AWAS delivered a CFM56-3B1-powered 737-500 to Bulgaria Air, which the airline will use to operate flights from its hub in Sofia to destinations throughout Europe. AWAS also delivered a CFM56-3C1-powered 737-300 to bmibaby.
British Airways World Cargo and worldwide logistics and forwarder grouping IFLN announced a strategic partnership to increase their business together. "The commitment from both parties recognizes the potential of the IFLN member companies to utilize BA World Cargo's global network, a benefit that will offer greater freighting possibilities to IFLN and its customers," they said in a statement.
Boullioun Aviation Services inked a medium-term lease with TUI Group for a CFM56-3C1-powered 737-300. The aircraft will be delivered later this month and will be operated by Thomsonfly, Britannia Airways' low-cost carrier. Both Britannia Airways and Thomsonfly are part of TUI Group.
The Air Transport Assn. has reacted strongly to a proposal by House Aviation Subcommittee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) to double the $2.50-per-segment federal security fee in order to fund the purchase and installation of explosive detection systems for in-line baggage screening at 64 US airports and install reveal technology at a further 376 airports over the next three years.
Air Jamaica pilots will take a 5.6% pay cut under a new contract reached with the airline last week. According to the Associated Press, the 180 pilots also agreed to a reduction in a range of employee benefits, including meal allowances and overtime pay. The carrier, which has posted massive losses owing to higher fuel costs and a significant drop in passengers following 9/11, did not reveal how much it will save with the new deal.
Volga-Dnepr Airlines is extending its outsize and heavyweight air cargo service capability in Afghanistan to include Kandahar and Heart. Since December 2001, Volga-Dnepr has operated more than 570 cargo flights into Kabul using An-124-100 and Il-76 freighters.
US and Maldives signed a new open skies agreement that will permit US and Maldivian airlines to operate air services between the two countries without reservation.
Boeing selected Jamco Corp. to provide flightdeck interiors, including a stowage area, linings and the stowage consoles near the seats, along with the flightdeck door and bulkhead assembly, for the 787. Earlier this year, Jamco was chosen to supply the lavatories for the aircraft. "Boeing has a longstanding relationship with Jamco," 787 Program VP and GM Mike Bair said. "They are repeatedly winners of our top recognition awards for quality and performance. It's a natural for them to be a part of the 787 team."
The US National Transportation Safety Board said yesterday it has noted "significant differences between the circumstances" in which an Air Transat A310 lost most of its composite rudder during the cruise phase of flight and the rudder separation that led to the crash of an American Airlines A300 in November 2001 that killed 265 people in the air and on the ground.
Delta Air Lines, which posted an industry-leading first-quarter net loss of $1.08 billion ( ATWOnline, April 22), yesterday said that under current rules it estimates that its pension plan funding for 2005-08 will total roughly $4.1 billion.
Bmibaby plans to add three 737-300s to increase its fleet from 16 to 19 aircraft. It will take delivery of the new long-term-leased 737s this fall. Over the coming months it will be working with the airports it serves to identify where the new aircraft will be based and which routes they will be flying. "The additional aircraft will mean that by 2006 more than 4.5 million passengers will be flying with bmibaby, consolidating the airline as the second-largest low-cost carrier based in the UK," MD David Bryon commented.
Wizz Air will launch operations from Poznan, its fourth city in Poland, beginning Sept. 18, offering four weekly flights to London Luton using A320s. Wizz Air has carried more than 1.1 million passengers since launching in May 2004, more than 700,000 of whom have traveled on its Polish routes.
United Airlines flew 9.05 billion RPMs in April, down 3.8% compared to the year-ago period. Capacity declined 4% to 11.3 billion ASMs and load factor gained 0.2 point to 80.1%. For the four months ended April 30, RPMs increased 0.4% to 35.58 billion, ASMs decreased 2.5% to 45.24 billion and load factor rose 2.2 points to 78.6%.
Northwest Airlines flew 6.34 billion RPMs in April, up 8.2% over the year-ago period. Capacity climbed 6.9% to 7.81 billion ASMs and load factor gained 1 point to 81.2%. For the four months ended April 30, RPMs rose 8.6% to 24.5 billion, ASMs increased 4.9% to 30.57 billion and load factor jumped 2.8 points to 80.2%.
