A strategic plan outlining future cooperation between SN Brussels Airlines and Virgin Express is to be presented to the board of parent SN Airholding today, Virgin Express MD Neil Burrows confirmed to ATWOnline.
Stockholm-based European Aeronautical Group signed a five-year agreement to supply Air Berlin with its Route Manual, eRM electronic Route Manual, Navdata and Airport Obstacle Database applications.
Alitalia denied press speculation that it is increasing its planned workforce reduction to eliminate an additional 2,000 jobs as part of a revision to its business plan.
Spirit Airlines selected the IAE V2500 to power three A321s. The deal, including a long-term fleet hour agreement, was valued at more than $50 million by IAE. The A321s are in addition to 15 firm orders already placed by Spirit, according to IAE. The Florida-based LCC also has options on 47 aircraft and plans to lease an additional 20 A320 family aircraft.
Damage from Hurricane Katrina will affect airline operations in New Orleans and Gulfport-Biloxi at least through the end of this week. According to a statement on FAA's website, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is expected to resume commercial operations Friday. A reopening date for Gulfport-Biloxi Regional Airport has not been determined.
Ryanair is to withdraw up to 12 flights per week from Newquay following a decision by the Cornwall County Council to impose a £5 ($8.90) surcharge on passengers departing from the airport. "Ryanair has always made it very clear to Cornwall County Council that their airport and region is part of a competitive price-sensitive market that must compete with 84 other low-fare destinations from London Stansted," Deputy CEO Michael Cawley said.
China Southern Airlines said it finalized an earlier commitment for 10 787s, part of a commitment from six Chinese airlines for 60 Dreamliners announced in January. The first 787 will be delivered to China Southern in July 2008, one month prior to the start of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. The remaining aircraft will be delivered through 2010. Last month, China Eastern, Air China, Shanghai Airlines and Xiamen Airlines said they had signed up for 42 787s ( ATWOnline, Aug. 9), leaving only Hainan Airlines to consummate an order for six.
Iberia Cargo is using a new refrigeration chamber facility at Madrid Barajas to store flowers before their transshipment to other Spanish cities and Central European destinations. Iberia said it transports "about 13.5% of all the flowers carried between Latin America and Europe."
Switzerland-based elite travel specialist PrivatAir added another airline customer for its services tailored to long, thin business markets. Beginning Oct. 30, the company will operate a Boeing Business Jet on behalf of KLM between Amsterdam Schiphol and Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport six times per week. The BBJ, which is based on the 737-700, will be equipped with 44 lie-flat business class seats in a 2-2 configuration.
Helios Airways said Tuesday that its two 737-800s successfully completed safety checks in Sweden and reentered operations. "In-depth safety checks covered the major aircraft systems, ensuring the full airworthiness of the aircraft," the charter airline stated. Meanwhile, the investigation continues into the circumstances surrounding the Aug. 14 accident involving a Helios 737-300 in Greece. All 121 people onboard were killed when the aircraft ran out of fuel and crashed near Athens.
Republic Airlines, a subsidiary of Republic Airways Holdings, received a Part 121 Airworthiness Certificate from FAA that will allow it to begin scheduled passenger operations of Embraer 170s for US Airways Express in September. Republic Airlines expects to operate up to 28 of the aircraft on behalf of that carrier, which is merging with America West. "Obviously we are pleased that we have completed the process," spokesperson Warren Wilkinson told ATWOnline.
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport remained closed yesterday owing to storm damage and flood waters from Hurricane Katrina as US airlines continued to cancel flights into the Gulf Coast region, with many not expecting to resume service before Friday. An even bigger challenge for the carriers is the price of oil, which surged to more than $70 per barrel as refineries in the region shut down in the face of the storm. In Washington, Air Transport Assn.
