Air Europe last week became the first airline in Spain to operate a 737-800 with winglets, Boeing said. The carrier leased the airplane in November from Tombo Aviation. The airline plans to install the winglets on all its 737-800s. Juan Hidalgo, president, said the winglets can reduce fuel burn up to 4% on flights longer than 1,850 kilometers and the aircraft will be used on routes from the Canary Islands to Europe.
Aerospace Industries Association elected Marshall Larsen, president and chief operating officer of Goodrich Corp., chairman and Vance Coffman, chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin Corp., vice chairman. John Douglass was re-elected president and CEO and George Copsey secretary-treasurer.
Global air freight traffic, which grew about 8% in 2000 but declined 5% in the first six months of 2001 and even further after Sept. 11, will fall 7-10% this year, according to the Air Cargo Management Group. This means 2002 traffic will be about the same as 1999 levels, and "we will have lost three full years of growth that will be hard to regain," ACMG says in its latest study.
America West on Friday made an aircraft lease payment of about $23 million. Earlier in the week, the carrier announced it was deferring $72 million of EETC lease payments after it was granted federal loan guarantees. The airline said it expects to make the remaining $49 million of deferred payments within the "applicable grace period." The $445 million loan, of which $380 million is to be guaranteed by the government, is expected to close by mid-month (DAILY, Jan. 3)
Association of European Airlines Traffic November, 11 Months 2001 November 2001 Passenger Data % % Pts. RPKs Change ASKs Change Load Change (Mil) 01/00 (Mil) 01/00 Factor 01/00 EUROPE 8,352.3 -14.7 15,063.0 -11.2 55.4 -2.3 NORTH AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST
Global air freight traffic, which grew about 8% in 2000 but declined 5% in the first six months of 2001 and even further after Sept. 11, will fall 7-10% this year, according to the Air Cargo Management Group. This means 2002 traffic will be about the same as 1999 levels, and "we will have lost three full years of growth that will be hard to regain," ACMG says in its latest study.
Jeffrey Malehorn, 40, was named CEO of GE Capital Global Financial Restructuring. Glen Messina, 40, was named VP and chief financial officer of Card Services at GE Capital. Roger Sager, 51, became VP-marketing and sales at GE Aircraft Engines.
Air Europe last week became the first airline in Spain to operate a 737-800 with winglets, Boeing said. The carrier leased the airplane in November from Tombo Aviation. The airline plans to install the winglets on all its 737-800s. Juan Hidalgo, president, said the winglets can reduce fuel burn up to 4% on flights longer than 1,850 kilometers and the aircraft will be used on routes from the Canary Islands to Europe.
40 years ago Jan. 8, 1962: Three U.S. majors -- Delta, Northwest and Pan Am -- made a creditable financial showing in 1961, according to a Forbes review concluding that the industry was "sick" with overcapacity, overcompetition and jet transition costs. 20 years ago Jan. 12, 1982: DOT scheduled meetings to discuss with carriers serving overcrowded DCA ways to shift service to Washington Dulles or Baltimore to achieve a "balance of use" of the three airports. 10 years ago 10 years ago
For more information, contact Lydia Janow 212-904-3225, Fax 212-904-3334 Visit our site: www.aviationweek.com FEB. 26 - March 3 -- Asian Aerospace 2002, Singapore MARCH 11-12 -- European Transportation Leaders Conference, in association with Merrill Lynch, The Landmark Hotel, London, www.AviationNow.com/conferences
British Airways on Friday warned that yields will remain down due to sharp discounting, though overall revenue is exceeding its low expectations. The airline's traffic in December was down 10.4% on 12.5% less capacity. The reduction in traffic comprised an 18.3% decline in premium traffic and a 9.2% fall in non-premium traffic. Passenger load factor of 68.6%, up 1.5 percentage points. Cargo, measured in cargo ton kilometer, fell by 16.1%.
Airbus confirmed that the Airbus A300-600 that sustained aft fuselage damage in a Dec. 3, 1987, windstorm at Toulouse was not the American Flight 587 accident aircraft, as had been initially reported in The Washington Post. According to affiliate Aviation Week, the aircraft, tail-heavy because its engines were not yet attached, was tipped by the force of the wind.
Southwest took delivery of its first new Boeing 737-700 of the year on Jan. 2 when N411WN became the 356th aircraft in its fleet. One other delivery is scheduled for this month. Both planes have been parked in Mojave, Calif. With the new aircraft, the airline will have 107 -700s. Three -200s are slotted for retirement this year.
Carriers in November posted an on-time record of 84.7% -- just slightly below October's 84.8%, with reduced capacity following the Sept. 11 attacks likely a contributing factor to the reduction in flight delays, DOT said.
Transportation Security Administration's new $2.50 per segment fee, which is capped at $10 per ticket, is estimated to cost travelers more than $1 billion this year and has airline executives shaking their heads. The new tax on travel "means we have more taxes than any industry but cigarettes," said one airline source. On short-haul flights, passenger taxes and fees will top 30%, up from 10% a few years ago. The fees, starting Feb. 1, also will be charged on frequent flyer tickets.
40 years ago Jan. 8, 1962 -- Three U.S. majors -- Delta, Northwest and Pan Am -- made a creditable financial showing in 1961, according to a Forbes review concluding that the industry was "sick" with overcapacity, overcompetition and jet transition costs. 20 years ago: Jan. 12, 1982 -- DOT scheduled meetings to discuss with carriers serving overcrowded DCA ways to Washington Dulles or Baltimore to achieve a "balance of use" of the three airports. 10 years ago
US Airways and ALPA negotiators met last week to begin discussions on allowing additional regional jets and adding pilot job protections. The two sides agreed not to release details of the proposals while they are being considered. Discussions are expected to continue through this week. As of Jan. 1, 738 pilots were on furlough at the carrier.
Continental next month plans to boost its weekly capacity from Newark to Cozumel and Puerto Vallarta. Starting Feb. 14, the carrier will increase service to both resort destinations from Saturday-only to four days per week. The weekday route will be operated with a Boeing 737-700 and the Saturday flight with a larger -800.
British Airways on Friday warned that yields will remain down due to sharp discounting, though overall revenue is exceeding its low expectations. The airline's traffic in December was down 10.4% on 12.5% less capacity. The reduction in traffic comprised an 18.3% decline in premium traffic and a 9.2% fall in non-premium traffic. Passenger load factor of 68.6%, up 1.5 percentage points. Cargo, measured in cargo ton kilometer, fell by 16.1%.
U.S. airline stock prices have rallied sharply from the depressed prices of late September as a result of the government aid package and the slow traffic recovery, according to ABN Amro. Analyst Ray Neidl believes, however, that the "market may have gotten ahead of itself, going too far and too fast." He expects an early winter pullback of 10-15% as fourth quarter results "may be worse" than expected.
