Airlines & Lessors

Qatar Airways (QR) has secured another slot pair at London Heathrow (LHR) and will add a fifth daily flight between Doha and LHR from March 25, lifting capacity on the route from 28 to 35 flights each week. The Doha-based carrier will deploy a Boeing 777 configured with 42 seats in business class and 217 seats in economy.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Gulfstream International Airlines has rebranded under the new name of Silver Airways. Gulfstream was founded in May when Victory Park Capital, a Chicago-based investment firm, acquired assets from the former Gulfstream International Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy in November 2010 ( ATW Daily News, Nov. 8, 2010).

Computer rendering of A320neo in JetBlue livery. Courtesy, Airbus JetBlue Airways has selected Pratt & Whitney engines to power its recently ordered fleet of Airbus A320neo aircraft, becoming the first US customer for PurePower engines ( ATW Daily News, Oct. 28).

Sustaining an LCC in Russia is precarious business, and things just became even more bleak.

Oneworld has elected American Airlines (AA) chairman, president and CEO Tom Horton as its chairman.

FedEx revealed Thursday it has placed a firm order for 27 Boeing 767-300 freighters valued at $4.74 billion at list prices, but also has deferred delivery of 11 777Fs.

US airlines may not be growing, but their discipline means they are earning money.

Air New Zealand (NZ) has signed memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with Australia-based Licella Pty Ltd to examine developing and marketing a process to convert woody biomass into sustainable aviation biofuel in New Zealand. Licella has developed a process that uses a Catalytic Hydro Thermal Reactor (Cat-HTR), which converts woody materials and other biomass into a high-quality, bio-crude oil in a one-step process.

Star Alliance has appointed former United Airlines (UA) SVP Mark Schwab to head the alliance’s central organization, based in Frankfurt. He succeeds Jaan Albrecht, who was appointed as CEO of Austrian Airlines Nov. 1 ( ATW Daily News, Sept. 1).

Taiwan-based China Airlines (CI) plans to replace its 13 Boeing 747-400s from 2015/16 and will decide by 2013 which aircraft to order. It is considering the 747-8, Airbus A380, 777-300ER and the A350-1000.

Hainan Airlines Investment Holding Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hainan Airlines (HU), has purchased a 19.02% stake in Hong Kong Airlines (HX) for CNY842 million ($132.4 million) in a move to strengthen the carrier’s financial position.

Airline Model Delivery Date BOEING DELIVERIES

Emirates Airline (EK) has begun to outfit its Airbus A380 aircraft with OnAir Wi-Fi Internet connectivity. The new Wi-Fi service will initially launch on 11 of its 19 A380s in service, though the system is scheduled to be installed across its entire fleet of 71 A380s on order. The airline began trialing the service on certain A380 flights last year ( ATW Daily News, July 21, 2010).

Virgin Australia ATR 72-600. Courtesy, ATR Singapore-based leasing company Avation PLC has inked a contract for five ATR 72-600s plus eight options in a deal worth over $295 million (including the options). The aircraft, to be delivered in 2013 and 2014, will be operated by Perth-based Skywest Airlines (XR) on a range of routes on behalf of Virgin Australia (VA).

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) on Tuesday became the 28th member of Star Alliance, as the alliance network in Africa grows.

Southwest Airlines (SWA) has placed a firm order for 150 Boeing 737 Max aircraft and 58 Next-Generation 737s.

Air China’s (CA) new subsidiary Dalian Airlines is expected to launch Dec. 26 on the Dalian-Shenzhen route.

Germany's state-owned air traffic service Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS) is preparing to make a bid for a stake in its British counterpart National Air Traffic Services (NATS), according to the UK’s The Sunday Times.

UTair (UT) subsidiary UTair Express (UR) will reduce its Tupolev Tu-134 and Antonov An-24 fleet significantly by 2012, when new federal aviation regulations take effect requiring all Russian aircraft to be equipped with a traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) and an enhanced ground proximity warning system (EGPWS). The regional carrier, formerly known as KomiInterAvia, will reduce its fleet to from 28 Tu-134s to 6-8, and from 25 An-24s to 15 of the type. UR’s fleet also includes two passenger-version An-26 aircraft.

Computer rendering of 787-9 and 777F in Etihad livery. Courtesy, Boeing [CORRECTED] Etihad Airways (EY) has ordered 10 Boeing 787-9s, making it the

The Assn. of European Airlines (AEA) predicts its member airlines will post a €1 billion ($1.3 billion) to €2 billion EBIT loss for 2012 and is urging European institutions and the EU's 27 member states to take concrete action to improve this outlook.

Virgin Atlantic Airways (VS) and Lufthansa Group (LH) confirmed Monday they have signed a terms and conditions contract on the sale of LH’s loss-making UK subsidiary British Midland (bmi).