United Airlines (UA) was not responsible for alleged airport security lapses in the lead up to the 9/11 hijacking of an American Airlines aircraft that was deliberately crashed into New York’s World Trade Center, Reuters and other news agencies reported Wednesday. According to Reuters, U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein granted a request by UA and parent United Continental Holdings to dismiss negligence claims brought by Larry Silverstein, leaseholder of the World Trade Center property (WTCP).
Chinese carriers reported a collective net profit of CNY2.33 billion ($373 million) in October, down 39% compared to the net income of CNY3.82 billion for the same period last year.
Air France (AF) chairman and CEO Alexandre de Juniac told ATW the company would like to have Air Berlin (AB) as a partner to cover AF’s weak presence in Eastern Europe, although he did not give a timeline. “This depends also on Etihad (EY)," a majority shareholder in AB, he said.
United Airlines (UA) is set to get more flexibility with the types of aircraft it can operate under a tentative agreement reached with UA and Continental Airlines (CO) pilots represented by the Air Line Pilots Assn. (ALPA) union.
US Airways (US) flight attendants, represented by the Assn. of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) on Tuesday voted for strike authorization, seeking a single contract for all US flight attendants seven years after the merger with America West Airlines (HP). The 6,800 US flight attendants voted 94% in favor of strike authorization.
German carrier Air Berlin (AB) has detailed plans to revamp its network to better-align its schedules with Etihad, American Airlines (AA) and its other oneworld partners.
AviancaTaca Holdings has posted a third-quarter net profit of COP$101 billion ($55.6 million), up 14.8% year-over-year, on revenues of COP$209.2 billion, up 3.5%. Operating profit was down 12% to COP$209.2 billion, mainly due to fuel price hikes of 9.9%.
Ethiopian Airlines (ET) CEO Tewolde Gebremariam believes Chinese carriers could be on the cusp of seeking greater cooperation and equity ties with African airlines.
Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has reached agreement with state-owned Turus Pesawat for a financing arrangement of up to MYR5.311 billion ($1.72 billion) to purchase eight Airbus aircraft. The bond will fund the acquisition of six Airbus A380-800s, one A330-200F and one A330-300. MAS took delivery of its third A380 on Nov. 15, part of its current order for six ( ATW Daily News, May 30).
EasyJet (U2) has reported a record pre-tax profit of £317 million ($512.4 million) for the year ended 30 September, up 27.9% over the previous financial year, despite the challenging economic climate and a £182 million increase in unit fuel costs ( ATW Daily News, Oct. 3). After a tax charge of £62 million, profit for the year was £255 million, up from £225 million the previous year.
Turkish Airlines (TK) has reported a nine-month net profit of TRY868 million ($481.6 million), up 655% over the same period in 2011. Revenue increased 30% to TRY11.2 billion and operating profit was TRY1.08 billion. The carrier returned to profit in its 2012 first-half results ( ATW Daily News, Sept. 4). RPKs rose 27% and ASK 19% producing a load factor of 77.9 %, up 5.3 points.
Turkish Airlines (TK) has done a deal with GE Aviation to provide engines for its new Airbus A330-300s and Boeing 777-300ERs. A $1.4 billion contract covers GE90-115Bs to power the 777-300ERs and a long-term OnPoint maintenance agreement. TK in October ordered 15 777-300ERs with options for an additional five, scheduled for delivery beginning in 2014 ( ATW Daily News, Oct 22). The GE90 is the only engine available for the -300ER.
International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) delivered the 15th and final Boeing 737-800 to American Airlines (AA) as part of an aircraft sale and leaseback program. “ILFC…views this transaction as an important achievement in the execution of our strategy to increase ILFC’s market share in the Americas,” ILFC CEO Henri Courpron said. The program began in November 2011; at that time AA had taken delivery of two of the previously-ordered aircraft.
Cargolux Airlines (CV) confirmed Monday that Qatar Airways (QR) will exit its 35% shareholding in the carrier. QR had reportedly sought to increase its shareholding to 49% ( ATW Daily News, March 28).
Kenyan carrier Jetlink Express (J0) suspended all scheduled flights Nov. 16 after its creditors cut off funding. In a statement, J0 said it has over $2 million in revenues in South Sudan, mainly in Sudanese pounds, although is unable to access this cash because of a scarcity of foreign currency in South Sudan. The airline’s credit lines in Kenya were based on these revenues.
Virgin Atlantic (VS) has won its bid to take all 12 pairs of London Heathrow (LHR) remedy slots demanded by the European Commission following the takeover by International Airlines Group (IAG) of British Midland (BMI). The giving up of slots was a condition of the takeover deal; IAG also owns British Airways (BA) ( ATW Daily News, April 2).
California-based Virgin America (VX) and Air China (CA) have signed an interline agreement offering seamless travel on the networks of both carriers across their respective routes in North America and Asia.
