Cairns will be PAL’s fifth Australian destination. Both PAL and its local rival, Cebu Pacific, regard Australia as a key market, with Cebu lobbying to expand bilateral air rights between the two countries.
As Congress gears up for a debate over FAA-reauthorization legislation later this year—with the agency’s current authorization to expire at the end of September—U.S. national-airspace stakeholders are pushing for change at FAA.
In speech at a Wales in London event on May 20, Paul Kahn, who took over from Robin Southwell last October, said that Airbus would reconsider future investment in the U.K. if Britain were to exit the EU and economic conditions “were less favorable for business than in other parts of Europe.”
Asia-Pacific airlines collectively achieved breakeven in terms of net earnings for 2014, according to the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA). This was down from a combined net profit of $2.2 billion in 2013. Increased passenger demand more than offset a decline in yields, though capacity growth still outpaced growth in demand. Another negative factor was the strengthening U.S. dollar versus local currencies. Fuel costs declined by 1.1%, and operating margin dropped by 0.7 points to 1.6%. AAPA statistics measure 26 carriers in the Asia-Pacific region.
The agreements govern passenger services operated by the three SkyTeam carriers between Italy and France, as well as Italy and the Netherlands and beyond.
The American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) named Christopher Runde as director of its Airport Innovation Accelerator. The long-time technology executive spent six years at TSA, helping the agency develop PreCheck and other risk-based programs. Runde will head the accelerator’s day-to-day operations. AAAE launched the accelerator to help companies deliver needed products to the aviation industry. Aviation industry executives and AAAE members will provide input on proposed technologies.
Southwest’s main point-of-sale for international flights remains in the U.S., Andrew Watterson, senior vice president-network planning and revenue management, told Aviation Daily.
While the GAO did not issue any recommendations to the FAA, questions and doubts about certain aspects of the ICAO preliminary plan could complicate harmonization efforts unless the final standards allow for performance-based solutions that can largely be met with the types of equipment U.S. airlines already carry.
Hashimoto said it too early to discuss the Mitsubishi MRJ-70, MRJ-90 and Embraer E175-E2. A major problem is that, except for the MRJ-70, all next-genertation jet models fail to satisfy scope requirements in American’s contract with mainline pilots.
According to local media reports, the Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) and the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. are negotiating to take a combined 33.4% share in Skymark.
The Leap-1A is one of three new-generation CFM engine variants under development to succeed the CFM56, and becomes the first of the family to fly on its intended platform.
Recent moves by American Airlines and United Airlines, which delayed five Boeing 787 deliveries and swapped 10 787-9 orders for Boeing 777-300ERs, respectively, led some to speculate that the moves were “harbingers of a change in cycle,” Boeing CEO Jim McNerney said.
In a note to pilots, Howard Attarian, senior vice president for flight operations, said fewer than 10% of United’s first-class customers actually pay for the product.
While awaiting the change, Taiwan’s second-largest airline is continuing with merger plans, which it sees bringing not only operational efficiencies but also a stronger Taiwanese offering for the Star Alliance.
LONDON—U.K. air navigation provider National Air Traffic Services (NATS) CEO Richard Deakin has stepped down. Deakin, who led the company for five years, announced his resignation May 18. Martin Rolfe, the company’s managing director of operations, has been appointed to CEO in the meantime, to “ensure continuity,” the company said in a statement, adding that Deakin will be able to assist with the transition as required until the end of June. NATS said its management board has initiated a search process to identify and appoint a successor.
