Airlines & Lessors

Aeroflot’s new low-cost (LCC) subsidiary Dobrolet Airline has received its air operator’s certificate (AOC) and plans to launch operations in June, according to Aeroflot CEO Vitaly Saveliev.

Indian low-cost carrier (LCC) SpiceJet reported a net loss of Rs10 billion ($167 million) for its fiscal year ended March 31.

Qatar Airways has announced Paris Charles de Gaulle as its second Airbus A380 destination after London Heathrow.

Timisoara-based startup Fly Romania has begun operating domestic and international flights with services from Timisoara to Bucharest (6X-weekly) and Verona (3X-weekly).

Etihad Regional, operated by Swiss carrier Darwin Airline, will add five more destinations from Zurich as part of its rapid expansion plans.

Air Canada has taken delivery of it first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. The aircraft, the first of Air Canada's 37 787s on order for delivery through 2019, departed Paine Field in Everett, Wash. Sunday on its delivery flight to Toronto.

Ryanair reported full-year net income of €523 million ($716 million), down 8% from a net income of €569 million in the prior year.

Austrian Airlines and its Tyrolean Airways subsidiary presented its employees with a framework plan for a new collective wage agreement, which could lead to the merging the two carriers and eliminating the Tyrolean brand.

Ruili Airlines launched formal operations May 18 with a flight from Kunming to Mangshi.

Baltic flag carrier Estonian Air has reported a 2013 net loss of €8.1 million ($11.1 million), narrowed from a net loss of €49.2 million for 2012.

Thai Airways reported a first-quarter net loss of THB2.62 billion ($804 million), reversed from a net profit of THB8.29 billion in the year-ago period.

Malaysia Airlines’ short-haul subsidiary Firefly and Garuda Indonesia’s low-cost subsidiary Citilink have signed a cooperation agreement to expand their regional reach through their combined partner networks.

Etihad Airways has unveiled plans to set up a cadet pilot training facility, with the acquisition of the Horizon International Flight Academy’s fixed-wing training division.

Norwegian Air Shuttle and its cabin attendants’ union reached a new collective agreement this weekend, canceling a strike threat.

Lufthansa, which presented a new premium-economy class in March, has announced its first routes with the new reconfiguration.

Turkish Airlines began Istanbul-Boston service with five flights weekly, with an increase to daily service June 9.

Briefs from the May 19, 2014 issue of ATW's Skypaths

Gross Orders year-to-date, sorted by date of order placement with manufacturer. Sources: Airbus, Boeing, ATW Research

Aircraft deliveries year-to-date, sorted by delivery date. Note: AIRBUS orders are in CAPS for differentiation purposes. Sources: Airbus, Boeing, ATW research.

Airbus has confirmed that China Southern Airlines has signed a purchase agreement for 80 A320 family aircraft, comprising 30 A320ceos and 50 A320neos.

Top 25 US Airlines for the month ranked by Full-time Equivalent (FTE) employees. Full-time Equivalent (FTE) Employee calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.

Spanish budget carrier Vueling has converted five of its 62 Airbus A320 orders to A321s, trimming its A320 commitment to 57 aircraft.

African budget carrier Fastjet has suspended operations at its Fly540 Ghana subsidiary as part of its long-running battle to curb its legacy Fly540 losses.

Malaysia Airlines has posted a first-quarter net loss of MYR433 million ($138 million), 59% worse than the year-ago period.

The Icelandic Parliament has banned all industrial action by Icelandair pilots, according to an airline statement.