Airlines & Lessors

China Southern Airlines reported a net profit of CNY57 million ($9.16 million) in the first quarter, down 82% compared to net income of CNY319 million in the year-ago quarter.

Ethiopian Airlines resumed Boeing 787 Dreamliner service Saturday with a flight from Addis Ababa to Nairobi, making it the first carrier to relaunch 787 flights since the aircraft was grounded in January.

Finnair reported a first-quarter loss of €15.8 million ($20.6 million), an 18.3% improvement on the €19.3 million loss recorded in the year-ago period.

Southeast Asia’s biggest budget airline, AirAsia Berhad, has formalized a shareholder and brand license agreement with its Indian partners.

Kenya Airways CEO Titus Naikuni has told ATW he is “cautiously optimistic” that low-cost subsidiary Jambo Jet will launch this year.

China Eastern Airlines has conducted an Airbus A320 biofuel test flight using so called “gutter oil.” The Shanghai-based carrier operated a 90-minute

United Airlines has put in place a set of initiatives to save 85 million gallons of fuel in 2013, equivalent to 828,750 metric tons of CO2 or roughly $275 million at current fuel prices.

All Nippon Airways (ANA), the Boeing 787 launch customer and largest Dreamliner operator with 17 in its fleet, will conduct a 787 proving flight Sunday, an initial step toward resumption of commercial flights with its 787s.

Aer Lingus has sought clearance from its shareholders to dispose of a pair of London Heathrow slots to British Airways for “an agreed consideration.”

LOT Polish Airlines plans to resume Boeing 787 operations June 5, initially deploying the type on its Warsaw-Chicago service.

Star Alliance CEO Mark Schwab is in talks with US Airways management about the carrier’s exit from Star after the merger with American Airlines is completed later this year.

Air China reported a first-quarter net profit of CNY249 million ($40 million), up 3.98% from net income of CNY239.1 million in the year-ago quarter.

Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has approved Boeing’s fix for the 787’s battery system.

Fastjet has named former Air Uganda CEO Kyle Haywood as head of its new South African venture, which is slated to launch May 31.

UK low-cost carrier (LCC) easyJet has received approval to operate services between Manchester and Saint Petersburg, the second largest city in Russia.

Embraer is negotiating with AeroSvit owners to deliver three out of five Embraer E-190 aircraft ordered by the carrier.

Etihad Airways and Air Canada have agreed to increase cooperation through a new codeshare agreement.

Ethiopian Airlines is to take two new Boeing 777-300ERs on 12-year lease from Air Lease Corp.

FedEx Corp. announced that its FedEx Express subsidiary has entered into a new express air transportation contract with the United States Postal Service (USPS).

China Aviation Supplies Holding Co. (CASC) has signed a provisional agreement to buy 60 Airbus aircraft, comprising 42 A320 family aircraft and 18 A330s.

Aer Lingus recorded a slightly worsened first-quarter loss compared to the previous year and the carrier said it would be reinforcing cost-cutting measures in response.

Southwest Airlines reported first-quarter net income of $59 million, down 39.8% from a net profit of $98 million in the year-ago period, but more than tripled operating income year-over-year.

United Continental Holdings, parent of United Airlines, has posted a first-quarter net loss of $417 million, including $92 million of special charges, compared with a 2012 first-quarter net loss of $448 million.

LOT Polish Airlines is to take a Boeing 777 on wet lease from Portuguese operator EuroAtlantic while it awaits the return to service of its 787s, which it expects to happen in June.

Grupo Aeroméxico has reported a first-quarter net loss of MXN122 million ($9.9 million), reversed from a net profit of MXN$135 million last year.