Air Transport World

Baltic Post has acquired 0.8% of Vilnius-based start-up Air Lituanica, taking the airline’s total capital to LTL11.3 million ($4.5 million).

The European Union (EU) has earmarked at least €6.6 million ($9 million) to co-finance a study looking at methodologies to support faster flight data processing (FDP) for more effective air traffic management (ATM) in Europe.

Lufthansa is preparing for Airbus A380-800 operations into India following Monday’s decision by the Indian government to lift restrictions on A380 flights into the country.

International passenger traffic on Asia-Pacific carriers grew 6% year-over-year to 219.8 million passengers in 2013—an increase of more than 12 million passengers—according to preliminary figures released by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA).

Russia’s Transaero Airline will offer inflight Internet on eight Boeing 737-700s and -800s in the coming months.

Airline Routes

With CEO Richard Anderson at the helm, the executive management team at Delta Air Lines is committed to excellence, innovation and leadership. In the past decade, Delta has fought off a hostile takeover bid, emerged from bankruptcy and acquired Northwest Airlines. Delta serves more than 160 million passengers and flies to 312 destinations in 56 countries.

The final showdown in the European Parliament over the scope of the controversial European Union (EU) Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is now anticipated to be in April.

The Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC) ARJ21 regional jet project has been delayed again, with the aircraft now due to enter service in April or May 2015, eight years later than scheduled early in the program and 13 years after development began.

Southwest Airlines has been provisionally approved for 27 new slot pairs at Washington National Airport (DCA) while JetBlue Airways has received tentative clearance for 12 new DCA slot pairs.

South African Airways (SAA) reduced its losses for the 2012-13 financial year, but remains heavily in the red.

Hainan Airlines parent HNA Group plans to launch Guilin Airlines in conjunction with the Guilin municipal government in May, pending approval by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Co., parent of Allegiant Air, reported 2013 net income of $91.8 million, up 17% from $78.4 million in 2012.

Russian authorities have approved the new Terminal 1 for Saint Petersburg Pulkovo International Airport, providing it meets all technical requirements.

Cathay Pacific Airways has awarded L-3 Link Simulation & Training a contract for two Airbus A350 full-flight simulators (FFS) plus trainers, marking Link’s first order for A350 products.

Air France—which operated a special Airbus A380 flight from Paris to Africa’s Abidjan Jan. 28—is considering making it a regular service.

Global airport passenger traffic increased 3.1% year-over-year in November, down 1.8 points from October, Airports Council International (ACI) reports.

People

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Southwest Airlines said it has been provisionally approved for 27 new slot pairs at Washington National Airport (DCA).

JetBlue Airways said its bid for 12 slot pairs at Washington National Airport (DCA) has been “provisionally accepted.”

Boeing posted a net profit of $4.59 billion for 2013, up 18% over net income of $3.9 billion in 2012, on a 6% rise in revenue to $86.62 billion.

American Airlines Group CEO Doug Parker expressed optimism that the integration of American Airlines and US Airways, which closed their mega-merger in December, will move forward smoothly as the carriers explore numerous opportunities for revenue, cost and operational synergies.

TAP Portugal will add two Airbus A330s and four A320 family aircraft in 2014, and is evaluating further fleet growth for 2015 and beyond.

Hawaiian Airlines parent Hawaiian Holdings posted a 2013 net income of $51.9 million, down 2.6% from a net income of $53.2 million for 2012.