 140 Bombardier jets will not occur until summer 2007. ARINC called the deal "the most advanced package of data applications ever specified by a US Regional carrier."
Germanwings said this week it has taken delivery of 19 new A319s. "Over the next three years we aim to significantly increase our flights from Cologne Bonn Airport and to develop new attractive destinations," Chairman Joachim Klein said.
NAV Canada said this week it is taking the "first step" toward moving to ADS-B satellite-based positioning technology for air traffic control. The first NAV Canada ADS-B deployment will be in northern Canada and cover 250,000 sq. nm. of airspace over Hudson Bay. Cost of the deployment is $10 million. "The initial deployment alone promises to save customers well over $200 million in reduced fuel costs over 15 years through more flexible and fuel-efficient routes," NAV Canada President and CEO John Crichton said.
US Senate Appropriations Committee joined the House of Representatives ( ATWOnline, June 16) in attaching an amendment to a bill that prevents the Dept. of Transportation from spending any money in the next year in its effort to ease restrictions on foreign investment in US airlines. Continental Airlines was quick to release a statement praising the decision.
HEICO Aerospace Holdings acquired Arger Enterprises and "related companies" from Melrose PLC for cash considerations. Arger, based in Nevada, designs, manufactures and distributes approved aircraft and engine parts.
Boeing named Joy Romero president of Boeing Canada Operations and GM of Boeing Winnipeg. Romero had been running Boeing's Salt Lake City components manufacturing site.
Varig may not be well, but it is alive; three days after its bid was rejected by the airline's creditors, freight and logistics company VarigLog, the former Varig subsidiary purchased this year by a consortium led by Volo do Brasil, was the sole and winning bidder at a public auction.
WestJet finalized an agreement yesterday with Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise for three 737-700s and one 737-800, with deliveries scheduled for late 2007 and the first half of 2008. The deal also includes options for three more dash 700s and one additional dash 800, which would be delivered in 2009. By the end of 2008, WestJet's fleet will number 76 aircraft.
Airbus this week introduced a Maintenance Mobile Classroom, a fully equipped training facility that can be "taken anytime, anywhere in the world to deliver training at the customer's site."
American Airlines said it filed an application with the US Dept. of Transportation to operate daily Dallas/Fort Worth-Beijing service from March 25 aboard a 245-seat 777. Separately, American Eagle will launch flights from Chicago O'Hare to Columbia (daily), Jackson (daily) and Greensboro (twice-daily) on Sept. 6 aboard ERJ-145s. On the same day it will begin twice-daily Columbus-Raleigh/Durham flights and daily New York LaGuardia-Jacksonville service aboard ERJ-135s. Thrice-daily DFW-Alexandria service will begin Dec. 14 aboard Saab 340s.
Aviation Partners flying high on more winglet sales Kingfisher orders three Thales full flight simulators CAE launches Global Academy to address looming pilot shortage Boeing says interest in 747-8 Intercontinental growing European industry commits to new green program Boeing launches GoldCare Program Additional stories
Finnair will resume service to Lisbon with thrice-weekly flights from Helsinki beginning March 29 aboard A320s. In June, Finnair flew 1.55 billion RPKs, a 7.8% increase over the year-ago month. Capacity rose 2.9% to 1.97 billion ASKs and load factor climbed 3.5 points to 78.7%.
Varig was granted one more lifeline by a Rio de Janeiro bankruptcy court, which is putting the airline up for sale a third time at an auction scheduled today. Creditors rejected VarigLog's offer on Monday ( ATWOnline, July 19), and an initial bid from an employee-led consortium collapsed when it was unable to make a cash down payment.
Kenya Airways took delivery of a 767-300, part of a fleet modernization that also will see it receive four 737-800s and phase out three 737-200s this year.
AirAsia will have the lift to match its ambition after signing a contract with Airbus for 40 A320 family aircraft and 30 options, the manufacturer announced yesterday. The deal is worth approximately $2.7 billion, according to press reports. AirAsia Group, comprising the Malaysian mainline, Thai AirAsia and AirAsia Indonesia, is replacing its 737 fleet. It currently operates 21 737-300s and seven A320s, with another 53 already on order. Thai AirAsia has nine dash 300s.
United Airlines flew 10.76 billion system RPMs in June, a 2.3% rise over the year-ago month. Capacity increased 2.2% to 12.18 billion ASMs and load factor inched up 0.2 point to 88.3%. Alitalia flew 3.39 billion RPKs in June, a 0.5% increase over the year-ago month, as capacity fell 4.2% to 4.59 billion ASKs. Load factor rose 3.7 points to 73.9%. ExpressJet flew 947.8 million RPMs in June, up 17.6% from the year-ago month. ASMs increased 9.4% to 1.15 billion, lifting load factor 5.7 points to 82.4%.
ILFC boosts Boeing order book Grupo Marsans commits to up to 22 A330s ILFC keeping A380 orders, seeks compensation New Indian carrier orders 777Fs Thales delivers TopFlight SDU lab unit in record time Southwest big in blended winglets Additional stories Farnborough News from July 17, July 18, July 19
Thales will supply two A320 full flight simulators and one ATR full flight simulator to Kingfisher Airlines in a deal valued at more than $24 million. Contract also includes an A320 maintenance/flight training device and a turnkey maintenance support package.
Air Caraibes of Guadeloupe signed a contract for the purchase of an A330-300 for use on services to Paris. Delivery is scheduled for November 2008. The carrier operates two A330-200s and one dash 300. The new aircraft will seat 372 and replace a leased dash 200.
