Singapore Airlines (SIA) subsidiary Scoot, which intends to serve both medium- and long-haul markets, has ruled out launching flights of more than eight hours in the short term because of high fuel prices. And, in a separate development, Scoot has explored the possibility of relocating from Terminal Two at Singapore Changi Airport to the budget terminal, so it can link up more effectively with SIA’s short-haul, low-cost carrier Tiger Airways.
Reps. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and Daniel Lipinski (D-Ill.) have introduced a “Pilot’s Bill of Rights,” similar to the legislation introduced by Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) last summer. The bill, referred to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is designed to improve the flow of information during FAA enforcement actions, including access to flight service briefings and other sources that may require a subpoena. The bill also calls for improving the notice to airmen system and reviewing medical forms to ensure they are clear.
Travelport will begin work with one or more airlines this year on developing an application programming interface (API) that could provide carriers with more flexibility in customizing and presenting ancillary revenue offers to consumers via travel agents.
Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) may be positioning himself to be considered for transportation secretary in the event that President Barack Obama is re-elected. After Obama’s State of the Union address on Jan. 24, Rendell issued a statement lauding the president’s transportation policies. “No one wants to slow down commerce with outdated ports, rail and airport systems,” says the governor, who is making a name for himself as a transportation expert. Rendell is believed to have been on the short list for transportation secretary in 2008.
A European Commission investigation of a transatlantic joint venture involving SkyTeam’s Air France-KLM, Alitalia and Delta Air Lines is focusing on a small number of routes—maybe as few as six city-pairs—as a follow-on from an earlier probe. The executive body’s earlier investigation into a wider SkyTeam partnership ended with no action against the alliance.
To list an event, send information in calendar format to Ingrid Lee at [email protected] (Bold type indicates new calendar listing.) Jan. 31-Feb. 2—Aerial Refueling Systems Advisory Group’s Winter Planning Meeting, Hilton Palacio del Rio, San Antonio, 937-431-8106, www.arsaginc.com Feb. 2—Business Aviation Regional Forum, Landmark Aviation, Lakefront Airport, New Orleans, www.nbaa.org/events/forums/20120202 Feb. 6-7—2nd Business Aviation Safety Conference, Munich, Germany, www.fly-corporate.com
EADS board of directors, Amsterdam, named Tom Enders CEO and Arnaud Lagardere chairman of the board. Fabrice Bregier will succeed Enders as CEO of Airbus, and Guenter Butschek, current head of Airbus operations, will become the airframer's chief operating officer. Harald Wilhelm will become CFO of EADS in addition to his present role as CFO of Airbus, succeeding Hans Peter Ring, who plans to retire.
Europe’s economic woes, political turmoil in Egypt and Nigeria, and high oil prices will drive Kenya Airways to report a year-over-year drop in profit of 25%, Chairman Evanson Mwaniki warns. The airline, in a notice to the Nairobi stock market, says, however, that it will remain profitable in the financial year ending March 31. It adds that “the airline’s strategy to grow its network in Asia and Africa, as well as renewal of its fleet, will continue to improve efficiencies and outlook for the future.”
Spirit Airlines CEO Ben Baldanza, publicly espousing an argument that Spirit, Allegiant Air and Southwest Airlines already made repeatedly in court in a legal challenge to the U.S. government’s new fare advertising rules, is drawing fire from at least one prominent member of Congress.
An ongoing battle between the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC) and American Airlines’ parent company continues apace, with the airline rejecting the U.S. government agency’s claims it is misleading employees about the effects of terminating its pension plans.
First-quarter corporate bookings are continuing to improve on 2011 gains and are fueling United Continental Holdings’ decision to increase international capacity in the first three months of the year, even to Europe, where premium cabin yields remain strong despite the economic frailty of the region. Premium cabin sales produced solid gains for the Chicago-based operator in 2011, which recorded a more than 14% improvement in corporate passenger unit revenue and double-digit increases in yields. Corporate fares at the same time grew 9% on 2010 levels.
EasyJet hopes revenue growth per seat of 7.7% year-on-year will help compensate for a £100 million ($157 million) spike in fuel costs and enable the low-fare airline to contain first-half losses at £140-160 million ($220-250 million), roughly on par with last year. In releasing first-quarter results yesterday, CEO Carolyn McCall says EasyJet is “cautiously confident” in its outlook. Still, she notes the weak euro is a financial headwind, as is the weak economic environment in Europe.
Billionaire Lucio Tan is open to selling Philippine Airlines (PAL) “at the right price,” he told reporters during an interview in Manila. Tan also confirmed that the two parties he is negotiating with are San Miguel chief Ramon Ang and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) Chairman Manuel Pangilinan. “Both are my friends,” he added.
Boeing Capital Corp. ended the year with a $4.3 billion portfolio, which was unchanged from the beginning of the fourth quarter and down from $4.7 billion at the start of 2011, CEO James McNerney told analysts this week. The airframer’s financing arm reported $532 million in full-year revenues, down from $639 million in 2010. Fourth-quarter revenues fell 20% to $116 million, compared with $145 million in 2010. Earnings were off due to a smaller portfolio. The unit’s debt-to-equity ratio was 6.2:1.
AAR has expanded inventory at its European distribution center for Unison aerospace components, located at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. The new inventory at the hub is managed by AAR’s Allen asset management division and includes turbine ignition systems, engine-dedicated alternators, sensors, switches and wiring harnesses. Unison specializes in gas turbine structural components plus electrical and mechanical systems for engines, airframes and industrial markets.
Etihad Airways is buying a 40% stake in Air Seychelles. The Abu Dhabi-based carrier is investing $20 million in the airline and giving the carrier a $25 million loan. Air Seychelles also is receiving a $20 million capital infusion from the Seychelles government. The deal includes a five-year management contract and a state official says the new shareholder will name a new CEO and CFO.
Gulf Air and the Bahraini government next week will decide on a restructuring plan that will downsize the national legacy carrier and possibly subject it to even more drastic measures, according to local media reports.
AirBridge Cargo (ABC), Russia’s largest scheduled freight airline, plans to start what it says will be the first regular transpolar cargo service between the U.S. and Russia in mid-February.
