Volare Airlines' proposed sale has attracted offers from about 10 groups, including Alitalia, AirOne, Meridiana, Eurofly and easyJet, La Stampa reported. Deadline for submission of takeover bids for the Italian carrier was Sunday at noon. Alitalia Chairman and CEO Giancarlo Cimoli said last week that his carrier might buy Volare "if the price is fair" ( ATWOnline, Nov. 17). The LCC, which offers domestic and European low-fare flights under the volareweb.com brand, collapsed last year along with Air Europe, its carrier for intercontinental scheduled and charter flights.
Northwest Airlines discontinued absorbing passenger facility charges as of yesterday. The carrier said it traditionally absorbed the charges by marking down base fares, thereby staying price competitive with service through connecting hubs that do not charge PFCs. It said the practice cost it $80 million in 2004 alone. The resulting fare hike on US routes will amount to $1.50-$4.50 each way depending on itinerary. GDS improvements will allow NWA to raise prices on individual tickets depending on the PFC at a particular airport in order to maintain fare consistency.
Heico Corp.'s Flight Support Group, through its Heico Aerospace Holdings subsidiary, acquired a 51% interest in New York-based Seal Dynamics for cash. SDI is a designer and distributor of approved hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical and electromechanical components. Heico AH is owned 20% by Lufthansa Technik.
New version of the A340-500/-600 made a 4.5-hr. maiden flight over Toulouse yesterday as part of a six-month certification campaign. Powered by Trent 500s, the new 380-ton model will fly up to 7,900 nm., carrying the same number of passengers an additional 250 nm., according to Airbus. Qatar Airways will take delivery of the first aircraft next summer. Boeing had more good news from its recent 777-200LR record-breaking flight from Hong Kong to London ( ATWOnline, Nov. 11), telling media in Dubai that fuel consumption was 0.9% better that expected.
Jazeera Airways ordered six additional A320s, taking its commitment to 10. The privately owned LCC launched in October with its first two A320s. The newly ordered aircraft will seat 165 in a single-class configuration and will be powered by CFM56-5s. "We have shown that, with the Airbus A320, we can deliver a quality product at an affordable price, and we are now looking to spread that success more widely," Jazeera Chairman and CEO Marwan Boodai said.
SN Brussels Airlines signed a cooperation agreement with Air Senegal International. From Dec. 1, the Senegalese airline will add its code and sell seats on the six weekly flights operated by SN between Brussels and Dakar with A330-300s.
International Lease Finance Corp. confirmed its order for 20 787s and four options, worth approximately $2.7 billion, at the Dubai Air Show. ILFC President and CEO John Plueger told ATWOnline that the leasing giant is "in discussions with three 787 customers" to take the new aircraft, which will include both dash 8s and dash 9s. Deliveries will commence in January 2010.
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary said he will step down in 2008. The LCC's outspoken chief executive told the Irish Independent it would be time to go once the "outstanding issues" of a new terminal in Dublin and a new runway at London Stansted are resolved.
Airbus firmed up a June order from Alafco, the Kuwait-based international aircraft leasing company, for 12 A350-800s with options on six more ( ATWOnline, June 15). It is the first leasing company to select the type. Deliveries are due to begin in the third quarter of 2012. Alafco Chairman and CEO Ahmed Alzabin sang the aircraft's praises at the Dubai Air Show, saying, "We believe in investing for the future, and the Airbus A350 is a great way to do that."
Low-Cost Aircraft Leasing finally has announced its order for six 787s. The order was placed in May and listed on Boeing's website, but no customer was identified. The deal is valued at approximately $780 million and deliveries will begin in September 2009, according to the manufacturer. The first leasing company to commit to the 787, LCAL is planning to order another nine and will base its portfolio around the type. They will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000s, although the company also is discussing the GEnx with General Electric.
Boeing's big weekend in Dubai was boosted by reports that the Chinese government will buy 70 737s as part of an effort to mitigate its expected $200 billion trade surplus with the US. The $4 billion deal reportedly is the largest in Chinese aviation history. No formal announcement was made, but US National Security Council Senior Director-Asian Affairs Mike Green confirmed the order to reporters traveling in China with President George Bush, saying, "It's a very important thing and I think it's a testament to how our approach to China is yielding real results."
