Thales said it installed its Eurocat air traffic management system, Aermac messaging system and a voice communication system at the recently inaugurated air traffic control center in Santiago, Chile.
Hong Kong Airlines signed an MOU yesterday to purchase six A330-200s, increasing its commitment for the type to 23, Airbus announced. HKA will use the aircraft "to develop new services to destinations across the Asia/Pacific region, as well as to the Middle East and Europe," the manufacturer said. President Yang Jian Hong said the carrier intends to "establish our company as a premium brand in new international markets." Delivery dates and engine choice were not announced.
Turkish Airlines yesterday continued its ambitious fleet renewal and announced a commitment for 10 737-800s and 10 737-900ERs (plus 15 options) that will join the A320 family aircraft ordered last month.
Hawaiian Airlines concluded what President and CEO Mark Dunkerley called a "remarkable" 2009 with a $116.7 million profit, a more-than-fourfold improvement from the $28.6 million surplus posted in 2008. "With lower prices and the hard work of everyone. . .we overcame the effects of an economic recession and the attentions of a new entrant on our inter-island routes to post our company's best-ever results," Dunkerley said. "Much work needs to be done to ensure that our 2009 results become the norm throughout the business cycle. This will remain management's focus."
Republic Airways Holdings will dissolve its Lynx Aviation subsidiary by September, removing the former Frontier Airlines subsidiary's Q400s from operation and eliminating approximately 175 jobs. "After extensive analysis and months of efforts to grow the business, we concluded we could not efficiently operate a fleet of 11 Q400 aircraft," Republic Executive VP and COO Wayne Heller said. "Converting. . .to jet service allows us to better utilize our existing aircraft resources and lower our cost of operating and maintaining multiple fleet types."
Lufthansa said that all remaining shares in Austrian Airlines Group held by minority shareholders have been transferred to LH subsidiary Osterreichische Luftverkehrs Holding by order of the Vienna Commercial Court. Share certificates are redeemable for cash compensation, LH said. In December it said it would pay €0.50 ($0.70) for each outstanding share ( ATWOnline, Dec. 18, 2009). AAG is expected to be delisted from the Vienna Stock Exchange soon.
Delta Air Lines plans to transfer 225 Cincinnati-based pilots to other airports as it continues to downsize its operation there, according to company and Air Line Pilots Assn. memos obtained by The Cincinnati Enquirer. The pilots slated to move fly DL's 767s. "Unfortunately we have simply run out of time," VP-Flight Operations Jim Graham wrote to pilots. "Barring a change in network strategy. .
Air India plans to spin off Air India Cargo into a separate entity under the National Aviation Co. of India umbrella on April 1, Director-Cargo Anita Khurana said this week. Air India Cargo accounts for some 8% of AI's total revenue and operates six 737Fs and two A310Fs, according to the Press Trust of India. Khurana said AI will resume cargo flights to Europe and Japan at some point in the first half of 2010.
Garuda Indonesia is on course for a $300 million initial public offering around the middle of this year, CEO Emirsyah Satar told reporters in Singapore. "We have yet to determine the underwriters. The IPO will either be in late second quarter or early third quarter of this year," he said, adding that the carrier plans to increase its fleet from the current 67 aircraft to 116 over the next five years. It will take delivery of 24 in 2010 and has converted its order for 10 787s into 777-300s that will begin delivery next year.
Shenzhen Airlines earned a net profit of CNY500 million ($73.1 million) last year, nearly 20 times the CNY26 million surplus posted in 2008. The carrier did not reveal its revenue and expense figures. It transported 15.1 million passengers in 2009, up 27.8%, and enjoyed a 22% jump in cargo traffic to 306 million FTKs. It introduced 14 new aircraft last year, increasing its fleet to 136, and opened 50 new routes.
Tarom expects to join SkyTeam this year, an airline source told ATWOnline, echoing comments from alliance officials in November ( ATWOnline, Nov. 6, 2009). RO also plans to launch new service in March from Bucharest Otopeni to Riga, Bari and Nice. The carrier currently operates four 737-300s, four 737-700s, three 737-800s, four A318s, two A310-300s, seven ATR 42s and two ATR 72s.
AerSale of Florida announced the acquisition of 44 DC-8-71F/-73F freighters, the accompanying CFM56-2C1 engines, spare parts and tooling and a Level D DC-8-70 series flight simulator from an unnamed seller thought to be UPS Airlines, which retired its fleet of 44 DC-8s last year ( ATWOnline, April 24, 2009).
