Air France-KLM announced the signing of a protocol agreement finalizing implementation of a European Works Council to "inform and consult workers about all matters concerning the Group as well as issues of a transnational character." The joint body, established to conform with European law, will supersede those of the individual airlines but will not replace staff representative bodies from each company and in each country. The council will comprise 37 members appointed or elected for a period of four years.
In observance of the Presidents' Day holiday in the US, the next edition of Daily News will appear on Wednesday, Feb. 22. However, ATWOnline will report the latest news from Asian Aerospace in Singapore on Tuesday, Feb. 21.
Air Canada Jazz and Toronto Port Authority exchanged broadsides over the former's eviction from Toronto City Centre Airport Wednesday. Jazz, which operates five weekday roundtrips to Ottawa and is the airport's only scheduled commercial carrier, said it would be suspending service there during March due to "continuing uncertainty" and the "surprising unwillingness of the [TPA] to assist its longest-standing commercial airline in finding alternate facilities at the Island Airport." The carrier said it was served a notice of termination on Jan.
China Eastern Airlines contracted EADS EFW for the conversion of three A300-600 passenger aircraft to freighters. The first is expected to enter EADS EFW's Dresden facility in December. The remaining conversions will take place during 2007.
Rising fuel costs and "aggressive competitor capacity increases" contributed to a 9.6% decline in Qantas's half-year profits to A$352.6 million ($261.3 million) in the six months ended Dec. 31 from A$390.2 million in the year-ago period. The airline expects those difficult conditions to continue through the current semester, saying, "While further reforms in the business are underway, and coupled with the high fuel price, we do not expect to achieve the same levels of profitability in the current financial year."
Finnair lost €2.9 million ($3.4 million) in the quarter ended Dec. 31 compared to a profit of €3.9 million in the final quarter of 2004, but still managed to end the year with an impressive bottom line as its annual profit more than doubled to €61.4 million from €25.6 million.
Caribbean Sun Airlines and Caribbean Star Airlines are working with Decision Strategies Inc. on a comprehensive "strategic business plan" for long-term growth and development, the companies said in a statement. The carriers are affiliated but operate as separate companies providing Regional service to 18 Caribbean destinations, although they now are considering expanding "to other areas of the region and beyond," according to CEO Skip Barnette.
Embraer 170 has been certified by Brazilian and European aviation authorities to perform CAT IIIa autoland operations. Aircraft also is certified for CAT I and CAT II operational conditions. Certification is expected soon from US FAA.
Northwest Airlines will increase service from Indianapolis, adding a daily San Francisco flight from June 1, an additional daily frequency to Los Angeles from June 8 and seasonal service to Seattle June 8-Aug. 21, all aboard A319s.
US Dept. of Transportation reported yesterday that domestic traffic in November grew 2.3% to 43.87 billion RPMs. Capacity fell 2.2% to 59.87 billion ASMs, lifting load factor 3.3 points to 73.3%. Southwest Airlines led with 7.4 million enplanements. Mountain Air Cargo of North Carolina carried 8.2 million lb. of freight in January.
Air France-KLM reported a sharp increase in net earnings in the third fiscal quarter ended Dec. 31 to €77 million ($91.7 million) from €23 million in the year-ago quarter thanks to "dynamic" passenger activity featuring record load factors and strong unit revenues plus an "encouraging recovery" of its cargo business.
Republic Airways, which operates Republic Airlines, Chautauqua Airlines and Shuttle America, reported a net income of $60.6 million for 2005 compared to a $38.8 million profit the prior year. Operating revenues jumped 40% to $905 million as expenses increased 34.5% to $746.3 million, leading to a 73.8% rise in operating profit to $158.7 million. Traffic grew 47.5% to 4.52 billion RPMs on a 42.1% capacity increase to 6.56 billion ASMs, sending load factor up 2.5 points to 68.8%. Republic lifted its operating fleet to 142 aircraft from 111 in 2004.
