Airlines & Lessors

All Nippon Airways (ANA), the Boeing 787 launch customer and largest Dreamliner operator with 17 in its fleet, will conduct a 787 proving flight Sunday, an initial step toward resumption of commercial flights with its 787s.

Aer Lingus has sought clearance from its shareholders to dispose of a pair of London Heathrow slots to British Airways for “an agreed consideration.”

LOT Polish Airlines plans to resume Boeing 787 operations June 5, initially deploying the type on its Warsaw-Chicago service.

Star Alliance CEO Mark Schwab is in talks with US Airways management about the carrier’s exit from Star after the merger with American Airlines is completed later this year.

Air China reported a first-quarter net profit of CNY249 million ($40 million), up 3.98% from net income of CNY239.1 million in the year-ago quarter.

Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has approved Boeing’s fix for the 787’s battery system.

Fastjet has named former Air Uganda CEO Kyle Haywood as head of its new South African venture, which is slated to launch May 31.

UK low-cost carrier (LCC) easyJet has received approval to operate services between Manchester and Saint Petersburg, the second largest city in Russia.

Embraer is negotiating with AeroSvit owners to deliver three out of five Embraer E-190 aircraft ordered by the carrier.

Etihad Airways and Air Canada have agreed to increase cooperation through a new codeshare agreement.

Ethiopian Airlines is to take two new Boeing 777-300ERs on 12-year lease from Air Lease Corp.

FedEx Corp. announced that its FedEx Express subsidiary has entered into a new express air transportation contract with the United States Postal Service (USPS).

China Aviation Supplies Holding Co. (CASC) has signed a provisional agreement to buy 60 Airbus aircraft, comprising 42 A320 family aircraft and 18 A330s.

Aer Lingus recorded a slightly worsened first-quarter loss compared to the previous year and the carrier said it would be reinforcing cost-cutting measures in response.

Southwest Airlines reported first-quarter net income of $59 million, down 39.8% from a net profit of $98 million in the year-ago period, but more than tripled operating income year-over-year.

United Continental Holdings, parent of United Airlines, has posted a first-quarter net loss of $417 million, including $92 million of special charges, compared with a 2012 first-quarter net loss of $448 million.

LOT Polish Airlines is to take a Boeing 777 on wet lease from Portuguese operator EuroAtlantic while it awaits the return to service of its 787s, which it expects to happen in June.

Grupo Aeroméxico has reported a first-quarter net loss of MXN122 million ($9.9 million), reversed from a net profit of MXN$135 million last year.

New York-based JetBlue has posted a 2013 first-quarter net income of $14 million, less than half of the $30 million profit recorded for the same period a year ago.

FAA has proposed a $4 million civil penalty against United Parcel Service (UPS) for allegedly failing to follow FAA-approved procedures for making structural repairs to two DC-8 freighter aircraft and two MD-11Fs.

Kuwait-based Jazeera Airways Group turned in what it described as an “exceptional” first quarter.

Alaska Air Group, parent of Alaska Airlines (AS) and Horizon Air, earned first-quarter net income of $37 million, down 11% from $41 million in the year-ago period.

Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Co., parent of Allegiant Air, reported first-quarter net income of $31.9 million, up 47.1% compared to $21.7 million in the year-ago period.

Etihad and Jet Airways have signed a long-awaited agreement that will see Etihad taking a strategic shareholding in the Indian carrier, as well as pumping in additional investment.

The merged American Airlines (AA) and US Airways will create an airline with the best domestic feed of the US’s three mega-carriers and will make oneworld the strongest of the global alliances, US Airways president Scott Kirby said Wednesday.