Airlines & Lessors

Michael Mackey
Virgin Australia (DJ) has no concerns about moves by Etihad (EY) to further increase its stake in the carrier to 10%, as reported by Australia’s The Age newspaper.

Kurt Hofmann
Jet Airways (9W) is considering new long-haul services starting next summer, and is aiming to join either SkyTeam or Star Alliance, according to 9W founder and chairman Naresh Goyal.

Katie Cantle
China Eastern Airlines’ (MU) subsidiary China Cargo Airlines (CK) is expected to become the second Chinese carrier to join the SkyTeam Cargo alliance as it aims to improve its global competitiveness.

Kurt Hofmann
SriLankan Airlines (UL) has been elected as a oneworld member, the alliance announced just prior to the opening of IATA's 2012 World Air Transport Summit in Beijing.

Christine Boynton
Australia’s Alligator Airways remains suspended and grounded by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) as it continues to investigate “a range” of safety issues.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

Kurt Hofmann
Lufthansa (LH) Group is implementing several measures to improve the group’s efficiency, including streamlining its fleet and better integrating its business units . Speaking to ATW June 1 during the inaugural Boeing 747-8I Frankfurt-Washington Dulles flight, LH chairman and CEO Christoph Franz said LH wants to “retain our position as the aviation powerhouse of Europe.” One measure includes better integration of its business units, he said. LH will also streamline its fleet, which Franz said has been too complex in the past.

Christine Boynton
Norwegian (DY) has firmed an order for 100 Airbus A320neos, following an agreement signed in January.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Karen Walker
Indonesian carrier Lion Air (JT) has selected the Boeing 787 over the Airbus A330 for its new premium carrier Batik Air.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Aaron Karp
Mediated talks between American Airlines (AA) and its pilots on a new labor pact, which took place June 4-7 under the supervision of a judge, are slated to continue the week of June 10 as the sides seek to avoid a bankruptcy-court imposed solution later this month.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

Michael Mackey
Japanese LCC AirAsia Japan has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Rating agency Standard & Poor’s has placed Qantas Group (QF) on a ratings watch, citing concerns about the airline’s international business.

By Alan Dron
International Airlines Group (IAG), parent company of British Airways and Iberia, has completed the sale of British Midland International’s bmi regional to Sector Aviation Holdings (SAH), a group of Scottish business investors.

Christine Boynton
Virgin Australia (DJ) has launched an eight-week biodiesel trial in a baggage tug and push-back vehicle at Brisbane Domestic Airport. The biodiesel blend is derived from tallow and used cooking oil (20:80 conventional petrodiesel); it is produced by Ecotech Biodiesel in Queensland.
Airports & Networks

Christine Boynton
Tiger Airways (TR) has finalized a sale and purchase agreement to acquire 40% in Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAir) for $7 million.

Cuckoo Paul
The Indian minister of civil aviation and Air India (AI) management have announced a contingency plan to help the airline resume full operations after an ongoing pilot strike has crippled the airline.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

Anne Paylor
KLM and Flybe (BE) have launched a codeshare agreement on two routes between Amsterdam (AMS) and the UK. KLM will now operate three flights a day between AMS and Southampton, as well as a daily flight between AMS and Inverness.
Airports & Networks

Kurt Hofmann
Austrian Airlines’ (OS) Star Alliance Terminal at Vienna Airport (VIE) opened June 5.
Airports & Networks

Anne Paylor
The Assn. of European Airlines (AEA) secretary general Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus has stepped down from his role as secretary general after 10 years.

Katie Cantle
The Chinese government will inject about CNY2 billion ($315 million) into China Southern Airlines (CZ) for its fleet expansion, according to an industry insider.

Anne Paylor
Abu Dhabi (AUH)-based Etihad Airways (EY) confirmed Tuesday it has acquired a 3.96% equity stake in Virgin Australia (DJ) Holdings, and almost immediately increased that stake to 4.99% a day later.

Anne Paylor
Air France (AF) has taken delivery of its eighth Airbus A380 and has launched a daily A380 service between Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Los Angeles (LAX).
Airports & Networks

Michael Mackey
Thai Airways International (TG) outgoing president Piyasvasti Amranand told the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand that TG has good future prospects.

Kurt Hofmann
Kazakhstan-based Air Astana (KC) has reported increased traffic and capacity in an updated presentation to ATW.
Airports & Networks

Aaron Karp
FedEx said it has decided to permanently ground 18 Airbus A310-200 freighters and six MD-10Fs.

April 2012 AIRLINE MODEL ENGINE DELIVERY DATE
Airlines & Lessors