India’s low-cost airline SpiceJet Ltd. and Singapore’s largest budget carrier Tigerair have signed a three-year connectivity agreement, in a major boost for business travel and tourism between the two countries. As part of the inter-line agreement, in which each carrier will issue and accept tickets for flights that are operated by the other partner, SpiceJet travelers across 14 Indian cities will have uninterrupted connection to Singapore-bound flights of Tigerair via Hyderabad airport in south India.
As the world’s air carriers battle over which will dominate the international marketplace, we must reject business models premised on scouring the globe for cheap labor no matter the consequences, and not pretend this is somehow acceptable competitive behavior. (Image: Boeing)
Finnair has signed a memorandum of understanding with GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) on the sale and leaseback of two Airbus 330s and two Airbus 350s, valued at €320 million (US$440 million).
French Caribbean carrier Air Caraibes has firmed plans to take six Airbus A350s— three direct from Airbus and three from lessor ILFC—for its long-haul fleet renewal. Air Caraibes inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Airbus for three A350-1000s in September 2008. On Friday, an Airbus spokesman declined to comment on the status of the deal, but Aviation Week affiliate Air Transport World understands it has now been converted into a firm order.
A commission set up to examine U.K. airports’ capacity limitations is set to report its preliminary findings tomorrow. The Airports Commission, headed by Sir Howard Davies, is expected to report on short-term changes to Britain’s airports in order to deliver improvements in airport capacity as well as reducing noise and pollution.
A major development project is underway at Honolulu International Airport that will add capacity and allow Hawaiian Airlines to dramatically improve the efficiency of its main hub. The multi-phase project involves the construction of new cargo and heavy maintenance facilities for Hawaiian Airlines, with their relocation allowing for taxiways to be widened. This in turn will improve access for larger aircraft to a new passenger terminal that will be built when the other facilities are finished.
The low-cost carrier market in Thailand continues to grow more crowded, with local airline Nok Air and Singapore’s Scoot revealing plans to launch a new Bangkok-based LCC. The airlines have signed a memorandum of understanding to set up a joint venture called NokScoot, which they say will operate widebody aircraft on medium and long-haul international routes. Nok will control a 51% stake, and Scoot will have 49%. The initial investment will be THB 2 billion ($62.3 million).
AerCap’s deal to buy International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC) was motivated in large part by the chance to acquire an enticing order book at a great price, creating an efficient aircraft management “platform” that dovetails well with its own strategy, AerCap CEO Aengus Kelly says.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carriers: New York, Newark, December 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMs Top Carriers: New York, Newark, December 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMs
Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia Group will initially import 10 aircraft for its India-based operations, which are likely to begin in March. AirAsia, which has already won approval for its joint venture airline in India, was initially planning to begin operations in the country in December with three Airbus A320 aircraft, and then add 10 Airbus aircraft each year to expand its operations in the country.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carriers: Dallas/Fort Worth, December 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMs Top Carriers: Dallas/Fort Worth, December 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMs
FAA and airport funding are already emerging as key issues as Congress begins initial preparations for the next FAA reauthorization bill. Airport groups are urging a $4 increase in the passenger facility charge (PFC), airlines are appealing to Congress to refrain from looking at them as a piggy bank and business aviation groups are stressing the importance of retaining current fuel taxes.
After a two-year pause in negotiations, the Star Alliance has re-invited Air India to become a member. The Star Chief Executive Board (CEB) voted unanimously in favor of the decision in an effort to improve the group’s presence in one of the largest and fastest-growing emerging markets.
Prepare for a nail-biter in the Senate this week as the upper chamber considers the two-year budget framework deal that sailed through the House Wednesday night on a 332-94 vote. Struck by House and Senate Budget committee chairmen Rep. Paul Ryan ( R-Wis .) and Sen. Patty Murray ( D-Wash .) the deal helps avert the threat of a government shutdown, at least temporarily—but it would also, among other proposals, double the post-9/11 security fee charged to passengers for one-way flights from $2.50 now to $5 this fiscal year, then to $5.60 in fiscal 2015.
Brazil’s Synergy Group is still exploring ways to invest in a European airline and TAP Portugal and LOT Polish Airlines are serious candidates for an investment, according to Synergy Chairman German Efromovich. “We might put an offer in for TAP if the conditions are still the same as a year ago,” Efromovich told Aviation Week on the sidelines of the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board meeting in Vienna/Austria. “But you need two partners to agree to a marriage.”
Thomson Airways recently launched Direct Maintenance’s Boeing 787 line maintenance services, the second current-generation Boeing widebody support capability added by the Dutch aftermarket provider in as many weeks. Direct is helping Thomson turn 787s at the airline’s Mombasa, Kenya line station. The work started following Thomson’s inaugural 787 service between London Gatwick Airport and Moi International Airport Dec. 3. The charter carrier had been operating 767-300ERs on the route.
Jan. 21-22, 2014—MRO Latin America, Rio de Janerio, Brazil Feb. 4-6—MRO Middle East, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai, UAE Feb. 10—Air Transport World’s 40th Annual Airline Industry Achievement Awards, Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel, Singapore March 4-5—Defense Technology & Affordability Requirements, Washington, D.C. March 6—57th Annual Laureates Awards, National Building Museum, Washington, D.C. April 8-10—MRO Americas 2014, Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, Ariz.
Austrian Airlines CEO Jaan Albrecht says 2014 will be the year during which the airline will have to demonstrate that its drastic restructuring and cost-cutting efforts have been worthwhile.
