Airlines & Lessors

Lufthansa, which took delivery of its seventh Boeing 747-8I Thursday, is considering introducing the aircraft on its daily Frankfurt-Chicago O’Hare services.

Aeroflot has taken delivery of its first Sukhoi Superjet 100 in full specification.

Aircraft News

Singapore Airlines has agreed to buy 30 Boeing 787-10s and 30 additional Airbus A350-900s.

Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair could be forced to sell or reduce its 29.8% stake in Aer Lingus after UK Competition Commission (CC) provisionally ruled it could reduce competition between Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

Tour operator Thomas Cook Group has struck a deal to lease nine Airbus A321-200s from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), including six aircraft it was previously taking directly from Airbus.

AerCap Holdings has entered into a $2.6 billion sale and leaseback agreement with LATAM Airlines Group for 25 widebody aircraft.

Malaysia Airlines reported a first-quarter net loss of MRY279 million ($91.9 million), widened from a net deficit of MRY172 million in the 2012 March quarter.

Sharjah-based low-cost carrier (LCC) Air Arabia reported a first-quarter net profit of AED59 million ($16 million), up 20% from AED49 million in the year-ago period.

Hawaiian Airlines has closed $444.54 million in financing to acquire six new Airbus A330-200 aircraft to be delivered over the next 18 months.

New Alitalia CEO Gabriele Del Torchio is working on a fresh business plan after revealing a first-quarter net loss of €157 million ($202.6 million), marking a 19.8% deterioration from a €131 million loss in the year-ago period.

Hainan Airlines parent HNA Group is preparing to apply to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to launch five new airlines as the regulator loosens its grip on approving new entrants.

AirAsia reported a first-quarter pre-tax profit of MYR131.8 million ($43.3 million), down from MYR212.4 million in the year ago period.

Aegean Airlines has narrowed its first-quarter pre-tax losses to €8.2 million ($10.6 million), significantly improved from a loss of €31.2 million recorded during the year-ago period.

Australia’s Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) has approved Virgin Australia’s acquisition of a 60% stake in Tiger Airways Australia, Virgin Australia Holdings (VAH) has announced.

Lufthansa will change its takeoff procedure for all departures outside Germany to be more in line with worldwide standards to reduce CO2 emissions and fuel consumption.

Lufthansa is considering transferring the head offices of its regional subsidiary Lufthansa CityLine from Cologne to Munich as part of its €1.5 billion ($1.3 billion) cost-cutting program SCORE.

Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines have equipped two Boeing 777-300s for an inflight connectivity trial through the end of 2013.

Lufthansa Cargo is using containers made of lightweight composite materials to reduce fuel consumption. New LD3 standard containers with side panels

AviancaTaca Holdings, created by the 2009 combination of Colombia’s Avianca and El Salvador-based Grupo TACA, has formally rebranded itself Avianca Holdings and intends to integrate TACA and its other airline subsidiaries under a single “Avianca” brand.

Several Ukrainian carriers—including Wizz Air Ukraine, UTair-Ukraine and Air Onix—have received permission to operate routes in Ukraine and Russia.

Ethiopian Airlines will begin its first Boeing 787 service to South America beginning July 1 to Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Turkish Airlines is reporting normal operations two weeks after flight crews announced a strike beginning May 15, which was never really resolved.

International Airlines Group (IAG) is looking to acquire the remaining shares in Vueling for €9.25 ($11.96) per share and delist the carrier from the Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid and Valencia stock exchanges.

Ryanair has called an extraordinary general meeting for June 18, when its shareholders will vote on a planned order for up to175 Boeing 737-800s.