OnAir, under an expanded contract, will install its on-board connectivity system in 26 TAM aircraft following a "successful pilot project" with the Brazilian carrier. Passengers will have access to voice, SMS, and Internet on their BlackBerrys and Smartphones, making TAM the first airline in the Americas to offer onboard mobile calling services.
CFM International named Jean-Paul Ebanga president and CEO, succeeding Eric Bachelet, who is joining Safran as executive VP-research and technology. CFM is a 50/50 joint venture between GE Aviation and Snecma, a unit of Safran. Ebanga joined Snecma in 1988, and most recently served as chairman and CEO of PowerJet, the engine JV between Snecma and Saturn (Russia), after serving as VP of Snecma’s Commercial Engine Division. “His assignments at Snecma have included leadership positions in electronics, systems and aircraft engines,” CFM said.
Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker is still "happy" with the airline's relationship with Boeing despite the seventh delay of the Dreamliner program announced last month ( ATW Daily News, Jan. 19).
Pratt & Whitney announced that Trans States Holdings finalized an order for engines to power 50 firm and 50 option Mitsubishi Regional Jets the airline ordered. Pratt said the order covers 100 PW1200Gs, plus eight spares and options for up 100 more with deliveries scheduled to start in 2014. Value of the contract was not disclosed.
UPS on Tuesday reported 2010 net income of $3.49 billion, up 62.1% over a $2.15 billion profit in 2009 and surpassing its 2008 net profit of $3 billion.
Allegiant Travel Co., parent of the airline, reported a fourth-quarter 2010 net profit of $12.4 million, up 17.5% over $10.5 million earned in the year-ago period.
ANA and Hong Kong-based First Eastern Investment Group said Tuesday they have "finalized" a joint venture agreement to launch a new LCC based at Osaka Kansai International. A JV company called A&F Aviation will own and operate the airline.
ANA and Hong Kong-based First Eastern Investment Group said Tuesday they have "finalized" a joint venture agreement to launch a new LCC based at Osaka Kansai International. A JV company called A&F Aviation will own and operate the airline.
(Corrected) Air Astana said it will seek injunctive relief from Spanish courts to require Amadeus to continue to provide services to the Kazakhstan-based airline. On Jan. 21, Amadeus cancelled Air Astana's Participating Carrier Agreement. The two are negotiating over a contract to replace the one that expired Dec. 31.
Tiger Airways Holdings reported a net profit of S$22.6 million ($17.6 million) for the fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31, 2010, up 60.3% over S$14.1 million earned in the year earlier period. Total revenue for the Singapore-based LCC climbed 22.1% to S$170.4 million while ancillary revenue surged 38.1% to S$34.4 million, representing 20% of the total.
Air China said Sunday it plans to operate a transpacific demonstration flight partially powered by biofuel in the second half of this year. CA is expected to use a Boeing 747 powered by Pratt & Whitney engines on the test flight, and the aircraft manufacturer has agreed to partner with the Beijing-based carrier to provide technical support.
Ryanair posted a net loss of €10.3 million ($14 million) for its fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31, slightly reduced from the €10.9 million deficit in the prior-year period despite a 6% year-on-year increase in passengers to 17 million, a 15% rise in the average fare to €34 and a 22% hike in revenue to €746.3 million.
Embraer announced it entered into an agreement with Ukrainian Aviation Group Alliance member Dniproavia for the delivery of 10 Embraer E-190s with options for another five.
Swedish carrier Skyways announced it will increase its route network by 50% from March 28, adding six destinations in Scandinavia and northern Europe: Brussels, Berlin, Stavanger, Bergen, Trondheim and Sundsvall.
SAirGroup (formerly Swissair) was responsible for the bankruptcy of Sabena in November 2001, a Belgian court ruled Thursday, although it ordered a much lower payment than the claimants had sought. It said the Swiss group, which held a 49.5% stake in the Belgian flag carrier, did not respect an August 2001 agreement to provide 60% of a €430 million ($589.4 million) cash injection needed to keep Sabena in business ( ATW Daily News, Dec. 24, 2009).
Preliminary figures for 2010 released last week by the Assn. of Asia Pacific Airlines confirmed the strong rebound in traffic demand in the region. In 2010, RPKs for AAPC member airlines grew 9.8% to 700.8 billion while ASKs increased 4.1% to 892.5 billion, resulting in a 4.1 point improvement in load factor to 78.5%. AAPA DG Andrew Herdman said that Asia/Pacific carriers enjoyed a year of “solid growth, with robust demand for both leisure and business travel, and the strong rebound in international trade, led by dynamic growth of the Asia/Pacific region.”
Turkish Technic, a wholly owned subsidiary of Turkish Airlines, is hoping to be a “world class MRO provider” with the completion of its new facility at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen airport.
Singapore Airlines parent SIA Group earned net income of S$288.3 million ($225.4 million) for its fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31, down 28.6% from a S$403.7 million profit in the prior-year period, a decline attributable to S$199.1 million in special charges related to price-fixing fines against SIA Cargo.
Singapore Airlines parent SIA Group earned net income of S$288.3 million ($225.4 million) for its fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31, down 28.6% from a S$403.7 million profit in the prior-year period, a decline attributable to S$199.1 million in special charges related to price-fixing fines against SIA Cargo.
Gategroup won a four-year contract with Iberia valued at CHF400 million ($424 million) for catering and provisioning services at the carrier's main hubs in Madrid and Barcelona, as well as at 20 other airports in Europe, the US and Latin America. The agreement takes effect in May and will also cover ancillary services. The Assn. of European Airlines expanded its membership to 36 with this month's addition of Air Berlin.
