Ethiopian Airlines last week signed a lease with ILFC to add a GE-powered Boeing 767-300ER to its fleet. Ethiopian Airlines cockpit crew will operate the aircraft, and its cabin crew will provide service on board. The 767-300ER was made in October 1996 and will be configured for two classes.
Mexicana has no immediate plans to follow Aeromexico and launch long-haul flights to Japan, says CEO Emilio Romano. "The market needs time to mature," he told The DAILY in Mexico City; however, flights to China are in the long-term strategy and he hopes to offer them "before the end of the decade."
Aviation's global nature makes it "impossible" for the European Union's emerging emissions trading scheme (ETS) to work, a top U.S. official declared last week, adding that the U.S. favors better airspace management as a more feasible way to cut emissions and fuel burn.
Salta, Argentina, in 2007 will get its own airline, thanks to Marco Levin, a businessman who made a fortune with his bus company, La Veloz, and a conglomerate that includes insurance, hotels, car dealerships and tourism. Levin has yet to name the airline, slated for launch next June, but hopes to follow in Brazilian carrier GOL's footsteps by converting bus passengers into jet flyers. He is already shopping around for Boeing 737NGs that would be used to launch service from Salta to Buenos Aires and then expand throughout Argentina. -LZ
GATX Corp. last week completed the previously announced sale of its wholly owned aircraft to Macquarie Aircraft Leasing Limited (MALL). "This is the first and largest step in closing the previously announced sale of GATX's aircraft leasing business to MALL," the company said. The wholly owned aircraft represent about US$1.25 billion of the US$1.5 billion of air assets being sold to MALL. The remaining US$250 million represents GATX's interests in its jointly owned aircraft, the sales of which are continuing. -SL
Mexicana is asking the U.S. Transportation Dept. for authority to serve the Culiacan-Los Angeles route, planning a Jan. 2 launch of service that would pit it against Delta's flight, now also set for a January launch.
Avianca is close to finalizing a large order of narrow- and widebody aircraft as it plans to boost its Latin American operation and launch flights to Africa in the first quarter of next year.
Asia is Denver International Airport's focus in 2008 now that Lufthansa begins service to Munich on March 31, says Airport Manager Turner West. "Service to Asia would provide a huge economic impact to our region," he says. "We want to make a business case with United or ANA that our market can support service. And our case will be stronger once the Boeing 787 comes into the market, because it's the right size and can operate well at Denver.
Leonard Michael Greene, 88, founder and honorary chairman of Safe Flight Instrument Corp., died Nov. 30. Greene, inventor, entrepreneur, philanthropist and test pilot, founded Safe flight in 1946 and presided at the company's 60th anniversary celebration on Oct. 26. In 1981, he and two other cancer survivors founded the Corporate Angel Network, which coordinates air transport for cancer patients to treatment centers. CAN will fly its 25,000th flight this month.
An American Association of Airport Executives subsidiary last week signed a contract with Unisys to formalize the operation of the central information system used by the Registered Traveler program. Unisys and TSA have already designated AAAE's Transportation Security Clearinghouse as the CIMS for RT. The contract officially establishes the cost structure and schedule for this arrangement. TSC is a non-profit subsidiary set up by AAAE in 2001.
FAA is expanding its early retirement offer to more Air Traffic Organization employees at its Washington headquarters and six regional offices. Bargaining unit employees will be eligible for the offer, as well as non-bargaining unit employees. The early retirement offer will help reduce fiscal 2007 operating costs, FAA says.
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) DEC. 5-6 -- Essentials of the PBL Contracting Process, Phoenix
Iberia is considering adding some Boeing 777s for a few years until the 787 or Airbus A350 is available, says CEO Fernando Conte. The carrier has 33 A340s but wants to expand its long-haul fleet. He told The DAILY in Cancun that it's too early to evaluate the 787 and A350 because Iberia is still waiting for details from Airbus on the A350 and the timetable. "We would like to see a competition," between the manufacturers. "Today, I don't believe we have a real competition."
Latin America represents nearly 5% of the world's passenger traffic, but is the second-fastest growing region behind China, said ALTA Chairman and Copa CEO Pedro Heilbron. Traffic in Latin America is expected to increase about 10% if Varig is excluded from the data. The biggest challenges for ALTA members in 2007 will be lowering costs and improving safety.
Wizz Air closed a sale and leaseback deal with GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS) on four Airbus A320s scheduled for delivery during the first half of 2008. The aircraft are part a deal between Wizz and Airbus for 44 A320s powered by International Aero Engines V-2500s. GECAS is leasing the four planes to Wizz for 11 years.
To list an event, send information in calendar format to Ingrid Lee at [email protected] DEC. 5 -- Aviation Suppliers Association: Regulatory Workshop; Seattle. Contact: ASA; 202-347-6899; fax: 202-347-6894; www.aviationsuppliers.org DEC. 5-6 -- Aviation Industry Conferences Ltd.: 3rd Annual Airline Operating Costs Conference; London, U.K. Contact: Aviation Industry Conferences; +44 20-7828-4376; fax: +44 20-7828-9154
Hawaiian Airlines parent Hawaiian Holdings last week signed a letter of intent to buy three of the seven Boeing 767-300ERs it currently leases from an affiliate of AWAS Aviation Services, Inc. and has amended the lease deals for the remaining four planes.
