Comair is picking up the pieces of its bankruptcy reorganization in the wake of a judge's decision supporting the flight attendants' union in a fight to preserve its labor contract.
Republic Airways yesterday posted a profit of $16.9 million in the first quarter, 14% better than the same 2005 quarter. Revenue in the quarter was up 22.7% year over year to $257.3 million. The increase was fueled by a 36.5% jump in capacity to 2 billion and an 11% rise in block hours. The capacity hike was driven by the introduction of 42 Embraer 170 jets put into service since March 31, 2005. The new 170s were offset by removing seven ERJ-145 regional jets and 10 Saab 340 turboprops during the same period.
Philippine Airlines plans to acquire two Airbus A340-300s for the expansion of its international network. A decision is expected within the next two months. The carrier will also lease two A320-200s and two A319s from GECAS for its domestic operations. PAL has an order for nine Airbus A320s with options for another five; two of the nine firm ordered were already delivered. The airline operates a fleet of 21 Airbus aircraft -- four A340-300s, eight A330-300s and nine A320s. -WD
The U.S. Transportation Dept. permanently grounded carrier Southeast Airlines, revoking its interstate and foreign charter authority. The carrier was founded in 1993 as Sun Jet and operated as a no-frills airline between Newark and Florida and from Raleigh and Charlotte to Cancun. The airline ceased operations in November 2004 [OST-1998-3958, -2000-7956].
China Airlines this week introduced three weekly Airbus A330-300 flights on the Taipei-Abu Dhabi-Vienna route. The service is the first linking Taipei with the Middle East.
GoJet on May 20 will expand "service" to all U.S. points in the United network in an effort to ensure a seamless transition of code-share authority with United's Star Alliance partners.
Delta TechOps and Aeromexico plan to complete reciprocal maintenance deals in the next few weeks before Aeromexico starts heavy maintenance on the first Delta MD-88 on July 4.
Fiji's national airline Air Pacific yesterday ordered five Boeing 787-9s and took three additional purchase rights to support its plans to replace its 747s and 767s on long-haul routes.
Armenian flag carrier Armavia expects to operate three weekly flights to Los Angeles this summer, its first U.S.-bound service. The airline is targeting the start of the services for June or July. It would operate three times weekly from Yerevan to Los Angeles via Amsterdam and would scale down operations to a twice-weekly service during the winter, though it expects to offer three weekly flights after the first year of operations.
Spanish low-cost carrier Air Madrid expects that Colombia will initiate action that could lead to an open-skies agreement with Spain, a spokesman said.
The European Commission decided yesterday to sue Greece over several hundred million euros in illegal state aid handed out to ailing flag carrier Olympic Airlines in the past four years.
In a report issued this week, the National Transportation Safety Board found that although FAA's design certification procedures are generally sound, there are still areas the agency should improve.
Pemco is partnering with Stateco/Taeco to convert four Boeing 737-300s to freighters for Chinese cargo carrier East Pacific Airlines. Terms of the deal include to firm conversions and two option planes. Pemco partnered with the Asian MRO due to tight capacity at its Dothan, Ala., plant. Pemco employees have trained Staeco/Taeco's technicians in production, sheet metal, engineering and quality. The first conversion has started, and the second plane is scheduled to start work next month. -LR
Management and workers at Lloyd Aereo Boliviano (LAB) this week signed a pre-agreement for workers to buy an equity stake (DAILY, April 18) from carrier President Ernesto Asbun.
Southwest's selection of Denver and Washington Dulles as its latest markets are bold moves into legacy airline territory, although the carrier claims its only criteria for choosing new destinations -- pent-up demand and high fares -- still reign supreme, but the formula could fall short in future locations.
The U.S. Transportation Dept. awarded the remaining Chicago-Cancun designation and exemption to United, ending a four-month wait for the carrier, USA 3000 and Frontier and signaling that decisions for other hotly contested U.S.-Mexico city-pairs could be forthcoming. Should United fail to institute service in the market, or if its authority becomes dormant, the exemption and designation will revert to the DOT's backup choice, USA 3000.
The Airbus A380 will make its U.K. debut when it flies into London Heathrow on May 18 for airport "compatibility" checks in cooperation with the British Airports Authority.
Emirates yesterday reported a record AED2.8 billion (US$762 million) profit for the fiscal year ending March 31, a 5% increase from the year before, but executives were modest about the impressive results, expressing concern about rising fuel prices.
Amadeus this week rolled out a product aimed at the world's low-cost carriers that will link their inventory to global distribution systems, so travel agents and corporate customers can book flights on those carriers.
The cost of modernizing the air traffic control system in the next 20 years is the subject of several "invitation-only" meetings by The Next Generation Air Transportation System Institute, starting today in Washington.
Things are looking up for Varig, evidenced by the carrier's share performance earlier this week as word spread that there are investors interested in buying Varig's equity. These offers, however vague, helped improve the performance of Varig shares by 12.87% on the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange.
US Airways executives believe there is still a chance of some U.S. airlines posting profits despite oil prices settling in the $60-$70 range as industry capacity and cost cuts start to take hold.
