Delta Air Lines cabin staff rejected representation by the Assn. of Flight Attendants by a significant margin. Delta said it had been informed by the National Mediation Board that more than 53% of flight attendants voting in the election rejected the union, which represented the approximately 7,200 former Northwest Airlines cabin staff. According to the airline, 18,760 votes were cast out of 19,887 eligible voters.
FedEx Express, the delivery giant's airline unit, said Wednesday it has entered into an agreement to acquire the logistics, distribution and express businesses of AFL and its affiliate, Unifreight India. "This acquisition will give FedEx a more robust domestic ground network and added capabilities in India," the company said in a statement. It said the transaction will likely close by the end of February. Purchase price was not disclosed.
Singapore-based BOC Aviation announced it has ordered 30 Airbus A320 family aircraft with deliveries scheduled over three years from 2012. This order follows Tuesday's announcement of an order for eight Boeing 777-300ERs for long-term lease to Thai Airways International (ATW Daily News, Nov. 3).
SkyWest Inc., parent of SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Wednesday reported third-quarter net income of $25.5 million, down 10.8% from a $28.6 million profit in the year-ago period, owing primarily to a “reduction in rates” paid to SkyWest and ASA under their respective Delta Connection agreements and a “mismatch of non-pass through maintenance agreements” with United Airlines on United Express flying.
WestJet reported third-quarter net income of C$54 million ($53.4 million), up 72% over a C$31.4 million profit in the year-ago period, marking its 22nd straight reporting period in the black.
Singapore-based BOC Aviation announced it has ordered 30 Airbus A320 family aircraft with deliveries scheduled over three years from 2012. This order follows Tuesday's announcement of an order for eight Boeing 777-300ERs for long-term lease to Thai Airways International (ATW Daily News, Nov. 3).
A Boeing 737-400 (msn 24911, built 1991) operated by Lion Air sustained substantial damage at Supadio Airport in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Indonesia Tuesday after it overshot the runway on landing in heavy rainfall and its nose and main undercarriage collapsed, according to Ascend. The aircraft came to rest in a field. No injuries were reported among the 169 passengers and six crew, who safely evacuated the aircraft. The accident happened at 11:25 a.m. local time, Ascend reported. Flight JT 712 was arriving from Jakarta.
BOC Aviation ordered eight Boeing 777-300ERs for long-term lease to Thai Airways International. Boeing valued the orders at $2.2 billion at average list prices.
Boeing said international air cargo traffic has "rebounded sharply" in 2010 following "a calamitous 18-month decline that began in May 2008" and will grow at an annual average rate of 5.9% through 2029.
Alitalia posted a €39 million ($54.4 million) net profit for the third quarter, significantly widened from the €1 million profit in the year-ago period. EBIT rose year-on-year from €15 million to €56 million and revenue increased 15% to €971 million.
Troubled state-owned Adria Airways has received financial help from various agencies to help it pay back credits, according to Slovenia media outlets. Reports state ADR has been given €2 million ($2.8 million) from state-owned restructuring company RDP and €500,000 from tourism companies Kompas and Palma. The Slovenia government also gave an additional €2.7 million in aid to Adria Airways Technika, as well as to the Ljubljana airport, and gave €4.5 million to the maintenance facility at AAT.
Boeing projected that 2011 full-year global passenger traffic will grow slightly below its 20-year forecast rate of 5.3% annually, rising 5% year-over-year. In a recent blog post, Commercial Airplanes VP-Marketing Randy Tinseth said the manufacturer foresees cargo growth of 6% in 2011. Boeing in July predicted average annual growth rates of 5.3% for passengers and 5.9% for cargo through 2029 ( ATW Daily News, July 16).
Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, parent of Atlas Air and Polar Air Cargo, posted third-quarter net income of $34 million, well more than double a $14.1 million profit in the year-ago period.
Buoyed by a 32% rise in second-quarter earnings, Ryanair reported a net profit of €424 million ($591.2 million) for the fiscal first half ended Sept. 30, up from earnings of €373.5 million in the year-ago period.
China Eastern Airlines said that its wholly owned subsidiary Shanghai Airlines has withdrawn from the Star Alliance to join SkyTeam along with CEA next year.
Emirates looks to have quickly put the global economic downturn behind it, reporting a net profit of AED3.4 billion ($926 million) for its fiscal year first half ended Sept. 30, significantly widened from an AED752 million profit in the year-ago period.
Emirates looks to have quickly put the global economic downturn behind it, reporting a net profit of AED3.4 billion ($926 million) for its fiscal year first half ended Sept. 30, significantly widened from an AED752 million profit in the year-ago period.
UK Department for Transport appointed Iain Osborne to the post of CAA group director-regulatory policy. He will assume the role Jan. 10, 2011, replacing Harry Bush, who will step down at the end of this year. Additionally, Richard Moriarty was named CAA's director-economic regulation. American Airlines named Peter Stanham MD-finance for Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America. It additionally named Marvin Diaz MD-Mexico.
The Austrian government revealed more details on its so-called "ecological air travel levy," which will begin March 30, 2011 for all departing flights ( ATW Daily News, Oct. 26).
Middle East airlines will not launch an initial public offering this year or early next year but will start returning a dividend of $1 per outstanding share, MEA Chairman and DG Mohamad El- Hout told ATW on the sidelines of the Arab Air Carriers Organization’s recent 43rd AGM in Cairo.
Air China reported a net profit of CNY5.17 billion ($772 million) in the third quarter, a better than fourfold increase over the CNY885 million earned in the year-ago period. The carrier credited the strong performance to "implementation of effective operating management, marketing and cost control initiatives," the global recovery and rapid economic growth in China. Operating revenue jumped 76.7% to CNY24.83 billion, while operating expenses climbed 44% to CNY 19.42 billion.
ANA Group reported net income of ¥18.5 billion ($221 million) in its fiscal second quarter ended Sept. 30, improved over earnings of ¥3.8 billion in the year-ago period.
Iberia Group swung out of the red with a third-quarter consolidated net profit of €74 million ($102.6 million), compared to a €16 million deficit in the year-ago period, on a 15.8% increase in revenues to €1.35 billion.
