Fast-growing LCC Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras will operate 300 extra flights Feb. 20-27, the peak period of the carnival season in Brazil. From its main hubs at Campinas Viracopos (VCP) and Belo Horizonte Confins (CNF), the airline is expected to increase frequencies to its top 10 carnival-related destinations, including Rio de Janeiro, Porto Seguro, Salvador, Ilhéus, Maceió, Natal, Fortaleza, Recife, Florianópolis and Navegantes. The carrier is awaiting approval from ANAC, the Brazilian Civil Aviation Agency.
US carriers’ on-time arrival performance in November improved by more than two percentage points over the same period a year ago. According to the US Dept. of Transportation’s (DOT) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), the 16 carriers reporting on-time performance data recorded an overall on-time arrival rate of 85.3% in November, up from the 83.2% on-time rate of November 2010 and almost on a par with October 2011’s 85.5% rate ( ATW Daily News, Jan. 4).
Cathay Pacific Airways (CX) has ordered six more AirbusA350-900s for delivery between 2016 and 2017. The order builds on the airline’s original commitment to the A350-900 for 30 aircraft placed in September 2010 ( ATW Daily News, Sept. 17, 2010). CX announced an additional order for two A350-900s in August last year. The A350s will replace the airline’s A340s and eventually its A330 fleet.
Spirit Airlines (NK), which launched an IPO last year ( ATW, Oct. 1), priced a secondary offering of 11 million shares of common stock at $14.50 per share. The Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based low-cost carrier said Friday the shares are being sold by existing stockholders including affiliates of Oaktree Capital Management, its largest shareholder, and Indigo Partners and "certain members of the company's executive team."
Vueling Airlines (VY) will add five Airbus A320s and one A319 this year to support its organic growth as it launches 44 new routes and at least three new bases, CEO Alex Cruz said.
Air China (CA) will debut its Boeing 777-300ER Feb. 1, on the Los Angeles (LAX)-Beijing (PEK) night flight, replacing a 747-400. CA, which is the only carrier to provide nonstop service between the two cities, doubled the daily service in September. It will go one step further to enhance the route in June when it plans to upgrade the 747-400 day flight between LAX and PEK to the 777-300ER.
Japan Airlines (JAL) has outlined its plans for routes, fleet and flight frequency for the first half of fiscal year 2012 year ending March 31, 2013, as the Boeing 787 is introduced into service ( ATW Daily News, Dec. 15, 2011). According to JAL, it will launch the first 4X-weekly 787 nonstop service between Tokyo Narita (NRT) and Boston April 22, increasing to daily from June 1.
The Aviation Industry Corp. of China (AVIC) reported a net profit of CNY12.2 billion ($1.94 billion) in 2011, up 18.8% over a net income of CNY10.3 billion in 2010.
Star Alliance’s Greek member Aegean Airlines (A3) reported a 4% growth in passengers carried last year to 6.5 million, owing to strong growth on its international network.
PrivatAir, a Geneva-based VIP airline that operates all-business-class flights for airlines including Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines and KLM, placed a firm order for five Bombardier CSeries 100 aircraft, with five options.
Grupo Aeromexico has posted a record increase of 20% passenger boardings in 2011, up to 14.3 million. The international market grew 42% while domestic traffic increased 14%. The consolidated results of the two group airlines, Aeromexico and Aeromexico Connect, also show a 21% increase in RPKs, of which 31% is international boardings and 9% on the domestic side.
Vladivostok Avia (XF) on Feb. 1 will transfer all Moscow flights from Vnukovo (VKO) airport to Sheremetyevo (SVO) Terminal B as a part of its integration strategy with Aeroflot (SU).
Virgin Australia (DJ) will deploy Airbus A330s on the Melbourne (MEL)-Perth (PER) route to tap the resources boom in Western Australia and attempt to capture more of the business market from Qantas (QF). According to the airline, the move will add 20,000 seats a year. In a significant ramp-up in the intensifying competition between the two airlines, DJ will take delivery from Airbus of two new 278-seat A330s in May and put them into service on the MEL-PER route from May 14. The A330s will replace 168-seat Boeing 737s.
SAS Scandinavian Airlines will lay off 300 administrative staff as part of its 4Excellence program aiming to cut annual costs by 3%-5% ( ATW Daily News, Sept. 15, 2011). According to SAS, these cost-cutting measures will reduce expenses by SEK2 billion ($288 million) for 2012. SAS maintains its forecast of a marginally positive financial result for 2011. However, implementing 4Excellence has become even more crucial in 2012 due to increased economic uncertainty, increased pressure on yields in the airline industry and continued high fuel prices.
Ethiopian Airlines (ET) has refuted the Lebanese Ministry of Public Works and Transport final report into the ET flight 409 Boeing 737-800 crash, which occurred Jan. 25, 2010.
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFB) and Sumitomo Corp. (SC) have reached an agreement to acquire RBS Aviation Capital, the Royal Bank of Scotland's aircraft leasing unit.
Delta Air Lines (DL) and WestJet (WS) said Tuesday they will expand their cooperation agreement with increased codesharing starting with Jan. 23 flights.
Iberia (IB) is facing a new wave of strikes by its pilots represented by the SEPLA union, while ground workers and cabin crew have also voted for industrial action, although for different reasons.
Skytech-AIC has named Jeff Solomon as technical director, responsible for all aircraft and technical record inspections for its owned and managed portfolios and for third-party clients. Solomon has held positions at British Airways and Airclaims (Ascend) and is founder of Aviation Support Group. KLM UK Engineering Limited has appointed Paul Chun MD. Chun will join KLM from AFI KLM E&M subsidiary EPCOR.
Lufthansa Technik AG (LHT) announced a takeover of shares in AirLiance Materials, from United Airlines and Air Canada. LHT now owns 100% of the Rochelle, Ill.-based supplier of traceable aircraft parts for heavy maintenance checks, overhauls and repairs of engines and airframes.
All five Lufthansa Group airlines carried a total of 106.3 million passengers in 2011, a growth of 7.5% compared to the previous year. The group’s ASKs grew by 9.8% overall in 2011, while RPKs rose 7%. Average passenger load factor fell by 2.2% to 77.2%. Passenger boardings were 65.5 million, up 11.1% compared to the previous year. Capacity rose by 11.8% in the full year, while sales were up 8.8%. Load factor was 77.2%, down 2.2% year-over-year.
Biofuel-powered commercial flights could become standard operations within five to seven years, according to Lufthansa’s (LH) head of aviation biofuel.
