KLM UK Engineering’s (KLMUKE) recent expansion into aircraft recycling gives the Air France-KLM conglomerate another cost-effective option for disposing of narrowbody aircraft and provides third-party revenue potential in both the scrapping and surplus parts arenas.
The Monarch Group has selected Andrew Swaffield, managing director of International Airlines Group (IAG)’s loyalty program since 2006, as the new managing director of Monarch Airlines. Swaffield’s appointment precedes the expected announcement for an order for 60 new-technology narrowbody aircraft for the U.K. charter and scheduled airline. Monarch has been evaluating offers from Airbus, Boeing and Bombardier, and in December said it aims to finalize the order in the first quarter of this year.
Swiss carrier Darwin Airline, poised to launch as Etihad Regional next week, is seeking four turboprops to add to its existing fleet of nine Saab 2000s with the ATR 72 emerging as a likely choice. The aircraft will be used to launch 21 new routes and 18 new destinations by mid-2014, following Etihad Airways’ decision to take a 33.3% stake in the Lugano-based carrier.
The combined American and US Airways networks boosted revenue passenger miles 5.7% in December and 2.7% for the year while available seat miles were up 1.9% and 2.1%, respectively. Total enplanements rose 4.2% for the month and 1.8% percent for the year, bolstered by a 4.5% jump in December mainline enplanements and a 2.1% annual increase.
While Boeing 787-9 launch customer Air New Zealand will receive three of the new model this year, there will be a significant gap before its next wave of -9 deliveries. The airline is set to receive its first stretched version of the 787 in July. The next is expected a few months later, and the carrier will have three by the end of 2014. Other carriers are also due to receive 787-9s during this period, with All Nippon Airways likely to be the next to take its first delivery after Air New Zealand.
Click here to view the pdf Fuel Watch: Global Jet Fuel Prices (midpoint) As of January 8, 2013, compared with previous week and previous year cts/gal prev. week prev.
Click here to view the pdf Largest 100 Worldwide Scheduled Airlines, January 15-21, 2014, Ranked By ASMs (Page 1 of 2) ASMs % Chg. % Chg. Seats Per Stage
In a move that worsens the plight of airlines suffering unexpectedly weak demand, the Chinese government has limited most of its employees to flying economy class. Air China is likely to suffer the most from the new rules, which are part of President Xi Jinping’s campaign against the relentless efforts of millions of Chinese bureaucrats to divert public funds to their own benefit.
The U.K.’s Bristow Group will shortly return its last Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) EC225s to operations, following the nine-month-long grounding of the type from hazardous environment operations during 2012 and 2013. The company began returning its EC225s to revenue operations in November, after offshore operators voluntarily halted flights following the ditchings of two Aberdeen-based aircraft belonging to Bond Offshore Helicopters and CHC in May and October 2012, respectively.
The FAA is planning to issue a draft request for proposals in March for private companies to operate the agency’s 252 contract control towers for the next five years, an action some see as a sign that the FAA will continue to support the facilities despite a proposed cut to the program last year.
The global aerospace and defense sector should see revenue growth of 4-6% in calendar 2014, with high single-digit or low double-digit growth in commercial aerospace outpacing ongoing declines in defense, according to Deloitte’s 2014 Global Aerospace and Defense Industry Outlook.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carriers: Oslo - Stavanger, December 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Top Carriers: Oslo - Stavanger, December 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Daily Each Way Departures Share ASKs (000) Share Seats /Dept.
The FAA, responding to a recent U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) audit report, says it is still working on developing ways to make a key safety data repository more useful for its safety inspectors. Launched in 2007, the Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS) compiles data from multiple sources, including volunteer safety initiatives like Aviation Safety Action Programs (ASAP), in which employees self-disclose violations.
Singapore low-cost carrier Tigerair will sell its struggling Philippine affiliate to competitor Cebu Pacific, and deep cooperation with Cebu Pacific will replace Tigerair’s direct presence in the Philippine market. Tigerair’s retreat follows the growth in the Philippine market of the largest of the franchising low-cost groups, AirAsia, which bought Zest Air last year and rebranded it as AirAsia Zest.
Delta Air Lines, advancing its strategy of channeling capital into its existing fleet as opposed to more new aircraft, will pour $770 million into refreshing cabins and adding both seats and passenger creature comforts on 225 narrowbodies during the next three years. The changes will see an array of improvements, including new slim-line seats with plug-in power, in-seat video, satellite TV, and revamped galleys and lavatories installed on 56 Boeing 757-200s, 43 737-800s, 57 Airbus A319, and 69 A320s.
The NTSB says it will finish its detective work on the Boeing 787 lithium-ion batteries in March and will issue the final report and hold a public hearing this fall on the January 2013 Japan Airlines incident that spawned the investigation. A second battery failure led to the FAA’s grounding of the fleet one year ago this month. “Members of the investigative team have been conducting work in the United States, Japan, France, and Taiwan,” says the NTSB in its latest update on the investigation, released Wednesday.
Morocco’s national airline Royal Air Maroc has signed a Global Maintenance Agreement (GMA) with ATR for its new fleet of ATR-600 aircraft, giving the OEM another boost in its efforts to gain share in the aftermarket. The contract covers the four ATR 72-600s already owned by the airline, which was the launch customer for the -600 series and announced an order for two ATR 42-600s and four of the larger ATR 72-600s plus options for two additional ATR 72-600s in 2009. It took delivery of the first aircraft in 2011.
Turkish Airlines, which has just exercised options on another seven Airbus A321-200neos, will decide on whether to go ahead with the remaining options by 2015. Last March Turkish signed a contract for 25 A321ceos, four A320neo and 53 A321neos. The deal also included 35 A321neo options, seven of which have just been converted to firm orders for delivery in 2018. “We have firmed up for the first seven aircraft. For the remaining 28 aircraft the deadline is the end of 2014 and the end of 2015,” said a Turkish Airlines spokesman.
India’s bankers have accorded aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul operations infrastructure status to facilitate easier borrowing from overseas, the country’s central bank says. “On a review, it has been decided that, for the purpose of External Commercial Borrowings (ECB), Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) will also be treated as a part of airport infrastructure,” the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) says.
Air Lituanica is seeking to secure lease arrangements for two Embraer E-Jets and is preparing to submit a new business plan to the Lithuanian civil aviation authority (CAA)—including details on its financial status—following a dispute and breakup with Estonian Air, which has hampered the new carrier’s expansion plans.
