As part of its largest order to date, OnAir will equip 90 Emirates A380s with connectivity that will enable passengers to make voice calls, send SMS text messages or use wireless data services ( ATW Daily News,July 21). "Major airlines now are starting to recognize the connectivity that had been a 'nice-to-have' historically has moved [beyond] that," OnAir CEO Ian Dawkins told ATW. "If you want to be a five-star airline, it's something you have to offer."
Lufthansa Group reported a first-half 2010 net loss of €104 million ($135.2 million), narrowed from a €178 million deficit in the year-ago period, but noted that it was profitable on an operating basis during the second quarter.
LOT Polish Airlines told ATW this week that it is making every effort to return to profitability. "The situation within the company is very difficult but improving,” President Sebastian Miskosz said in Warsaw.
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Alaska Airlines and its Horizon Air regional affiliate entered into a codeshare agreement with Icelandair under which the latter will place its code "on select Alaska and Horizon flights," the carriers said. Agreement also includes a reciprocal frequent flier partnership to be launched this fall.
TAM, the largest Airbus operator in Latin America, finalized an MOU for 20 A320 family aircraft and five A350-900s announced at the ILA Berlin Air Show in June. TAM's A350s will be powered by Trent XWBs; engine selection for the A320s was not announced ( ATW Daily News, June 9).
Hawaiian Airlines’ parent Hawaiian Holdings recorded a sharp drop in second-quarter net income, though it still remained in the black with a $9 million profit that compared to the year-ago period's $27.5 million in net income. CEO Mark Dunkerley said the results were “in line” with what HA had expected. “The second quarter was an eventful period as we successfully introduced our first and second A330s into revenue service in June," he said.
EasyJet posted a 5.3% rise in revenue to £759.2 million ($1.2 million) on a 3.5% increase in passengers carried to 12.3 million for its fiscal third quarter ended June 30.
An A321 operated by Pakistan's privately owned Airblue crashed on approach to Islamabad from Karachi at approximately 9:45 a.m. local time Wednesday. All 146 passengers and six crewmembers were killed when the aircraft went down in the Margalla Hills around 15 km. from Islamabad International Airport, according to multiple press reports. A statement on the airline's website described the weather as "poor...with thick fog." Flight ED202 departed Karachi around 7:45 a.m. local time for the approximately two-hr. trip.
LAN Airlines posted second-quarter net income of $60.6 million, significantly widened from a $4.2 million profit in the year-ago period, and credited "a strong recovery in both the cargo and passenger businesses" for the earnings growth.
Vueling Airlines reported second quarter net income of €13.5 million ($17.5 million), a more than fourfold increase over a €3 million profit in the year-ago quarter, when it was still a standalone company. Vueling, which merged with Clickair last year, attributed the improved net profit in to its "cost reduction program and the capture of merger synergies." The LCC said the negative EBIT impact of April's European airspace closures was “in excess” of €1 million.
The Unite union representing British Airways flight attendants confirmed it will take BA to court over its decision to remove travel concessions from cabin crew who took part in the past strike actions. “After careful consideration, Unite believes that management’s action breaches European human rights legislation. It also believes that this sanction, which has impeded the resolution of the long-running dispute, was taken without proper disciplinary procedures being followed,” it said.
Singapore Airlines CEO Chew Choon Seng has signaled that he will step down soon, according to a Bloomberg report yesterday. “It’s at the mercy of the board, but I am getting on in years,” Chew, who turned 64 yesterday, told Bloomberg after a shareholders' meeting in Singapore. "I should move on.”
United Airlines and Continental Airlines yesterday announced the executive management team for the merged carrier and it will not include UA President John Tague or UA CFO Kathryn Mikells.
A Lufthansa Cargo MD-11 freighter crashed on landing at Riyadh yesterday, catching fire and breaking apart. The two pilots were able to escape via the emergency slide and were being treated at a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries. LHC said in a statement it had spoken with both pilots by phone.
Following Air Berlin’s disclosure Monday that it intends to join oneworld, CEO Joachim Hunold said yesterday the move is "the next logical step" for the carrier.
Boosted by a €1.03 billion capital gain from the sale of its 23.1% stake in Amadeus, Air France KLM Group posted a net profit of €736 million ($953 million) for its fiscal first quarter ended June 30, reversed from a €426 million deficit in the year-ago period.
Ryanair announced it will open its eighth base in Spain at Seville in November with two 737-800s and 29 routes. There will be 10 new routes to Bari, Eindhoven, London Gatwick, Marseille, Palma, Paris Beauvais, Santiago, Valencia, Venice Treviso and Zaragoza. The LCC will offer over 250 weekly return flights to/from Seville. It said it aims to increase its passenger traffic at the airport to 1.5 million.
American Airlines yesterday released its own free travel app for the iPhone to provide customers with mobile access to day-of-travel information. Once logged in, passengers can check which gate they will be departing from, where they will sit and their position on the standby list. They will also be able to set parking reminders, view terminal maps, access mobile boarding passes, book and check-in for flights, and use GPS to locate the nearest airport served by AA.
