Embraer announced it entered into an agreement with Ukrainian Aviation Group Alliance member Dniproavia for the delivery of 10 Embraer E-190s with options for another five.
Swedish carrier Skyways announced it will increase its route network by 50% from March 28, adding six destinations in Scandinavia and northern Europe: Brussels, Berlin, Stavanger, Bergen, Trondheim and Sundsvall.
SAirGroup (formerly Swissair) was responsible for the bankruptcy of Sabena in November 2001, a Belgian court ruled Thursday, although it ordered a much lower payment than the claimants had sought. It said the Swiss group, which held a 49.5% stake in the Belgian flag carrier, did not respect an August 2001 agreement to provide 60% of a €430 million ($589.4 million) cash injection needed to keep Sabena in business ( ATW Daily News, Dec. 24, 2009).
Preliminary figures for 2010 released last week by the Assn. of Asia Pacific Airlines confirmed the strong rebound in traffic demand in the region. In 2010, RPKs for AAPC member airlines grew 9.8% to 700.8 billion while ASKs increased 4.1% to 892.5 billion, resulting in a 4.1 point improvement in load factor to 78.5%. AAPA DG Andrew Herdman said that Asia/Pacific carriers enjoyed a year of “solid growth, with robust demand for both leisure and business travel, and the strong rebound in international trade, led by dynamic growth of the Asia/Pacific region.”
Turkish Technic, a wholly owned subsidiary of Turkish Airlines, is hoping to be a “world class MRO provider” with the completion of its new facility at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen airport.
Singapore Airlines parent SIA Group earned net income of S$288.3 million ($225.4 million) for its fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31, down 28.6% from a S$403.7 million profit in the prior-year period, a decline attributable to S$199.1 million in special charges related to price-fixing fines against SIA Cargo.
Singapore Airlines parent SIA Group earned net income of S$288.3 million ($225.4 million) for its fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31, down 28.6% from a S$403.7 million profit in the prior-year period, a decline attributable to S$199.1 million in special charges related to price-fixing fines against SIA Cargo.
Gategroup won a four-year contract with Iberia valued at CHF400 million ($424 million) for catering and provisioning services at the carrier's main hubs in Madrid and Barcelona, as well as at 20 other airports in Europe, the US and Latin America. The agreement takes effect in May and will also cover ancillary services. The Assn. of European Airlines expanded its membership to 36 with this month's addition of Air Berlin.
Garuda Indonesia’s IPO, which is set for next month, will likely only raise $526 million, less than half the $1.1 billion initially planned, according to a Reuters report Thursday.
JetBlue Airways reported 2010 net income of $97 million, up 59% over a $61 million profit in 2009, and signaled it will continue to expand its reach through interline accords.
Cargolux confirmed on Tuesday it will appeal the European Commission’s penalty of €79.9 million ($109.4 million) for allegedly taking part in an international airfreight cartel. In 2010, the EC imposed fines totaling €799 million on 11 companies for their involvement in fixing fuel surcharges and security costs from 1996 to 2003 ( ATW Daily News, Nov. 10, 2010).
Lufthansa said it will launch daily Frankfurt-San Francisco A380 service on May 10, marking the entry of the large aircraft to SFO. "San Francisco has been a US stronghold for Lufthansa for more than 50 years," VP-Americas Jens Bischof said."I applaud the airport's management for their dedication in becoming A380-ready." San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee added, "The economic windfall generated by international flights such as Lufthansa's new service spreads throughout the entire region in the form of jobs and local revenues."
Shanghai-based Juneyao Airlines reported a net profit of CNY416 million ($63.1 million) for 2010, nearly tripling its net income of CNY108 million in 2009. The carrier credited strong market demand, "especially stimulated by the 2010 Shanghai World Expo," for the improved result. Passenger boardings climbed 46.8% to 3.6 million with an average load factor of more than 86%.
Virgin Blue Holdings said it expects its first-half net profit to be down more than 50% owing to the Queensland floods, a slowdown in consumer spending and disruptions to the airline's check-in system last September.
US Airways posted net income of $502 million in 2010, reversed from a net loss of $205 million in 2009 and the second highest annual profit in its history. For the first time since 2006, it achieved a profitable fourth quarter, earning $28 million, turned around from a $79 million deficit in the prior-year period.
Korean Air reported a 2010 net profit of KRW468.4 billion ($418.6 million), reversed from a net loss of KRW98.9 billion in 2009, marking its first profitable year since 2007.
United Continental Holdings, parent of merger partners United Airlines and Continental Airlines, reported pro forma 2010 net income of $854 million, reversed from a combined UA/CO loss of $718 million in 2009.
The Boeing Company said it expects to deliver 25 to 40 787s and 747-8s this year, roughly equally split between the two types, as it reported that earnings for the 2010 fourth quarter dipped 8%, to $1.16 billion from $1.27 billion in the year-ago period on fewer transport deliveries and higher pension expense.
Aircraft leasing group Avolon announced it raised $465 million in its third capital raising, bringing its total funds raised since May 2010 to more than $2.5 billion for debt finance. Proceeds will be used to support the continued growth of the fleet, which includes more than 60 committed aircraft valued at more than $2.8 billion. "This debt raising is an important step in broadening our lender base, introducing three new, US-based lenders to Avolon," CFO Andy Cronin said.
Chile's LAN Airlines posted 2010 net income of $419.7 million, up 81.6% over earnings of $231.1 million in the year-ago period, crediting the improvement to "strong recovery and growth in both the cargo and passenger businesses."
Airbus announced that Thomas Cook Group ordered 12 CFM56-5B-powered Airbus A321s as a first step in its single-aisle fleet harmonization and renewal plan, which is based on the A320 family.
