Chile’s LAN Airlines said Wednesday the company is “confident” it will complete the merger process with TAM during the first quarter of 2012. Chile's antitrust tribunal (TDLC) last week gave conditional approval for the merger ( ATW Daily News, Sept. 22).
Equatorial Congo Airlines (ECAir), a new national carrier of the Republic of Congo, has begun with an inaugural Brazzaville-Point Noire flight. ECAir will operate the route 3X-daily with a 120-seat, two-class Boeing 737-300, and plans to open further routes to international destinations as it acquires additional aircraft. The Brazzaville-based carrier’s operations will be “accompanied by” private jet operator, Swiss’ PrivatAir.
Shareholders of Slovenia-based Adria Airways (JP) approved a cash injection of €50 million ($68.4 million) and a debt-to-equity conversion of €19.7 million against the financially troubled airline’s total debt of nearly €70 million.
Taiwan’s China Airlines (CI) on Wednesday officially joined SkyTeam, becoming the first Taiwanese airline to join the alliance (ATW Daily News, Sept. 15, 2010).
Alaska Airlines named Daniel Chun its new regional manager of sales and community marketing for Hawaii. Chun, who is based in Honolulu, will lead Alaska Airlines' marketing and community outreach efforts to the four Hawaiian Islands. Air Seychelles appointed Bram Steller as CEO. Steller previously served as COO of Kenya Airways since 2008 and was in charge of flight operations, ground operations, technical, commercial and network planning, revenue management, operations control and cargo.
Latvian national airline AirBaltic (BT) will receive €153.7 million ($201.9 million) in new capital financed by its two main shareholders, the Latvian government and Baltic Aviation Systems (BAS), Latvian media reported.
A new row has erupted between the easyJet board and the airline’s founder and largest shareholder after Stelios Haji-Ioannou revealed plans to launch a new airline.
Southwest Airlines (SWA) announced that SWA and AirTran pilots have reached a tentative agreement on seniority. SWA finalized closing of the acquisition of AirTran Holdings May 2.
Singapore-based LCC company Tiger Airways Holdings announced Friday it would buy a 33% stake in Indonesia-based Mandala Airlines, which will be held through Tiger’s wholly owned subsidiary, Roar Aviation.
Shijiazhuang-based Hebei Airlines (NS) has taken over stakeholder Sichuan Airlines’(3U) Embraer fleet, comprising five E-145s, as it explores China’s regional air transport market.
Air New Zealand (ANZ) lifted its stake in Virgin Australia (VA) from 14.99% to 19.99%, in a move ANZ CEO Rob Fyfe said will continue ANZ’s “strategy to develop scale and reach in this region.”
Singapore-based LCC company Tiger Airways Holdings announced Friday it would buy a 33% stake in Indonesia-based Mandala Airlines, which will be held through Tiger’s wholly owned subsidiary, Roar Aviation.
Boeing has completed the contractual delivery of the first 787 Dreamliner to launch customer All Nippon Airways. Flyaway of the airplane to Tokyo is scheduled Tuesday morning from Paine Field in Everett, Washington state.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing nearly 7,000 Air Canada flight attendants, lifted its call for the cabin crew to strike last week after reaching a tentative agreement with airline management on a new labor contract.
FedEx Corp. reported a net profit of $464 million for its fiscal first quarter ended Aug. 31, up 22% from net income of $380 million in the prior-year period.
EasyJet on Thursday raised its earnings guidance for its fiscal year ending Sept. 30 and said it now expects to post a profit before tax of between £240 million ($376 million) and £250 million, citing a “robust” commercial performance across its network and cost-control measures.
Morocco's government has offered Royal Air Maroc (RAM) 1.6 billion dirhams ($193.3 million) to shore up its finances hurt by growing competition, lower sales and higher fuel prices, Reuters reported.
