Airlines & Lessors

Air France’s new regional operation, HOP! has been well received by customers and staff, but it is too early to tell if it will translate into profits.

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker told ATW the carrier is on track to join the oneworld alliance Oct. 1.

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is in talks with Serbian flag-carrier JAT Airways to expand its codeshare agreement signed Monday.

North Africa-based Air Algerie launched a tender last week to purchase 14 passenger aircraft, as well as two 13- to 20-tonne cargo jets.

Airline News

Aircraft Type Ordered By Total A320

Israel’s FIMI fund has agreed to invest up to $75 million in El Al Airlines in return for a 47% stake in the airline.

Virgin Australia Holdings has completed its acquisition of Perth-based regional Skywest Airlines.

The US National Transportation Safety Board is sending a team of investigators to assist the government of Indonesia in the investigation of Saturday’s Lion Air 737-800 crash.

Icelandair has bought two Boeing 757-200s, which it previously had on long-term lease, for an undisclosed sum.

People

[UPDATED] A Lion Air Boeing 737-800 missed the runway on approach to Bali’s Denpasar-Ngurah Rai Bali International Airport Saturday in Indonesia and landed in shallow water.

Lufthansa said its new Germanwings subsidiary is evolving faster than planned and is ahead of schedule.

Chinese carriers reported a first-quarter net profit of CNY1 billion ($160 million), down 20% compared to CNY1.25 billion in the year-ago quarter.

Latvian-based Air Baltic will grow its Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 NextGen fleet from eight to 12 this summer, to be phased in between May and July.

South African Airways (SAA) has submitted its long-term turnaround strategy to Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba in compliance with a ministerial directive issued in October 2012.

The US Dept. of Transportation (DOT) has approved Etihad Airways application to begin codesharing with Aer Lingus to US destinations.

Lufthansa Systems is in final customer negotiations for its BoardConnect wireless inflight entertainment (IFE) system following a series of airline trials.

Airport Traffic—2013

Hawaiian Airlines has selected Pratt & Whitney 1000G geared turbofan engines to power its new fleet of Airbus A321neo aircraft.

Korean Air has completed a transaction to take a 44% stake in SkyTeam partner CSA Czech Airlines in a bid to save the Czech flag carrier from bankruptcy.

Swiss regional carrier SkyWork Airlines has completed a management buyout.

Irish regional Aer Arann is looking for more franchise opportunities similar to its Aer Lingus agreement, whereby all its flights operate under the Aer Lingus Regional banner.