Despite challenging conditions and rising fuel prices, the Emirates Group posted a record net profit of AED5.9 billion ($1.6 billion) for its fiscal year ended March 31, up 42.9% over net income of AED4.15 billion in its prior fiscal year, on a 26.4% rise in revenue to AED57.38 billion.
Flydubai has inked an eight-year sale/leaseback agreement with MC Aviation Partners, securing $80 million in financing for the remaining Boeing 737-800NG the airline is due to receive this year. FZ will soon issue an RFP for the airline’s 2012 financing requirements. This will be the carrier’s 10th new 737-800NG aircraft, its final one to be delivered this year.
Qantas aircraft engineers are planning work stoppages starting on Friday after walking out of negotiations over their list of 28 demands, which include job security.
Amadeus and United Airlines, a unit of United Continental Holdings, said they reached an agreement to cancel United's planned move to Amadeus's Altea Suite of customer management solutions in two years.
The AirAsia Group reported a 19% year-over-year increase in first-quarter passengers carried to 7.2 million. Load factor jumped 6 points to 81%. ASKs increased 12.5% to 10.58 billion while RPKs leapt 25.9% to 8.52 billion. The core Malaysian operation experienced a 17.2% increase in passenger boardings to 4.3 million, while Thai AirAsia enjoyed a 22.7% hike to 1.81 million. Indonesia AirAsia posted a 22.4% increase in passenger boardings to 1.09 million.
Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings,parent of ACMI cargo carriers Atlas Air and Polar Air Cargo, last week posted first-quarter net income of $10.5 million, down 68.9% from a $33.8 million profit in the year-ago quarter.
Air Canada reported a first-quarter net loss of C$19 million ($19.7 million), narrowed from a C$112 million net deficit in the year-ago period, and cut domestic capacity in the face of escalating energy expenses.
Austrian Airlines Executive Board Member and CCO Andreas Bierwirth told ATW that OS plans to reduce capacity 40% to destinations in Northern Africa/Middle East on its summer schedule.
International Airlines Group, formed by the merger of British Airways and Iberia in January, reported a first-quarter net profit of €33 million ($48.7 million), turned around from a pro forma net deficit of €243 million in the year-ago period.
Air Canada reported a first-quarter net loss of C$19 million ($19.7 million), narrowed from a C$112 million net deficit in the year-ago period, and cut domestic capacity in the face of escalating energy expenses.
Alaska Airlines and the Transport Workers Union jointly announced the carrier's 36 dispatchers have ratified a new four-year contract by a ratio of nearly 86%. The contract includes wage increases and provisions that improve quality of life issues, among other changes. A tentative agreement was reached in March ( ATW Daily News, April 5) and becomes amendable March 24, 2015.
Vueling Airlines reported a first-quarter net loss of €23.6 million ($35 million), widened from a €6.3 million deficit in the year-ago period, citing sharp increases in fuel costs and a “significant” 15% fare reduction owing to the weak domestic Spanish market and increased competition.
Copa Holdings, parent of Panama's Copa Airlines and Copa Airlines Colombia (formerly Aero Republica), reported first-quarter net income of $94.5 million, more than double the $42.6 million earned in the year-ago period, as strong sales growth more than offset a near 50% rise in fuel expense.
Lufthansa Group incurred a first-quarter net loss of €507 million ($752.6 million), widened 70.1% from a €298 million net deficit in the year-ago quarter.
Copa Holdings, parent of Panama's Copa Airlines and Copa Airlines Colombia (formerly Aero Republica), reported first-quarter net income of $94.5 million, more than double the $42.6 million earned in the year-ago period, as strong sales growth more than offset a near 50% rise in fuel expense.
Royal Jordanian confirmed to shareholders that its first Boeing 787 delivery is now scheduled for the first-quarter 2014. It was originally scheduled to take delivery of its first Dreamliner last September and now hopes to receive three in 2014 and eight in 2016 and 2017.
Lufthansa CEO Christoph Franz said Tuesday following an LH board meeting that the airline expects to be able to work through a number of challenges this year to remain profitable.
Virgin Group Chairman Richard Branson, in Australia to launch the re-branded Virgin Australia, dismissed media speculation about his departure from the airline industry. "To quote Mark Twain, the rumors are greatly exaggerated and to my dying day I will always be involved in some way with airlines," Branson told ATW on Wednesday.
SkyWest Inc., the Utah-based parent of regionals SkyWest Airlines, Atlantic Southeast Airlines and ExpressJet, reported a first-quarter net loss of $11.1 million, reversed from a $15 million profit in the year-ago period.
Virgin Blue and its associate airlines—V Australia and Pacific Blue—will be rebranded "Virgin Australia" after Singapore Airlines, 49% owner of Virgin Atlantic Airways, reached an agreement with Virgin Group Chairman Richard Branson regarding the use of the Virgin name on international services to/from Australia.
Shandong Airlines reported a first-quarter net profit of CNY169.5 million ($26 million), up 79.5% over net income of CNY94.39 million in the year-ago period.
