Ryanair is one of the few European carriers expected to make a profit and show year-over-year growth in the March quarter, according to Schroder Salomon Smith Barney. The company expects Ryanair to increase earnings by 20%.
St. George, Utah-based SkyWest Airlines takes possession this month of the first of its extensive order for Canadair Regional Jets. The aircraft are targeted mainly for Delta and United Express, provided United reaches a deal with its pilots on contract scope provisions that will allow the airline to expand United Express service at Denver. SkyWest President and Chief Executive Jerry Atkin told The DAILY he remains hopeful United and its pilots will work out a deal. United and its pilots union are in federally mediated contract talks.
Unions in the U.S. and Europe have concerns that could derail multinational efforts to achieve a U.S.-European Union transatlantic common aviation area (TCAA), union leaders said last week in Phoenix. Such an initiative should "not be left to entirely to market forces," Giancarlo Crivellaro, general secretary of the European Cockpit Association, said, but should "include a managing economic framework."
The Antonov An-140 regional twin-turboprop has received a type certificate, issued by Interstate Aviation Committee of the CIS. Simultaneously, two more type certificates were issued -- for the TV3-117VMA-SBM-1 turboprop engine, designed by Progress design bureau, Ukraine, and planned to be produced in cooperation with the Ukrainian Motor-Sich engine plant, Russian Ufa-based UFMPO and Moscow-based Salut. The AV-140 six-bladed propeller, produced by Aerosila company, Stupino, Russia also was certified.
National Airlines CEO Michael Conway is telling American to stop claiming it has more room than any other airline in coach. American's reconfigured Boeing 757s have 176 seats, while National's 757s have 175 -- both in two-class layout. "We're quite pissed off about it," Conway said at the International Airline CEO Conference.
TWA is currently "working hard" to develop alliances with U.S. or European airlines on transatlantic routes it recently cut. CEO Bill Compton told The DAILY last week that he is "optimistic we will be able to get something done." He noted that "a lot of our competitors would just as soon see us go out of business." Compton would not rule out the possibility of TWA being acquired by another airline or corporation.
12th Annual Greater Washington Aviation Open featuring Carol Hallett, president of the Air Transport Association as Industry Honorary Chair and Lynne Russell of CNN as Honorary Chair, is sold out for May 15 at Indian Spring Country Club in Washington, D.C. A record 15 airlines and 60 trade groups and companies will participate.
FlightSafety Boeing appointed Chris Johnson-Pasqua assistant general manager-Long Beach Training Hub and Martin Schaaf assistant general manager-Miami Training Hub.
American, Swissair and Sabena won DOT antitrust immunity last week, enabling the airlines to freely expand their burgeoning partnership, beginning Aug. 6. The airlines offer code-share flights to more than 50 destinations in the U.S. and Europe, a figure that will double in August. "Our cooperation with Sabena and American will enhance our competitive ability on the North Atlantic market," said Swissair CEO Jeffrey Katz. After Aug. 6, the two partners said they will "harmonize" fares and offer joint incentive programs for corporate and individual customers.
Continental plans to launch twice-daily nonstop service between its Newark hub and Oakland, starting Aug. 1. The service, which opened for sale last weekend, will be operated with a Boeing 737-700. As previously announced, on June 14, Continental will begin twice-daily service between Houston and Oakland. Continental claims to be the only airline to serve all three Bay Area airports nonstop from New York.
Delta says it would be willing to start talks with Alitalia on a potential alliance if the Italian carrier is interested. Paul Matsen, Delta's senior VP-alliance strategy and development, told The DAILY at the International Aviation Symposium in Phoenix that Delta and Air France are eager to get another large European carrier on board of their alliance. Matsen claims Delta is the biggest U.S. carrier in Italy with daily flights to Rome and Milan from Atlanta and New York, plus the recently introduced service to Venice from New York.
Virgin Atlantic is talking to its new shareholder Singapore Airlines about code-sharing and harmonizing services across the Atlantic, according to Barry Humphreys, Virgin's director-external affairs and route development. If the airlines agree on a deal, SIA would stop flying between Europe and the U.S. and instead feed its U.S.
Values of hushkitted 727 freighters have suffered, but more from FAA airworthiness directives than from the European Union hushkit ban, according to Cargo Facts. "Outside of Europe, particularly with e-commerce driving up small-package traffic, the future of the 727F remains secure," it says.
Asia is not ready for the establishment of a Common Aviation Area, speakers at the Phoenix Aviation Symposium agreed. A CAA across the Atlantic or between smaller, like-minded entities within Asia seemed "far more likely" to them. Tony Tyler, director-corporate development at Cathay Pacific, said the key obstacle for CAAs in Asia are the ownership rules. "National pride is still an issue," he said. Also, the differences between the carriers are too big for governments to agree to such a concept.
Cargo services, at least express cargo operations, will function multinationally because "business will make sure" it happens, Steven Okun, UPS manager, said last week at the International Aviation symposium in Phoenix. Internet logistics networks will drive removal of barriers, he said.
Cathay Pacific does not want to introduce the proposed Airbus A3XX before 2007 at the earliest, Cathay Director of Corporate Development Tony Tyler told The DAILY at the Phoenix Aviation Symposium. Tyler said Cathay does not want to get the aircraft sooner because it does not want to be bothered with possible early production aircraft problems. Tyler said Cathay was looking at using the A3XX on routes like Hong Kong-London and Hong Kong-Los Angeles. Any new long-haul aircraft for Cathay's fleet would have to be able to fly Hong Kong-New York.
Atlas Air acquires two GE-powered Boeing 747-300s for delivery this year. The aircraft are contracted to be converted from combis to full freighters at Boeing Airplane Services' Wichita facility, making them standard with the 747-200s the company operates.
