Azerbaijan’s national carrier AZAL (J2) and Serbian Jat Airways (JU) are in negotiations to launch joint flights from Azerbaijan to the US via Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG) in 2013.
Italian civil aviation authority ENAC has downgraded Blue Panorama (BV) to a provisional license and given it 12 months to restructure under a form of bankruptcy protection.
China Southern Airlines (CZ) has reported a third-quarter net income of CNY2.22 billion ($353 million), down 29.3% compared to a net profit of CNY3.2 billion in the year-ago quarter, mainly due to foreign exchange losses.
Lufthansa (LH) and Australia-based Algae Tec have signed a collaborative agreement to build facility that would produce algae on a large scale and convert it to aviation biofuels. The site will be in Europe and located adjacent to an industrial CO2 source, the companies said in a statement. LH will arrange 100% funding for the project while Algae Tec will manage it and receive license fees and profits.
EasyJet (U2) chief Carolyn McCall is aiming for 3%-5% organic growth over the next 3-5 years, as the airline continues to assess a possible aircraft order.
The cowling panel of an almost-new Caribbean Airlines (BW) ATR72 became detached during takeoff on flight BW300 bound from Piarco (POS) to for Caracas Friday morning. The aircraft returned to POS “without incident,” under normal power.
Finnair (AY) has reported a third-quarter net income of €50.8 million ($65.9 million), up more than 200% from a €1.9 million profit reported in the year-ago period.
Aeromexico (AM) has announced record third-quarter revenues of MXP $10.5 billion ($807.8 million), a 10.1% increase, although net income of MXP $423 million was down from MXP $615 for the same period last year.
Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY) reported a pre-tax profit of NOK873 million ($152 million) for the third quarter, up 27.3% from the NOK686 million earned on a similar basis in prior-year quarter. This was, the airline said in a statement, its “best ever” result.
Alaska Air Group, parent of Alaska Airlines (AS) and Horizon Air (QX), more than doubled its net income year-over-year, earning $163.4 million in the third quarter versus net income of $77.5 million in the 2011 third quarter.
United Continental Holdings (UCH) posted third-quarter net income of $6 million, down 99.1% from a net profit of $653 million in the prior-year period, though it pointed out that the results are affected by $514 million in special charges related to the ongoing integration of United Airlines (UA) and Continental Airlines (CO).
Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Company, the parent of low-cost leisure carrier Allegiant Air (G4), reported third-quarter net income of $16.9 million, up 78% from a $9.5 million profit in the year-ago period.
Wizz Air (W6) has begun charging €10 ($13) for hand luggage larger than 42x32x25 cm., becoming the first European carrier to charge passengers for onboard bags.
American Airlines (AA) said next year it will launch several new international services, including daily Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)-Seoul Incheon Boeing 777-200 flights starting May 9.
Embraer reported third-quarter net income of $65.2 million, up 15% compared to the prior-year period, on revenues of $1.4 billion, up from $1.3 billion in the 2011 September quarter.
