AMR Corp., parent of American Airlines, yesterday said AA's mainline and consolidated unit revenue both are expected to increase in the first quarter, while unit costs for the period are projected to be on a par with prior forecasts.
L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems received an order to provide Narita Airport Corp. with the eXaminer 3DX 6500, its next-generation explosives detection system that will be used to screen baggage for international flights at Tokyo Narita. The EDS machines will be integrated into the automated baggage handling system at the airport. Japan Aerospace Corp., L-3's exclusive distributor in the transaction, will provide installation, maintenance, service and training for the systems.
Alsalam Aircraft Co. won a contract from Saudi Arabian Airlines to perform D checks on two 747-100s and one 747-300, including interior refurbishments. The first 747-100 has been delivered to Alsalam's facility in Riyadh and is scheduled for completion in April.
Basel-based Crossair Europe, a subsidiary of Swiss International Air Lines, will cease operations as expected. Swiss will take over one of the two Saab 2000s the carrier operates.
Lithuanian Airlines will launch two weekly flights to Barcelona April 24, increasing to thrice-weekly May 22. The carrier also will begin three weekly flights to Pulkovo Airport. In addition, Lithuanian will boost its flights to Dublin, Paris and Kiev from three to five weekly and to Brussels from five to six per week. It will increase capacity on its flights to Brussels, Milan and Moscow by using 737s on the routes.
Honeywell named Peg Billson VP and GM of its Airframe Systems business and Greg Albert VP and GM of its Aircraft Landing Systems business, effective April 1.
ASiQ Pty. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of ASI Entertainment, signed a contract with Saudi Arabian Airlines for the AsiQnet inflight e-mail, Internet and SMS system. The company said further details of the deal will be released shortly.
Latin American Airline Assn. member carriers flew 10.9 billion RPKs in January, up 17.7% over the year-ago period. Capacity climbed 12% to 15 billion ASKs and load factor gained 3.5 points to 72.2%.
Air Nelson signed an agreement with FlightSafety International to purchase a flight simulator to provide the pilot training required for its new Q300. The simulator will be based within Air New Zealand's new simulator facility in Auckland and will be fully operational by October.
AWAS delivered a CF-6-powered 767-300 to PB Air. The aircraft will operate nonstop service to Shanghai and Beijing from the carrier's Bangkok base. AWAS delivered an RB211-535E4-powered 757-200 to UK charter carrier Astraeus.
Telair International received a firm order from Shandong Airlines for four Sliding Carpet Loading Systems for installation in the aft cargo compartments of the carrier's 737-800s, with an option for four additional systems. Delivery and installation are scheduled for mid-2005.
Singapore Technologies Aerospace yesterday unveiled its newest hangar in Singapore. The facility, which cost roughly $12 million, is capable of holding two narrowbody aircraft simultaneously.
Continental Airlines got a big boost yesterday when its pilots and mechanics ratified new contracts that will result in significant cost savings for the company. According to the Air Line Pilots Assn., roughly 93% of eligible members cast ballots, with approximately 53.4% voting to approve the new deal. ALPA noted that the contract contains a clause that allows the pilots to reject it if any other employee group fails to approve a similar concessionary contract.
Skyguide has completed a massive reorganization of the airspace around Zurich Airport with new holding areas and approach and departure routes that will go into effect April 14. The company stressed that the move was politically motivated. "Skyguide has built a new airport in Zurich," CEO Alain Rossier said. "Virtually all that is left is the concrete on the runways; in the air, everything has been altered or adapted." According to Skyguide, the key element of the reorganization is the transfer of holding areas from southern Germany over Swiss territory.
Korean Air reported a 112% year-on-year lift in passenger demand from China to 428.9 million RPKs, while load factor climbed 4.2 points to 70%. The airline also experienced robust growth in Japan and Europe/Middle East traffic with 15.2% and 17.4% hikes in RPKs respectively for the first two months of 2005. Those spectacular gains were offset by a 21.9% drop in domestic RPKs owing to route restructuring. China also became the growth engine of Korean Air's cargo business as volume to and from the country more than doubled to 44.9 million FTKs year-on-year.
Swissport International is expanding its network by launching passenger handling operations in Rome and Milan in May. Under current plans, the company said it initially will begin station management, supervision and airport ticketing services at Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa. It also said that as part of an agreement in place with Swiss International Air Lines, it will be taking over Swiss's entire ground organization at Milan and Rome.
TAP Portugal posted a consolidated net profit of €8.6 million ($11.1 million) in 2004, down 56% from a net profit of €19.7 million in 2003, when the company was able to find the black after years of losses owing to a restructuring program that included stringent cost-cutting as well as significant increases in productivity over the last four years.
Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings named Michael Barna senior VP and CFO effective April 11. Barna also will serve as senior VP and CFO of AAWW subsidiaries Atlas Air and Polar Air Cargo.
