Airlines & Lessors

Mexican low-cost carrier VivaAerobus has signed a purchase agreement for 52 Airbus A320 family aircraft, including 40 A320neos and 12 A320ceos.

Fastjet has finally flown its first international flight between Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and Johannesburg in South Africa, which was originally planned for Sept. 27.

Qatar Airways plans to launch four weekly Boeing 777-200 flights between Doha International Airport (DOH) and Miami International Airport (MIA) starting June 10, 2014.

Hainan Airlines Group (HNA) is accelerating the consolidation of its subsidiaries with the transfer of a 14% stake in Tianjin Airlines to Hainan Airlines worth CNY1.09 billion ($178 million).

Irish airlines have welcomed the decision by the country’s government to scrap the Air Travel Tax (ATT), which levied a €3 ($4.10) charge on departing travelers.

Danish operator Jet Time will use its new fleet of six ATR 72-600 turboprops on behalf of SAS Scandinavian Airlines.

Netherlands airlines have cut back their services to Egypt in the face of warnings from the Dutch government of possible terrorist action.

American Airlines plans to launch daily flights between Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) and between DFW and Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) in the 2014 summer.

Oslo-based low-cost carrier Norwegian Air Shuttle will launch long-haul operations between the UK and the US next summer.

Airlines are ranked by 2013 reservation cancellation/change fee revenue, in US$ thousands. Data is current as of Sept. 30, 2013 tbd: to be determined NA: no data available

Bombardier Aerospace announced Friday that Chinese leasing company CDB Leasing Co. (CLC) is the previously announced undisclosed customer that signed a conditional purchase agreement for five CS100 and 10 CS300 airliners.

Boeing said Friday it is reducing its 747-8 production rate from 1.75 aircraft to 1.5 per month through 2015, citing lower market demand for large passenger and freighter aircraft.

Airlines are ranked by 2013 baggage fee revenue, in US $ thousands. Data is current as of Sept. 30, 2013 tbd: to be determined NA: no data available

Hainan Airlines’ subsidiary West Air is looking to set up an operating base in Zhengzhou to expand its market share outside West China.

Air India is looking for alternate funding, as a cash-strapped government of India has been unable to provide promised equity for the past six months.

Amidst the political maneuvering Wednesday on Capitol Hill, three nominees essential to the US aviation industry were quietly confirmed by the US Senate.

SITA's technology research team, SITA Lab, has conducted early trials of wearable computing (such as smart watches and smart glasses) for airlines and airports.

British Airways has begun a month-long trial of personalized digital bag tags being developed by the airline.

Etihad Cargo and Singapore Airlines Cargo are to exchange confirmed cargo capacity on the two carriers’ services between Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow and Frankfurt.

Airline Routes

American Airlines parent AMR Corp. earned net income of $289 million in the third quarter, reversing a $238 million net loss in the prior-year period, on a 6.2% year-over-year increase in revenue to $6.83 billion.

[UPDATED] Spirit Airlines confirmed to ATW that an Airbus A319—en route from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to Atlanta—experienced an engine failure shortly after takeoff on Oct. 15.

1. January-June 2013. 2. January-May 2013. * Includes Regional operations. Source: ATW Research, direct airline reports.

Footnotes: * International only. 1. January - June. 2. January - May. 3. Includes Regional operations. 4. Combined American Eagle, Executive Airlines and American Connection. 5. Combined traffic for SkyWest Airlines and ExpressJet Airlines. 6. YTD 02013 from 4/26/13

An ATR 72-600 operated by Lao Airlines, the national carrier of Laos, has crashed on a domestic flight; all 44 passengers and five crew onboard are believed to be dead.