Click here to view the pdf Fuel Watch: Global Jet Fuel Prices (midpoint) As of January 23, 2013, compared with previous week and previous year cts/gal prev. week prev.
ATR yesterday gave its strongest indication yet of the configuration of a possible 90-seat turboprop. A silhouette of a possible design was on display at the regional aircraft manufacturer’s annual news conference in Toulouse showing a high-wing turboprop with eight-bladed propellers and winglets. But the joint venture of Alenia Aermacchi and EADS still awaits launch approval from its shareholders.
Ignatius Ong, CEO of Malaysia Airlines’ (MAS’s) Firefly division, is ruling out any immediate return to the low-cost sector, and will spend at least the next two years expanding its turboprop operation. Ong, in an exclusive interview with Aviation Week in Kuala Lumpur, says the domestic low-cost sector is becoming too competitive now that Indonesia’s Lion Air is about to enter the market with Malindo Air.
Pinnacle Airlines by the end of January will likely decide if it will relocate its Memphis International Airport-based headquarters, a spokesman tells Aviation Week. The regional carrier, which is restructuring under Chapter 11 protection, will not say what cities are being considered, although Delta Air Lines’ hub at Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport has been widely speculated for several months. Last week, a U.S. bankruptcy court approved a deal that will allow Delta to purchase Pinnacle.
Sometimes, when an airline calls, it wants an overhaul shop to receive its turbofan in three months. Getting that much notice is good, because anyone running an engine overhaul plant likes to know just what the technicians and equipment will be doing at least four weeks ahead. A long, dependable schedule is an efficient schedule.
The Middle East is one of the major growth regions for air travel. But more than 90% of air traffic there does not stay within the region. If its domestic and short-haul international air transport services are to be developed further, major political and economic change will be needed.
U.S. carriers still face considerable uncertainty about what, or if, they must pay into the EU’s emissions trading system (ETS) even though the European Commission (EC) has “stopped the clock” on applying the ETS to flights operated by non-EU carriers.
U.K. regional operator Flybe is launching a deep restructuring of its scheduled operations and expanding contract flying as part of a two-phase program to return the company to profitability. The group is reorganizing from three to two divisions, Flybe UK and Flybe Outsourcing Solutions. All outsourced services, including contract flying, training and maintenance, repair and overhaul, will be brought together under Flybe Outsourcing Solutions, while all scheduled services will be managed by Flybe UK.
Embraer and Finmeccanica’s AgustaWestland division are examining the potential of helicopter production in Brazil. The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) looking at establishing a joint venture that could lead to the production of AgustaWestland’s helicopters in Brazil for both military and civil use. Such a project would give the company a foothold in the Latin American market, which is currently dominated by Eurocopter and Bell, while Sikorsky has entered the fold with sales of its military and civil products.
Members of the European Parliament (EP) have again called on the European Commission (EC) to introduce harmonizing rules and limits for cabin baggage across the European Union, and hope to include the rule in air passenger rights regulation due for revision this year.
Cebu Pacific Air has disclosed that Dubai will be its first widebody destination. The airline, which is due to take delivery of its first two Airbus A330-300s later this year, says it will deploy the aircraft between its base at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Dubai International Airport. The daily nonstop service is scheduled to start Oct. 7, and will compete against Emirates Airline.
London’s Stansted Airport is to be sold to Manchester Airports Group for £1.5 billion ($2.38 billion). The deal announced late on Jan. 18 will see the U.K.’s fourth busiest airport in term of passenger and main low-fare airline gateway transfer to the owner of Manchester, East Midlands and Bournemouth Airport by the end of February.
Mexican low-cost carrier Volaris this year is adding five Airbus A320s to its current fleet of 24 A319s and 17 A320s. A Volaris spokeswoman tells Aviation Week that a total of five A320s will be taken this year, but did not specify a delivery schedule. Additionally, Volaris is expanding into two new markets in Mexico. The carrier now serves 37 markets in Mexico and the U.S. From next month, Volaris will begin operating to Merida, in the Mexican state of Yucatan, and Tuxtla Gutierrez, in Chiapas, the spokeswoman says.
Seven members of the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO) have signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in vendor audits, line maintenance, maintenance training and joint purchasing of consumable parts, says Rashad Karaky, the association’s manager of economics and technology management.
Malaysian military maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) provider Airod has made some key appointments in an effort to expand its commercial operation. Industry sources in Malaysia tell Aviation Week Airod has appointed Roslan Ismail to head its commercial MRO business. Roslan previously was head of Malaysia Airlines Engineering & Maintenance (MAS E&M).
Negotiators for Boeing’s 15,500 unionized engineers and 7,400 technical workers are expected to seek authority to strike after recommending a “no” vote on the “best and final” contract offer late last week from Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA). The current contract for the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (Speea), which covers BCA workers in Washington, Utah, Oregon and California, expired Dec. 25.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carriers - Singapore Changi, Jan 15-21, 2013, Ranked By Scheduled Outbound ASMs Departures Airport Share ASMs (mil) Airport Share Seats /Dept.
