AirAsia launched flights between Kuala Lumpur and Solo this week, claiming it's the first low-fare carrier to fly the route. Solo's proximity to the Indonesian destinations of Yogyakarta and Semarang could make Solo a gateway for those areas.
SAS and Swedish carrier City Airline agreed on a code-sharing deal that will see SAS put its code on all of City's flights from Gothenburg in Sweden to Zurich, Milan, Bergen, Helsinki, Manchester, Birmingham, Lyon, Budapest, Tallinn and Luleaa, Sweden, starting March 1.
EasyJet yesterday signed a firm order with Airbus for 20 more A319s. The latest contract will bring EasyJet's A319 firm order total to 140, strengthening its position as the largest customer in Europe for A320 family aircraft. EasyJet described the orders as the "latest tranche" in an earlier agreement to take 240 A319s. The latest aircraft ordered will seat 156 passengers in a single-class configuration, like the carrier's other A319s. They will be powered by CFM International CFM56-5s. -AS
Next year will be critical for airlines in the Asia/Pacific region as many of them prepare for dramatic fleet growth in 2007, a leading regional analyst says. Peter Harbison, of the Center for Asia Pacific Aviation, describes 2006 as a "make-or-break year" for airline expansion plans. "2006 will in many ways be the quiet before the storm -- a period when airlines need to consolidate and put in place the necessary foundations for a massive upgrading of fleets and route systems," Harbison said.
Delta this week joined Continental and American in their request that the U.S. Transportation Dept. suspend its evaluation of Virgin America until the carrier provides more details about its ownership structure and explains who is investing in the new airline.
The European Aviation Safety Agency granted a type certificate for the Airbus 318 powered by Pratt & Whitney's new PW6000 engine. The flight testing for the new engine type began in December 2004, and comprised 540 flight test hours and 240 flights. Powered by a CFM International CFM56-5B engine, the A318 received its first type certificate on May 23, 2003. Airbus said the PW6000 provides 22,000-24,000 pounds of thrust, and meets Stage 4 noise standards. -AS
Rep. Robert Andrews (D-N.J.) this week introduced a bill that would require FBI background checks for workers at outsourced aircraft maintenance facilities. H.R. 4582 would apply to any worker at domestic or overseas facilities. Background checks are required for mechanics employed by U.S. airlines
A New York bankruptcy court this week gave Varig a three-week extension to reduce and settle its debts with U.S. aircraft lessors. The court also ordered Varig to deposit immediately in escrow $5 million, plus $5 million on Dec. 28. Creditor GECAS was instructed to free $8.3 million appropriated from Varig, with Varig ordered to distribute the funds among creditors within 24 hours after receipt.
Continental, contemplating its own plan for Brazil, wants the U.S. Dept. of Transportation to ask Delta for more information regarding the Atlanta carrier's plans to shift some of its Brazil-bound flights from Atlanta to New York. Delta asked notified DOT of plans to shift seven of 21 Atlanta-Brazil frequencies to New York Kennedy airport in April, and asked the department to shorten the answer period. Continental told Delta of its intent to file a response, and DOT moved up the reply deadline to Dec. 21.
American yesterday said it will post slightly higher unit costs than expected for the fourth quarter, although strong unit revenue guidance caused analysts to improve their earnings guidance for 2006.
Northwest yesterday blasted the White House and the U.S. Dept. of Transportation alleging an "overnight shift in Administration policy," after DOT tentatively denied SkyTeam's request for antitrust immunity.
The Transportation Security Administration and FAA are trying to understand the effects of the 1% across-the-board budget cuts that were passed as part of the Dept. of Defense appropriations bill late Wednesday. Neither agency could elaborate on how it intends to do without the more-than-$1 billion Congress took from their combined budgets. Sources said leadership may look for ways to reinstate the funds when Congress reconvenes in January or February, but so far there is no definite plan to do so.
Emirates SkyCargo this week took delivery of its second Airbus A310-300F and will use it to launch service to four destinations in the Indian subcontinent and one in Africa.
Krasnoyarsk Airlines, Russia's fourth largest carrier, will lease a total of 15 Antonov An-148-100s. The airline's board of directors approved the order yesterday. KrasAir will take 10 aircraft by the end of 2007 and five more in 2008, according to lessor Ilyushin Finance. KrasAir is 51% owned by the Russian government.
U.S. cargo carrier Kalitta Air and Bahrain's DHLI will code share on flights between the U.S. and points in the Middle East and Europe, pending regulatory approval. As part of a code-share agreement inked earlier this month, Kalitta will put DHLI's code on its all-cargo flights from New York to Bahrain via Brussels and Dubai. Kalitta operates flights with Boeing 747-200 freighters on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday [OST-2005-23384]. -ARS
Guayanese startup MSN Airlines won approval from the U.S. Dept. of Transportation for its proposed service to New York and Miami from Georgetown, Guyana, (DAILY, Oct. 17) over objections from North American Airlines and Laparkan Airways, which questioned the validity of MSN's Guyanese operating licenses.
American last week said it will discontinue its Paraguay service from Feb. 2. The airline flies daily to Asuncion either direct or connecting in Sao Paulo, and all of the roundtrip flights operate via Sao Paulo.
