Shanghai-based LCC Spring Airlines is accelerating the pace of its Japanese market expansion. The carrier operates thrice-weekly Shanghai-Ibaraki service and is scheduled to open a twice-weekly Shanghai-Takamatsu route this week. It also plans to start Shanghai-Kyushu flights this year and a Shanghai-Hokkaido route next year. Spring delayed the opening of new routes in Japan owing to the natural and nuclear crises in March ( ATW Daily News, March 24).
Qantas’ long-haul pilots on Monday voted overwhelmingly for industrial action—expected to take place in early August—to drive home demands for higher wages, re-grading and job security.
As part of a new Air France strategy to give no-frills carriers a run for their money and regain some of the market share lost to lower cost rivals, the carrier on Monday released details of its revised business model that includes deploying Airbus A320s from several regional bases on point-to-point short- and medium-haul routes.
The Australian government’s carbon dioxide tax announced Sunday will cost Qantas up to A$115 million ($124 million) a year and passengers will foot the bill; the airline said Monday it will raise fares by up to A$8.
Lufthansa plans to start its scheduled biofuel flights Friday, launching a six-month trial in which an IAE V2500-powered Airbus A321 will operate on the Frankfurt-Hamburg route.
Qantas’ long-haul pilots on Monday voted overwhelmingly for industrial action—expected to take place in early August—to drive home demands for higher wages, re-grading and job security.
Air Berlin reached a codeshare agreement with future oneworld partner Iberia. The agreement, which went into effect Friday, will soon be expanded to the frequent flyer programs of both airlines.
Virgin Atlantic Airways pilots represented by the British Airline Pilots' Assn. withdrew their threat of a strike after reaching a last-minute pay deal with management. Pilots had voted to strike for the first time in the airline's history as part of their ongoing dispute over pay and conditions with management ( ATW Daily News, May 18).
Following several months of negotiations, financially troubled Cimber Sterling announced Thursday it secured a subscription agreement with Mansvell Enterprises, which agreed to inject DKK165 million ($31.8 million) in the Danish carrier “subject to certain conditions.”
Swiss International Air Lines reached a tentative agreement on a new labor contract with its pilots, avoiding a strike that had been threatened for this week.
UK air navigation services provider NATS, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary as a public-private partnership, paid £40 million ($64 million) in dividends to its shareholders after posting a pre-tax profit of £106.1 million for its fiscal year ended March 31, a 37.3% increase over £78.3 million earned in FY2009-10.
Singapore-based Tiger Airways Holdings said former SilkAir CEO Chin Yau Seng would take over as acting CEO to allow the company's head, Tony Davis, to focus on overseeing subsidiary Tiger Airways Australia's recovery from its grounding by regulators over safety issues.
UK air navigation services provider NATS, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary as a public-private partnership, paid £40 million ($64 million) in dividends to its shareholders after posting a pre-tax profit of £106.1 million for its fiscal year ended March 31, a 37.3% increase over £78.3 million earned in FY2009-10.
Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air said Wednesday it has gained US FAA approval to begin operating the Boeing 757-200 aircraft type, the first step toward its planned launch of flights to Hawaii next summer. President Andrew Levy said in a statement, "The addition of the Boeing 757-200 will play an important role in our company's future growth." The leisure carrier operates a fleet of 51 MD-80s, which don't have the range to reach Hawaii from the continental US.
Air China subsidiary Shenzhen Airlines signed an MOU with Star Alliance Wednesday and is expected to formally join the global airline grouping in the second half of 2012.
LOT Polish Airlines announced that Supervisory Board Chairman Jacek Krawczyk submitted his resignation, though he will remain one of the board's members. Intrepid Aviation, the US aircraft lessor, named Volker Fabian chief commercial officer. He was formerly CO-MD of Amentum Capital and also has worked for HSH Nordbank and CIT Aerospace.
Tiger Airways Australia, a subsidiary of Singapore-based Tiger Airways Holdings, was grounded Saturday for five days by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority over a series of safety issues.
Tiger Airways Australia, a subsidiary of Singapore-based Tiger Airways Holdings, was grounded Saturday for five days by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority over a series of safety issues.
US Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported that US airlines employed 2% more workers in April compared to the same month last year. BTS said two network airlines, Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, decreased employment. Delta Air Lines reported 4.5% more workers in April 2011 than in April 2010. Continental Airlines, which now includes employees that formerly worked for Continental Micronesia, reported a 2.3% increase.
Tianjin-based Okay Airways took delivery of two domestically produced MA60 turboprops from AVIC. The aircraft will be operated on new routes from Yantai to Dalian, Weiha, Dandong and Weifang that the carrier plans to start this month.
Hawaiian Airlines said it leased three additional Boeing 717-200 aircraft to meet increasing passenger demand, and has also purchased its existing fleet of 15 leased 717-200s from Boeing Capital Corp. in a refinancing transaction aimed at reducing its long-term fleet costs.