Murray Air Certifications of Michigan has been recognized by FAA as a Certification Consultant qualified to assist carriers in earning their Part 121 air carrier certifications.
TAP Portugal will acquire 10 A350s and seven A330-200s to modernize and reinforce its long-haul fleet, Airbus announced at the Dubai Air Show, noting the decision brings the number of sales for the A350 to 143 from 10 customers. TAP, an all-Airbus operator, will add the new A330-200s starting from 2007 in response to increased demand for its destinations in South America, Africa and North America. A350 deliveries will begin in 2013. Both types will be fitted with a two-class layout and the A330-200s will accommodate 268 passengers. "This order. .
Watermark Ltd. announced a deal with AeroBox Composite Structures to become the exclusive sales agent for its products in the Middle East and parts of Asia. Watermark negotiated a five-year supply agreement for AeroBox composite containers worth more than $6 million.
Boeing may have received some unexpected help from Emirates in its bid to sell 777-200LRs to Qantas. Emirates President Tim Clark told ATWOnline he thinks that if Qantas orders the type, it will "make a great success" of its proposed premium-class Sydney-London nonstop operation; "I am sure they will fill it every day." Emirates ordered 10 777-200LRs Monday to open routes such as Dubai-Houston and Dubai-Rio de Janeiro.
Air France Industries will open a component logistics center at Abu Dhabi early next year as part of its effort to become the world's leading 777 service provider. AFI celebrated the 90th 777 to join its repair services on a flight-hour basis with Saudi Arabian Airlines' 23-strong 777 fleet.
Embraer is forecasting a continued decline in demand for jets in the 30/60-seat range with demand for 60/120-seaters continuing to grow. "There is an increased market demand for 61-to-120-seat aircraft as a result of Regional airlines' natural growth, replacement of aging aircraft, right-sizing requirements from network airlines and low-cost carriers' expansion to mid-sized markets," the airframer's market outlook, released Friday, stated. Embraer estimates that 3,350 aircraft will be delivered between 2006 and 2015 and another 4,600 between 2016 and 2025.
Macair Cargo was named the exclusive cargo general sales agent for Ghana International Airlines' daily Accra-London Gatwick service. GIA flies 757s on the route but intends to increase freight capacity with the introduction of a 767.
Indian Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said the government will invite private investment in state-owned Air-India and Indian Airlines but does not intend to privatize more than a 20% ownership. India's state-owned carriers have been starved for investment for many years, subjected to bureaucratic meddling, and face increasing competition from a wave of new entrants. "The two airlines need more financial muscle and more equity.
Assn. of Asia Pacific Airlines DG Andrew Herdman cautioned delegates at the 49th Assembly of Presidents in Hong Kong that slowing cargo demand is a warning sign for the industry. "So far the lower growth rate has not shown up in passenger growth, but the lower demand for cargo shipments is an early warning sign that the fuel price is impacting economies," Herdman said. Cargo traffic grew a robust 14.5% in the 2004-05 year but was up only 4.7% in the first six months of the current year. July actually saw a decline of 0.7% in FTKs.
Kingfisher Airlines appears set to place a $2 billion Airbus order at this week's Dubai Air Show. The six-month-old carrier is likely to order 30 A320s and 20 ATR turboprops, according to media reports and at least two company executives, who confirmed the order to reporters. The startup placed a $3 billion order consisting of five A380s, five A350-800s and five A330-200s at the Paris Air Show last summer ( ATWOnline, June 16).
Southwest Airlines will take four more gates at Chicago Midway from ATA Airlines under terms of an agreement presented to the bankruptcy court in Indianapolis, a Southwest spokesperson confirmed Friday. If approved, the deal will give Southwest control of 29 of the airport's 43 gates, leaving ATA with one. In exchange for the four gates, Southwest will forgive $20 million of a $47 million debtor-in-possession loan it granted ATA.
Continental Airlines and its flight attendants, represented by the International Assn. of Machinists, edged closer to a possible strike early next year after the two sides adjourned mediated talks in Washington last week without a new contract. In a statement, the airline said that "the issues have been narrowed to a few remaining items," and another bargaining session has been scheduled for Dec. 7-8 in the offices of the National Mediation Board.
