Aer Lingus yesterday agreed to buy two Airbus A330 aircraft to take advantage of anticipated long-haul opportunities. The airline signed a letter of intent with Airbus and expects to complete detailed contractual discussions soon. The aircraft would be powered by General Electric CF6 engines. The A330s are scheduled for delivery in mid-2007 and would be based at Dublin Airport. Aer Lingus said it expects that "the two new aircraft will service new long haul destinations, in anticipation of bilateral [aviation treaty] changes."
Emirates SkyCargo recently signed two partnership agreements for access to Africa and Russia. An agreement with Nairobi-based Astral Aviation Ltd., will give Emirates access to 13 African destinations by using space on Astral's Antonov An-12s. Some of new destinations include Mwanza and Zanzibar in Tanzania and Bujumbura in Burundi, as well as Rumbek and Juba in Sudan. The new partnership will allow Emirates to offer the ability to transport odd-sized machinery and other equipement.
SkyEurope posted a loss for the first quarter despite cutting its unit costs by 10.5%. The EUR$12 million (US$14.3 million) loss was slightly lower than the EUR$12.4 million loss the carrier posted a year ago. Costs per available seat kilometer fell from 6.59 cents to 5.90 cents. The largest expense for the carrier was aircraft and traffic servicing at EUR$12.3 million. SkyEurope is planning to take delivery of its first Boeing 737-700 in March. -LR
Utah-based Wencor last week became the 18th affiliate member of the Latin American Airline Association. Wencor is a world leader in aircraft parts distribution and PMA development, as well as producer of thousands of FAA-PMA parts for maintenance of commercial airline systems.
FAA yesterday ordered inspections of certain wire bundles above center fuel tanks and nearby vapor barriers and installation of new wire clamps and sleeves on all Boeing 737 Classics through -500s. Carriers have to comply by March 16, 2011. FAA estimated that it would cost up to $1,700 per aircraft [FAA-2005-20354].
Spain's Marsans Group last week sent a stockholding partner to Buenos Aires to talk with government officials about some of Aerolineas Argentina's problems.
Nav Canada recently reached a deal with Denmark's Naviair that will see the Danish air navigation service provider install ATC automation technology developed by Nav Canada. The Nav Canada system is known as the Integrated Information Display System/Extended Computer Display System (IIDS/E-
Mesaba expects to burn through a significant amount of the $37 million in cash it hand on hand during the current quarter, warned executives of the airline's parent company MAIR Holdings, as the airline seeks the labor concessions it claims are necessary through the bankruptcy court. MAIR CEO Paul Foley told analysts yesterday he expects the court to rule in mid March on $35 million debtor-in-possession financing MAIR is offering to its Mesaba subsidiary.
Four months after freezing CRJ-200 production, Bombardier said it's re-opening the assembly line because of demand for the Challenger 850 business jet that's built on the same platform. Bombardier stopped building the 50-seat CRJ-200s in October, citing sluggish demand. Production will restart in mid-April at the company's Dorval facility.
SR Technics signed a five-year maintenance deal with China United Airlines, covering CFM International CFM56-7B engines powering the carrier's Boeing 737s. The airline currently flies one plane but plans to fly eight aircraft by 2008. SR Technics plans to perform the work at its engine service center at Zurich Airport. It is the MRO's first engine maintenance contract from a Chinese carrier. -LR
Delta yesterday named Shirley Bridges the new chief information officer, the third person to hold the job in the past year. Bridges also will be CEO of wholly owned subsidiary Delta Technology. Most recently, she was chief operating officer of DT, where she was responsible for overseeing business processes, maintenance and operation of technology systems and existing architecture. Previously, she was VP-airline operations systems, with responsibility for managing all software applications at various Delta facilities.
U.K. airport operator BAA has reached an agreement with airlines to share London Heathrow's limited fuel supplies more evenly for long-haul flights, although the major U.S. airline group says the accord is still only a Band-Aid solution that leaves room for discrimination against non-U.K. carriers.
UPS this week announced significant improvement for its 2nd Day Air A.M. delivery service, with an earlier guaranteed delivery time and an expanded service area. The carrier said the guaranteed delivery time will be advanced from 12 p.m. to 10:30 a.m., and Saturday delivery will also be introduced for this service. The 2nd Day service is designed to offer an economical alternative to overnight services.
Striking pilots at Lloyd Aereo Boliviano (LAB) are collecting signatures for a referendum to nationalize the airline. The pilots began to circulate the petition after a government-initiated meeting that aimed to settle their differences with management. Though Bolivian Vice President Alvaro Garcia attended the meeting, reported La Razon, LAB President Ernesto Asbun did not; he later alleged he had not been officially summoned.
Iberia signed a one-year collective wage agreement with unions representing 18,500 ground staff -- or three-quarters of its work force -- that, among other changes, will give employees the opportunity to share in the carrier's profits. The accord includes a one-time payment totaling EUR18 million (US$21.5 million) and a new profit-sharing system that "could reach up to 5% of the operating results of the company," said Iberia.
American this week named Lynda Johnson general manager-Dallas Love Field. A 25-year veteran at American, Johnson was GM at Love Field during the carrier's previous tenure there. "Lynda will provide the dynamic and skilled leadership we need to ensure that our new service at Love Field starts well and is a long-term success," said Tim Ahern, VP-DFW hub, who is responsible for American's Love Field operations.
US Airways and Delta yesterday became the latest U.S. carriers to unveil plans to add more international service to Europe and South Africa, respectively, as both carriers bank on long-haul flights to produce stronger results than the shorter flights closer to home.
McDonnell Douglas tri-jet operators yesterday received orders from FAA to inspect studbolts on inboard and outboard hinge fittings of outboard wing flaps. Compliance time is either six years after bolts were last replaced or by March 16, 2008. FAA estimated that the compliance cost is $1,040 per airplane for 366 U.S.-registered jets [FAA-2005-22503]
While SkyWest is benefiting from its acquisition of Atlantic Southeast Airlines last year with quarterly earnings that shot up 82%, the purchase eroded the airline's strong cash balance and caused debt to rise sharply. Net income for SkyWest in the fourth quarter reached $38.7 million versus $21 million a year ago. Profits in 2005 grew 37% to $112 million from $82 million in 2004.
Alaska Airlines named Chris Nutter acting director of safety for the airline, replacing Dave Prewitt, who previously announced his plan to leave the airline Feb. 10 to become VP-safety for Sikorsky Aircraft.
