Northwest Airlines will begin two daily nonstop flights between Memphis and Columbia, S.C., Oct. 2. They will be operated by Northwest Airlink partner Pinnacle Airlines using 50-seat CRJs.
GE Aircraft Engines expects revenues in 2005 to reach a record $13 billion, up from $12.55 billion in 2004, on stronger commercial engine deliveries, higher utilization that drives its services business and increased activity from military applications. GE said it has invested approximately $1 billion annually in engine R&D since 2001 and that figure will grow to $1.2 billion in 2005.
Aloha Airlines named Jeffrey Kessler interim senior VP-finance, CFO and treasurer. Kessler, who is a partner in Tatum CFO Partners, will fill the position until the company names a permanent CFO.
Japan Airlines will launch scheduled late-night domestic air cargo flights between Tokyo and Kumamoto in central Kyushu on July 7. They will use the belly holds of the A300-600Rs that JAL uses for passenger flights during the day.
Gol flew 715.9 million domestic RPKs in May, up 44.1% over the year-ago period. Domestic capacity climbed 38.5% to 984.6 million ASKs and load factor gained 2.8 points to 72.7%. Internationally, the carrier flew 35.2 million RPKs on capacity of 59 million ASKs for a load factor of 59.7%.
Alaska Airlines flew 1.39 billion RPMs in May, up 6% over the year-ago period. Capacity declined 3.3% to 1.81 billion ASMs and load factor gained 6.7 points to 76.8%. For the five months ended May 31, RPMs rose 8.2% to 6.67 billion, ASMs increased 1.8% to 8.99 billion and load factor jumped 4.4 points to 74.2%.
Lufthansa carried 2.8% more traffic in May compared to the same month a year earlier, driven by an increase in long-haul routes. But load factor dipped 0.3 point to 73.2% mostly owing to tough competition in Europe, where passenger numbers fell 0.9%.
Air Canada was expected to finalize its recent widebody fleet replacement order with Boeing after it reached a tentative agreement with its pilots yesterday covering operation of the aircraft. AC said the accord covers "costs and other related issues relating to the introduction of the new Boeing widebody aircraft" into its fleet, but it did not elaborate. The deal is now subject to ratification by union members.
American Eagle launched several new services from Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport, including three daily flights to Savannah, two daily flights to both Madison and Mobile and once-daily service to Evansville, Green Bay, Moline, Rochester (Minn.) and Toledo. It also began seasonal daily service between DFW and Traverse City, which will operate through Oct. 29; a second flight will be added on the route July 2-Aug. 22. All flights will use 44- or 50-seat Embraer regional jets.
GKN Aerospace said it received approval from Snecma Services covering restoration of the overall length and midspan shrouds on the fan blades of CFM56-5B engines. GKN noted that apart from Snecma Services it is the only approved repair source for this work.
Scandinavian Airlines appointed Hakan Ericson executive VP responsible for Airline Support and Airline Related Businesses. Ericson comes from DHL Freight Europe, where he was MD as well as head of European Networks, and assumes his position on Oct. 1. SAS said this appointment completes the group management team.
Finnair flew 1.24 billion RPKs in May, up 10.5% over the year-ago period. Capacity climbed 7.5% to 1.83 billion ASKs and load factor gained 1.8 points to 68.1%. For the five months ended May 31, ASKs increased 6.1% to 9.61 billion, RPKs rose 7.3% to 6.85 billion and load factor inched up 0.8 point to 71.2%.
United Airlines this week introduced 70-seat CRJ700s and Embraer 170s, which are configured with United First and Economy Plus cabins, to eight of its United Express markets. The new fleet, which replaces 50-seat United Express aircraft, is a "direct response to customer demand," United said. From June 7, United Express began to operate the new RJs between Chicago O'Hare and White Plains, Columbia, Portland, Montreal and Ottawa. They also were introduced on flights between Washington Dulles and Portland, Rochester (N.Y.) and Montreal.
Southwest Airlines released results of a three-month study by consulting firm Campbell-Hill Aviation Group that says the gain to local economies should the Wright Amendment be repealed would be at least $4.2 billion annually.
Lufthansa Systems has inked deals with Fischer Air Polska, Pluna and TUI Airlines Belgium for its Flight Management System navigation database services.
AirTran Airways partnered with G2 SwitchWorks to distribute its ticket inventory to travel agencies and corporate clients. As part of the arrangement, AirTran agreed to pre-pay certain distribution fees in order to secure additional discounts on transaction costs and the opportunity to acquire a minority stake in G2. According to the airline, the deal offers more than 80% savings in distribution costs versus traditional GDS fees.
Officials of a startup airline that hopes to launch transatlantic service later this year yesterday said they had secured $185 million in financing to give lift to the project. The carrier, which will use the name Eos, will feature 757s with premium service for 48 business travelers. The New York-based startup has taken possession of its first three 757s and is proceeding with regulatory filings with FAA.
US Airways flew 3.53 billion RPMs in May, up 2% over the year-ago period. Capacity climbed 1.4% to 4.65 billion ASMs and load factor was up 0.4 points to 75.9%. For the five months ended May 31, RPMs increased 3.7% to 16.65 billion, ASMs rose 2.2% to 22.41 billion and load factor was up 1.1 points to 74.3%.
EADS yesterday said it intends to proceed toward the full industrial launch of the A350 program with partner BAe Systems by the end of September. "Following the already public commitments towards the A350 by several airlines, and having reviewed the ones to be announced in the near future, the Board was confirmed in its conviction that this project very appropriately meets the airlines' expectations in the field of mid-size twin aircraft for the next generation," EADS said in a statement.
South Korea-based Jeju Air yesterday placed a firm order for five 74-seat Bombardier Q400s and took options on a further three. The firm order contract is valued at roughly $120 million, but it could rise to $196 million if all options are exercised. According to Bombardier, the carrier is its first South Korean Regional airline customer. The company now has 147 firm orders for the Q400.
