AIRUnion, the alliance of Russian airlines under a single management company, wants to move toward a full merger in 2006, an official said in Moscow ( ATWOnline, Sept. 21). Members of the group are Krasair, Domodedovo Airlines, Omskavia, Samara Airlines and Sibaviatrans. Should the combination take place, the resulting carrier will surpass Sibir to become the second-largest in Russia in terms of passengers. AIRUnion currently operates about 100 aircraft and has begun taking delivery of 10 737-200s, VP-Sales and Marketing/International Affairs Urs Herzig told ATWOnline.
Alitalia's unions warned they will stage multiple strikes totaling 72 hr. beginning Nov. 29 with a 24-hr. walkout by pilots and flight attendants. The financially troubled carrier on Monday launched its rights issue in an attempt to raise about €1 billion to finance its 2005-08 restructuring plan and avoid insolvency ( ATWOnline, Nov. 14). Unions claim it is not doing enough. "It's not just today that the industrial strategy is lacking," six unions said in a joint statement published in Italian media.
Kenya Airways ordered its fourth 777-200ER and placed an option for a fifth, Boeing announced yesterday. KQ also will lease its sixth 767-300ER. The firm 777 will deliver in 2007 and be powered by Trent 800s.
"Crown Rent Policy Madness," a headline on a statement released yesterday by IATA, was emblematic of the vitriol directed toward the Canadian government and the Greater Toronto Airports Authority following GTAA's proposal to increase landing fees 6.9% and terminal fees 8.9% for 2006, making Pearson International Airport the most expensive in the world, according to IATA.
American Airlines launched daily service from Chicago O'Hare to Delhi yesterday, becoming the second US carrier to operate nonstop to India after Continental ( ATWOnline, Nov. 1). AA is using 777-200ERs on its longest nonstop route. Air New Zealand will suspend direct service between Auckland and Taipei after March 24. It said the number of passengers has declined by approximately one-third.
BCI Aircraft Leasing of Chicago acquired three 767-300ERs subject to operating leases with Germany's TUI. Valued at $90 million, the transaction was financed by BCI and a commercial lending syndicate.
Qatar Airways and Arkia Airlines reached an agreement that allows Arkia passengers to fly from Tel Aviv to Amman and then connect on Qatar Airways via Doha to destinations in Asia and Africa, according to media reports. It is the first such accord between Israeli and Persian Gulf airlines.
The European Parliament voted yesterday to introduce a publicly available EU-wide blacklist of airlines that do not meet safety requirements ( ATWOnline, Oct. 13). The vote followed by one day the proposal by the European Commission to extend the powers of the European Aviation Safety Agency to manage air operations, including licensing pilots and overseeing third-country airlines in the EU ( ATWOnline, Nov. 16).
Boeing and negotiators for the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace reached a tentative agreement yesterday on a new three-year contract covering nearly 18,000 engineering and technical employees in the western US. Highlights of the deal, which is subject to ratification by union membership, include average engineering salary increases from $82,060 to at least $95,884 and technical employee increases from $61,774 to $71,134, an incentive plan including a potential of 20 days extra pay, and improved health, pension and 401(k) benefits.
Northwest Airlines yesterday received bankruptcy court approval to impose temporary wage and benefit reductions valued at $114 million per year on its ground workers represented by the International Assn. of Machinists. NWA sought authority under Section 1113e after it was unable to reach agreement with the union on temporary pay and benefit reductions. Pilots ratified an interim contract Tuesday totaling $215 million in annual givebacks ( ATWOnline, Nov. 16), while flight attendants have consented to $117 million in cuts.
Airbus and Boeing will face off at next week's Dubai Air Show, which begins Nov. 20. Airbus will bring its A380, marking the aircraft's first appearance at an air show outside Europe. It will be painted in the livery of host airline Emirates, the largest customer with orders for 45, and will participate in the daily flying display. Airbus also is expected to provide further information on the newly launched A350. Boeing, meanwhile, will bring the 777-200LR fresh off its record-setting 11,664-m. (21,601 km.) nonstop flight between Hong Kong and London ( ATWOnline, Nov.
CasaAero, a joint venture between Alteon and Royal Air Maroc, opened its pilot training facility at Aeroport Casa Anfa Tuesday. It will house two 737 simulators.
United Airlines will close its Denver reservations office, eliminating 235 jobs, according to a Denver councilman. The airline will offer severance packages and transfer opportunities to displaced employees, Councilman Michael Hancock told the Denver Business Journal.
Virgin Blue reported a net profit of A$105.2 million ($77.2 million) for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, down 33.1% compared to income of A$157 million in the previous year. The company also declared a A$0.25 per share dividend, or A$262 million, which will provide controlling shareholder Patrick Corp. with A$164 million in cash with which to fight a hostile takeover by Toll Holdings that is supported by Virgin Group's Richard Branson, Bloomberg reported.
ANA will move into the new South Wing of Narita Airport Terminal 1 in June 2006, along with fellow Star Alliance members Air Canada, Asiana, Austrian, Lufthansa, Scandinavian, Singapore, Thai, United and Varig.
Aviareto, a joint venture between SITA SC and the Irish government charged by the Preparatory Commission for the International Registry under the auspices of ICAO to establish and operate the International Registry of Mobile Assets, said the registry will go live March 1 as Malaysia recently became the 8th country to ratify the Cape Town Treaty, effectively bringing it into force ( ATWOnline, Nov. 8).
British Airways will invest £100 million ($173.8 million) in a major overhaul of its long-haul business class, including a revamp of all aspects of passenger services on the ground and in the air. The carrier contracted B/E Aerospace to design and manufacture "next generation" lie-flat seat-beds that will begin delivery in mid-2006. BA was the first airline to introduce a lie-flat business class seat. It said it also will make a major upgrade to its inflight entertainment system in all four cabins.
MAIR Holdings, parent of Mesaba Airlines, reported a net loss of $25.5 million for its fiscal second quarter ended Sept. 30. The loss was attributed to a pre-tax charge of $36.5 million for impairments and other charges related to the bankruptcy filing of Mesaba partner Northwest Airlines. The company earned a $4.7 million profit in the year-ago quarter. Operating revenue was up less than 1% to $114.9 million, while operating expenses increased 45.4% to $155 million.
SAS Ground Services announced that Britannia Airways AB is renewing its contract for ground handling services for three years. The deal covers more than 2,000 departures annually and will include automatic check-in for Britannia customers at Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen. Meanwhile, SAS Ground Services Norway AS will be the first ground handler in Europe to test infrared deicing. A hangar currently is being set up at Oslo and testing is expected to begin early next year.
Royal Jordanian added a Q400 to its RJ Express short-haul fleet. A second Q400 will join RJ in December. The carrier will operate the aircraft, leased from Bombardier, on regional routes that include Damascus, Aleppo, Tel Aviv, Aqaba, Sharm El Sheikh and Al Arish.
Thanks in no small part to a €635.1 million ($742.6 million) net capital gain earned through the sale of its 18% stake in Amadeus ( ATWOnline, April 15), Iberia Group reported yesterday a net profit of €372.5 million for the quarter ended Sept. 30, a fourfold increase over the €87.8 million profit achieved in the 2004 third quarter.
United Airlines received more than 7,500 applications to fill 2,000 flight attendant positions on the first day its recruitment website went live Nov. 13, more than seven times the expected number, according to Senior VP-Onboard Service Jane Allen. The carrier said it already has identified more than 2,600 people who meet its criteria. It is conducting screening interviews and will begin final interviews Nov. 21 in Chicago. United announced last week its intent to hire attendants for the first time since 2001 ( ATWOnline, Nov. 14).