Etihad Airways will commence twice-weekly service to Johannesburg Dec. 3 using A340-300s configured for 265 passengers in three classes. Kenya Airways will operate a weekly service from London Heathrow Terminal 4 to Mombasa via Nairobi using a 777 beginning Dec. 9. Swiss International Air Lines will start a new cooperation with Darwin Airline from Lugano to Zurich with four daily flights from Oct. 30. Darwin plans to double its Saab 2000 fleet to four aircraft.
General Electric said Republic Airways signed a 10-year, $150 million OnPoint Solutions service agreement covering maintenance, overhaul and repair of 110 CF34-8E engines powering its Embraer 170s. OnPoint services include overhaul, on-wing support, new and used parts, component repair, technology upgrades, engine leasing and diagnostics.
United Airlines awarded a five-year contract covering all of its 777 heavy airframe maintenance to Ameco Beijing, the 60/40 joint venture between Air China and Lufthansa. Value of the deal was not supplied. More than 50 heavy maintenance visits are planned for the first three years, with as many as 80 over the contractual period. Work begins in October with five aircraft nose-to-tail, Ameco said. United's 777 fleet numbers 53 aircraft of which 52 are in service, according to Airclaims data.
ARINC was selected as data link service provider for AeroMexico. Under a contract just signed, ARINC will provide its GlobaLink VHF data link service to the carrier.
Arab Air Carrier Organization said its 23 member airlines transported 9.1 million passengers in the first quarter of 2005, up 6.7% compared to the year-ago period. Based on data from most of the carriers, RPKs for the group rose 8.7% to 1.9 billion while ASKs grew 7.1% to 2.78 billion. Load factor improved slightly to 68.6% from 68.4%.
The 100-seat Embraer 190 powered by GE CF34 engines received type certification from Brazilian certification authority CTA "on schedule," Embraer said yesterday, moving it one step closer to delivery to launch customer JetBlue. US FAA is expected to follow shortly with its own type certification. JetBlue has 100 firm orders for the aircraft with another 100 options.
American Airlines Cargo will raise its fuel surcharge from $0.45/kg. to $0.50/kg. for most US-origin international shipments and from $0.18/lb. to $0.20/lb. for domestic shipments, effective Sept. 5. It hiked the surcharge associated with its Priority Parcel Service product from $1 to $3 per shipment.
France intends to begin taxing airline tickets next year to raise development funds for Africa. "I have asked the government to start the necessary procedures so that such a levy is in place from next year," French President Jacques Chirac said. Despite major lobbying efforts by France and Germany to introduce a Europewide tax of €1 or €2 on each ticket, finance ministers in May only agreed to a voluntary tax with the decision on whether to make it mandatory left to individual EU members.
Lufthansa and Fraport, which operates its Frankfurt hub, reached an agreement on cutting the cost of ground handling at the airport. According to Reuters, which cited management board member Carsten Spohr, Lufthansa will not achieve its target of reducing its €160 million ($195.9 million) bill by €50 million when a contract expires at year end, "but we will significantly reduce our costs."
US airlines cancelled dozens of flights across the Gulf Coast region as Hurricane Katrina came ashore yesterday. As of midday Monday, Continental said it had cancelled 111 flights at airports in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana. A spokesperson for American Airlines said AA had cancelled 36 flights and American Eagle 65 flights. US Airways cancelled 40 flights over Sunday and Monday, a spokesperson said, while United Airlines dropped 63.
Frontier Airlines filed an application with the US Dept. of Transportation for authorization to offer service between Indianapolis and Cancun with three flights per week. It already serves six destinations in Mexico and is awaiting DOT approval for service to Acapulco.
AirAsia reported a profit attributable to shareholders of MYR111.6 million ($29.6 million) for the fiscal year ended June 30, more than double the previous year's income of MYR49 million but 30% below the profit of MYR160 million in its float forecast. The lower results were attributed to a number of factors, among them a shortage of aircraft, higher fuel prices, "irrational competition" and the impact on air travel demand of the December tsunami disaster.
