Air New Zealand (NZ) has signed memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with Australia-based Licella Pty Ltd to examine developing and marketing a process to convert woody biomass into sustainable aviation biofuel in New Zealand. Licella has developed a process that uses a Catalytic Hydro Thermal Reactor (Cat-HTR), which converts woody materials and other biomass into a high-quality, bio-crude oil in a one-step process.
Star Alliance has appointed former United Airlines (UA) SVP Mark Schwab to head the alliance’s central organization, based in Frankfurt. He succeeds Jaan Albrecht, who was appointed as CEO of Austrian Airlines Nov. 1 ( ATW Daily News, Sept. 1).
Taiwan-based China Airlines (CI) plans to replace its 13 Boeing 747-400s from 2015/16 and will decide by 2013 which aircraft to order. It is considering the 747-8, Airbus A380, 777-300ER and the A350-1000.
Hainan Airlines Investment Holding Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hainan Airlines (HU), has purchased a 19.02% stake in Hong Kong Airlines (HX) for CNY842 million ($132.4 million) in a move to strengthen the carrier’s financial position.
Emirates Airline (EK) has begun to outfit its Airbus A380 aircraft with OnAir Wi-Fi Internet connectivity. The new Wi-Fi service will initially launch on 11 of its 19 A380s in service, though the system is scheduled to be installed across its entire fleet of 71 A380s on order. The airline began trialing the service on certain A380 flights last year ( ATW Daily News, July 21, 2010).
Virgin Australia ATR 72-600. Courtesy, ATR Singapore-based leasing company Avation PLC has inked a contract for five ATR 72-600s plus eight options in a deal worth over $295 million (including the options). The aircraft, to be delivered in 2013 and 2014, will be operated by Perth-based Skywest Airlines (XR) on a range of routes on behalf of Virgin Australia (VA).
Germany's state-owned air traffic service Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS) is preparing to make a bid for a stake in its British counterpart National Air Traffic Services (NATS), according to the UK’s The Sunday Times.
UTair (UT) subsidiary UTair Express (UR) will reduce its Tupolev Tu-134 and Antonov An-24 fleet significantly by 2012, when new federal aviation regulations take effect requiring all Russian aircraft to be equipped with a traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) and an enhanced ground proximity warning system (EGPWS). The regional carrier, formerly known as KomiInterAvia, will reduce its fleet to from 28 Tu-134s to 6-8, and from 25 An-24s to 15 of the type. UR’s fleet also includes two passenger-version An-26 aircraft.
The Assn. of European Airlines (AEA) predicts its member airlines will post a €1 billion ($1.3 billion) to €2 billion EBIT loss for 2012 and is urging European institutions and the EU's 27 member states to take concrete action to improve this outlook.
Virgin Atlantic Airways (VS) and Lufthansa Group (LH) confirmed Monday they have signed a terms and conditions contract on the sale of LH’s loss-making UK subsidiary British Midland (bmi).
Jetstar Airways (JQ) has reiterated its commitment to Jetstar Pacific (BL) and dismissed erroneous claims that the Vietnam-based low-cost carrier will be absorbed as part of a proposed airline deal. BL is majority owned by the Vietnamese State Capital Investment Corp. (SCIC) and 27% owned by the Qantas Group (QF). JQ said the misleading claims stem from reports of a proposed ownership swap between SCIC and Vietnam Airlines (VN)—a swap QF has publicly said it supports. QF’s 27% stake would be unaffected by the deal.
Qantas (QF) CEO Alan Joyce is convinced the future of travel in Asia, the world's fastest-growing market, is just as much about premium airlines as LCCs. Joyce told a conference in Sydney last week that within two decades, 16% of the world's middle class would be in East Asia. ''We are convinced the future of Asia is not just about low-fares airlines travel,'' he said. ''Chinese visitors are pouring into Australia. And we know that Chinese travelers rate prestige brands and safety as among their top travel priorities.''
Two Cargolux Airlines International (CV) executives, including its former CEO, have entered into a plea agreement with the US Dept. of Justice (DOJ) in which they agreed to serve 13 months in prison for fixing surcharge rates on air cargo shipments.
Malaysia Airlines (MH) unveiled a plan to return to profitability by 2013 that includes launching a new regional premium airline, shrinking its network, focusing on costs and making aggressive efforts to win back customers.
Estonian Air (OV) has joined the European Regions Airline Assn. The carrier operates two Boeing 737-500s, two Bombardier CRJ900NextGens and two Saab 340s. This month, OV will add the third CRJ900 NextGen. In 2010 the airline carried 582,320 passengers. Etihad Airways announced a reciprocal frequent flyer agreement with codeshare partner Malaysia Airlines.
Thai Airways International (TG) expects a fourth-quarter loss of THB3 billion ($97.6 million) owing to the flooding in Thailand, TG president Piyasvasti Amranand said in an interview with the Bangkok Times.
Iberia (IB) pilots, represented by the SEPLA union, announced one-day strikes Dec. 18 and Dec. 29 to protest the company's plans to create Iberia Express.
