Northwest Airlines' traffic fell 5.1% to 5.47 billion RPMs last month against a 9.1% decline in capacity to 6.74 billion ASMs. Passenger load factor rose 3.5 points over the year-ago month to 81.2%. Norwegian's November traffic surged over the year-ago month thanks to additional routes and "adjustments to production capacity," according to the carrier. RPKs climbed 79% to 225 million and capacity rose 53% to 306 million ASKs, driving an 11-point increase in load factor to 74%.
US domestic system capacity could decline by as much as 5% in 2006, setting the stage for improved domestic pricing, which in turn would result in better liquidity and balance sheet health, according to Fitch Ratings.
Mercator, the IT division of Emirates Group, won its first contract in Eastern Europe for its airline passenger revenue accounting solution from Tarom of Romania. FAA awarded a $1.35 million contract to AeroSat Airborne Internet to demonstrate and evaluate basic concepts and components of the Airborne Internet System. The one-year contract calls for AeroSat to conduct Airborne Internet flight demonstrations on FAA aircraft.
SriLankan Airlines lashed out at Pakistan and Bangladesh over restrictions it claims are hindering its growth. CEO Peter Hill, speaking at the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation 2006 Outlook conference in Kuala Lumpur, called on the governments of the two countries to liberalize aviation access. "Pakistan and Bangladesh have yet to take a leaf from India's book and open their skies," Hill told delegates. "India is now the premier tourism generating country to Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka is one of the main tourism generating countries to India."
Arger Enterprises partnered with Japan Airlines on a five-year development and purchasing contract estimated to be worth about $20 million in PMA parts and battery and ground support equipment.
Panasonic Avionics Corp. joined Thales as a recommended inflight entertainment system provider for the 787, Boeing said. Panasonic will offer a wireless version of its X-Series platform called X-Series Wireless. Thales's offering, the wireless TopSeries I-8000, was chosen by Boeing early last month ( ATWOnline, Oct. 3).
Gol launched its Voe Facil (Fly Easy) Program allowing Brazilian residents to pay for tickets in up to 36 monthly installments. Customers can apply for a Fly Easy card and make purchases through the carrier's website.
JetWorks Leasing named Sigma Aircraft co-founder and President Anders Hebrand president and COO. The two companies announced they have entered into an alliance in which JetWorks will assume management of aircraft currently under Sigma asset management contracts.
Engine Alliance said its GP7200, selected to power Emirates' A380s, has completed the certification tests required by FAA. Certification is expected this month. The engine ran at more than 94,000 lb. thrust and has accumulated nearly 3,000 hr. and 7,000 cycles. It holds the market share lead with 58% of announced A380 firm orders, according to the GE-Pratt & Whitney joint venture.
Yemenia confirmed that it is in initial talks with Airbus and Boeing to acquire up to 10 midsize widebody aircraft for delivery by 2012. It is expected that the order will be six firm aircraft and four options. The carrier plans to simplify its fleet down to two aircraft types. Yemenia currently operates two A330-200s, four A310-300s and three 737-800s.
Flughafen Wien, which operates Vienna Airport, has purchased through its VIE Malta subsidiary more than 5% of Malta Airport from the Maltese government. No information was released about the size of the stake. Flughafen Wien already owns 57% of a four-member consortium that controls 40% of Malta Airport. European Commission cleared the acquisition of sole control of Copenhagen Airports A/S of Denmark by Macquarie Bank Group subsidiary Macquarie Airports Copenhagen. Copenhagen Airports owns and operates airports in Kastrup and Roskilde.
AD Aerospace was selected by Boeing to provide video monitoring for the forthcoming 747-400 Large Cargo Freighter, enabling crew to view the main-deck cargo hold from the flight deck.
US Airways chose GEnx engines to power 20 A350s ordered last month ( ATWOnline, Nov. 30). GE valued the business at $400 million. Deliveries begin in 2011.
Airbus's negotiations with Chinese authorities ( ATWOnline, Nov. 30) resulted in a blockbuster contract as the airframer reached a "general terms agreement" with Chinese Aviation Supplies Import and Export Group for the purchase of 150 A320 family aircraft.
Major US airlines, unions and caterer Gate Gourmet yesterday urged members of Congress to support "swift passage of H.R. 2830, the Pension Protection Act," in the House of Representatives. The Senate has passed a pension reform bill and awaits House action. In a joint letter to House members, representatives of American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, Gate Gourmet, the Air Line Pilots Assn., Allied Pilots Assn., Transport Workers Union, Assn. of Professional Flight Attendants and Professional Flight Attendants Assn.
European transport ministers showed no overwhelming enthusiasm yesterday for the provisional open skies agreement reached between negotiators of the European Commission and the US government last month ( ATWOnline, Nov. 21). The ministers of the 25 EU member states were supportive of the progress achieved to date in the Open Aviation Area talks, yet they stressed to reporters that an accord is conditional on the US relaxing limits on foreign ownership and control.
United Airlines would boost service at its Denver hub in exchange for the airport's forgiving $184 million in debt that the bankrupt carrier owes on DEN's failed baggage system, the Associated Press reported. The service increase would come as UA faces off against Southwest Airlines, which is returning to the Denver market next year after a 20-year absence.
Amicus union members and Birmingham International Airport agreed to third-party arbitration, ending the threat of a strike over the disputed termination of two workers that would have closed the airport during the Christmas holidays, the BBC reported.
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is negotiating with Cargolux to buy the 33.7% stake currently held by SAirLogistics in the Luxembourg-based all-cargo carrier, Cargolux confirmed to ATWOnline. "There are many other airlines that are contacting our board or some of our board members" regarding the stake, Communications Director Marc Schonckert noted. According to information obtained by this website, Cargolux has held discussions in the past two years with Air China, Qatar Airways and Texas Pacific, among others.
Virgin Nigeria CEO Simon Harford announced he will be leaving the airline, which commenced operations June 28 and currently flies to London Gatwick, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Accra, Douala and Johannesburg.
Boeing appears to be ahead by a nose in the intense battle for a $15 billion, 100-plus-aircraft order from Qantas pitting its 787 and 777 against Airbus's A350 and A340. The Qantas board will make a selection at its Wednesday meeting, with an announcement expected before the Australian Stock Exchange opens the following day. Boeing's pitch has been helped by Cathay Pacific's order for the 777-300ER ( ATWOnline, Dec. 2) and the recently announced 1.4% improvement in that aircraft's fuel burn.
