WestJet (WS) reported a C$39.3 million ($38.8 million) third-quarter net profit, down 10.4% from net income of C$43.8 million in the prior-year period.
Air France KLM Group reported a net profit of €14 million ($19.2 million) for the quarter ended Sept. 30, down 95.2% from net income of €290 million in the year-ago quarter, due mainly to foreign exchange losses and a decline in the fair value of hedging instruments.
Taipei-based EVA Airways Corp. (BR) is “in aggressive talks” to join either oneworld or Star alliance by 2013, senior VP-Europe Tim Yang confirmed to ATW in Vienna.
Etihad Airways (EY) will begin to roll out onboard Internet on flights between Abu Dhabi and select European cities from December, with a total of five aircraft slated to be fitted out by March 2012. It has not yet announced the provider. Three of the five aircraft will be Airbus A330-300s, operating to London, Frankfurt, Geneva, Munich and Paris.
Caribbean Airlines (BW) took delivery of its first of nine ATR 72-600s, becoming the first operator of the new -600 series in a $200 million contract ( ATW Daily News, Feb. 2). The aircraft are configured with 68 seats and will be equipped with inflight entertainment.
Kenya Airways (KQ) posted a net profit of KES2.03 billion ($21.1 million) for its fiscal year first-half ended Sept. 30, up 41.6% from KES1.4 billion in the year-ago period. It noted the improved profitability was realized despite the challenging economic and geopolitical environment and said it was “optimistic” for continued improvement in the second half.
Pinnacle Airlines Corp., the Memphis-based parent of regionals Pinnacle Airlines, Colgan Air and Mesaba Aviation, reported a third-quarter net loss of $3.5 million, down from a net profit of $9.4 million in the year-ago quarter.
Lufthansa (LH) announced it is investing €60 million ($81 million) to increase its presence at the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), which is expected to open June 3, 2012 ( ATW Daily News, Oct. 18). LH destinations from BER will increase from eight to 38 starting from summer 2012. New routes will include mostly European and two Middle East destinations. LH’s dedicated BER-based fleet will increase from nine to 15 A320 family aircraft, resulting in 40% more ASKs.
Copa Holdings, parent of Panama's Copa Airlines and Copa Airlines Colombia (formerly Aero Republica), posted third-quarter net income of $70.3 million, nearly on par with a $71.5 million net profit earned in the prior-year period.
FlyNiki founder Niki Lauda has resigned as CEO of the Austrian airline and has been appointed to the Air Berlin (AB) administrative board as non-executive director.
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As the airline industry continues to battle wild market swings, Southwest Airlines has been among the most resilient of carriers thanks to its low cost structure and strategic long-term planning. Its CFO sat down with Air Transport World sister-publication Business Finance to discuss the merger with AirTran Airways, the volatility of oil prices and planning for the unthinkable.
Baltic Aviation Systems (BAS), a minority shareholder of troubled Air Baltic, has made a bid for the finally troubled state-owned JAT Airways (JU) after the Serbian government extended the deadline through Oct. 31 ( ATW Daily News, Oct. 11).
Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings (AAWH) reported a third-quarter net income of $28.2 million, down 16.6% compared to a $33.8 million net profit earned in the year-ago period. But the company, the parent of Atlas Air and Polar Air Cargo, believes its prospects have brightened with its first Boeing 747-8 freighter joining its fleet last week.
Southwest Airlines (SWA) on Monday announced its pilots, represented by the Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Assn. (SWAPA) and Air Tran pilots, represented by the Air Line pilots Assn. (ALPA), have ratified a seniority integration agreement. The agreement combines the merging airlines' pilot seniority lists.
Transaero Airlines (UN) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Boeing for four 747-8 Intercontinental aircraft, making it the first customer in Russia, the CIS and Eastern Europe for the passenger version of 747-8.
Air Macau (NX) has received a MOP700 million ($89 million) capital injection from the Macau local government by selling its 420,420 new shares for the carrier’s fleet expansion in the next two or three years.
H+S Aviation, a BBA Aviation Engine Repair and Overhaul (ERO) company, has named Graham Evitt as Rolls-Royce M250 regional sales manager-Europe. Evitt joined H+S Aviation in 1990 after spending 16 years as an aircraft engineer with the British Royal Navy. Monarch Aircraft Engineering has appointed Lee Burgess as head of sales and capacity planning, responsible for the acquisition and development of new business. Lee joined Monarch in 1988 and joined the management team in 2006.
WheelTug and EL AL Israel Airlines (LY) on Monday announced a Letter of Intent (LOI) under which LY will “obtain a substantial part of the initial production of WheelTug Aircraft Drive Systems for Boeing 737NG aircraft for installation on their own aircraft subject to financial and operational feasibility checks and regulatory approvals.” LY is the launch customer for the system.
Asiana Airlines (OZ) will expand its long-haul routes and focus on becoming a world top 10 carrier by 2015, according to the South Korean carrier’s senior VP, strategic planning. Speaking in Seoul Nov. 4 at the Assn. of Asia Pacific Airlines annual meeting, Kim Ebae said its fleet would grow from 71 aircraft this year, to 83 in 2013 and 88 in 2015. ATKs would increase by 5% this year, 14% in 2013 and 25% in 2015, he said.
