The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) of Australia suspended regional charter operator Barrier Aviation following a “comprehensive investigation of a wide range of critical safety issues relating to aircraft maintenance.”
Five years ago, Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines signaled the start of a new era for the troubled US airline industry, which was then mired in the aftermath of a string of Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructurings and years of huge financial losses. Delta alone incurred a $10 billion net loss in just one 24-month period (2005-2006).
All Nippon Airways (ANA) said it continues to assume the Boeing 787 will be grounded through the end of May, but it has yet not decided how it will handle 787-designated routes from June 1.
Armenian carrier Armavia Airlines filed for bankruptcy and will cease flights April 1. The airline said it failed to cope with the 2008 world economic crisis.
Turkish Airlines is planning to launch nonstop Istanbul-Sydney services next year, becoming the first airline to operate nonstop from Europe to Australia.
US Airways chairman and CEO Doug Parker said the new American Airlines will “hit the ground running” once the US Airways-American Airlines merger closes, which he reiterated remains on track for the third quarter.
Danish lessor Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) has signed a firm purchase agreement for four Bombardier Q400 NextGens to be placed with Latvian carrier airBaltic.
Air Berlin and its major shareholder, Etihad Airways, are in talks with Boeing to switch its 787-8 order to the bigger -9 version, CEO Wolfgang Prock-Schauer told ATW onboard Air Berlin’s first flight from Berlin to Chicago O’Hare
China Eastern Airlines reported a net profit of CNY3.43 billion ($543 million) in 2012, down 29.8% compared with the net income of CNY4.89 billion in 2011, according to the carrier’s statement released by the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
Austrian Airlines Group has announced plans to cut a quarter of its Innsbruck-based Tyrolean Airways workforce as it consolidates its administrative functions in Vienna.
International Airlines Group has upped its takeover offer for Spanish carrier Vueling to €9.25 ($11.90) per share after an original bid of €7.00 per share was rejected by Vueling’s management.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has granted approval for a five-year alliance beginning April 1 between Qantas and Emirates for passenger and cargo operations, and other related services.
Irish budget carrier Ryanair has sealed new long-term collective deals with all of its cabin crew and several pilot groups, including 10% pay increases.
