Tiger Airways took delivery of its seventh Airbus A320 and plans to add two more aircraft to its fleet by yearend. The carrier is firming up a deal for seven more A320s (DAILY, Sept. 13). Tiger continues its push for opening the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore route, and has said flights might be available within 16 months.
British Airports Group (BAG) is taking a delegation to India to tap into what it calls $5 billion-$10 billion worth of new business in the country's aviation market. The delegation is looking to establish new and develop existing business relationships with key Indian airport sector contacts in a market with more potential than China, said BAG Chairman Malcolm Trigg. "And that's the reason why more and more companies are shifting their business focus from China to India," he said.
Snecma Services and Turborreactores SA (ITR) finalized a deal to create a joint venture -- Snecma America Engine Services (SAMES) -- to build a maintenance, repair and overhaul shop in Mexico specializing in CFM International CFM56-5/7 engines.
Cebu Pacific plans to launch four weekly direct flights from Manila to Kuala Lumpur, starting Nov. 20. The airline plans to fly the route with Airbus A319s on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. The carrier plans to use the low-cost carrier terminal at the Kuala Lumpur Airport, and has tapped Kuala Lumpur Airport Services for ground-handling. -LR
Boeing has selected Alenia Aeronavali as its contractor for the 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighter program launched in November 2005. All Nippon Airways launched the program, which is to replicate the 747-400BCF effort, with an order for three aircraft. No other 767 customers have signed contracts with Boeing since then. ANA Cargo's first aircraft is to arrive next April and be delivered in December 2007. The other aircraft are to be delivered by October 2008.
The bankruptcy court overseeing Mesaba's Chapter 11 case yesterday withheld making a decision until Monday on whether the carrier's management can void its labor contracts. Mesaba agreed it would impose a 17.5% pay reduction over four to five and a half years, depending on fleet size. Previously,it pushed for 19.4% over eight years. An airline spokeswoman said management and unions representing pilots, mechanics and flight attendants would negotiate over the weekend. Snapbacks were a contentious issue in court this week.
Officials from the Irish Dept. of Transport are intensifying their campaign to thwart Ryanair's proposed takeover of Aer Lingus after scheduling meetings next week with the European Union's Directorate General to argue that the proposed purchase violates competition laws. Ryanair said it would spend EUR1.48 billion to buy Ireland's flag carrier, and it pledged that the companies would continue to operate separately.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) scrambled fighter combat jets late yesterday afternoon after an aircraft crashed into a New York City apartment building, a NORAD spokeswoman said. "NORAD fighters are airborne over numerous U.S. cities," Air Force Tech. Sgt. Claudette Hutchinson said shortly before 4 p.m. "While there is every indication that this is an accident, we see this as a very prudent measure," she said. NORAD would not release the number of fighters or the names of the cities.
The European Commission will introduce new security restrictions for carry-on baggage across Europe Nov. 6, and although aviation officials are working hard to ease the transition, the rules are expected to cause passenger confusion and airport disruptions.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport will need another 22 gates to handle projected demand in the next 10 to 15 years, according to a report commissioned by Broward County's commissioners.
The eight largest U.S. airlines are expected to post a $1 billion net profit for the third quarter starting next week, which is down from the previous period but still a significant accomplishment as it represents the first time in six years that the industry has reported two second consecutive quarters in the black.
The oneworld alliance this week launched a significant push to win a larger share of the business travel market from Belgium by offering small and medium-sized companies discounts of up to 50% on air fares in return for more business with the alliance.
Boliviano carrier AeroSur plans to invest $6 million to launch new domestic and international routes before yearend, capitalizing on the seven-month-long crisis at rival Lloyd Aereo Boliviano. CEO Oscar Vargas last week said the funds will be used to open new routes from Bolivia to Washington, Asuncion, Paraguay and Salta, in northwest Argentina. Internationally, the carrier operates to Miami, Madrid, Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo. AeroSur also intends to grow its fleet from nine to 12 aircraft. -LZ
Raytheon in the past few months has won the first contracts for its new air traffic control system, and is now targeting two major opportunities with Asian aviation authorities, a senior company executive says.
ACI-NA will lose one of its top executives next week when Stephen Van Beek, executive VP-policy, will leave the association to join Jacobs Consultancy. His last day at ACI-NA will be Oct. 18. Before joining ACI in March 2001, he was the Transportation Dept.'s associate deputy secretary and director of the office of intermodalism. Between February 1998 and November 1999, Van Beek served as the deputy administrator of DOT's research and special programs administration.
Alaska Airlines this winter plans to boost the number of nonstop flights from Seattle to Fairbanks. Starting Feb. 11, the carrier will add a second daily nonstop flight on the route, doubling the number of daily nonstop flights previously available between late October and the end of April. "The additional frequency will support increasing demand for more convenient daytime travel between Fairbanks and Seattle, as well as a growing market of winter tourists traveling north to explore the Alaskan interior," the carrier said.
Airports Council International-Europe and the Association of European Airlines (AEA) have joined together to collaborate on long-term security issues to address shortcomings in the current system.
Brazil's TAM grew its market share in September thanks to a 6.9% jump in systemwide traffic, which outpaced the 4.9% capacity growth. Most of the increase came on domestic routes, where traffic increased more than 35% and capacity nearly 29%, compared with 2005 levels. TAM's domestic load factor rose 3.7 points to 73.2%. In the international market, TAM registered 36.6% growth in traffic, slightly less than then 37.7% capacity increase. International loads stayed about flat at nearly 77%.
Engine lessor Willis Lease Finance Corp. yesterday signed a significant agreement with CFM International to buy up to $540 million of new spare aircraft engines.
