EasyJet stepped up its campaign to halt what it calls “destructive” government changes to the air passenger duty tax, citing the results of a report it commissioned by Frontier Economics which forecasts the proposals would be “bad for the environment and the economy.” It also called on the government to switch from a per-passenger duty to a per-plane tax.
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
Scandinavian Airline Systems appointed Discover the World Marketing to serve as its GSA in Portugal. It already represents the carrier in Brazil, Mexico and South Africa. Olympic Air appointed Aviareps to serve as its GSA in the Benelux countries. Gabon Airlines has elected ANA Aviation to serve as its GSA in the UK and Ireland.
Virgin Atlantic pilots, represented by the British Airline Pilots' Assn., will vote on possible strike action over pay, BALPA confirmed Tuesday. BALPA represents over 85% of Virgin Atlantic's 750 pilots.
Cimber Sterling on Tuesday issued a profit warning and said it needs to strengthen its capital base “due to the continued surplus capacity in the airline industry and the resulting low profitability.”
Brazil's TAM Linhas Aereas, which has announced an agreement to merge with Chile's LAN Airlines, reported first-quarter net income of BRL128.8 million ($78.6 million), a major turnaround from a loss of BRL70.9 million in the year-ago period.
EasyJet flights from/to its Berlin Schoenefeld base were disrupted Saturday morning, owing to a wildcat “warning” strike by flight crew—represented by the trade union ver.di—in a pay dispute. U2 employs around 110 pilots and 240 cabin crew at SXF.
Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia Airlines said Monday they will revamp their networks across the Tasman Sea linking Australia and New Zealand as part of their alliance, which was approved in December ( ATW Daily News, Dec. 22, 2010). The alliance connects ANZ’s domestic network of 26 cities to Virgin’s domestic network of 31 domestic destinations, offering the largest Australasian route network for transtasman travelers.
For the second time in two months, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce lashed out at “ridiculous” union demands and warned that the airline’s international operations are losing money.
Chinese carriers posted aggregate net income of CNY3.18 billion ($489 million) in April, up 57.9% from a net profit of CNY2.01 billion in the year-ago period, according to CAAC.
Aer Lingus reported a deepening of its first-quarter operating loss to €55.9 million ($78.9 million), reversed from negative EBIT of €37.9 million in the year-ago period, and warned that its €96 million cost-cutting plan might not be enough to keep the company out of the red. A net result was not supplied.
Chinese carriers posted aggregate net income of CNY3.18 billion ($489 million) in April, up 57.9% from a net profit of CNY2.01 billion in the year-ago period, according to CAAC.
Southwest Airlines announced Friday it reached a tentative agreement on a new six-year contract with the carrier’s approximately 260 appearance techs, represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Assn. The contract becomes amendable February 2015. The current agreement became amendable in February 2009 ( ATW Daily News, Feb. 2, 2009).
Air Astana President Peter Foster told ATW that Ukraine-based AeroSvit approached Air Astana about forming a possible partnership and will hold talks this month. Foster said the two carriers “have a lot in common,” such as a Boeing fleet, and he believes the network of both carriers would “fit perfectly,” but didn’t provide additional details on the potential deal.
Shenzhen International Total Logistics Co., a subsidiary of government-controlled Shenzhen International Holdings, purchased a 24% stake in Shenzhen Airlines for CNY789 million ($121.4 million), increasing its holding in carrier to 49% from 25%.
Airbus parent EADS incurred a €12 million ($17.1 million) first-quarter net loss, reversed from a €103 million net profit in the year-ago period, but pointed to gains in revenue and operating income as evidence of "positive momentum" warranting a potential A320 production increase.
The US's eight largest airline companies (counting United Airlines and Continental Airlines as one and Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways separately) incurred a collective 2011 first-quarter net loss of $1.01 billion, ATW calculated.
Airbus parent EADS incurred a €12 million ($17.1 million) first-quarter net loss, reversed from a €103 million net profit in the year-ago period, but pointed to gains in revenue and operating income as evidence of "positive momentum" warranting a potential A320 production increase.
All Nippon Airways announced Thursday it signed a cooperation agreement with Mongolia-based Eznis Airways in a broad range of areas, such as “management, operations and charter flight services between Mongolia and Japan.” Although details are still being worked out, ANA said the partnership “will benefit customers of both countries by providing them with greater choice and flexibility.”
Air Berlin reported a loss of €120.6 million ($159.8 million) for the first quarter ended March 31, significantly widened from a deficit of €93.6 million in the year-ago period, or €102.4 million on a pro forma basis to include the results of Niki, which was fully incorporated into the group as of July 1, 2010.
