Integration teams representing General Electric, Airbus and Goodrich have defined the "key interfaces" between the GEnx engine and the A350 inlet, nacelle and thrust reverser, GE said yesterday. The team also has been engaged in defining the engine mounts, gearbox concepts and engine pneumatic bleed and electrical systems. "In freezing the initial product definition and launching the GEnx engine, we have essentially established the performance parameters for the GEnx engine on the A350," said program GM Tom Brisken.
IATA reported an 8.3% increase in RPKs for the industry in June compared to the year-ago period, with the Middle East (14.8%), Latin America (12.4%) and Africa (11.2%) showing the largest gains. Capacity rose 7% and load factor stood at 76.6%. In freight traffic, FTKs rose 2.9% on an ATK increase of 6.3%. For the first half, RPKs were up 8.8% over the first half of 2004 while ASKs rose 7.4%. As a result, load factor averaged 74%. FTKs during the period climbed 3.4% on an ATK increase of 7.2%. "The story for the first half of the year is cargo.
Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, which emerged from Chapter 11 in July 2004, reported net income of $675,000 for the first quarter ended March 31, reversing a $58.6 million net loss in the year-ago period. Results for the 2005 quarter included $1.6 million in post-emergence costs and related professional fees, while results from the 2004 first quarter included $9.4 million in pre-petition costs. "Our first-quarter net profit, albeit modest, is an important achievement," President and CEO Jeffrey Erickson said.
Alaska Airlines aircraft technicians rejected a new four-year tentative contract reached with the company earlier this summer ( ATWOnline, June 17). According to the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Assn., of the 654 eligible voters, 325 voted against the agreement. However, the group did vote to move forward with a new method of profit-sharing.
Rockwell Collins entered into an agreement with Czech Airlines to provide its WXR-2100 MultiScan Hazard Weather Detection System and Airshow 4200 moving map and inflight information product for 12 A320s. The agreement also calls for an option on 12 additional aircraft with deliveries scheduled to begin in March 2006.
Megadata Corp. announced that Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport purchased several of its Passur products including the Passur portal, Passur Pulse and Passur inSight.
Mesa Air Group reported net income of $17.1 million for its fiscal third quarter ended June 30, up 77.4% over income of $9.7 million in the year-ago period, which was net of $1.1 million in special charges. Current-period results include net one-time investment gains of $0.7 million. "In spite of the difficult industry environment, we are pleased to have generated these results," Chairman and CEO Jonathan Ornstein said.
Austrian Airlines named Paul Paflik area manager-the Americas for sales and marketing based in New York. He succeeds Herbert Koschier, who becomes the new area manager-Australia, New Zealand and South West Pacific based in Sydney.
GECAS said it reached agreement to lease one A320 and three A319s to United Eagle Airlines of China. GECAS said the A320 is already in service with the Chengdu-based carrier, which launched operations this week ( ATWOnline, July 27). The three A319s will be delivered later this year.
European Aeronautical Group announced that British Airways and BA CitiExpress will become launch customers for eAerad, EAG's electronic adaptation of Aerad aeronautical charts. The airlines initially will use eAerad for office, planning, and crew briefing purposes.
Munich Airport operator FMG announced it will start the planning process leading to the construction of a third runway. During peak periods the existing two runways are operating at full capacity of 89 movements per hr., FMG said. It believes that to keep Munich in the forefront of Europe's hub airports, it must be able to handle 120 aircraft per hr. For the first half of the year, passengers increased 7% and aircraft movements rose 6%. No timeframe was given for the third runway project.
Republic Airways Holdings posted net income of $13.4 million for the second quarter ended June 30, up 85.2% over net income of $7.2 million in the prior-year period. Total operating revenues rose 35.8% to $188.8 million primarily as a result of a 40.7% increase in ASMs and a 26.5% jump in block hours. These numbers reflect the addition of 36 regional jets that were placed into service in June 2004, the company said.
Delta Air Lines CEO Gerald Grinstein warned employees in a memo Tuesday that although the carrier's Transformation Plan is delivering anticipated results, "it is not enough" in light of record oil prices and intense fare competition from low-cost carriers. The memo, which was reported in its entirety by the Associated Press yesterday, goes on to state, "The high price of fuel, the interest expense on our debt and other factors have significantly outpaced our transformation initiatives and masked our progress."
