Tans Airlines' suspension is still in effect, after Peru's civil aviation department (DGAC) ruled last week that the state-owned carrier didn't correct series of technical and operational failings as requested (DAILY, Feb. 10).
Raytheon yesterday introduced a new ATC automation system, which the company is already marketing to several national ATC providers. The AutoTrac III system can be used to control both enroute and terminal traffic, and it can run a single tower or be used for a national, multi-center ATC system. Raytheon is using AutoTrac III as the base technology for its proposals to provide ATC systems to Singapore and Taiwan, and will also use it in some big Eastern European proposals next year.
Low-fare carrier Tiger Airways is boosting its web site as the most visited in the airline sector in Singapore, beating out flag carrier Singapore Airlines. Citing research by Hitwise, Tiger said it won the top spot last week, the first time it surpassed Singapore Airlines. This follows the Civil Aviation Board of the Philippines fining Tiger for advertising its fare for flights between Clark Field and Macau before its permanent permit was approved (DAILY, Feb. 13). -LR
Russia's Gazpromavia tentatively won from the U.S. Transportation Dept. an exemption and foreign air carrier permit to launch all-cargo charters between Anadyr, Russia, and Anchorage. Gazpromavia is a wholly owned subsidiary of GAZPROM OAO, one of the world's major producers of natural gas. The airline's foreign air carrier permit gives it rights to operate cargo charters between point or points in Russia and U.S. points, and between U.S. points and third-country points. The airline is also designated as a charter combination and all-cargo carrier.
Hawaiian Airlines has stepped up its fight to block Mesa from launching its new inter-island airline this year through a lawsuit claiming Mesa violated a confidentiality agreement when it considered becoming an investor in Hawaiian during its bankruptcy. Mesa is targeting a launch of the airline late in the first quarter or early in the second, using six 50-seat CRJ-200s.
Delta reports a deep $1.2 billion fourth-quarter net loss, including one-time reorganization costs, which is actually far less than the $2.2 billion deficit reported in 2004. Excluding special items, the carrier was hit with a $782 million net loss, about the same as the year before. Losses of that size "are not sustainable," says CFO Ed Bastian. Excluding fuel and special items, mainline unit costs are down 7.1%.
Major airline groups are frustrated that European nations are not moving quickly enough to form the large airspace blocks that are intended to overlay the patchwork of national borders and make it much easier for flights to cross European airspace.
Air New Zealand is moving closer to outsourcing its aircraft cleaning at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch airports, subject only to contract negotiations with suppliers.
Airbus completed cold weather testing of its second A380 test plane after the aircraft spent five days in Iqaluit, Canada in minus 30 degrees Celsius conditions. Tests included powering up the aircraft, engines and hydraulic systems for 12 hours. The aircraft, now preparing to fly to the Singapore air show, will carry out polar navigation tests on that flight. That same plane completed high-altitude testing this month at 5,000 feet in Medellin, Colombia. Hot weather testing is scheduled in Africa this summer at temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius.
Bmibaby is offering passengers on its fights from Cardiff Airport access to an airport lounge for GBP12.50. Customers can reserve access online. The carrier said it is finalizing deals with other airports to offer lounge access to its passengers. EasyJet has introduced lounges for passengers at several of its airports, with prices starting at GBP13.95. -LR
Spanish international low-cost carrier Air Madrid plans to increase its cash flow by $60 million this year to underwrite fleet expansion and new in-house financial engineering. Air Madrid President Jose Luis Carrillo told EFE News Wire the carrier is looking at taking four Airbus A320s and three A330s by yearend, growing the fleet to 15 aircraft. Also for 2006, Carrillo expects to make a profit with the expansion of Air Madrid's basic Spain/Latin America network to new destinations in Europe and the Middle East.
An emergency landing with just minutes to spare on battery power following an electrical generator failure capped the longest flight in aviation history by Steve Fossett piloting the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer.
German entrepreneur and billionaire Lutz Helmig bought a 25.1% stake in low-fare airline DBA, the company said yesterday. The decision removes uncertainty about the airline's financial situation and makes DBA's growth plans easier to realize. The airline also said an initial public offering (IPO) cannot be ruled out in the long term.
Cathay Pacific yesterday reported a 15.1% January traffic jump boosted by a seasonal peak over the Chinese New Year holiday, during which the airline operated 70 extra pairs of flights to meet passenger demand.
Royal Air Maroc ordered 29 blended winglet shipsets for both retrofit and new aircraft deliveries planned this year. The carrier will upgrade 16 Boeing 737-700s and
Marcel Klaus was named to succeed Ulrik Svensson as CFO of Swiss International Air Lines. Klaus was previously head of corporate controlling and accounting for the airline. Svensson will return to his home country of Sweden after three years with Swiss.
The White House late last week nominated FAA Chief Counsel Andrew Steinberg to become the U.S. Transportation Dept.'s assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs.
Philippine Airlines yesterday suspended flights to Laoag due to the lack of staff willing to work at the airport. PAL flies four times per week to the Ilocos Norte capital using 150-seat Airbus A320s. Since April 2004, when PAL resumed regular service to Laoag, a local company has managed the airline's ground-handling operations. PAL, however still oversees all operations by periodically assigning regular staff to Laoag from its headquarters office.
Valentine's Day is big business for fresh-cut flower growers and exporters and the airlines that carry them. In the week before the holiday, 40 daily DC-10 flights, each carrying 4,000 boxes of fresh flowers, took off from Bogota Eldorado and Medellin Jose Maria Cordova airports with total cargo worth $800 million. Estimates say the seasonal business has grown 15% from last year. -LZ