India and Italy signed an expanded air services agreement Wednesday in New Delhi adding frequencies, destinations and fifth freedom rights on specified city-pairs.
Northwest Airlines and its unions were given an extra week to reach an accord by a US Bankruptcy Court yesterday. Judge Allan Gropper originally was scheduled to rule Thursday whether the carrier could cancel agreements with its pilots and flight attendants, but after meeting with attorneys during the day he gave NWA and its unions until close of business on Feb. 24 to negotiate. "We will continue our efforts to reach a consensual agreement," Professional Flight Attendants Assn. President Guy Meek said.
SITA and Airservices Australia announced an alliance to offer ADS-B services across Australia's entire upper-level airspace by early 2007. The two also will support an Indonesian Directorate General for Air Communications ADS-B trial in Indonesia.
UK's National Air Traffic Services and its Spanish counterpart Aena officially launched a joint venture company, cementing a memorandum of cooperation signed last year to develop an air traffic management system for both countries. It is the first time two national air navigation service providers have collaborated in such a commercial venture, both parties stressed. The new company, to be called SACTA ATM, will develop the Spanish ATC system SACTA to a point where it also is capable of managing UK airspace. The system will be introduced first in Gran Canaria in 2007.
Jet Airways, fresh off its acquisition of Air Sahara, is considering ordering the A380 or 747-8, CEO Wolfgang Prock-Schauer told ATWOnline. He said delivery positions for either aircraft will not be available before the 2010-11 timeframe, "when we will need more capacity."
Airbus said it is studying two types of wingtip devices for the A320 family to improve aerodynamic performance and reduce fuel burn. The devices will be flight-tested on Airbus's A320 development aircraft in March. In addition, JetBlue Airways will provide an A320 for part of the test program. Winglet Technology LLC, located in Wichita, will supply one of the winglet designs for testing. Airbus said development of the devices is the result of "more sophisticated analysis techniques," in particular arising out of the A380 program.
Swedish LCC FlyMe has committed to acquiring Lithuanian Airlines. FlyMe will be issued a 33% stake in Lithuanian and gain control through the appointment of a new MD and the majority of the board. It will purchase the remaining shares over the next three years. FlyMe, headquartered in Gothenburg, launched two years ago and operates five 737s. Lithuanian, which was privatized last year, flies five 737-500s and two Saab 2000s and runs its own MRO operation.
In an effort to recapture some of the single-aisle market, reestablish its relationship with certain carriers and set the stage for its role in developing a next-generation single-aisle engine, Pratt & Whitney yesterday announced its intention to manufacture, certify and market replacement CFM56-3 parts for the 737-300/-400/-500 series through its new Global Material Solutions business.
Temasek Holdings, the controlling shareholder of Singapore Airlines and a major investor in two Singapore-based LCCs, Tiger Airways and Jetstar Asia, will retain a sizeable stake in Thai AirAsia under a new ownership structure announced yesterday to keep the carrier in compliance with Thai laws on foreign ownership. Last week, Temasek acquired Thai telecom giant Shin Corp. ( ATWOnline, Feb. 9), which owns 50% of Thai AirAsia. The other major shareholder is AirAsia with 49%. Thai AirAsia CEO Tasapon Bijleveld holds 1%.
Delta Air Lines' turbulent year, which featured its September bankruptcy filing, ended with a net loss of $3.82 billion, or $2.21 billion excluding reorganization and special items, with the former figure representing a 26.5% improvement over a 2004 deficit of $5.2 billion.
EasyJet is adding four direct routes from Glasgow, bringing the number of destinations served from its Scottish base to nine and increasing capacity by 19%. A daily flight to Berlin Schoenefeld commences May 3, dailies to Alicante and Malaga start July 7 and a weekly service to Palma begins May 20. The route to Berlin is a result of investment from the Scottish Executive in the form of a route development fund. EasyJet also will benefit from funding and marketing support from VisitScotland and the Glasgow City Marketing Bureau.
