Airlines & Lessors

Southwest Airlines (SWA) said it will convert AirTran-branded flights to SWA flights at four cities from April 14, 2013.

GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) and Brazil’s GOL have signed a sale and leaseback agreement for four new Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

Greek carrier Aegean Airlines (A3) has struck a deal to acquire Olympic Air (OA) from Marfin Investment Group for €72 million ($94 million), creating a €1 billion company.

Swiss charter airline Hello has announced insolvency and stopped flights from Zurich and Basel Sunday, the carrier said on its website.

Tenerife, Spain-based Islas Airways (IF) has suspended operations, although the airline claims the move is only temporary.

Boeing has confirmed that Turkish Airlines (TK) announced a commitment to order 15 777-300ERs, plus five options.

The Portuguese government has selected Brazilian conglomerate Synergy Aerospace as the sole bidder in the privatization of ailing flag carrier TAP Portugal.

Etihad (EY) has signed a codeshare agreement with Indonesian flag carrier Garuda Indonesia (GA), effective Oct. 28.

Air France (AF) is playing down the expected impact of a staff walkout, which is planned for Oct. 26, in protest against the airline’s restructuring program.

The International Air Cargo Assn. (TIACA) said it has agreed to “enhanced cooperation” with ICAO, particularly in the area of security.

United Parcel Service (UPS) and TNT Express said Friday they have received a statement of objections (SO) from the European Commission (EC) related to the “competitive effects” of the companies’ pending merger.

China’s Qingdao municipal government is in negotiations with Air China (CA) and its subsidiary Shandong Airlines to launch Qingdao Airlines, according to Qingdao municipal transport committee deputy director Zhao Haibin.

FastJet, the African low-cost carrier backed by easyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou, has signed operating lease agreements with Volito Aviation for two Airbus A319s, to be delivered in time for its November launch date.

A US federal judge in New York has reserved judgment on whether United Continental Holdings (UCH) bears responsibility for damages caused by the hijacked American Airlines 767 that crashed into the World Trade Center’s north tower on 9/11.

Air Berlin (AB) is starting a new cost-cutting program called Turbine 2013, but details have not been released.

Norway’s new Kristiansand-based airline, Flynonstop, has acquired an Embraer E-190 to support the airline’s launch in April 2013, Embraer said in a statement.

US carriers reported an on-time performance (OTP) arrival rate of 79.1% in August, fractionally down from 79.3% in the year-ago month, but up from July’s 76%.

Chinese carriers reported a collective net profit of CNY2.3 billion ($365.4 million) in September, down 29% compared to a net income of CNY3.24 year-over-year.

LATAM Airline Group, a merger of Chile’s LAN Airlines and Brazil’s TAM Airlines, reported an 8.9% increase in systemwide RPKs for September against a 2% increase in ASKs.

Russia’s Transaero Airline (UN) will add 37 new routes in its winter schedule, increasing its routes to 137, up 21 routes from the year-ago period.

Qatar Airways (QR) will continue its aggressive expansion over the next three years, growing from 119 to more than 170 destinations, according to CEO Akbar Al Baker.

Southwest Airlines (SWA) reported a third-quarter net profit of $16 million, reversed from a $140 million net loss in the prior-year period.

Hawaiian Holdings, parent of Hawaiian Airlines (HA), has purchased its first ATR 42 turboprop and will acquire another of the type next month.

American Airlines (AA) plans to hire more than 1,500 new flight attendants over the next year.

SAS Scandinavian Airlines (SK) may announce a new cost-cutting package, several Scandinavian media outlets have reported.