US Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported that US airlines employed 2.1% more workers in May compared to the same month last year. BTS said only one network airline, Alaska Airlines, decreased employment. Delta Air Lines reported 4.9% more full-time employees for the month compared to May 2010, the largest increase among the network carriers. Continental Airlines, which now includes employees that formerly worked for Continental Micronesia, followed DL with a 2.1% increase.
Jetstar Asia will add five Airbus A320s and two A330s to its Singapore hub by year end, resulting in an additional 40 weekly flights. Among the extra services are flights to new destinations, including three-times-weekly A320 SIN-Ningbo service from Sept. 9 and four-times-weekly A320 SIN-Hanoi service from Dec. 15, as well as the new daily flight to Beijing announced earlier this month ( ATW Daily News, July 14).
American Airlines' blockbuster split order last week for up to 460 aircraft, including 130 A320neos and 100 re-engined 737NGs, appeared to be the carrier's answer to critics who say that its current fleet and business strategy are not sufficient for it to emerge from a long string of unprofitability.
Air China invested CNY86.8 million ($13.5 million) to take a 31% stake in Lhasa-based startup Tibet Airlines, which officially launched operations this week.
Lackluster earnings results reported by airlines worldwide demonstrate how difficult the operating environment for the industry was in the first half of 2011.
American Airlines' blockbuster split order last week for up to 460 aircraft, including 130 A320neos and 100 re-engined 737NGs, appeared to be the carrier's answer to critics who say that its current fleet and business strategy are not sufficient for it to emerge from a long string of unprofitability.
The International Transport Workers’ Federation announced Wednesday that Garuda Indonesia pilots will hold a 24-hr. strike "for pay parity" Thursday. "Unions have accused Garuda management of imposing regulations, intimidating union members and refusing to implement a collective bargaining agreement since 2009," ITF said in a statement. ITF accused the Indonesian government of turning "a deaf ear" to appeals to get involved in the labor dispute between the pilots and the state-owned carrier.
Lufthansa ordered 30 A320neo family aircraft, confirming a commitment announced by the airline’s supervisory board in March ( ATW Daily News, March 17). The order comprises 25 A320neos and five A321neos, which will be powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1100G geared turbofan engines. Airbus noted that LH is its biggest operator of its aircraft worldwide with 365 in service, comprising 254 A320 family aircraft, 38 A330s, 65 A340s and eight A380s.
Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Jim McNerney said the company's decision to re-engine the 737NG instead of developing and producing an all-new aircraft was reached after months of careful consideration leading to the conclusion that there was much less risk in re-engining.
Fraport Cargo Services won a contract from Russia's AirBridgeCargo Airlines to provide freight handling services at Frankfurt. LAN Cargo's Colombian affiliate, Linea Aerea Carguera de Colombia, opened a 65,121 sq. ft., $7 million warehouse facility in Bogota. Southern Air and Saudi Arabian Airlines inked an ACMI agreement under which Southern will operate a Boeing 747 freighter for Saudi beginning this month.
Shanghai-based Spring Airlines posted net income of CNY160 million ($24.8 million) in the 2011 first half, down 6.3% from a net profit of CNY170 million in the year-ago period, according to Chairman Wang Zhenghua.
Iberia and British Airways parent International Airlines Group firmed up an order for eight Airbus A330-300s plus eight options. GE CF6-80E1 engines were selected to power the aircraft, which will begin delivering in 2013.
All Nippon Airways will launch its 787 services with a special charter flight for its frequent flyers from Tokyo Narita to Hong Kong. It will put the aircraft into scheduled service initially on the Tokyo Haneda-Okayama and HND-Hiroshima domestic routes.
Air France-KLM's board, which will meet Wednesday, is expected to endorse an order for 25 Boeing 787s and 25 Airbus A350s with a similar number of options for both, reported La Tribune.
UK regional Flybe unveiled Monday "with immediate effect" the reorganization of its "day-to-day divisional operating structure," dividing the company into three units: Flybe UK, Flybe Europe and Flybe Aviation Support.
SAS Scandinavian Airlines named Bjorn Ekegren GM-Central Europe. Cargoitalia appointed Richard Mohler to the newly created position of manager-network planning and revenue management. Air Berlin named former Martinair President and CEO Paul Gregorowitsch as a new member of its executive board.
Haikou-based Hainan Airlines Group sealed a deal to invest in Istanbul-based cargo carrier ACT Airlines. HNA, which has made clear that it wants to invest abroad (ATW Daily News, July 19), didn't reveal how much money it will put into ACT or how large its holding will be.
Singapore Airlines selected the Boeing 777-200 as the aircraft type to comprise the fleet of its new long-haul, low-cost subsidiary airline scheduled to launch next year.
The revamped New York LaGuardia/Washington National slot swap proposal submitted by Delta Air Lines and US Airways in May was tentatively approved last week by the US Dept. of Transportation on terms the airlines said they're willing to abide by.
Singapore Airlines selected the Boeing 777-200 as the aircraft type to comprise the fleet of its new long-haul, low-cost subsidiary airline scheduled to launch next year
Minneapolis/St. Paul-based Sun Country Airlines said it has been sold to Cambria Holdings. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The airline operates a fleet of 12 737-800s to 38 destinations (including seasonal services). It has struggled with ownership and financial problems for several years, including going through a bankruptcy restructuring ( ATW Daily News, Sept. 14, 2010).
Chinese airlines reported an aggregate net income of CNY12.78 billion ($1.98 billion) for the first half of 2011, up 26% over a net profit of CNY10.14 billion reported in the year-ago period. Passenger boardings climbed 9.8% to 139 million. Passenger traffic on domestic routes rose 10% and international boardings increased 8.2%. Average load factor improved 2.5 points to 81.3%.
