Air Arabia decided to delay the launch of a base in Amman owing to the social and political unrest in the region and high fuel prices. “With the current environment, we have delayed the Jordan plans ... we will review the situation and take a decision,” said CEO Adel Ali. “Jordan is stable but countries like Syria, Egypt and Tunisia are still facing political instability. There is a lot going on in the region and with the current fuel prices, we thought this was not the right time.”
Air Canada customer services and sales members, represented by the Canadian Auto Workers union, set up picket lines at AC-serviced airports across the country Wednesday to rally against threatened back-to-work legislation by Federal Labor Minister Lisa Raitt. CAW’s 3,800 AC members went on strike Tuesday after the two sides could not reach a tentative agreement regarding the existing pension plan. AC says it is maintaining its schedule with the help of supervisory staff.
Qantas Group slashed A$700 million ($750 million) from its capital expenditure over the next 12 months as it pares back its planned domestic growth over the next year from 8% to 5.3%. The airline group now expects to take delivery of 34 narrowbody aircraft in 2011/12 compared with 43 previously planned deliveries. Orders for 12 aircraft will be canceled or deferred, including three aircraft in the second half of 2010/11, according to QF.
Virgin America, which operates a fleet of CFM56-5B-powered A319s and A320s, selected CFM's next generation Leap-X engine to power 30 Airbus A320neo aircraft it has on order with deliveries beginning in 2016, becoming the first to choose the CFM offering for the re-engined narrowbody.
Virgin America selected CFM's Leap-X engine to power 30 Airbus A320neo aircraft it has on order with deliveries beginning in 2016, becoming the first to choose the CFM offering for the re-engined narrowbody.
Ryanair vowed it will “not allow its passengers to be blackmailed” by the UGT union, which confirmed a work stoppage by baggage handlers will take place at Girona airport Wednesday. The LCC said it will operate a full schedule. Baggage handlers represented by the UGT also called for strikes June 17-19. GRO is one of Ryanair’s largest bases in Spain with some 50 routes.
Air Lease Corp. signed lease agreements for 25 additional aircraft as it focuses on “providing innovative fleet solutions for airlines around the world,” said ALC Senior VP Kishore Korde.
Hainan Airlines Group subsidiary Hong Kong Airlines plans to place an order for the A380 as it looks to challenge Cathay Pacific Airways and further explore the fast-growing Chinese market, an industry insider told ATW.
Alaska Air Group’s board of directors approved a stock repurchase program authorizing the company to buy up to $50 million of its common stock. AAG has repurchased a total of approximately 7.5 million shares of its common stock for nearly $212 million through similar programs over the past four years. AWAS announced it has secured a $500 million non-recourse warehouse facility to aid in its planned expansion and growth.
Peach Aviation, Japan’s newest low-cost carrier formed by joint venture partners All Nippon Airways and First Eastern Investment, named former Ryanair Chairman Patrick Murphy as a corporate advisor ( ATW Daily News, May 26). Murphy was appointed chairman of Ryanair in 1991 and oversaw its transformation from a traditional full-service regional airline into a low-cost airline. He left in 1994 and started his career as a consultant and advisor to airlines.
Panama-based Copa Airlines announced plans to launch service to Chicago O'Hare; Cucuta, Colombia; and Asuncion, Paraguay in December, bringing total destinations added in 2011 to seven. It commences service to four destinations on Wednesday: Toronto Pearson, Nassau, Brasilia and Porto Alegre. On the same day it will add two connecting banks at its Panama City Hub of the Americas, raising the total to six.
TAAG Angola Airlines secured a $256 million long-term loan guarantee from the US Export-Import Bank for the purchase of a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with GE90-115B engines, the Ex-Im Bank said.
China Southern Airlines subsidiary Xiamen Airlines confirmed Monday it has been approved by the SkyTeam board for membership as early as year-end 2012.
Virgin America reported a first-quarter net loss of $44.6 million, widened from a year-ago deficit of $35.5 million, owing to “investment in growth and increased fuel prices,” the carrier said.
Chinese airlines reported an aggregate net profit of CNY1.88 billion ($290 million) in May, up 78.1% over net income of CNY1.05 billion in the year-ago month.
Chinese airlines reported an aggregate net profit of CNY1.88 billion ($290 million) in May, up 78.1% over net income of CNY1.05 billion in the year-ago month.
In a move to both enhance flight safety and reduce its impact on the environment, Alaska Airlines has begun distributing iPads to its pilots to replace up to 25 pounds of required paper flight manuals. The carrier said it has "been exploring the idea of an electronic flight bag for several years."
Emirates Airline launched a major nationwide advertising campaign in the UK highlighting its ongoing aircraft investment and insisting it creates thousands of jobs in Europe, part of an effort by the Dubai-based carrier to counter negative perceptions that it is stealing European carriers' market share, allegedly with unfair support from the Dubai government.