Australia will resume highly sensitive bilateral talks with Singapore in two weeks with the aim of negotiating an open skies agreement by mid-year. Singapore Transport Minister Yeo Cheow Tong said the governments of both countries will attempt to resolve the issue of Singapore Airlines' securing access to the Australia-US route during the negotiations. Qantas has been lobbying strongly against the move to grant SIA fifth freedom rights, arguing that it does not enjoy reciprocal benefits on routes through Singapore.
FLYi, parent of Independence Air, posted a preliminary net loss of $105 million in the first quarter ended March 31, a figure that exceeded its total revenues for the period and compared to net income of $3.6 million in the year-ago quarter.
Air China placed an order for 11 shipsets of Aviation Partners Boeing Blended Winglets for its 737-700s. Installation will begin in August and be completed by July 2006. According to APB, discussions are underway to retrofit the remainder of the airline's 737NGs with the winglets as well.
Boosted by a gain in non-DHL revenue, ABX Air posted an 18.4% increase in net income to $7.1 million in the quarter ended March 31 from net income of $6 million in the year-ago period. Net earnings for the 2005 quarter included $5.1 million from the company's two commercial agreements with DHL Express (USA) and $2 million from non-DHL business. "We are extremely pleased to report another strong quarter," President and CEO Joe Hete said. "In addition to supporting DHL, we were able to sharply increase our revenues and earnings from our non-DHL business."
In a blow to Airbus, Northwest Airlines yesterday said it has ordered 18 787s with options and purchase rights for up to 50 more. NWA operates 15 A330-200s and dash 300s and has 17 more on order, so was an obvious candidate for the proposed A350. Instead, the carrier, which has not ordered a Boeing widebody since the 747-400, chose the Dreamliner. It did not disclose which version but said its 787s will be fitted with 36 World Business Class and 185 coach seats and will have a nonstop range of 8,500 nm, which implies the 787-8. Engine selection was not announced.
Skyway Airlines said it terminated discussions with Delta Air Lines to operate Delta Connection's fleet of 328JETs. The decision came shortly after Delta announced it had selected Mesa Air Group to operate up to 30 CRJ200s in the Delta Connection network, which offers it an opportunity to upgrade flying previously done by Atlantic Coast Airlines with 328JETs ( ATWOnline, May 5).
British Airways carried 2.9 million passengers in April, 3.4% fewer than in April 2004. By comparison, Ryanair carried 2.7 million passengers in April. BA's passenger boardings on its UK/European routes decreased 5.1% to 1.9 million. Systemwide, BA flew 8.95 billion RPKs last month, a 0.1% increase on the year-ago period. Passenger capacity rose 1% to 11.98 billion ASKs and load factor was down 0.8 point to 74.7%. The growth in traffic comprised a 13.3% rise in premium and a 2% fall in nonpremium traffic. Cargo as measured in cargo tonne kilometers dipped 0.2%.
American Airlines flew 11.31 billion RPMs in April, up 4.5% over the year-ago period. Capacity increased 1.1% to 14.6 billion ASMs and load factor gained 2.5 points to 77.4%. For the four months ended April 30, RPMs climbed 6.1% to 43.55 billion, ASMs rose 0.7% to 57.35 billion and load factor jumped 3.9 points to 75.9%.
Lufthansa yesterday commenced its tender offer to holders of approximately 15% of Swiss International Air Lines stock. Major investors holding 85% of the airline already have agreed to the acquisition. LH offered the small shareholders CHF8.96 ($7.48) per share for their more than 8 million shares for a total cost of about €47 million ($60.8 million). The offer period runs through June 2. The purchase is being carried out via a holding company, AirTrust, which was set up to enable Lufthansa to take over Swiss in stages.
Hansung Air, a new low-cost carrier based in Cheongju 85 mi. south of Seoul, has been given the green light for domestic air service from the Ministry of Construction and Transportation. The airline, a JV between the Jeju provincial government and Aekyung Co., plans to lease an ATR turboprop for flights between Cheongju and the resort island of Jeju off the south coast of Korea. It will begin services in June and follows the launch of another LCC in Korea, Jeju Air, which started operations March 25.
