Menzies Aviation was awarded a new three-year cargo handling contract in Sydney from Asiana Airlines. The carrier currently operates daily 777-200 service to the Australian capital from Seoul.
Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp. was awarded a subcontract by CAE to provide two EP-1000CT/ESCP-2000 visual systems, including options for its new LaserWide projector, that will be installed on A330/A340 full-flight simulators being manufactured by CAE for Airbus.
Northwest Airlines flew 6.85 billion RPMs in March, up 8.6% over the year-ago period. Capacity climbed 4.7% to 8.1 billion ASMs and load factor jumped 3 points to 84.6%. For the three months ended March 31, RPMs were ahead 8.8% to 18.17 billion, ASMs increased 4.3% to 22.77 billion and load factor gained 3.3 points to 79.8%.
BAE Systems Regional Aircraft reached agreements with two Lufthansa Regionals, Eurowings and Air Dolomiti, under which 11 BAe 146-300s will be added to the carriers' fleets. In addition, BAE inked sale and leaseback extensions on three aircraft with Lufthansa CityLine, another Lufthansa Regional. Eurowings signed a deal to lease a further six BAe 146-300s that will be added to its current fleet of eight BAe 146s. The six aircraft, which the airline will use to replace some of its 48-seat ATR 42-500 turboprops, will be delivered from mid-April to the beginning of September.
Crane Aerospace & Electronics was selected by Honeywell to supply power control modules and batteries for the 787 flight control electronics Honeywell is developing for the new aircraft.
Thai Airways International has taken delivery of the first of four A340-500s, which feature a striking new livery. The delivery also marks the start of a major widebody fleet expansion that includes six A340-600s, six 777-200ERs and six A380-800s entering service up to 2009. The A340-500s will operate new nonstops between Bangkok and Los Angeles and New York, while the A340-600s will fly to Europe. Airline President Kanok Abhiradee said the A340-500 "will open up new markets for Thai.
United Airlines yesterday announced that it will close its Seattle call center on June 4 in a move that will eliminate 400 jobs. According to the carrier, the Seattle facility is one of its most costly and has a long-term lease, but bankruptcy gives the company an opportunity to reject the lease without penalty. United also cited record high fuel prices, increasing competition and low yields as reasons behind the closure.
European Commission has sought EU Council approval to start negotiations on a cooperation agreement with Argentina on the development of a Civil Global Navigation Satellite system. "This proposal for a new international cooperation agreement clearly underlines the success of Galileo [Europe's satellite navigation program] and demonstrates again the widespread interest in the project," said EC VP in charge of transport Jacques Barrot.
SR Technics will provide component and line maintenance support to Swedish discount airline FlyMe under a five-year component management contract covering four 737-400s. The agreement includes guaranteed component availability and AOG support.
Aided by a decline in weather-related delays, US airlines posted a better ontime arrival rate in February compared to January 2005 and February 2004, the Dept. of Transportation reported yesterday. According to DOT statistics, the 19 US airlines reporting ontime performance recorded an overall ontime arrival rate of 77.6% in February, up slightly over February 2004's 77.5% and well above January 2005's 71.4%. Of the flight delays in February 2005, 5.3% were caused by weather, down sharply from February 2004 and January 2005 when 6.1% of flights were delayed by weather.
OnAir, the SITA/Airbus joint venture, said it selected the Airbus facility at Buxtehude near Hamburg to develop and seek certification for its airborne system for the use of mobile phones onboard aircraft.
The European Commission's proposed regulation governing transport of disabled passengers will create a new and unaccountable enforcement "monopoly" while saddling airlines with the cost of funding it, the Assn. of European Airlines said Tuesday. In February the EC introduced a draft regulation establishing the rights of persons with reduced mobility to use air transport and outlawing discrimination on the basis of age or disability. It also guarantees such individuals the right to receive assistance free of charge in airports and onboard aircraft ( ATWOnline, Feb. 17).
