Lloyd Aereo Boliviano (LAB) last weekend readied a regular flight to meet the Nov. 20 deadline set by airline regulator DGAC to reissue its operating permit (DAILY, Nov. 15). Former LAB President Antonio Chiquie told Los Tiempos that technical and financial prerequisites in support of reissue would be submitted shortly.
Brazilian Defense Minister Nelson Jobim, speaking at a news conference in Rio, encouraged more foreign ownership of Brazilian airlines but discarded "total" opening of the sector to carriers from abroad.
Finnair says that fourth-quarter operational performance is exceeding expectations, allowing it to increase its full-year profit guidance. Operating results are projected to exceed EUR90 million, whereas only a few weeks ago, the carrier expected it would be able to surpass only EUR70 million. Moreover, management says that the final quarter should have a clearly profitable financial results; before, there was merely an expectation it could be in the black.
Mexican President Felipe Calderon last week inaugurated Terminal 2 at Mexico City International Airport (AICM), which will increase capacity from 32 million annual passengers to 40 million, and flight operations from 54 to 62 per hour.
EasyJet posted a significant profit increase in the fiscal year ended Sept. 30 and expects earnings to improve even more in 2008 -- CEO Andrew Harrison said pre-tax profit in 2008 will be about 20% above last year's level.
Air Berlin yesterday revised its guidance for the fiscal year 2007 downwards, in spite of improved results for the third quarter. The company said it expects to get close to last year's operating profit of EUR64 million. Earlier in the year, the airline said it would exceed last year's profit (DAILY, May 10). Air Berlin's shares remained largely unchanged.
Tourism is the most potent anti-poverty tool in the world, and international financial institutions such as the World Bank and IMF should back developing world airlines, Lelei LeLaulu, president of Counterpart International, told European aviation officials this week in Oslo.
Japan yesterday began collecting biometric data from all foreign passengers entering the country. Additional staff will be deployed at Narita, Kansai and Chubu airports to handle any potential for increased processing time. Passengers who refuse to surrender biometric data will be denied entry into the country, The DAILY has learned. [email protected]
CAE and Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia signed a contract giving CAE the responsibility of managing AirAsia's Type Rating Training Organization (TRTO) at the AirAsia Academy, which provides pilot training for all of AirAsia's current and future pilots. The contract is valued at about US$51 million over 10 years. CAE will start pilot training services at AirAsia's six-bay simulator training center at the academy at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in early 2008.
Startup carrier Air Peru International (API) would take off as soon as its operating license and other paperwork is completed, probably in December, CEO Guillermo de la Torre said at a news conference this week in Lima.
The rush to Southeast Asia is on -- overbookings are up nearly 20% and the winter vacation season barely started -- and Singapore Airlines, Thai International Airways and Korean Air are hoping India will give them additional frequencies to fill the gap between supply and demand for seats. Passenger traffic between Singapore and India grew 17.5% between January and August this year, compared with the previous year, Changi International Airport said.
Volga-Dnepr has received its first Boeing 747-400ERF freighter. AirBridgeCargo will operate the aircraft that are taken on lease from GE Commercial Aviation Services. The initial service is between Russia and Hong Kong. Plans call for AirBridgeCargo to operate two more 747-400ERFs; the company also flies four 747-200Fs and one 747-300F. Moreover, five 747-8s are on order for delivery between 2010 and 2013. The second -400ERF is to arrive in February, for operations to North America and Europe. The U.S.
Volaris CEO Enrique Beltranena believes the combination of a growing market and lower fares is preventing consolidation and cost adjustment at many carriers, and said Mexico's airline industry, the second-largest in Latin America, may lose almost US$500 million in 2007. "The main challenge for the sector is becoming profitable," he told El Universal.
Jet Airways would begin code sharing with American on Jan. 16, subject to regulatory approvals. Jet Airways will place its 9W designator code on certain American domestic flights out of New York Kennedy Airport. The two carriers are terminal-mates at JFK, and Jet operates daily flights between India and JFK via its Brussels hub.
The U.S. Transportation Dept. yesterday assessed a fine of $115,000 against Delta relating to the provision of on-time arrival performance data. Hawaiian and JetBlue have received similar penalties this year.
Vietnam Airlines on Friday made final an order for 12 Boeing 787-800s, with the airline buying four and the newly formed Vietnam Aircraft Leasing Co. taking the other eight. The airline originally signed a firm agreement for four 787s in June 2005. The first of those four will be delivered by late 2009. The airline intends to operate 20 787s by 2015 and 28 by 2020 (DAILY, Oct. 2).
Caribbean Star operated its final flight last Thursday, but sister airline Caribbean Sun still flies on, with plans to pursue a new business model and use a different aircraft type.
Aer Lingus has formally asked the European Union's legal system to again step in and force a sale of its shares by rival Ryanair. The Irish low-fare carrier holds almost 30% of Aer Lingus as part of its so-far failed effort to take over the network carrier. The EU initially said it had no jurisdiction over the matter, but Aer Lingus is taking an appeal to the EU Court of First Instance.
The three global airline alliances -- Star Alliance, SkyTeam and oneworld -- are courting more partners as consolidation looms and aviation growth in China, India and the Persian Gulf regions drives demand for global coverage.
FAA's recent notice that it will use military airspace to help relieve holiday air traffic congestion is not a new approach. A search through the agency's press release archive shows FAA turned to East Coast military airspace twice before. On March 10, 2000, under a severe weather plan, FAA said it would "make better use of military airspace off the East Coast...allowing alternative north-south routings." And in May 2002, FAA said it would make "more and better" use of military-controlled Virginia Capes airspace as part of a summer air traffic initiative.
