Air Transport World

Africa’s fastest-growing and most-profitable airline operates in a challenging market, but is going from strength to strength.

ATW’s Value Airline of the Year is changing the way leisure flyers approach air travel. In many cases, its main competitors are not other airlines, but the bus or automobile.

The US Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, is an agency with 60,000 workers responsible for security at more than 450 US airports.

One of the world’s most remarkable airline success stories is set against a backdrop of the ancient Silk Road in the previously off-limits flank of the Soviet Union.

There are many reasons why this year’s recipient of ATW’s top award is one of the most loved and honored airlines, and it starts with “LUV” as its stock exchange ticker symbol.

2014 will likely become the year when the aviation industry recognized that it was no longer acceptable to not track airliners continuously.

Leaders of the “big three” US consolidated carriers are believed to be ramping up their campaign in Washington DC against the major Gulf carriers, which are looking to expand their North American footprints.

From the February 2015 issue of ATW

Average List Prices for Airbus commercial aircraft for 2015; with passenger data and aircraft flight range.

Hamburg and Stuttgart airports were affected by strike action Friday by security staff belonging to the German public services trade union Verdi.

Tunisair is considering the launch of a low-cost carrier in a bid to maintain market share when its skies become liberalized. Last April, the European Commission heralded progress towards concluding an Open Skies agreement with Tunisia. Once finalized, this agreement is likely to open the doors to fierce European low-cost competition, similar to that seen in Morocco.

Russia’s VTB Bank has filed a bankruptcy motion against VIM Avia, TASS news agency reported quoting court documents. Reasons for the claim were not disclosed, but VIM Avia said in a statement that it recognized its debt to the bank, adding it will not impact carrier operations.

Dallas Aviation, a provider of expendable and rotable aviation parts, has selected Quantum Control MRO and Logistics software to manage business operations and AOG needs near Dallas Fort Worth International and Love Field airports.

American Airlines has been granted authority by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to launch Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)-Beijing (PEK) Boeing 777-200ER flights.

Dubai Air Navigation Services (DANS) has become the first Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) air navigation services provider (ANSP) to sign a cooperation agreement with the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol).

Dubai Air Navigation Services (DANS) has become the first Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) air navigation services provider (ANSP) to sign a cooperation agreement with the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol).

The loss of Indonesia AirAsia QZ8501, an Airbus A320, could bring significant changes to Indonesian – even regional – commercial flight regulations. “In my opinion, the industry is not healthy,” Indonesian Minister of Transport Ignasius Jonan said.

South Africa’s finance minister has agreed to guarantee a further ZAR6.5 billion ($564.6 million) for South African Airways (SAA), which is battling to continue as a going concern.

Top 25 US Airlines for the month ranked by Full-time Equivalent (FTE) employees. FTE calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.

Changes in scheduled passenger airline full-time equivalent employment by airline group, displayed as percent changes from the previous year; differential changes for each of the last 13 months are shown.

Changes in scheduled passenger airline full-time equivalent employment by airline group, displayed as percent changes from the previous year; differential changes for each of the last 13 months are shown.

Data represent the total employment, full time plus part time, of all US airlines scheduled passenger, charter and cargo airlines, sorted by Airline Group. Changes in employee totals from the previous month, and the current month from a year ago, two years ago and five years ago are represented by percentage change.

Southwest Airlines reported a 2014 net profit of $1.14 billion, up 50.7% over net income of $754 million in 2013, as expenses decreased slightly year-over-year while revenue grew 5.1%.

United Airlines parent United Continental Holdings posted 2014 net income of $1.13 billion, up 98% over a $571 million net profit in 2013, as the Chicago-based company appears to finally have serious earnings momentum after several years of financial and operational struggles.

Alaska Air Group, parent of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, posted a record full-year net profit for 2014 of $605 million, up 19.1% compared to 2013’s net profit of $508 million.