A revised plan to limit aviation’s greenhouse-gas emissions has been presented to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly in Montreal, amid signs the European Union (EU) has softened its stance in a bid to secure a global agreement. After days of closed-door bilateral negotiations, a revised draft resolution on market-based measures (MBM) was presented Oct. 2 to the executive committee. The revisions focus of two key paragraphs that were the focus of disagreement at the first meeting, which was held Sept. 25.
EasyJet and Transaero Airlines have signed a commercial agreement for flights between Moscow Domodedovo and London Gatwick airports, under which Transaero will distribute a proportion of the seats on EasyJet’s flights on the route from Oct. 27. The U.K.-based low-cost carrier operates twice-daily flights between Gatwick and Domodedovo. As part of the deal, EasyJet’s services will also have the Transaero ‘UN’ designator code, although a spokeswoman for EasyJet insists it is not a typical code-share agreement.
Operators of Airbus narrowbodies powered by IAE engines continue to find cracks in engine pylon ribs under a mandated inspection program, leading European regulators to keep the checks in place for those models while ending the requirement for CFM56-powered aircraft. The cracks, in aft fairing Rib 5, caused one in-flight loss of a pylon tail cone. The incident led Airbus to recommend inspections for all of its narrowbodies—a move mandated last year by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
While campaign promises must always be viewed cautiously, it appears that the overthrow of Australia’s Labor government will benefit airlines in a few key areas. Most notably, the new Liberal-National Coalition government has signaled that it will throw out a carbon tax that has been severely hurting airline profits.
Japan Airlines is criticizing Japanese regulators for awarding a greater share of new slots at Tokyo Haneda Airport to rival All Nippon Airways, and is calling for an explanation of the criteria used by the government.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carriers: Madrid, September 15-21, 2013 Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMs Top Carriers: Madrid, September 15-21, 2013 Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMs Departures
Introducing the Aero 100 Airfare Benchmark Index Designed for anyone with risk on the future level of airfares – for example Airlines, Banks/Credit Card Companies, Corporate Travel Managers, etc. The Aero 100 Airfare Benchmark Index tracks daily airfares within the domestic airline market. The Aero 100 delivers financial risk mitigation and protection against constant fluctuation of airline ticket prices by providing the price settling mechanism for Commodity Futures Contracts.
Fastjet remains confident in the potential of its long-term strategy to become the dominant African low-cost airline, despite persistent hurdles to launching international operations and significant losses. Operating losses for the first six months totaled $39.4 million on revenue of $25.5 million, with cash outflows of $20.9 million. The operating loss before exceptional items was $24.9 million, including $13.3 million in trading losses for the Tanzanian operation. Net loss for the period was $41.9 million.
Cathay Pacific Airways is building its extensive Australian network by increasing direct flights to secondary cities, although the carrier wants to see the current aviation agreement liberalized to allow more flights to major cities. The airline plans to begin direct flights to Adelaide four times a week in March, a city it previously served as a one-stop via Melbourne. This will boost its weekly flights to Australia to 74.
William Franke’s Indigo Partners investment group, which turned Spirit Airlines into a profitable ultra-low-cost carrier, intends to repeat the effort with Frontier Airlines after buying the troubled operator from Republic Airways. Republic, which acquired Frontier in 2009 for about $110 million during the Denver-based airline’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, is selling its holding in the subsidiary for $36 million. Indigo also will pay $109 million to cover the debt being retained by Frontier.
AAR Corp., fresh off expanding its year-old Duluth, Minn., airframe facility to three lines and launching a new facility in Lake Charles, La., continues to report strong demand for airframe maintenance services, suggesting an economic shift favoring North American facilities may be underway.
Texas Attorney General Gregg Abbott yesterday dropped his opposition to AMR Corp.’s merger with US Airways, just hours after a federal judge dismissed an attempt by the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) to give it more time to prepare its case against the two carriers. Abbott—along with attorneys general from Arizona, Florida, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington, D.C.—in August joined a DOJ lawsuit against the merger that argued the consolidation of these two airlines was anti-competitive.
Worldwide growth in air freight continues to accelerate, according to figures released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Air freight demand expanded in August for the fifth consecutive month, up 3.6% year-on-year. That compares to a 1.1% growth in global freight ton kilometers (FTK) in July, and 0.1% for the first half of the year. There was also a 0.8% increase in air freight volumes in August compared to July.
Garuda Indonesia is broadening its fleet portfolio with a commitment for up to 35 ATR 72-600s. The aircraft are being leased from Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC), currently ATR’s largest customer. Twenty-five of the aircraft are on firm order, and Garuda has options for 10 more. The decision was made as part of Garuda’s “Quantum Leap 2011-15” program, which—among other objectives—targets better penetration of Indonesia’s potentially vast domestic market.
Latam Airlines Group’s Brazilian operating unit TAM Airlines is scheduled to join the Oneworld alliance at the end of the first quarter 2014. Upon formal entry to Oneworld on March 31, all of Latam’s passenger operations will be affiliated with the alliance, which has counted Latam’s Chilean subsidiary LAN Airlines as a member since 2000. Latam was created last year when LAN and TAM merged. TAM will formally leave the Star Alliance on March 30, 2014, a little less than four years after joining the global group.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carriers: Amsterdam, September 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMs Top Carriers: Amsterdam, September 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMs De
The European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Select (TRAN) Committee yesterday voted against a new legislative proposal to harmonize pilot and cabin crew flight time limitations (FTL). The motion to reject the European Commission’s (EC’s) draft proposal was carried by a vote of 21 to 13.
John F. Kennedy International Airport-based JetBlue Airways yesterday revealed its long-awaited premium cabin, dubbed “Mint,” which will be featured on flights between its hub and Los Angeles International and San Francisco International airports. The new premium cabin will only be available on newly delivered Airbus A321s, with service due to start on June 14, 2014. Mint will feature lie-flat seats, large in-flight entertainment screens and personalized service and several “suites” for additional privacy.
