Air Wisconsin will end all flying on behalf of United Airlines over the next year, according to an internal document obtained by ATWOnline. The Regional currently flies 70 aircraft in the United Express feeder network, but last fall United issued an RFP to replace Air Wisconsin and on Monday announced that SkyWest and GoJet, a new subsidiary of Trans States Holdings, had been selected to take over some of those services and will operate a total of 30 70-seat regional jets ( ATWOnline, April 5).
Lufthansa Systems' e-ticketing solution was selected by Austrian Airlines. Separately, Austrian said it reduced the capital of its Lauda Air subsidiary from €24.7 million ($31.9 million) to €100,000 to reflect integration of Lauda's technical division and flight operations into the group. As a result, Lauda acts more or less as a marketing company for leisure flights.
Singapore and Bahrain have inked an open skies agreement. The pact was signed in Singapore yesterday by Bahrain Minister of Transportation Shaik Ali Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa and Singapore Minister for Transport Yeo Cheow Tong.
Ryanair carried 2.6 million passengers in March, up 20.1% over the year-ago period. Load factor climbed 2 points to 80%. For the rolling 12 months ended March 31, the airline carried 27.6 million and load factor was 84%.
Continental Airlines formally submitted an application to the US Dept. of Transportation for approval to operate nonstop flights from Newark to Shanghai. If approved, Continental would introduce flights in March 2007 using a 283-seat 777. Earlier this year, Continental was approved by DOT as a new entrant in the US-China air market and awarded rights to launch daily service from Newark to Beijing ( ATWOnline, March 21). Those flights will begin June 15. The new flights became available under the US-China aviation agreement signed last July.
ACSS, an L-3 Communications and Thales company, earned type certification for T2CAS, its combined traffic and terrain collision avoidance system, on all Airbus aircraft: A300-600s, A310s, A318s, A319s, A320s, A321s, A330s and A340s.
Goodrich's campaign to grow through acquisition has produced a company of sufficient mass that in the current business climate, "there is lots of business to supply us with good organic growth," President, Chairman and CEO Marshall Larsen told this website.
CSA Czech Airlines finalized an agreement to purchase six CFM56-5B6/P-powered A319s and six CFM56-5B4/P-powered A320s with deliveries scheduled from March 2006 to September 2008. The order was announced last October and the two parties agreed on the final text of the agreement late last month ( ATWOnline, March 30). "The purchase of aircraft is another step to fulfill the CSA strategy for the 2004-2014 period," Chairman and President Jaroslav Tvrdik said.
The European Regions Airline Assn. lodged a complaint with the European Commission Ombudsman charging the EC with releasing inaccurate and misleading information to airline passengers and the media regarding the new passenger rights legislation that took effect last month. ERA contends that posters, leaflets, videos, media and website materials issued by the Commission provide erroneous information regarding compensation for those whose flights are delayed or cancelled and that the information is harmful to airlines.
Lufthansa Cargo generated €33.5 million ($42.9 million) in operating profits during 2004, reversing a loss of €16 million in 2003, but showed red ink on the bottom line, posting a net loss of €39.5 million, which it attributed partly to one-time charges and a 38.4% hike in fuel costs. Comparisons with 2003 are complicated owing to the fact that in 2004 LHC consolidated accounts for all of its logistics business units within Lufthansa Group.
Kitty Hawk Aircargo took delivery of a CFM56-powered 737-300 Special Freighter leased from GECAS. The aircraft was converted from passenger configuration by IAI's Bedek Aviation Div. under an agreement with GECAS. Kitty Hawk has a contract to lease seven 737-300SFs from GECAS that will be delivered throughout 2005.
Menzies Aviation was awarded a new three-year cargo handling contract in Sydney from Asiana Airlines. The carrier currently operates daily 777-200 service to the Australian capital from Seoul.
Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp. was awarded a subcontract by CAE to provide two EP-1000CT/ESCP-2000 visual systems, including options for its new LaserWide projector, that will be installed on A330/A340 full-flight simulators being manufactured by CAE for Airbus.
Northwest Airlines flew 6.85 billion RPMs in March, up 8.6% over the year-ago period. Capacity climbed 4.7% to 8.1 billion ASMs and load factor jumped 3 points to 84.6%. For the three months ended March 31, RPMs were ahead 8.8% to 18.17 billion, ASMs increased 4.3% to 22.77 billion and load factor gained 3.3 points to 79.8%.
BAE Systems Regional Aircraft reached agreements with two Lufthansa Regionals, Eurowings and Air Dolomiti, under which 11 BAe 146-300s will be added to the carriers' fleets. In addition, BAE inked sale and leaseback extensions on three aircraft with Lufthansa CityLine, another Lufthansa Regional. Eurowings signed a deal to lease a further six BAe 146-300s that will be added to its current fleet of eight BAe 146s. The six aircraft, which the airline will use to replace some of its 48-seat ATR 42-500 turboprops, will be delivered from mid-April to the beginning of September.
Crane Aerospace & Electronics was selected by Honeywell to supply power control modules and batteries for the 787 flight control electronics Honeywell is developing for the new aircraft.
Thai Airways International has taken delivery of the first of four A340-500s, which feature a striking new livery. The delivery also marks the start of a major widebody fleet expansion that includes six A340-600s, six 777-200ERs and six A380-800s entering service up to 2009. The A340-500s will operate new nonstops between Bangkok and Los Angeles and New York, while the A340-600s will fly to Europe. Airline President Kanok Abhiradee said the A340-500 "will open up new markets for Thai.
United Airlines yesterday announced that it will close its Seattle call center on June 4 in a move that will eliminate 400 jobs. According to the carrier, the Seattle facility is one of its most costly and has a long-term lease, but bankruptcy gives the company an opportunity to reject the lease without penalty. United also cited record high fuel prices, increasing competition and low yields as reasons behind the closure.
European Commission has sought EU Council approval to start negotiations on a cooperation agreement with Argentina on the development of a Civil Global Navigation Satellite system. "This proposal for a new international cooperation agreement clearly underlines the success of Galileo [Europe's satellite navigation program] and demonstrates again the widespread interest in the project," said EC VP in charge of transport Jacques Barrot.
SR Technics will provide component and line maintenance support to Swedish discount airline FlyMe under a five-year component management contract covering four 737-400s. The agreement includes guaranteed component availability and AOG support.
Southwest Airlines flew 5.24 billion RPMs in March, up 12% over the year-ago period. Capacity climbed 11.9% to 7.11 billion ASMs and load factor gained 0.1 point to 73.7%. For the three months ended March 31, RPMs increased 12.3% to 12.24 billion. ASMs rose 10.1% to 20.23 billion and load factor improved 1.2 points to 65.4%.
Boeing delivered a total of 70 commercial aircraft in the first quarter ended March 31, consisting of three 717s, 54 737NGs, three 747s, one 757, one 767 and eight 777s. In the first quarter of last year, the company delivered 76 commercial aircraft comprising three 717s, 55 737NGs, five 747s, four 757s, one 767 and eight 777s.
ARINC and Telenor yesterday unveiled AeroMobile, a service they said will enable passengers to use their cellular phones in flight. The companies said they are working closely with several potential airline customers and are readying demonstration flights planned for mid-2005.
Lufthansa Systems said its operating result for 2004 increased 56.4% over 2003 to €61 million on a 3% rise in revenues to €628 million. The share of business generated by customers outside LH Group increased 9.8% to €224.2 million or almost 36% of revenues.
