Delta Air Lines’ regional subsidiary, Comair, will cease service on Sept. 29, falling victim to its parent company’s plan to slash more than 200 50-seat aircraft from service within the next three years.
You can now register online for Aviation Week events. Go to www.aviationweek.com/conferences or contact: Lydia Janow, 212-904-3225 or 800-240-7645 ext. 5 (U.S. and Canada only) Sept. 20-21 —Aviation Week MRO IT Conference & Showcase, Hyatt Regency Miami, Miami, Fla. Oct. 9—Aviation Week Aircraft Composite Repair Management Forum, Amsterdam RAI, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Oct. 9—Aviation Week MRO IT Europe, Amsterdam RAI, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Potential Philippine carrier Magnum Air Inc., otherwise known as Skyjet, has applied for an air operator certificate (AOC) and plans to serve secondary routes in the Philippines. The Philippines’ Civil Aeronautics Board says the carrier has requested approval to operate scheduled domestic services. Magnum Air Inc. markets itself to the general public under the Skyjet brand.
A leading U.S. lawmaker intends to summon FAA officials to a congressional hearing to explain how an $860 million contract to train air traffic controllers will run out of money more than a year before the contract’s end date. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) says she will call officials before her contracting oversight panel–which is part of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee–after receiving what she calls an inadequate response from FAA Acting Administrator Michael Huerta.
Click here to view the pdf Top Carrier: Fukuoka - Tokyo Haneda -July 15-21, 2012, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Top Carrier: Fukuoka - Tokyo Haneda -July 15-21, 2012, Ranked By Scheduled Seats Daily Each Way
Qantas has acknowledged that Emirates Airline is among several carriers being considered as a candidate for boosting the Australian operator’s international network. In a statement to the Australian stock exchange, Qantas says “it is in discussions with a number of airlines about potential alliances. . .These airlines include Emirates, among others.” A link between the two has been rumored for some time, but this is the first formal indication of such discussions.
Click here to view the pdf Aircraft Operating Costs and Statistics, 12 Months Ended December 2011,Jet Aircraft Pages 5 and 6 of 11 MD90 Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas
Indonesian carrier Sky Aviation has decided to take delivery of the Sukhoi SuperJets it has on order, despite the crash of a SuperJet in May that killed 14 of the airline’s employees. A SuperJet, operated by Sukhoi as part of a demonstration tour, crashed into Mount Salak outside Jakarta on May 9. All 45 people on board were killed. The airline’s chairman, Yusuf Ardhi, told Aviation Week in June that Sky was unwilling to take delivery until it saw the final accident report.
Transport and environment ministers from 17 countries will meet in Washington next week to try to find what is being called a “more positive” way to oppose the EU’s emissions trading system (ETS).
Air Canada, moving to replace MRO once supplied by the now-defunct Aveos Fleet Performance, is close to deals with four airframe maintenance providers.
Facing uncertain budgets and possible steep cuts from sequestration, FAA acting Administrator Michael Huerta says the agency is considering a number of scenarios and is trying to be “nimble and creative.”
Click here to view the pdf Fuel Watch: Global Jet Fuel Prices (midpoint) As of March 25, 2012, compared with previous week and previous year cts/gal prev. week prev.
AviancaTaca is cutting its 2013 capacity growth to address a mild slowdown in Latin America’s economies, but the airline still plans to increase available seat miles 14% compared with 2012, CEO Fabio Villegas says. “It is still a strong market,” Villegas told Aviation Week in an exclusive interview, noting that the airline group had forecast 18% capacity growth next year, but is instead focusing on strengthening its hubs over regional point-to-point service. This is in addition to 12% capacity growth planned for 2012.
Alaska Air Group increased capacity further in the second quarter and has no plans to slow growth, says CFO Brandon Pedersen. The operator added 6.4% more capacity in the second quarter, compared with the same period last year. For the six months ended June 30, the company boosted supply by 5%, compared with the first six months of 2011. Passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) grew almost 5% in the quarter to 12.1 cents. Pedersen notes Alaska also increased average flight stage length by 4.4%, unlike its competitors.
For US Airways CEO Doug Parker, the Tempe, Ariz.-based airline’s strong second-quarter showing is proof that it can stand alone, but he also argues that the period’s results strengthen the argument that his company should merge with AMR Corp.’s American Airlines.
United Airlines anticipates capacity this year to fall 0.5-1.5% below last year as domestic and Atlantic operations continued to be trimmed. Transatlantic capacity in 2012 will fall by as much as 3.1%, while domestic mainline will decline up to 2.7%, United says in its latest forecast. At the same time, domestic regional available seat miles (ASMs) could also shrink 2.5%, compared with 2011.
Hedge Your Exposure To Fluctuating Airfares 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.
Privately owned Thai carrier Bangkok Airways is planning an initial public offering (IPO) in the first half of 2013 to raise capital for new aircraft and a maintenance hangar. “The main objective of the IPO is to finance medium-term expansion programs to capture future growth opportunities,” a Bangkok Airways spokesperson tells Aviation Week, adding that some IPO proceeds will be assigned to new aircraft, construction of a new hangar at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, network expansion and improvements to the airline’s information technology system.
Pratt & Whitney (P&W), a unit of United Technologies Corp. (UTC), recorded higher engine sales in the second quarter but overall profits fell as airlines cut purchases of spare parts. P&W’s operating profits fell 1% from the same quarter in 2011 to $427 million despite strong sales of the company’s geared turbofan engine (GTF), UTC CEO Louis Chenevert told analysts July 26 during a second-quarter earnings call.
Click here to view the pdf Aircraft Operating Costs and Statistics, 12 Months Ended December 2011, Jet Aircraft Pages 3 and 4 of 10 737-300 Manufacturer: Boeing
The Senate Commerce Committee on July 31 is expected to mark up a bill prohibiting U.S. airlines from participating in the EU’s emissions trading system. The bill, introduced late last year by Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) and co-sponsored by Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), would authorize the U.S. Transportation Department to prevent U.S. carriers from paying the EU for carbon dioxide emissions. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a similar bill last year.
