Air Canada reported a 2009 net loss of C$24 million ($22.4 million), significantly improved over a net loss of C$1.03 billion in 2008, as it was helped by C$657 million in gains on foreign exchange that were reversed from C$655 million in losses in the prior year.
Kingfisher Airlines was granted traffic rights from New Delhi to London Heathrow (its first European destination), Hong Kong, Bangkok and Dubai and from Mumbai to Colombo, Bangkok and Dubai. No launch date was announced. Kingfisher will operate A330s to LHR and HKG and A320 family aircraft on the remaining routes. Chairman and CEO Vijay Mallya said it "may even look at inducting new aircraft into our fleet sooner than planned so that we are fully geared to capitalize on the upturn. We are actively pursuing various options for fundraising and our plans are on track."
SAS Group lost SEK2.95 billion ($400 million) in 2009, improved 53.7% from the SEK6.36 billion deficit suffered the year before, but the company felt additional cost cuts were necessary and extended its Core SAS cost reduction program by SEK2 billion to SEK7.3 billion.
Jazz Air parent Jazz Air Income Fund yesterday announced a 2009 profit of C$92.6 million ($86.5 million), reversed from a C$9.4 million loss in 2008, and said it signed a letter of intent to purchase 15 Q400 NextGens plus 15 options for Air Canada's regional partner. Jazz Air parent Jazz Air Income Fund yesterday announced a 2009 profit of C$92.6 million ($86.5 million), reversed from a C$9.4 million loss in 2008, and said it signed a letter of intent to purchase 15 Q400 NextGens plus 15 options for Air Canada's regional partner.
Months of high-stakes jockeying between oneworld's American Airlines and SkyTeam's Delta Air Lines over partnering with troubled Japan Airlines came to an end yesterday when JAL announced it will stay in oneworld and jointly apply for antitrust immunity on transpacific routes with AA.
The Thai Airways board announced plans to lease 15 widebody aircraft over the next five years, requiring an investment of THB35.48 billion ($1.07 billion).
Kenya Airways flew 2.14 billion RPKs in the fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31, up 1% year-over-year. Capacity rose 5% to 3.18 billion ASKs and load factor slipped 2.2 points to 67.4%. Passenger numbers rose 4.2% to 773,079.
UPS Airlines said it will begin furloughing "at least" 300 pilots in phases beginning in May unless it can "find a solution with the pilots' union that would avert or mitigate the layoffs before they take effect." UPS's 2,800 pilots, represented by the Independent Pilots Assn., agreed with the company last June to take "a variety of voluntary steps" to cut $90 million in costs in exchange for a promise from management that there would be no furloughs through April 1, 2010 ( ATWOnline, June 10, 2009).
Pratt & Whitney announced that Hong Kong Airlines selected the PW4170 Advantage 70 to power the six A330-200s it ordered last week at the Singapore Airshow ( ATWOnline, Feb. 5).
Unable to arrange a purchase of the aircraft leasing giant he founded from parent American International Group, ILFC CEO Steven Udvar-Hazy retired from the company Friday.
SpiceJet reported a company record INR1.09 billion ($23.5 million) profit in its fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31, reversed from a INR179.6 million deficit in the year-ago period that resulted largely from a INR187.8 million charge related to a dispute with an investor.
Finnair reported a 2009 net loss of €102 million ($142.2 million), more than double the €46.3 million loss it suffered in 2008, citing a "historically difficult year" in which demand and yield plunged.
Chile President-elect Sebastian Pinera on Friday approved the sale of his 26% stake in LAN Airlines, the largest single shareholding in the carrier, clearing the way for the Cueto family, which owns the second-largest share at between 20% and 25%, to buy some or all of the wealthy politician's holding. Pinera takes office next month and has promised to sell his holdings in LAN and other Chilean companies to avoid conflicts of interest. His LAN stake is worth $1.5 billion, according to Reuters.
Gulf Air was transferred from government investment vehicle Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding to the government, which will own it directly, according to a Mumtalakat statement cited by Reuters. The airline expects to post a 2009 operating loss of $510 million.
Virgin Blue estimated that its profit before tax and exceptional items for the fiscal year ending June 30 will be A$80-A$110 million ($69.2-$95.2 million), compared to a loss of A$93 million in the prior year. CEO Brett Godfrey told shareholders in November that Blue expected to return to the black this year ( ATWOnline, Dec. 1, 2009).
British Airways maintained its stark outlook and warned of "record losses" in its fiscal year ending March 31 despite sharp cost cuts and a better-than-expected third-quarter loss of £37.5 million ($58.9 million), narrowed 52% from the £78 million deficit suffered in the year-ago period.
American Airlines flew 9.68 billion system RPMs in January, up 0.4% year-over-year. Capacity fell 2.7% to 12.71 billion ASMs, lifting load factor 2.4 points to 76.2%. American Eagle flew 569.7 million RPMs, up 9.1%, while capacity rose 5.1% to 895.8 million ASMs and load factor climbed 2.4 points to 63.6%. US Airways Group consolidated January passenger RASM rose approximately 2% year-over-year while total RASM was up some 3%, the company said. It flew 4.44 billion consolidated RPMs during the month, down 1.3%, against a 0.6% cut in capacity to 5.96 billion ASMs.
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. .
