GOL reported third-quarter net income of BRL110 million ($63.7 million), up 41.2% from a BRL77.9 million profit in the year-ago period, owing to “the upturn in demand in the domestic and international markets and the company’s continuous focus on reducing its operating costs,” GOL said.
Copa Airlines announced Wednesday it has signed lease agreements for 10 Boeing 737-800s, five for delivery in 2011 and five in 2012. Aircraft will be leased from GECAS (5), BOC Aviation (3) and Aviation Capital Group (2). Including these leases, Copa said it now has “firm orders and delivery commitments for 33 aircraft, all of which are 737-800s.”
The JAL Group announced Wednesday a change in the financially troubled airline’s organizational structure under renewed management. In order to “realize an effective and speedy revitalization,” JAL said it aims to create a “leaner financial constitution” while “maintaining the highest levels of safety” in its operation.
Air France KLM Group reported a consolidated net profit of €1.03 billion ($1.39 billion) for its fiscal first half ended Sept. 30, reversing a loss of €573 million in the year-ago period.
CFM International had a busy day at the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai Tuesday. In addition to launching the LEAP-X1C on the C919, the company said that Air China finalized its order for CFM56-5Bs to power 20 firm Airbus A320 aircraft which will be delivered in 2011. The engine order, originally announced at the Farnborough International Air Show in July, is valued at approximately $300 million at list prices ( ATW Daily News, July 21).
Taiwan-based TransAsia Airways placed a firm order with Airbus for two A330-300s and six A321s. The aircraft will be used primarily on direct services between Taiwan and mainland China, as well as on new regional routes. The A330s will become the first widebody aircraft to join the airline's fleet. Engine selections for both the A330s and the A321s will be made in the near future, the carrier said.
EasyJet, which celebrated its 15th birthday last week, reported a £121.3 million ($195 million) net profit for its fiscal year ended Sept. 30, a 70.4% increase on the £71.2 million it earned in the prior year.
Cathay Pacific Airways has announced in a trading statement that it expects its consolidated profit for the year ending Dec. 31, 2010 will not be less than HK$12.5 billion ($1.62 billion), “as demand for passenger and cargo services had remained very strong with revenues at high levels.”
Air Canada announced it will begin charging economy passengers $20 for a second checked bag on domestic flights and flights to the Caribbean and Mexico, effective on travel booked from Nov. 11 on flights beginning Jan. 19. AC economy passengers will still be able to check one bag for free in addition to a permitted carry-on baggage.
Flybe graduated its first pilot candidates under the ICAO Multi Crew Pilot License program in a ceremony at the airline's headquarters in Exeter. Flybe said that the completion of the course by the six candidates, "under the supervision of the [UK] Civil Aviation Authority, marks the culmination of a successful relationship between Flybe, Flight Training Europe Jerez and the CAA and is an historic milestone not only for Flybe’s pilot training but also for the development of professional pilot training throughout the UK aviation industry."
SkyWest Inc. announced the completion of its acquisition of ExpressJet Holdings, the parent company of regional air carrier ExpressJet Airlines. As a result of a merger transaction, declared effective Monday, ExpressJet Holdings became a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlantic Southeast Airlines, which is in turn a wholly owned subsidiary of SkyWest ( ATW Daily News, Nov. 12).
Cargolux Airlines International President and CEO Ulrich Ogiermann has stepped down in the wake of his indictment on price-fixing charges by the US Justice Dept. “The decision to step down as CEO has jointly been reached by the board of directors of Cargolux and [Ulrich] Ogiermann,” Cargolux said, confirming that the decision “is related to Mr. Ogiermann’s indictment by a US court for alleged antitrust violations.”
S7 Airlines announced Monday it officially joined oneworld (ATW Daily News, Sept. 24), making it the second Russian airline to join an alliance behind Aeroflot, which became a member of SkyTeam in 2006. S7 subsidiary Globus also joined as an affiliate member.
The nine largest US airlines posted collective net income of $1.91 billion in the third quarter, reversing a $578 million net deficit in the prior-year period, ATW has calculated.
American Airlines will offer 100% Rainforest Alliance Certified Java City coffee on its flights. The coffee is grown only on sustainably managed farms in Central America that meet comprehensive and rigorous standards covering social, labor and environmental conservation issues. AA VP-Marketing Rob Friedman said the airline is committed to exploring greener options “for all of our products, both inflight and on the ground, to enhance the travel experience for our customers."
FedEx Express has joined with Cologne Bonn Airport to inaugurate the FedEx Central and Eastern Europe hub, the second FedEx Express hub to be solar-powered and the fifth solar facility in operation within FedEx Corp.
Copa Holdings, parent of Panama's Copa Airlines and Copa Airlines Colombia (formerly Aero Republica), reported third-quarter net income of $63.9 million, up 48.2% compared to a $43.1 million profit in the prior-year period. Revenue heightened 11.8% to $362 million while expenses increased 4.8% to $291.3 million, producing operating income of $70.7 million, nearly double an operating profit of $45.9 million last year.
Chinese carriers earned a collective profit of CNY4.28 billion ($645 million) in October, a quadrupling of CNY1.05 billion in net income in the year-ago period, according to CAAC. The regulator credited "robust growth of domestic market demand boosted by Chinese fast economic growth, especially the stimulation of the Shanghai World Expo in October."
Turkish Airlines reported 2010 nine-month net income of $169 million, down 44.4% from a $304 million profit in the year-ago period, in an earnings statement released to the Istanbul Stock Exchange Friday.
ARC reported that October ticket sales through participating travel agencies climbed 7.9% compared to October 2009 to $6.54 billion, marking the tenth month this year of improving sales. The size of the improvement over the relevant year-ago month continues to shrink, however, from a peak of 29% in March, as the recovery in air travel catches up on itself.
ExpressJet Holdings said its stockholders voted to approve the company's acquisition by SkyWest Inc. and planned merger with SkyWest's Atlanta-based subsidiary, Atlantic Southeast Airlines. It expects the transaction to close on Friday. SkyWest Inc. reached an agreement in August to acquire Houston-based ExpressJet Holdings for $6.75 per share in cash, or approximately $133 million ( ATW Daily News, Aug. 5).
