Japan Airlines will submit a reorganization plan by the end of June that includes cutting 47-51 routes, according to reports by multiple Japanese media outlets.
Qantas A380 suffered a dual tire blowout on landing at Sydney last week. Flight QF32 from Singapore arrived at SYD on Wednesday at 8.30 p.m. local time and on touchdown is understood to have suffered a brake problem that apparently locked the wheels.
ANA confirmed the merger of its Air Japan charter and ANA & JP Express cargo subsidiaries, following up on a corporate plan announced last month ( ATWOnline, March 22). Both operate 767s. ANA & JP will be dissolved following the acquisition by ANA of shares held by Japan Post Service (33.3%), Nippon Express Co. (10%) and Mitsui OSK Lines (5%) last week. Air Japan employs 411 and ANA & JP 207. ANA said the impact on its consolidated results "will be minor."
Edelweiss Air, a Swiss International Air Lines subsidiary, ordered one A330-300 for delivery in March 2011 to replace its single A330-200. The carrier operates three A320s and is evaluating the addition of a fourth. It will launch a weekly Zurich-Calgary-Vancouver service on May 31. Edelweiss transported 703.000 passengers last year, nearly 25% more than in 2008.
Airphil Express is the new name of the former Air Philippines, effective last week. A low-cost subsidiary of Philippine Airlines parent PAL Holdings, Airphil added two single-class, 177-seat A320-200s on lease--its first jets--and placed them into service from Manila to Iloilo, Bacolod, Puerto Princesa and Cagayan de Oro. The acquisition is the beginning of an expansion that will see the carrier acquire 20 A320s over the next 20 years, adding to its current fleet that also includes eight Q-300s/400s.
Japan Airlines' main lenders reportedly are not willing to provide the bankrupt carrier with further relief unless they see evidence that it is making strides in slashing costs, in particular by cutting back on international services.
Virgin America, Virgin Blue and its V Australia subsidiary announced the linkage of their loyalty programs. VX and Blue also announced a cabin crew exchange program set to start in October.
Volga-Dnepr Group, parent of heavy airfreight specialist Volga-Dnepr Airlines and scheduled air cargo operator AirBridgeCargo Airlines, said the carriers' combined traffic increased 7% year-over-year in 2009 to 1.85 billion FTKs. However, revenue for the year lowered 15% to $1.25 billion as global cargo yields took a major hit. The Moscow-based company pointed out that its traffic and revenue results compared "favorably" in an air cargo industry that had a historically negative year.
Southwest Airlines yesterday responded to comments from WestJet that it is considering exploring additional codeshare opportunities, including one with Delta Air Lines, insisting that it it is "prepared to move forward to implement our agreement" with the Canadian LCC but that it will look for alternatives for Canada service if WS goes in a different direction.
Bahrain Air said it is targeting a breakeven 2011 and that its board has boosted its authorized capital by 50% to BHD30 million ($79.3 million). The carrier, which began flying two years ago, launched thrice-weekly flights to Dhaka and four-times-weekly service to Chittagong last month and plans to begin serving Istanbul Ataturk on June 16. It operates four A320s and two A319s.
Ryanair raised its net profit guidance for the fiscal year ended March 31 to "not less than €310 million ($418 million)" from a previously forecast €275 million ( ATWOnline, Feb. 2) as a result of "somewhat stronger than expected passenger bookings, at better than expected yields" in late February and March in the runup to the Easter holiday weekend. The LCC expects to announce its full-year results on June 1.
Bombardier reported net income of C$707 million ($696 million) for its fiscal year ended Jan. 31, down 31.1% from C$1.03 billion in the prior fiscal year, blaming a "challenging economic backdrop" for the drop.
Virgin Blue Group finalized a contract with Boeing for up to 105 737NGs, confirming and adding to a February MOU in a deal that is the biggest in the Australian company's 10-year history and the largest Boeing has landed in 18 months. The agreement includes 50 firm 737-800s with options to convert orders to either the -700 or -900, plus 25 options and 30 purchase rights. Deliveries are scheduled to run from June 2011 through 2017 ( ATWOnline, Feb. 25).
Royal Jordanian launches online check-in today. Service is available 24 hr. prior to departure for passengers leaving Amman for all international destinations except those in the US. The remainder of the network will be added "at a later stage," RJ said.
Skyservice Airlines, a charter and business aviation carrier based at Toronto Pearson, shut down yesterday and went into receivership. It said, "Recent changes in the Canadian vacation tour market combined with Skyservice Airlines' debt level have rendered the company unable to maintain profitable operations." Thomas Cook Canada filed the application for receivership, claiming that Skyservice owed C$8.6 million ($8.4 million) due March 30.
Air Canada and Asiana Airlines said they signed an MOU to create "a strategic partnership," building on their existing Star Alliance partnership and codeshare agreement. AC operates daily year-round nonstop service between Vancouver and Incheon with same-plane service from Toronto Pearson and codeshares on eight Asian routes operated by OZ. Asiana codeshares on seven routes operated by AC including YVR-ICN, as well as several domestic Canada routes. Canada and South Korea signed an open skies agreement in 2009.
Malaysia Airlines firmed a December MOU for 15 A330-300s and added two A330-200 freighters to the order, Airbus announced yesterday ( ATWOnline, Dec. 23, 2009). Passenger aircraft deliveries will begin in the first half of next year while the first freighter will join the MASkargo fleet later in 2011. MAS's A330s will seat 283 passengers across two classes. The freighters will be able to carry nearly 70 tonnes up to 3,200 nm., according to the manufacturer.
British Airways and Iberia failed to sign a definitive merger agreement by yesterday's self-imposed target date. A BA spokesperson told Dow Jones the delay "is due to technical issues that need to be resolved and we anticipate that the agreement will be signed in due course." The spokesperson added that those issues are not related to BA's pension fund deficit.
TAM returned to profit in 2009, reporting a BRL435.7 million ($241.9 million) surplus under IFRS that compared to a BRL1.43 billion loss in 2008 fueled by nonoperating items.
American Airlines and JetBlue Airways yesterday announced a slot swap agreement at New York area and Washington National airports as well as a limited interlining deal at JFK and Boston Logan, which will bolster both carriers' competitive positions in the face of Delta Air Lines' growing strength in New York.
