Snecma Services signed an exclusive five-year contract with Oman Air for maintenance and repair services for the CFM56-7B engines powering its six 737s. It also signed a three-year contract with Czech Airlines to provide maintenance and repair services for the CFM56-5B engines powering its four A320 family aircraft.
US mainline system revenue per ASM for the eight largest US passenger airlines (excluding Southwest) rose 5.2% in May compared to the year-ago period on a 2.4% increase in capacity, according to JP Morgan, which cited data from the Air Transport Assn. Yield was up 0.6%--the first year-on-year increase since July 2004--and revenues climbed 7.7%. JP Morgan's Jamie Baker described the RASM rise as "stronger than expected."
AMR Corp. Chairman and CEO Gerard Arpey and leaders of the Allied Pilots Assn., Assn. of Professional Flight Attendants and Transport Workers Union will lead approximately 300 uniformed employees in a rally on Capitol Hill today to campaign in favor of pension reform legislation and to remind legislators that American "is on a different path than many airlines, fighting to maintain--not abandon--its defined benefit plans."
Iberia took delivery of its 13th A321. The new aircraft, which is configured to carry between 186 and 194 passengers, will be used on domestic and European routes. Iberia now operates 80 A320 family aircraft.
Continental Airlines yesterday said it applied to the US National Mediation Board for the immediate appointment of a federal mediator to help in its negotiations with its flight attendants. Earlier this year, the flight attendants rejected a tentative agreement, becoming the only workgroup at the carrier that did not ratify a new deal ( ATWOnline, April 1). Continental has said it needs $500 million in annual pay and benefit savings from its employees and has achieved roughly $418 million of that total.
American Eagle Airlines will launch two daily nonstop flights between Gulfport-Biloxi International and Dallas/Ft. Worth International Oct. 30 using 50-seat ERJ-145s.
Actel Corp. announced that it has provided field-programmable gate arrays and intellectual property core modules for a number of applications onboard the A380. More than 700 devices from the company's ProASIC Plus and SX-A FPGA families have been designed into the following applications: Flight computers, engine control monitoring, braking systems, safety warning systems, cabin air conditioning and pressurization and cockpit displays.
United Airlines is offering a 5% discount for residents of Washington on flights departing from any of the three D.C.-area airports purchased through the carrier's website. The offer is good for tickets booked between June 21 and Aug. 31 and the travel period for the deal is June 21 to Oct. 31.
Lufthansa Systems and Garuda Indonesia launched a joint venture called Lufthansa Indonesia specializing in software development and data center services. Applications will focus on solutions for various distribution channels, customer loyalty programs, CRM solutions and integrated onboard processes. Garuda has a long-term strategic partnership with LHS under which it will use the new LHS passenger solutions for core processes including inventory, departure control, reservations and check-in.
Standard Aero signed an exclusive contract with GoJet Airlines to service the APUs on the carrier's CRJ700s. The initial maintenance contract is worth more than $5 million over 15 years, the company said.
Gol said it will build a new 30.5 million reais ($12.8 million) aircraft maintenance center in Confins. Construction begins in July and should be completed by early 2006.
Smiths Detection has formed a strategic partnership with Paladin Capital Corp., a private equity investment firm based in Washington. Smiths said the relationship aligns it with a partner "focused on investing in homeland security technology businesses."
Sierracin/Sylmar Corp. was selected by Mid-Western Aircraft Systems as the primary source for flightdeck windows on the 787. Mid-Western, formerly the Wichita division of Boeing, is providing the nose section of the 787.
National Air Traffic Services named Marconi Chairman John Devaney as its nonexecutive chairman. He will succeed Chris Gibson-Smith, who will retire on Aug. 31. Devaney, 58, will join the board from July 1 and become chairman Sept. 1.
Delta Air Lines added a self-service check-in kiosk for passengers at the Avis Rent a Car shuttle bus stop at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The kiosk was developed by ID Systems and uses software that ties into Delta's existing Internet-based check-in process.
American Airlines added a new feature to its website that allows domestic e-ticket passengers with interline connections on eligible carriers to check in online up to 24 hr. prior to departure and print boarding passes as long as the flight originates on American, American Eagle or AmericanConnection.
China Eastern Airlines placed an order with Aviation Partners Boeing for six 737-700 blended winglet shipsets that will be installed between February and August 2006. Currently, China Eastern subsidiary Wuhan Airlines and China Eastern's Shanxi brand operate five blended winglet-equipped 737-800s.
Korean Air and Japan Airlines expanded their codeshare agreement to include Korean Air's three weekly Incheon-Kagoshima flights and JAL's three weekly Incheon-Hiroshima flights. With the expansion, the carriers' codeshare arrangement now covers six cities and 76 weekly flights.
ATA Holdings Corp. said it intends to engage Jefferson & Company, SkyWorks Capital and SkyWorks Securities to raise funding to support its exit from Chapter 11. The engagement is subject to US Bankruptcy Court approval. The carrier plans to emerge from Chapter 11 next year.
Air Canada pilots over the weekend rejected a new tentative agreement, and as a result the carrier informed Boeing that it has canceled the massive $6 billion 777/787 order it placed in April. "We are naturally disappointed at having to cancel the widebody aircraft order, but these aircraft can only be brought into our fleet on a predetermined economic basis. Despite best efforts on the part of [the pilots union], the agreement has been rejected," AC President and CEO Montie Brewer said.
ExpressJet Holdings purchased a noncontrolling interest in Wing Aviation, a full-service aviation company specializing in aircraft charter and management, airframe maintenance, avionics installations and aircraft painting.
