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.
Air New Zealand is vowing to continue to clamp down on costs despite its strong financial performance, and that includes ongoing scrutiny of its heavy maintenance operations. At its annual stockholder’s meeting late last week, Air New Zealand CEO Christopher Luxon emphasized that the airline is undertaking benchmark studies to compare its costs in all segments of the business against its competitors. The carrier will “identify the cause of high costs,” and will only retain the expense if passengers are prepared to pay for them through ticket prices.
A revised version of a draft resolution to establish a global system for limiting airlines’ greenhouse-gas emissions is expected to emerge today at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly in Montreal. Bilateral consultations have been underway since a Sept. 25 executive committee meeting failed to produce a consensus agreement on ICAO’s proposal for developing a global system of market-based measures (MBM) to limit aviation’s carbon emissions.
By Dr. Pamela Drew, Corporate Vice President and President of Information Systems, Exelis Inc. America’s infrastructure is aging—including our nation’s air travel system, and while the United States’ air traffic control system is the safest in the world, many would be surprised to learn that today’s air travel relies on decades-old systems.
Southwest Airlines yesterday broke ground on a $156 million international terminal at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston that will be the base for an international expansion planned from 2015. The five-gate facility is scheduled to open late 2015, with Southwest planning to offer Boeing 737 services to in the Caribbean, Mexico and the northern cities of South America.
The past few years have not been kind to Air Nostrum. The regional airline, which has been operating under a franchise contract with Iberia since 1997, is struggling with the fallout of Spain’s relentless economic downturn and an onslaught of low-cost carriers in the country. Iberia’s downsizing and social unrest is making matters worse.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carriers: Frankfurt, September 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMs Top Carriers: Frankfurt, September 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMs De
Technologically advanced components may help drive down maintenance costs on the newest aircraft, but they also radically alter the cost-benefit calculation of whether an airline should stock its own spares or participate in a pool.
Indonesia’s Lion Air is considering a “double-digit” order for Bombardier CS300 aircraft, and could make a decision by the end of this year. Both Lion Air and Bombardier confirm that talks about an order are being held, but a Lion Air spokesman tells Aviation Week that no purchase decision has been made.
The NTSB says improper installation of a fuselage crown skin panel on a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-300 (N632SW) caused metal fatigue that led to a rapid decompression event over Arizona on April 1, 2011.
