TAP Portugal CEO Fernando Pinto is optimistic the privatization process of the Portuguese carrier will be a success, although the carrier’s pilots—frustrated by their lack of participation in the company’s privatization process—are threatening industrial action. The eight-day strike is expected to take place from Dec. 9-12 and Jan. 3-6, Dow Jones reported last week.
Delta Air Lines (DL) president Ed Bastian said that "the important impact of consolidation" can be seen in US airlines' financial results, which remain positive despite a difficult operating environment characterized by high fuel prices and shaky consumer confidence.
Iberia (IB) pilots represented by the SEPLA union will meet on Wednesday Nov. 30 to decide on possible strike action in December to protest the company's plans to launch Iberia Express.
The US Dept. of Transportation (DOT) has fined Spirit Airlines $50,000 for advertising fares that did not include or disclose details on taxes and fees.
Air France (AF) will start operating Airbus A380 aircraft on a daily Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to Dubai (DXB) route Dec. 5, and on a 2X-daily CDG to Los Angeles (LAX) route May 28, 2012.
Alaska Airlines’ (AS) 626 aircraft technicians, represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Assn. (AMFA), ratified a new five-year contract. The agreement includes annual pay raises, additional job protection provisions, a long-term contract bonus, and a shared commitment to work on minimizing health-care cost increases. "This contract recognizes the professionalism and skill of our technicians and provides long-term security for our employees, the union and the airline," AS VP-maintenance and engineering Fred Mohr said.
Air New Zealand (ANZ) has launched a new Airpoints frequent flyer membership initiative designed to transform its loyalty card into what it terms the “ultimate travel companion.”
This year's fuel price spike prevented US major airlines from improving profitability year-over-year in the third quarter, but the country's seven largest airline companies still earned $1.09 billion in combined net income for the three months ended Sept. 30, ATW calculated.
Turkish Airlines (THY) reported a consolidated net profit of TRY76.7 million ($43.3 million) in the third quarter, up from TRY21.4 million in the year-ago quarter.
Lufthansa (LH) will add Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport (VKO) to its route network beginning March 25, in a move that could set the stage for Russia’s third largest carrier, UTair, to become a future Star Alliance member.
Wizz Air (W6) will base a sixth Airbus A320 at Bucharest Baneasa fromJune 2012. This aircraft will enable the airline to support a new route to Verona (VRN) and increase frequencies on existing routes to Milan Bergamo, Venice Treviso, Madrid, Dortmund, Bari, Cuneo Turin, Catania, Forli Bologna and Pisa. The new route to VRN will initially operate 3X weekly from June 23 and increase the number of destinations the LCC serves from its BBU base to 20.
Air Lease Corp. (ALC) has signed lease agreements for 13 additional aircraft. ALC said it placed two Embraer 175s, leased to Belavia (Belarus); four ATR 72-600s, leased to Passaredo (Brazil); and two Airbus A320-200s, leased to S7 Airlines, from its order book. ALC leased one Boeing 737-800, leased to Caribbean Airlines; one 737-800, leased to Transaero; and one 737-800, leased to Sun Country, from its fleet. ALC acquired on lease one 737-800, leased to Spicejet, and one A320-200, leased to Interjet.
UPS announced a 4.9% net increase in shipping rates for all air services and US-origin international shipments, effective Jan 2, 2012. "The rate increase for UPS air and international services shipments is based on a 6.9% increase in the base rate, less a 2 percentage point reduction to the index-based air and international fuel surcharge," the express delivery giant stated.
SkyWest Airlines will operate as US Airways Express, US Airways announced Monday ( ATW Daily News, Aug. 5). Beginning Dec. 16, SkyWest will launch 6X-daily Express flights from US Airways’ hub in Phoenix. By spring 2012, SkyWest will operate 49 flights to 19 destinations for US Airways Express.
Fair Work Australia (FWA) will resolve the long-running between Qantas (QF) and three labor unions with binding arbitration after negotiations broke down over the weekend.
Russian state corporation Rostechnology has completed the asset transfer of five regional carriers to Aeroflot (SU), in a deal worth RUB2.5 billion ($81 million).
American Airlines (AA) said Monday that the 130 Airbus A320 family aircraft included in its huge narrowbody order announced over the summer will be comprised of A319s and A321s, though it didn't specify how many of each it will take.
Air China 737-800. Courtesy, Boeing Beijing-based Air China (CA) launched its first live trial of Gogo’s inflight entertainment system and intra-cabin connection service on a Boeing 737-800 Beijing-Chengdu route Tuesday, becoming the first Chinese airline to provide passengers with free inflight entertainment.
Thai Airways International (TG) president Piyasvasti Amranand described the European Union’s regulation to include aviation in its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) as a “policy folly,” which will never work and misses its goal of reducing emissions.
Indonesian carrier Lion Air (JT) has signed an intent to buy 201 Boeing 737 Maxs and 29 Next-Generation 737-900ERS in a $21.7 billion deal that is Boeing’s largest ever in dollar value.
LAN Airlines’ merger with TAM Airlines is on track to conclude in the first quarter of 2012, but a decision on which alliance to choose will come later.