Delta Air Lines flew 10.36 billion RPMs in March, up 14.4% over the year-ago period. Capacity climbed 7.8% to 12.93 billion ASMs and load factor jumped 4.6 points to 80.1%. For the three months ended March 31, RPMs increased 12.3% to 27.22 billion, ASMs rose 6.4% to 36.54 billion and load factor gained 3.9 points to 74.5%.
US Airways flew 3.81 billion RPMs in March, up 9.6% over the year-ago period. Capacity increased 5.2% to 4.72 billion ASMs and load factor was up 3.2 points to 80.7%. For the three months ended March 31, RPMs climbed 5.8% to 9.65 billion, ASMs grew 1.5% to 13.19 billion and load factor rose 2.9 points to 73.2%.
United Airlines flew 9.81 billion RPMs in March, up 2.4% over the year-ago period. Capacity dipped 1.3% to 11.81 billion ASMs and load factor gained 3 points to 83.1%. For the three months ended March 31, RPMs rose 1.9% to 26.53 billion, ASMs declined 2% to 33.94 billion and load factor jumped 3 points to 78.2%.
Emirates has begun construction of a Dhs1.3 billion ($353.9 million) engineering center on a 136-acre site on the north side of Dubai International Airport. The airline will use the facility to perform maintenance on its fleet, which is expected to double from the current 74 aircraft over the next seven years, and for third-party maintenance.
Goodrich Corp. yesterday unveiled the world's largest landing gear test facility, which was built to accommodate the A380 main gear. The facility at Goodrich's site in Oakville, Ontario, encompasses 2,100 sq. m. (22,604 sq. ft.) of floor space. It houses a Super Rig for structural testing that includes strength and fatigue testing of the A380 body and wing landing gears. The test rig rests in a cavity 55 m. long and stands approximately 8 m. high. In addition to the Super Rig, the facility accommodates rigs for endurance testing.
Southwest Airlines flew 5.24 billion RPMs in March, up 12% over the year-ago period. Capacity climbed 11.9% to 7.11 billion ASMs and load factor gained 0.1 point to 73.7%. For the three months ended March 31, RPMs increased 12.3% to 12.24 billion. ASMs rose 10.1% to 20.23 billion and load factor improved 1.2 points to 65.4%.
Boeing delivered a total of 70 commercial aircraft in the first quarter ended March 31, consisting of three 717s, 54 737NGs, three 747s, one 757, one 767 and eight 777s. In the first quarter of last year, the company delivered 76 commercial aircraft comprising three 717s, 55 737NGs, five 747s, four 757s, one 767 and eight 777s.
ARINC and Telenor yesterday unveiled AeroMobile, a service they said will enable passengers to use their cellular phones in flight. The companies said they are working closely with several potential airline customers and are readying demonstration flights planned for mid-2005.
Lufthansa Systems said its operating result for 2004 increased 56.4% over 2003 to €61 million on a 3% rise in revenues to €628 million. The share of business generated by customers outside LH Group increased 9.8% to €224.2 million or almost 36% of revenues.
Hungary's government again is trying to sell loss-making national airline Malev. Reuters reported that on Monday the government published an invitation to potential investors to submit letters of interest by today if they plan to take part in direct negotiations to buy the carrier. Last week the government cancelled the fourth privatization effort, stating that the bids were too low ( ATWOnline, March 31).
Alpine Air Express and its subsidiary Alpine Aviation said they have terminated all discussions with Capitalliance Financial Services regarding a possible merger or acquisition. "Although Alpine seriously considered working with Capitalliance on business opportunities, the Alpine board finally decided that independently seeking other opportunities was more prudent for the company and its shareholders," Alpine Air Express Chairman and CEO Gene Mallette said.
Kingfisher Airlines selected the V2500 to power its fleet of A320s. At present, the startup has 13 firm aircraft on order with options to purchase a further 20. It also has leased four A320s from debis AirFinance. If all options are realized, value of the deal to IAE is $460 million.
Singapore-based Jetstar Asia is upping the ante in the bitter war for travelers by offering its passengers return flights to Australian cities on its parent Qantas from just $278 excluding taxes.
