(Corrected Version) Transaero Airlines is planning to purchase four more Boeing 777s that are operated by Singapore Airlines and come off lease in 2011 and is increasing its commitment from nine to 12 747-400s, a spokesperson confirmed to ATW.
Qantas is believed to be closer to restarting Airbus A380 service on the Los Angeles to Sydney and Melbourne routes after regulators eased engine inspection rules. According to The Australian, Qantas is in discussions with Rolls-Royce about how it can lift restrictions on Trent 900 engines that prevent the aircraft flying from the US with a full payload. EASA this week relaxed its requirement of a Trent 900 inspection every 20 flights, designed to detect oil leaks, to an inspection every 200 flights.
United Continental Holdings, following a review of technology used by United Airlines and Continental Airlines as well as solutions used by neither currently, this week informed employees which systems will be used by the merged airline in the future. "After a thorough study, we have made the technology systems decisions that will create the best technology platform for the new United," EVP Technology Keith Halbert said in a communication with workers.
American Airlines revoked the ticketing authority of Orbitz.com and Orbitz for Business after a Chicago judge denied a request by Travelport for a preliminary injunction to prevent the move. Orbitz had refused to connect directly with American via the carrier’s XML technology.
Air New Zealand is examining “a host” of fleet options, including the Boeing 777-200LR, to mitigate the expected further delay in the 787 program owing to the inflight fire sparked by a power board short circuit during a test flight last month.
Air New Zealand received and unveiled its first Boeing 777-300ER on Wednesday in Seattle, claiming it has redefined air travel by including "beds" for economy passengers among a string of industry firsts on the aircraft.
India's Ministry of Civil Aviation reported that the country's airlines carried 18.9% more domestic scheduled passengers in the first 11 months of 2010 compared to the corresponding period in 2009. As of Nov. 30, Jet Airways mainline had the highest share of the fragmented Indian domestic market at 19.2%, followed by Kingfisher at 19.1%, IndiGo at 17.3%, Air India at 17.1%, Spicejet at 13.2%, Jet affiliate JetLite at 7% and Go Air at 6.9%, the ministry stated.
British Airways cabin crew represented by the Unite union on Tuesday started voting on whether to take fresh industrial action in their long-running dispute with the airline ( ATW Daily News, Dec. 15). Ballot papers were sent to more than 10,000 cabin crew at BA as the confrontation between the parties “deepens,” according to Unite.
WestJet said Tuesday it will wet lease a Boeing 757-200 from North American Airlines to be used on Calgary-Honolulu-Maui and Edmonton-Maui routings from Feb. 12-April 30, 2011, subject to Canadian government approval. NAA will operate the aircraft on behalf of WS, providing pilots, flight attendants and maintenance personnel. WS operates an all 737NG fleet comprising 91 aircraft.
Airbus said Tuesday that LAN Airlines finalized a previously-announced order for 50 new A320 family aircraft. The order was initially announced as an MOU at the Farnborough International Airshow in July ( ATW Daily News, July 21). It represents the largest single airline order for Airbus in Latin America and brings LAN's total Airbus orders to 152 aircraft.
The New Zealand Ministry of Transport followed the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission, giving the green light to the alliance between Virgin Blue and Air New Zealand.
United Airlines rescinded a policy that restricted access of some travel agencies to the United merchant account. The carrier also waived retroactively any penalties that the agencies had accrued under the policy. “We have elected to rescind a policy that required a relative handful of the thousands of travel agencies that sell tickets for United to pay their own credit card merchant fees,” United said in a statement.
News from Travel Technology Update: United Airlines rescinded a policy that restricted access of some travel agencies to the United merchant account. The carrier also waived retroactively any penalties that the agencies had accrued under the policy. “We have elected to rescind a policy that required a relative handful of the thousands of travel agencies that sell tickets for United to pay their own credit card merchant fees,” United said in a statement.
The New Zealand Ministry of Transport followed the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission, giving the green light to the alliance between Virgin Blue and Air New Zealand.
China's airlines reported collective net income of CNY880 million ($132.4 million) for the month of November, a big reversal from a net loss of CNY1 million in the year-ago period, on a 23% increase in total operating revenue to CNY24.4 billion. Operating expenses rose 18.1% to CNY23.17 billion.
Lufthansa said its fifth Airbus A380 will commence twice-weekly service Feb. 18 from Frankfurt to New York JFK, the fourth A380 destination the carrier has announced and its first US destination for the aircraft type. Initially operating on Mondays and Fridays, LH said it plans to increase the route's frequency to daily by mid-April. LH has ordered 15 A380s, all scheduled for delivery by 2015.
US airline passenger revenue rose 14.5% in November compared to November 2009, marking the 11th consecutive month of year-over-year increases, Air Transport Assn. reported. RPMs rose 6.5% while yield climbed 7.5%. Domestic passenger revenues climbed 11% while international revenues jumped 23% for the month. Data is based on reports from Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, United Airlines, US Airways and their affiliated regional airlines, but not Southwest Airlines.
Aeromexico said Friday it has reached agreement with its pilots on a new labor pact that will allow for growth and increases in productivity. Though details were not released, Chairman Jose Luis Barraza said, "This agreement with the pilots is the most important structural change the company has made in terms of labor agreements and will allow the airline a sustainable growth in the immediate future."
Delta Air Lines announced it will expand the first-class cabin on approximately 350 aircraft, adding 1,200 Weber Aircraft first-class seats to domestic MD-88, MD-90, Boeing 757-200 and 767-300 aircraft by summer 2013, in response to business customers' requests for more premium cabin seating.
Swiss International Air Lines CEO Harry Hohmeister told ATW at the Star Alliance meeting in Queenstown that “2011 will be the year of consolidation for us,” noting, “We will not add new long-haul routes [but will] consolidate against the current trend in the industry.”
