Airlines & Lessors

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.

A US bankruptcy judge approved the American Airlines-US Airways merger Wednesday, a key step toward making the mega-merger a reality.

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.

Iberia CEO Rafael Sanchez-Lozano is to be replaced by Iberia Express CEO Luis Gallego, effective immediately.

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.

Brazil’s GOL has reported a 2012 full-year net loss of BRL1.58 billion ($787 million), widened 58.4% from a BRL1 billion net loss in 2011.

Lao Central Airlines and Indonesia’s Sky Aviation announced their first Sukhoi Superjet 100s (SSJ100s) have launched their first flights.

The first Yakutia Airlines’ SSJ100 has arrived at Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Co.’s testing complex in Zhukovskiy for modification.

Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which deregistered 15 Kingfisher Airlines aircraft, has returned the aircraft to the lessors.

Aircraft News

Singapore’s High Court has given the go-ahead for Virgin Australia to acquire Perth-based regional carrier Skywest Airlines, marking one of the final hurdles for the deal.

Hainan Airlines subsidiary Hong Kong Airlines is shifting its focus from Western countries to mainland China and Southeast Asian countries.

Abu Dhabi Airports Company appointed former London Heathrow executive Tony Douglas to CEO.

Flydubai will double the number of routes from Dubai to Russia and add new destinations in Ukraine this year.

Hawaiian Airlines has finalized an order for 16 Airbus A321neos, plus nine options.

FedEx has entered into an agreement with United Airlines to buy up to 30 of the passenger airline’s Boeing 757-200s for conversion to freighters.

TNT Express will cut 4,000 positions over the next three years under its new go-it-alone strategy after European regulators blocked its plans to merge with United Parcel Service (UPS).

Air France-KLM has confirmed that its management veterans—group chairman and CEO Jean-Cyril Spinetta and vice-chairman and deputy CEO Leo van Wijk—will step down July 1.

Baltic flag-carrier Estonian Air widened its deficit in 2012, with net losses reaching €49.2 million ($63.8 million), widened from a €17.3 million net loss in 2011.

Irish aircraft lessor FLY Leasing has sold six Boeing 717-200s and plans to channel the proceeds into new aircraft acquisitions.

Piedmont Airlines pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), have ratified the tentative agreement reached with the company in early February.

Selected Active Aircraft Types by Region Aircraft Type North America Total AEROSPATIALE 85 ATR 42 52 ATR 72 33 AIRBUS 1144 Airbus A300 123 Airbus A310

Selected Active Aircraft Types by Region Aircraft Type Middle East Total

Selected Active Aircraft Types by Region Aircraft Type Europe Total AEROSPATIALE 252 ATR 42 90 ATR 72 162 AIRBUS 2252 Airbus A300 46 Airbus A310 27