United Airlines and Continental Airlines on Friday announced the closing of the legal merger of the two carriers, which for the time being will operate separately under a single holding company, United Continental Holdings.
LOT Polish Airlines CEO Sebastion Mikosz resigned from his position Wednesday, the Polish News Agency reported. Mikosz, who has held this position since May 15, 2009, told ATW recently he has worked toward making the carrier attractive for privatization. The Polish government plans to privatize the carrier next year. New Lufthansa CEO Christoph Franz was quoted by the Sueddeutsche Zeitung on Thursday saying, “This [LOT ownership] is a change which we cannot ignore.” LH has been named as a possible investor for LOT.
Continental Airlines announced Thursday it reached a tentative agreement on a new labor contract with its 9,300 CO flight attendants represented by the International Assn. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. In a statement, CO said the IAM is expected to hold a ratification vote in the coming weeks. “We appreciate the IAM’s leadership in reaching this important agreement that recognizes the interests of our flight attendants and the company,” said CO Senior VP-Human Resources and Labor Relations Mike Bonds.
China Southern Airlines announced Thursday that its subsidiary Xiamen Airlines agreed to buy 10 Boeing aircraft valued at $699 million. The information was contained in a statement by CZ to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The aircraft are believed to be 737NGs.
Spring Airlines reported net income of nearly CNY400 million ($59.7 million) for the first eight months of 2010 owing to the “incredible Shanghai market” stimulated by Shanghai World Expo, according to Chairman Wang Zhenghua.
Kingfisher Airlines Chairman and MD Vijay Mallya announced Thursday that former SpiceJet CEO Sanjay Aggarwal would take over as CEO "with immediate effect."
FedEx said Wednesday it will raise US domestic and US export shipping rates on its air-reliant Express services by a net average 3.9% from Jan. 3, 2011. It said the "full average rate increase" actually will be 5.9%, but that figure is "partially offset by adjusting the fuel price threshold at which the fuel surcharge begins," the company explained, noting that its fuel surcharge will be lowered by 2 percentage points. FedEx said in a statement that the "pricing adjustment will allow for key investments."
China Eastern Airlines said its new subsidiary cargo carrier, comprised of the assets of China Cargo Airlines, Great Wall Airlines and Shanghai Airlines Cargo, will commence operations Jan. 1, 2011 from its base in Shanghai.
Turkish Airlines took delivery Wednesday of its first A330-300 and first A330-200F, both of which are part of an order signed in 2009 with Airbus for 10 A330-300s, two A330-200Fs and 24 A320 family aircraft.
Ethiopian Airlines was officially invited to join Star Alliance Wednesday, and aims within 12 months to become the group’s third member on the African continent following EgyptAir and South African Airways (ATW Daily News, July 22). ET’s integration, under the mentoring of Lufthansa, will begin “shortly.”
Ethiopian Airlines was officially invited to join Star Alliance Wednesday, and aims within 12 months to become the group’s third member on the African continent following EgyptAir and South African Airways (ATW Daily News, July 22). ET’s integration, under the mentoring of Lufthansa, will begin “shortly.”
Iberia and British Airways received all regulatory approvals for their merger. Last week, Iberia agreed to the pension deficit reforms of BA ( ATW Daily News, Sept. 24). Shareholders of both carriers will vote on the merger in the coming months.
Safi Airways CCO Claus Fischer told ATW that the Afghanistan airline is undergoing a restructuring plan to be able to begin a moderate international expansion in early 2011. “We are currently in a consolidation process… [and have] stopped services from Kabul to Kuwait,” said Fischer, who noted the carrier’s single 767-200ER will be available for ACMI leases. Its two 737-300s are for sale, leaving the airline with one A320 and one A340-300.
Boeing and Air China Monday finalized a previously announced commitment for four 777-300ERs, valued at $1.1 billion ( ATW Daily News, Sept. 13). "This is a great day in the history of our long and enduring partnership with Air China," said Boeing Commercial VP & Marketing Marlin Dailey.
US Dept. of Justice announced Monday that China Airlines Ltd. agreed to pay $40 million in criminal fines for its role in a conspiracy to fix prices in the air cargo industry on flights to and from the US between 2000 and 2006. The plea agreement is subject to court approval.
Air Nostrum CEO Carlos Bertomeu said he is confident the carrier will post a profit this year although yields, particularly on the Spanish domestic routes, remain depressed.
News from Travel Technology Update: Southwest Airlines has narrowed its choice of a new reservations platform to “two players,” chief executive officer Gary Kelly said.
US Dept. of Justice announced Monday that China Airlines Ltd. agreed to pay $40 million in criminal fines for its role in a conspiracy to fix prices in the air cargo industry on flights to and from the US between 2000 and 2006. The plea agreement is subject to court approval.
