Virgin Blue last week reported a net profit of A$21.3 million ($18.9 million) for its fiscal year ended June 30, a major reversal from a A$160 million loss in FY2008-09 that marked the Australian carrier's worst-ever fiscal-year result.
Iberia Friday reported second-quarter net income of €31 million ($39.4 million), reversed from a loss of €73 million in the year-ago quarter, a turnaround the airline attributed to the recovery of international markets, cost control and increased productivity.
Dreamliner launch customer ANA said in a brief statement Friday that the latest delay to the 787 program "is regrettable," while a Boeing official said the delay "is much less important than the thoroughness of the process that gets us" to first delivery.
Malev Head of the Executive Board Laszlo Urban resigned after just one month in the position. CSA Czech Airlines named Jiri Marek as its new sales director effective Sept. 1. Turkish Airlines appointed Sukru Nenem strategic planning and investments manager. US National Transportation Safety Board named Alfonso Montano an Administrative Law Judge.
Air Berlin CEO Joachim Hunold told ATW the carrier has rebounded "slower than expected" from April's volcanic ash-related airspace closures in Europe, which cost it "about €40 million" ($50.6 million) in lost revenue and forced the cancellation of "3,625 flights, resulting in a loss of 600,000 seats affecting 400,000 passengers," he said. Hunold noted that the carrier is considering joining with other airlines for a possible legal action but would not give details.
Air China said it earned net income of CNY4.61 billion ($677 million) in the first half of 2010 owing to "the recovering global economy…[and] accelerated economic growth in China…[and] reasonable control of operating costs."
Air New Zealand credited "innovation and performance improvement" for a near-quadrupling of its net income to NZ$82 million ($57.4 million) for its fiscal year ended June 30 compared to a NZ$21 million profit in the prior year.
[UPDATED FROM ORIGINAL POST] Kenya Airways Group MD and CEO Titus Naikuni said the carrier is considering canceling the nine 787s it has on order, and claimed Boeing has informed him that the Dreamliner's first delivery to ANA will be delayed another three months.
Qantas said it will boost domestic flights by almost 10% in response to growing demand, particularly from resource-rich Western Australia. The move comes a day ahead of Virgin Blue announcing a total revamp of its product offering to take on Qantas’ vice-like grip on the country’s high-end business and corporate travel market ( ATW Daily News, Aug. 17).
American Airlines' mechanics rejected a tentative agreement on a new labor contract in voting Tuesday, setting up a potentially disruptive standoff between airline management and the workers.
Australia's Regional Express reported record net income of A$24.6 million ($21.8 million) for its fiscal year ended June 30, up 7.2% over a A$23 million profit in the previous year and surpassing the A$23.6 million earned in FY2007-08.
Iberia operated 4.98 billion RPKs in July, a 5.3% increase over the year-ago month. Capacity grew 1.9% to 5.69 billion ASKs, lifting load factor 2.8 points to 87.6%. Air New Zealand flew 2.48 billion RPKs in July, up 6.8% on the year-ago month, as capacity rose 1.7% to 2.95 billion ASKs. Load factor rose 4 points to 84.1%.
Alaska Air Group has made the decision to eliminate subsidiary Horizon Air's independent, or branded flying, in favor of moving to a 100% capacity purchase agreement with its major affiliate Alaska Airlines. The information was contained in an internal employee communication from new Horizon Air President Glenn Johnson to the airline's employees. Johnson raised the possibility of the action in AAG's second-quarter conference call with analysts, at which time he also raised questions about the future of the Horizon Air brand.
An Agni Air Dornier 228 was destroyed when it crashed near Shikharpur in Nepal yesterday, killing all 11 passengers and three crew. According to press reports, the turboprop was en route from Lukla to Kathmandu but the pilots decided to attempt to return to the departure airport and crashed in heavy rain. Nepal Newssaid the Nepal Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation will launch an investigation. According to the Kathmandu-based carrier’s website, it operates three Dornier 228s and two Jetstream 41s with a commitment to take a third.
Aer Lingus Group reported pre-tax net income of €15.4 million ($19.5 million) for the second quarter, reversed from a €13.8 million pre-tax loss in the year-ago period, and maintained that it will do "no worse" than break even on an operating basis for the full year.
China Southern Airlines inked an agreement with the Hainan provincial government to base 28 additional aircraft in Hainan and add 93 new routes from the airport by 2015.
A Henan Airlines Embraer 190 crashed on landing at Yichun City Tuesday night, reportedly killing 43 of the 96 people on board. Flight VD8387 en route from Harbin was carrying 91 passengers and five crewmembers. A number of the survivors sustained injuries, some of which were believed to be life-threatening.
FedEx's board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.12 per share on FedEx Corp. common stock. The dividend is payable Oct. 1 to stockholders of record at the close of business Sept. 10.
Star Alliance partners Continental Airlines and Aegean Airlines announced plans to start codesharing on CO's flights between its Newark hub and Athens. CO will also place its code on selected flights operated by Aegean in Europe. Effective immediately, Aegean will place its A3 code on CO flights between EWR and ATH. Pending government approval, Aegean also will codeshare on CO flights from EWR to/from Paris Charles de Gaulle and Rome Fiumicino.
Saudi Arabia-based LCC Sama Airlines announced Monday it is “temporarily discontinuing” all flight operations effective Tuesday. CEO Bruce Ashby said in a statement that stopping flights "is the only option remaining to us" following "many months" of unsuccessfully attempting to find financial relief. He said the airline incurred "heavy losses" during the Oct. 2009-March 2010 winter season and has been unable to recover despite a "sharply" improved revenue performance in the summer season.
