NCR Corp. announced the purchase of 40 TouchPort kiosks by China Southern Airlines for deployment in Beijing, Shenzhen, Urumqi and Dalian. CZ already had installed a combined 30 of the CUSS kiosks in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Changchun and Zhengzhou.
Naverus announced that China Eastern Airlines completed a performance based navigation 737 flight at Lhasa last week, marking the first RNP implementation of the aircraft at an airport located higher than 10,000 ft. It also announced the granting of an Instrument Flight Procedure Service Certificate by the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand authorizing it to design, certify and maintain RNP procedures.
Shenzhen Airlines earned net income of CNY500 million ($73.1 million) through the first 11 months of 2009, President Li Kun said, as it signed a financing agreement with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China covering purchase of 15 737-800s worth CNY5 billion. The airline currently operates 33 -800s in its fleet of more than 130 aircraft and expects to introduce 10 aircraft annually over the next few years. Li Kun has been in charge since controlling stakeholder Li Zeyuan was arrested last month and yesterday vowed to maintain stability at the carrier.
Belgium initiated proceedings against Switzerland before the UN International Court of Justice regarding its longstanding dispute over the 2001 bankruptcy of Sabena, in which SAirGroup (formerly Swissair) and its SAirLines subsidiary held a 49.5% stake. Belgium claimed that Switzerland violated the Lugano Convention, "in particular in the judicial domain, [and relating to] the decision by Swiss courts not to recognize a decision by Belgian courts and not to stay proceedings later initiated in Switzerland on the subject of the same dispute," according to the filing.
SR Technics named Titan Aviation President and CEO Raymond Sisson as chief commercial officer. Nexcelle, the GE Middle River Aircraft Systems and Aircelle joint venture, named Michel Abella director-programs. Abella was Aircelle's program manager for its A380 nacelles.
Welcome Air, an Innsbruck-based regional, acquired a 76% stake in financially troubled Air Alps, which also is based in Innsbruck but operates mainly out of Milan Malpensa and Rome Fiumicino in partnership with Alitalia. The new group will operate eight Do-328s and four business jets and focus on niche markets in Central Europe. Financial details of the transaction were not announced. The combined company will produce some €40 million ($57.1 million) in annual revenue and carry around 120,000 passengers.
LAN Airlines signed a contract for the purchase of 30 A320 family aircraft for delivery between 2011 and 2016. LAN said the aircraft are valued at $1.97 billion at list prices and "will be used for the renewal and growth of the company's short-haul fleet." It said it plans to sell five A318s in 2011 as part of the renewal effort. The LAN mainline and its affiliates currently operate 85 passenger aircraft and 11 freighters. The passenger fleet comprises 767-300ERs, A340-300s and A320 family aircraft.
Iberia flew 3.72 billion RPKs in November, a 5.9% decline from the year-ago month. Capacity was cut 6.8% to 4.79 billion ASKs and load factor rose 0.7 point to 77.8%. Norwegian's November yield fell 20% year-over-year to NOK0.55, while unit revenue dropped 21% to NOK0.41. The LCC flew 872 million RPMs last month, up 27%, against a 29% increase in ASKs to 1.18 billion. Load factor dropped 1 point to 74%. Germanwings transported 501,687 passengers in November, down 1.3% year-over-year. Load factor fell 5.8 points to 70.5%.
Estonian government is discussing reacquiring a majority share in Estonian Air by purchasing part of SAS Group's stake, officials told The Baltic Times. OV currently is held by SAS (49%), Estonia (34%) and Cresco investment bank (17%). Prime Minister Andrus Ansip said it will partner with another airline investor on the acquisition. "SAS plans to sell its holding in Estonian Air and has made a corresponding offer to the Estonian state.
Malaysia Airlines, whose current long-haul fleet comprises 747s, 777s and A330s, yesterday announced plans to purchase 15 A330-300s for delivery in 2011-16, with options for an additional 10.
LAN Airlines flew 2.62 billion RPKs in November, up 13.3% from the year-ago month. Capacity rose 8.8% to 3.3 billion ASKs, lifting load factor 3.2 points to 79.5%. Copa Airlines flew 552.9 million RPMs in November, up 14.2% year-over-year, against a 7.8% lift in ASMs to 675.8 million. Load factor rose 4.6 points to 81.8%. SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines flew a combined 1.37 billion RPMs in November a 9.4% increase year-over-year. Capacity was up 7.8% to 1.78 billion ASMs and load factor climbed 1.1 points to 77%.
Qantas took delivery of its fifth A380 Monday and will take the sixth before the New Year. It plans to operate the aircraft on a Melbourne-Singapore-London Heathrow routing beginning Jan. 22. It has flown the A380 between Sydney and LHR since January. From March 29, QF's six A380s will operate daily SYD-Los Angeles, five-times-weekly SYD-SIN-LHR, thrice-weekly MEL-LAX and twice-weekly MEL-SIN-LHR.
Japanese officials said yesterday that the government will not guarantee any loans extended to Japan Airlines ( ATWOnline, Dec. 9). Finance Minister Hirohisa Fujii said the government had agreed to "consider" backing some ¥100 billion ($1.09 billion) in loans from the Development Bank of Japan, "but it did not say we would actually do it." He added: "This is a matter that should be worked out by private companies.
While Turkish Airlines' network and bottom line continue to grow, CEO Temel Kotil admitted to ATWOnline that more is needed to fulfill his ambition to make the carrier a global player--"I'm not satisfied with our image," he said. Speaking to this website in Istanbul, Kotil said THY still has work to do in establishing and increasing the public's confidence in its brand. "We have to show the people that TK is already offering a top product. So far, the [lack of] awareness of our brand is a big problem." He said he is considering increasing the advertising budget.
SkyWorks Leasing announced a mandate to remarket three 757-200SFs for sale or lease. Two are currently on lease with Varig Logistica and will be available in January and May respectively. Aircraft were converted in 2006 at Flightstar Aircraft Services.
Madrid-based Air Comet, which specialized in flights to Latin America, suspended all operations yesterday and had its AOC revoked by Spanish authorities.
Qantas said it will post a pre-tax profit of A$50-A$150 million ($44.5-$133.5 million) for the fiscal first half ending Dec. 31. The company reported a A$216 million net profit in the year-ago period but suffered a pre-tax loss of A$107 million in the six months ended June 30. "Operating conditions have improved when compared to the second half of 2008-09, with passenger volumes and yield improving," QF said yesterday.
UK Competition Appeal Tribunal released a ruling yesterday agreeing with BAA's claim regarding apparent bias in the Competition Commission ruling forcing it to sell London Gatwick and Stansted ( ATWOnline, May 19).
GECAS announced the sale of 15 aircraft valued at some $830 million and currently on lease with various airlines to China Development Bank subsidiary CDB Leasing. CDB President Wang Chong said the transaction "will greatly expand our international presence." It signed a financing deal with Embraer this month ( ATWOnline, Dec. 14).
TAM announced the acquisition of Pantanal Linhas Aereas, a small regional that operates ATR 42s out of Sao Paulo Congonhas. TAM said it paid BRL13 million ($7.3 million) for the shares.