Six of the 10 American carriers that have reported 2009 fourth-quarter results turned a profit in the period, among them AirTran Airways, whose CFO Arne Haak said that "yield and average prices are very different from what we saw 3-6 months ago" and that "even on an absolute basis, things are looking more normal than in quite some time."
British Airways' decision to impose staffing cuts and introduce changes to cabin crew working conditions, which has prompted two strike votes by the Unite union ( ATWOnline, Jan. 21), now is being challenged in court. "It's about whether an employer can, without due notice or negotiation, systematically change the longstanding contracts of employment of its workforce," Unite National Officer for Civil Aviation Steve Turner said.
After two consecutive quarterly losses, Singapore Airlines Group returned to the black in its third fiscal quarter ended Dec. 31, posting a S$403.7 million ($286.1 million) profit that marked a 19.7% increase from the S$337.2 million earned in the year-ago period.
Japan Airlines did not decide between American Airlines/oneworld and Delta Air Lines/SkyTeam yesterday as expected ( ATWOnline, Feb. 1), with CEO Kazuo Inamori telling reporters that a decision on a partner and alliance will be finalized "as early as possible." Newly appointed President Masaru Onishi said, "We're talking about the alliance with people concerned within the company. It's also not a matter that can be decided by an individual.
UPS said it finished 2009 "on a high note," reporting significant fourth-quarter improvement and closing out the year with a $2.15 billion profit, down 28.3% from the $3 billion earned in 2008. Full-year revenue fell 12% to $45.3 billion against a 10% cut in costs to $41.5 million. The company's operating profit slipped 29.4% to $3.8 billion to $5.38 billion.
Grupo TACA and Avianca yesterday announced the finalization of their merger agreement and the forming of their joint holding company, to be called Avianca-TACA Ltd. It will be domiciled in the Bahamas and held 67% by Avianca parent Synergy Aerospace Corp. and 33% by TACA parent Kingsland Holding.
Austriair, a Vienna-based startup scheduled to launch operations this spring ( ATWOnline, Jan. 18), has changed its name to MAP Jet following complaints over the original name from Austrian Airlines. MAP is an Austrian business jet, charter and ACMI operator and has been contracted by Austriair to fly its three wet-leased E-195s. MD Bosoko Rasovic told ATWOnline that the carrier has no plans to extend its initial network beyond VIE, Munich, Frankfurt and Stuttgart.
Ryanair reported a €10.9 million ($15.1 million) net loss in its fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31, a 90.8% improvement from the €118.8 million lost in the year-ago period, and raised its full-year earnings forecast to €275 million from the "lower end" of the €200-€300 million range. Third-quarter revenue was up a slight 1.2% year-over-year to €611.9 million against a 14.5% fall in operating expenses to €610.5 million. Operating profit of €1.4 million compared to a loss of €109.2 million in the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2008.
The European Commission confirmed yesterday that it is assessing "the effectiveness of proposed commitments" received from oneworld partners British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia designed "to alleviate" its concerns over anticompetitive aspects of their proposed joint venture.
Webjet Linhas Aereas, a Rio de Janeiro Galeao-based LCC, has received an offer from Ryanair to purchase a stake in the carrier. A spokesperson told Bloomberg News that Webjet owner Guilherme Paulus "received a first contact and heard a proposal from Ryanair" and that talks will continue if the Brazilian government passes a law allowing foreigners to own up to 49% of a domestic airline rather than the current limit of 20%. That decision is expected in March. Webjet operates 20 737-300s to 10 destinations.
Delta Air Lines completed the integration of Northwest Airlines' reservation system over the weekend and transitioned all NWA flights and passenger reservations to the DL system, allowing for the retirement of NWA flight numbers and nwa.com. NWA customers will be able to use their original reservation and confirmation numbers, DL said. "Throughout the integration of Delta and Northwest, we've taken a phased, deliberate approach to make the transition simple and seamless for our customers," Senior VP and CIO Theresa Wise said.
Allegiant Air parent Allegiant Travel Co.'s board increased funds available for its common stock repurchase program to $25 million from $10.4 million. The program was launched in January 2009 with $25 million and an additional $10 million was added last July. Allegiant repurchased 637,902 shares with the $24.4 million spent so far.