KLM said it has seen a 45% increase in the usage of its website by UK passengers to book tickets and check in for flights over the past 12 months, and it now receives an average of 105,000 UK visitors per week. In addition, nearly 85% of UK flyers now travel on an e-ticket, the highest penetration in its network, the airline said. Separately, KLM said it appointed CIO Peter Somers to succeed Ad Rutten as executive VP-KLM Engineering & Maintenance, effective Sept. 1. Boet Kreiken, currently senior VP and area manager-Asia/Pacific, will take over as CIO.
Although Boeing recorded double-digit revenue growth in both its Integrated Defense Systems and Commercial Airplanes segments for the second quarter ended June 30, special items pushed net income down 6.8% to $566 million from $607 million in the year-ago period.
American Airlines unveiled the first phase of its new $1.1 billion terminal at New York JFK. Operations in Phase I are expected to begin on Aug. 24 and primarily will consist of the domestic flights now in AA's Terminal 9, which will close owing to Phase II construction. Phase I of the new terminal features a 57,000-sq.-ft. ticketing lobby with 67 ticketing positions and offers an automated baggage-handling system with four carousels. It also includes an 11,300-sq.-ft. Admirals Club with seating for 185.
AirTran Airways reported a net income of $11.4 million for the second quarter ended June 30, a 32.3% decline from net income of $16.8 million in the year-ago period. Net income for the first six months also dropped, falling 84.1% to $3.3 million from $20.9 million. "As in the first quarter this year, our financial performance was challenged by continued record high fuel prices, overcapacity on the East Coast and intense price competition," Senior VP-Finance and CFO Stan Gadek said.
United Eagle Airlines, China's latest private carrier, launched operations yesterday with a flight from Chengdu to Shenzhen but resisted the lure of publicity from discounting its fares. It is using a fleet of leased A230s. China's first private airline, Okay Airways, formerly Shenzhen Airlines, started service in March, while privately owned Aukai Airlines, Western Airlines and Eastern Express are expected to fly later this year.
UPS, boosted by a significant gain from international package revenue, reported a 20.5% increase in net income to $986 million in the second quarter ended June 30 compared to net income of $818 million in the year-ago period. "UPS is a company that's on the move," Chairman and CEO Mike Eskew said. "Our US domestic volume climbed well above our expectations.
Impacted by high fuel prices, overcapacity in the market and a weak load factor, Austrian Airlines Group reported a net loss of €79.1 million ($95.1 million) for the six months ended June 30, widened from a net loss of €41 million in the year-ago period.
China Eastern Airlines took delivery of the 2,500th A320 family aircraft in Toulouse yesterday. The airline already operates a fleet of 69 of the A320 family and this year will receive an additional 20. Deliveries of the type have soared from 1,000 to 2,500 in the past six years and the production rate is being increased to 30 a month from the first quarter of 2006. The A320, the first of the four-member family, entered into service in April 1988 and pioneered the fly-by-wire flight control system in commercial aircraft.
Cathay Pacific Airways, along with 22 other airlines, received approval from the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Dept. to increase long-haul fuel surcharges from the beginning of August. The new charge will be $42.60 per sector, up from the current $32. The long-haul surcharges apply to all Cathay flights between Hong Kong and Australia, North America, Europe, the Middle East and South Africa. The short-haul surcharge, which applies mainly to the airline's regional flights in Asia, remains at $11 per sector.
Lufthansa yesterday opened a new first class area at its Munich hub for its top frequent travelers, HON Circle and first class passengers. The offering features exclusive curbside service, Fast Lanes and a new 150-sq.-m. lounge. Commenting on the strong demand for first class travel from Munich, Executive VP-Services and Human Resources Carsten Spohr said during the opening ceremony that Lufthansa will again introduce first class on long-haul routes out of the airport.
Northwest Airlines Corp. recorded a net loss of $225 million for the second quarter ended June 30, which included a net one-time gain of $54 million primarily related to the company's sale of shares of Prudential Financial. This compares to a net loss of $182 million in the year-ago period, which included a $104 million charge to write down previously parked 747-200s and related inventory. Excluding unusual items, the company posted a net loss of $279 million in the quarter compared to a loss of $78 million in the 2004 period.
Spring Airlines, the new Shanghai-based budget carrier, raised its lowest fares from Shanghai to Yantai, Nanchang and Mianyang by 100 yuan ($12) to 299 yuan after political pressure was applied by competing airlines, according to China Daily. However, the new fares also include one night's accommodation. The typical fare is 800 yuan.
