JetBlue Airways’ mobile device team is talking to the low-cost airline’s marketing teams about future uses for a new JetBlue iPhone application that can send location- and time-based notifications to customers.
By Ben Baldanza, CEO of Spirit Airlines Kevin Mitchell represents corporate travel departments and his slam of Spirit Airlines in the Feb. 9, 2012, Departures column was to be expected.
Grupo Aeromexico this year will focus most of its planned 10% capacity growth on the Mexican domestic network, a sharp change in tactics from last year when the airline, for the first time, claimed the largest percentage of Mexico’s international supply.
Click here to view the pdf Aircraft Operating Costs and Statistics, 12 Months Ended June 2011, Jet Aircraft Pages 7 and 8 of 11 737-900 Manufacturer: Boeing
AerCap is considering adding more aircraft to the 17 scheduled for delivery this year to take advantage of its access to capital and low debt. The lessor has commitments for about $1 billion in aircraft deals, but CEO Angus Kelley says, “We will seek to add to it.” In announcing full-year results, he says, “We see a situation where there are probably some good buying opportunities,” and AerCap is “well situated” to exploit them.
Click here to view the pdf Fuel Watch: Global Jet Fuel Prices (midpoint) As of Feb. 22, 2012• compared with previous week and previous year cts/gal prev. week prev.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that Airport and Airway Trust Fund revenues fell short of the FAA’s forecasts for nine of the past 11 years, but changes to the way the forecast is assessed could result in more accuracy in the future.
Even as airline and pilot representatives spar over the European Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) proposed rules on flight crew flight time limitations, the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority says it is content with the current version of the draft legislation.
Etihad Airways will make Washington its fourth North American destination by launching daily service from Abu Dhabi in March 2013 with Airbus A340-500s, pending regulatory approval. CEO James Hogan says the Middle Eastern airline foresees adding two more U.S. cities to its network within two years. Etihad also plans to start service to South America in 2013. In North America, it already serves Toronto, Chicago and New York.
BizAv groups are pinning their hopes on the highway reauthorization bill to overturn a fuel fraud measure that causes certain jet fuel to be taxed at the highway diesel fuel rate.
The European Commission has launched in-depth investigations into the financing of four airports because it is concerned that the financing arrangements of the publicly owned facilities do not comply with the so-called market economy investor principle (MEIP). The MEIP stipulates that state-owned companies should behave like private entities to avoid undue influence on competition.
Boeing is busy ensuring its international customers in need can secure U.S. Export Import Bank support, while also keeping an eye on the global economic situation and U.S. defense cuts. The CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Jim Albaugh, says there is no doubt that the European banks have less liquidity than they once had, but he adds that the Asian banks are coming in to help fill the void.
General aviation shipments slipped across the board in 2011, but signs of stabilization and improving market conditions are providing hope that the industry finally has found the trough, says Caroline Daniels, chairman and CEO of ATP and chairman of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).
SIA Cargo, which as a fleet of 13 Boeing 747-400 freighters, says it has reduced its cargo capacity by 20% in response to reduced demand. It says the capacity cut will remain in place for months to come because it sees no rise in demand in this year’s first half and fuel prices remain persistently high. The airline says the capacity cuts affect mostly long-haul services. A SIA Cargo spokesman says no cargo aircraft have been grounded as a result of the capacity cuts; rather, aircraft utilization has been reduced. He also says no pilots have been furloughed.
Controversy surrounding the reauthorization of the U.S. Export-Import Bank is pitting the airline industry, labor and manufacturers against one another in a three-way tussle on Capitol Hill. The current bill expires in May, but the bank is on pace to hit its $100 billion lending cap before that, says John Hardy, president of the Coalition for Employment Through Exports, a group advocating for passage of the bill.
Comac’s tentative deal with Indonesia’s Merpati Nusantara for the sale of 40 Comac ARJ21-700 regional jets includes off-sets for Indonesian Aerospace (IAe), a state-owned aircraft manufacturer. The amount of off-set is equivalent to 40% of the value of the aircraft order, says an industry executive in Indonesia familiar with the deal.
