Airlines & Lessors

China’s opposition to the European Union’s Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS), has prevented Lufthansa (LH) from obtaining rights to operate an Airbus A380 to Shanghai, LH chairman and CEO Christoph Franz said.

Singapore Airlines’ (SQ) new medium- to long-haul low-cost carrier Scoot took ownership of its first aircraft, a Boeing 777-200, Saturday.

Kigali-based RwandAir has signed a firm order for two Bombardier CRJ900 NextGen aircraft, plus two options, making it the first CRJ900 operator in eastern Africa.

Air Berlin (AB) reported a 2011 net loss of €271.8 million ($358.2 million), widened from a net deficit of €97.2 million in 2010.

United Parcel Service (UPS), saying it is focused on creating long-term value for shareholders, reached an agreement Monday with TNT Express to acquire the Amsterdam-based delivery operator for €5.16 billion ($6.8 billion).

The long wait for new narrowbody aircraft types is an indicator of a bubble market, an analyst said Monday.

Jet Aviation named Gary Dolski as the new VP and GM of the company’s MRO and fixed based operations (FBO) facility in Singapore, with responsibility for the Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur facilities. Dolski joins Jet from MD Helicopters, where he served as VP-customer support. Airclaims has named David Louzado as sales director-risk and asset management division. Louzado most recently served as VP-fleet services at Falko Regional Aircraft.

Brazil’s GOL has submitted a route right request to the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) to operate a 5X-weekly São Paulo-Miami, Fla. service, its first US route.

Lufthansa (LH) will take delivery of five Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental aircraft this year as part of its biggest fleet modernization program in its history.

Southwest Airlines (SWA) on March 8 took delivery of its first Boeing 737-800; it plans to receive 33 -800s by the end of the year.

8 Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY) signed a 12-year GoldCare maintenance agreement with Boeing for the six 787-8s it has on order.

Cathay Pacific (CX) Group posted a net profit of HKD5.5 billion ($709 million) for 2011, down 62% over net income of HKD14.05 billion in 2010.

SAS Scandinavian Airlines plans to replace 3,520 seats in its narrowbody fleet with new lightweight, slim economy-class seats, beginning with its Boeing 737-800 fleet in May.

8 Hawaiian Airlines (HA) has reached a tentative agreement with the Assn. of Flight Attendants (AFA) on a new contract to balance increased compensation with gains in productivity for the company.

Loss-making Austrian Airlines (OS) and its crew union have failed to reach an agreement on plans to reduce labor costs as part of its $220 million restructuring program announced in January.

JetBlue Airways (B6) has denied rumors in the Irish press that it is interested in acquiring the Irish government’s 25% stake in Aer Lingus (EI).

Lufthansa’s (LH) operating profit dropped by almost 20% to €820 million ($1.07 billion) in 2011 and the airline expects to see profit shrink to a mid-three-digit million-euro figure this year.

Russian cargo group Volga-Dnepr (VI) is planning to buy Frankfurt Hahn-based carrier Air Cargo Germany (6U). Germany antitrust authorities said that Amsterdam-based Volga-Dnepr Logistics sought approval for the deal March 1.

Kingfisher Airlines (IT), struggling for its survival, said Wednesday that it is "curtailing" international flying.

Etihad Airways (EY) and Air Berlin (AB) have announced plans to join their Boeing 787 programs, saving millions of dollars for both carriers.

Flybe (BE) signed a contract with Brussels Airlines (SN) to provide two Bombardier Q400 aircraft on a wet-lease basis for two years starting March 25.

Air Baltic (BT) is implementing a new restructuring plan, ReShape, to return the struggling airline to profitability and sustain future development at its North Hub Riga.

Iberia (IB) pilots, represented by the SEPLA union, and cabin crew, represented by the STAVLA union, have called off their planned strikes, IB said.

Southwest Airlines (SWA) filed an application Monday with the US Dept. of Transportation (DOT) for slots at Washington National (DCA), attempting to take advantage of the recently passed FAA reauthorization legislation's approval of new flights beyond DCA's 1,250 mi. perimeter.

British Airways (BA) parent company International Airlines Group (IAG) has offered remedies to the European Union’s antitrust regulators to try to obtain regulatory approval for its proposed takeover of British Midland International (bmi).