Airlines & Lessors

Gategroup has named Doug Goeke as group SVP and president-North America. Goeke has served as president and MD-Gate Gourmet Canada since November 2010. Evergreen Maintenance Center appointed Hal Heule as CEO. GA Telesis promoted Russell Bonnell to president of its MRO division. Bonnell previously served as SVP-global sales. KLM Engineering & Maintenance promoted SVP-operations Tom Dortmans to EVP.

Cathy Buyck
Brussels Airlines (SN) plans to launch its “first own connection” to the US since its founding in 2002, following the demise of its predecessor Sabena in late 2001. The route, daily Brussels (BRU)-New York (JFK) will begin June 1. The route will be operated with Airbus A330-300 or A330-200 aircraft, equipped with new business and economy-class cabins. The carrier will announce more details on the new cabin soon, it said. The service will be run as a daily morning flight to JFK Terminal 1 and as an overnight service back to BRU.
Airports & Networks

Geoffrey Thomas
This story was removed from the ATW Daily News. It was about an event that occurred in 2007 and which inadvertently picked up from an outlet that accidently reposted it as a new story. We apologize for the error and for any confusion it caused.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

Geoffrey Thomas
Japan Airlines (JL), which exited bankruptcy last year, is planning an initial public offering (IPO) that may raise as much as ¥1 trillion ($13 billion) as early as September, sources have told Bloomberg.

Aaron Karp
Trouble continued to mount for India's Kingfisher Airlines (IT) as both its largest creditor and the country's top aviation official publicly criticized the carrier.

Cathy Buyck
Air France (AF) has completed the installation of its premium economy cabin on six Airbus A380s, extending the new intermediate class on almost all of its long-haul fleet and network covering 67 destinations.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Aaron Karp
India's Kingfisher Airlines (IT) is contemplating a significant cost-reduction program, according to reports in Indian media. The privately owned airline did not confirm the reports, which claim the carrier is considering a plan that would include 2,000 job cuts and a hiring freeze. Increased work hours for employees is also reportedly under consideration. According to the Press Trust of India, IT has around 7,300 employees, already about 300 fewer than in March 2010.

Kurt Hofmann
Lufthansa (LH) will hire 200 flight attendants as temporary workers and has told passengers to brace for higher ticket prices as it searches for ways to cut costs and stem the effects of the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), which took effect Jan. 1.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

Aaron Karp
Air China (CA) last month introduced self check-in at three additional airports: Vancouver, Osaka Kansai and Nagoya...
Airports & Networks

Cathy Buyck
Etihad Airways (EY) began commercial operations in November 2003 and grew quickly to become one of the Gulf’s “big three” global airlines, competing head-to-head with its earlier established competitors Emirates and Qatar Airways. James Hogan joined Etihad as CEO in October 2006. He spoke with Cathy Buyck.

Aaron Karp
How AMR Corp. plans to find profitability through Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization.

By Karen Walker
Unions representing employees at United Airlines (UA) and Continental Airlines (CO), subsidiaries of the merged United Continental Holdings, will move ahead this month with efforts aimed at creating single labor representative groups for mechanics and passenger service and reservation employees of the combined airlines.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

Katie Cantle
Xiamen Airlines (MF) reported a net profit of CNY2.5 billion ($395 million) for 2011, up 61.3% from CNY1.55 billion year-over-year.

By Linda Blachly
GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) has ordered two additional ATR 72-600s, plus two options, lifting the company’s -600 orders to 17, plus 17 options, as part of a deal previously announced at the Paris Air Show.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Kurt Hofmann
Jade Cargo International announced it has “temporarily suspended” all operations due to “overall weak demand.”

Aaron Karp
American Airlines (AA) parent AMR Corp. will be delisted by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Jan. 5, an expected consequence of the company's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing last November.

By Polina Montag-Girmes
Russian Aeroflot (SU) has sold 51% of its newly acquired, Saratov-based subsidiary Saravia Airlines (6W) to private investors. The price and the purchaser were not disclosed.

Christine Boynton
Malaysia Airlines has reorganized its management structure to support a new business plan that was introduced Dec. 7.

Geoffrey Thomas
Qantas (QF) has made individual payments of up to $400,000 (A$393,000) each in a settlement with 144 passengers who were onboard a flight that made two sharp descents.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Christine Boynton
Thai Airways (TG) on Dec. 21 completed its first biofuel flight, using a Rolls-Royce Trent-powered 777-200 from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

Christine Boynton
In a move designed to strengthen and optimize its international network, Air China (CA) on March 10 will resume service to Paris CDG from Shanghai Pudong using a Boeing 777-300ER.
Airports & Networks

Christine Boynton
Thai Airways (TG) has purchased Rolls-Royce Trent engines to power 12 Airbus A350 XWBs and eight Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Karen Walker
Iberia (IB) canceled 118 flights Thursday as its pilots went ahead with the second of two planned one-day strikes.

By Polina Montag-Girmes
Two carriers of the Tatarstan republic in Russia’s Volga region will merge, the area’s president has announced.

By Karen Walker
All Nippon Airways (ANA) will begin operating the Boeing 787 on a further three domestic routes starting January.
Airports & Networks