LATAM Airlines Group, the merger between LAN Airlines and TAM, reported a 9.1% increase in systemwide RPKs for August against a 1.3% growth in ASKs. Load factor was 79.3%, up 5.6 points.
Belavia Belarusian Airlines (B2) will take delivery of its first Embraer E-175 next week. The aircraft is the first of two-aircraft deal announced at the Singapore Air Show in February.
China Eastern Airlines (MU) is expected to raise CNY3.6 billion ($568 million) by selling nearly 1.4 billion new shares on the Hong Kong and Shanghai stock exchanges to its parent company China Eastern Air Holding.
Emirates (EK) is negotiating with American Airlines (AA) and other US carrier about potential codeshare partnerships, EK president Tim Clark confirmed Thursday.
FedEx Express (FX) has increased its emissions reduction goal by 50%. The company said in 2008 it would reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its aircraft fleet by 20% (compared to 2005 levels) by 2020 ( ATW Daily News, Nov. 13, 2008), and has now "nearly achieved" the target, it announced. Its goal is now set at a 30% reduction in global aircraft emissions by 2020. By the end of fiscal year 2011 it had reduced aircraft emissions by 13.8%.
SkyWest Airlines (OO) and ExpressJet Airlines (EV) will operate 23 Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft under a four-year capacity purchase agreement for American Eagle beginning Nov. 15.
Pinnacle Airlines dispatchers have ratified the tentative agreement reached Aug. 31. The ratification means the dispatchers, represented by the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU), will avoid the Section 1113 litigation process in bankruptcy court.
Virgin Atlantic (VS) has become the launch customer for ARINC’s Cabin Connect, which enables passengers to access the Internet, send and receive email and use universal messaging through their own portable electronic devices via ARINC SwiftBroadband Wi-Fi Internet hotspots.
Indonesian carrier Lion Air (JT) will reportedly launch a low-cost carrier (LCC), Malindo, to begin services in May 2013, according to a Bloomberg report.
Airbus CEO Fabrice Brégier plans to give more power to local Airbus plant managers to increase efficiency and enable them to make faster decisions as part of sweeping changes that are expected to begin in January.
China Southern Airlines (CZ) and Air China (CA) have agreed to codeshare on the Beijing (PEK) to Paris route using an Airbus A380 from October, according to CA CEO Cai Jianjiang, pending regulatory approval.
Managers of suspended Italian low-cost carrier Wind Jet (IV) will meet with government authorities Friday in a bid to resurrect the airline after a group of business owners came forward with a rescue plan.
Kenya Airways (KQ) said 126 staff members have left the airline, completing the voluntary redundancy phase of its cost-cutting program after a court order was lifted blocking plans to cut jobs.
Qantas (QF) and Air France (AF) will end their codeshare agreement April 1, in a decision triggered by QF’s exclusive global partnership with Emirates (EK) announced last week.
