UPS Airlines said it will retrofit the cockpits of its cargo aircraft with "quick-donning, full-face oxygen masks with integrated smoke goggles" produced by France's Zodiac Aerospace.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines told ATW that scheduled Wednesday Amsterdam-Paris Charles de Gaulle-AMS flights using a Boeing 737-800 partially powered by biofuel operated "exactly the same—as expected—as flights on traditional kerosene."
Pakistan International Airlines is in the midst of a five-year restructuring program started in 2010 that includes 76 "strategic points" for improving the carrier and contemplates PK establishing a formal partnership with another airline.
Includes: World Airline Traffic World Airport Traffic IATA Fuel Prices Aircraft Data Aircraft Values Aircraft Deliveries US Major and National Airline Traffic US Ontime Performance U.S. Fuel Cost and Consumption US Mishandled Baggage US Consumer Complaints
US Dept. of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported that US airlines collected almost $5.7 billion from baggage fees and reservation change fees in 2010. According to BTS, the airlines received $3.4 billion from baggage fees and $2.3 billion from reservation change fees in 2010. “These are the only fees paid by passengers that BTS can identify separately. All other fees paid by passengers are included in larger categories with other types of revenue,” said BTS.
Oman Air CEO Peter Hill told ATW the carrier is "here to stay for the long term" and "the government of Oman is ready to support us in a difficult time."
Airbus said it finalized an agreement with Singapore Airlines under which the carrier will lease 15 new A330-300s to be delivered by the manufacturer from 2013-2015 to join an existing fleet of 19 A330-300s currently operated by SIA.
Oman Air CEO Peter Hill told ATW the carrier is "here to stay for the long term" and "the government of Oman is ready to support us in a difficult time."
Air Canada and the Canadian Auto Workers said the airline's approximately 3,800 call center and airport customer service agents in Canada have ratified a new collective bargaining agreement ( ATW Daily News, June 16). The four-year accord, which has been approved by AC's board of directors, will remain in effect until Feb. 28, 2015.
Former UPS Airlines President Robert Lekites was named Airbus Americas' executive VP-customers, effective Aug.1, giving him responsibility for North American sales. In the newly-created position, he will report directly to Airbus Americas President and CEO Barry Eccleston.
AerCap Holdings completed an amendment to its $775 million non-recourse revolving debt facility, arranged by UBS Securities in April 2006. The amendment extends the facility to June 2016, granting AerCap an additional two-year revolving period with a three-year term-out period.
Dublin-based aircraft lessor Avolon said it is aiming to establish itself as a leader in the Asia/Pacific and Middle East markets and plans to open an office in one of the two regions during the next 12 months. It already maintains offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai and has leased 26 aircraft to nine airlines between the two regions.
Cathay Pacific Airways and its subsidiary Dragonair have recorded a 5.1% improvement in CO 2 efficiency in relation to traffic volume carried (revenue tone-kilometer) for 2010 bringing the overall improvement to 23.4% since 1998. One of the big contributors has been the 777-300ER, which is 26% more efficient than the 747-400 it has been replacing. The figures are contained in the airline’s Sustainable Development Report 2010 released this month.
Florida-based Spirit Airlines, which has led the US airline industry in charging passengers fees for anything other than their low base airfares, has added another to its stable. Beginning Nov. 1, Spirit said it will institute a new $5 charge for passengers asking agents to print their boarding pass at the airport. Passengers who check in on-line or at an airport kiosk will not be charged the $5 fee, although next summer, even those checking in at kiosks will be charged $1.
SAS Group said Finnish subsidiary Blue 1 will phase out its remaining five Avro RJ-85 aircraft and focus on operating Boeing 717s. The phase-out of the Avro fleet is expected to start in August 2011 and will result in a maximum of 85 job redundancies at Blue1, SAS said in a statement. SAS said it will close of a number of European destinations and will make some capacity adjustments on Finnish domestic routes. At the same time, a Tampere-Copenhagen route will be opened.
India’s SpiceJet is seeking Reserve Bank of India permission to raise $270 million from Canada’s export finance agency Export Development Canada for aircraft acquisition and expansion of its operations, company officials told wire services in Mumbai.
As FedEx predicted following the end of its fiscal third quarter, the company posted a strong financial performance for its fiscal fourth quarter ended May 31.
Swiss International Air Lines CEO Harry Hohmeister told ATW he is expecting a difficult second half of 2011 for the carrier owing to high fuel prices, political unrest in the Middle East and North Africa and the natural and nuclear disasters in Japan.
As FedEx predicted following the end of its fiscal third quarter, the company posted a strong financial performance for its fiscal fourth quarter ended May 31.
