Lufthansa Systems said Malaysia Airlines will use FMS data from the Lido/FMS navigation database for its new 737-800s. It also inked a five-year contract with Brussels Airlines for the use of its SchedConnect codeshare management solution.
Air India Chairman and MD Arvind Jadhav expects the carrier will become a Star Alliance member sometime between June and October 2010, he told ATWOnline in Brussels, although an alliance executive told this website that questions remain concerning AI's readiness. "Making fleet updates, a merger and preparing the carrier for the alliance all at the same time is a difficult task. We will see if AI is able to make it," the Star source said.
US Air Transport Assn. said it expects 41 million passengers to travel on US airlines over the Dec. 17-Jan. 6 winter holiday period, down 2.5% year-over-year. "We are continuing to see fewer air travelers over the holidays, a trend that has been apparent throughout 2009," President and CEO James May said. "Capacity reductions will likely mean fuller flights on many days." ATA said it expects the US government to make military airspace in congested areas available for commercial use during business days.
Bmi CEO Wolfgang Prock-Schauer said this week that he believes the "potential" exists to turn around the loss-making UK carrier and confirmed it recently sold several London Heathrow slots to address the group's liquidity shortage.
EasyJet CEO Andy Harrison will step down at the end of June 2010 in order "to seek new challenges," the carrier announced yesterday, adding that Michael Rake will take over from David Michels as the group's chairman effective Jan. 1, at which point Michels will resume the role of senior independent director. Rake, who also is chairman of telecommunications company BT Group, joined the LCC's board in June as deputy chairman and senior independent director. Harrison joined easyJet from motoring group RAC in December 2005.
American Airlines and Gol announced a codeshare arrangement under which AA will place its code across Gol's domestic network of 49 airports. Launch is pending government approval. The airlines began linking their loyalty programs in August. AA serves five Brazilian destinations.
Brussels Airlines yesterday became the 26th member of Star Alliance in ceremonies in the Belgian capital, 12 months after it was invited to join and following the conclusion of a strategic partnership with Lufthansa, which acquired 45% of parent SN Air Holding in June.
Several US airline executives yesterday expressed cautious optimism that the revenue environment will improve in 2010, while US Airways President Scott Kirby was outright bullish about the coming year. Speaking at the Next Generation Equity Research Airlines Conference in New York, available via webcast, executives said demand has improved steadily since September and predicted the trend will continue into 2010. "I anticipate demand to remain strong," Delta Air Lines CFO Hank Halter said.
China Eastern Airlines will decide which global alliance to join prior to the Chinese New Year on Feb. 14, according to MD Ma Xulun. SkyTeam continues to be the favorite, which likely would lead to Shanghai Airlines' withdrawal from Star Alliance. CEA's acquisition of SAL received final approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission last month ( ATWOnline, Dec. 1).
AerData, the Amsterdam-based provider of software and back office services for aircraft asset managers, acquired EFPAC Ltd. from TES Aviation Group. According to AerData, UK-based EFPAC develops and supplies asset management software for aircraft engines that combines technical aspects of engine management with financial reporting on maintenance costs.
AirTran Airways and JetBlue Airways, both profitable through the first three quarters of 2009, said during yesterday's Next Generation Equity Research Airlines Conference that they are maintaining a positive outlook for the current quarter and 2010. "We've successfully repositioned ourselves for both good times and bad," AirTran Senior VP-Finance, Treasurer and CFO Arne Haak said. Capacity measured in ASMs is expected to shrink 2%-3% for the full year but should grow 7% in the fourth quarter on a 7%-8% decrease in unit revenue. "Yields are improving.
Star Alliance is holding exploratory talks with Ethiopian Airlines and will discuss the African carrier's potential membership at its chief executive board meeting today in Brussels, Star CEO Jaan Albrecht confirmed to ATWOnline. "We have been talking to them as part of our strategy to fill in our white spots on the world map," he said, pointing out that that while small in market share, Central Africa is showing strong growth. A decision on ET is not "imminent," he stressed, and an announcement can be expected in the first half of 2010.
Malev Hungarian Airlines expects to lose HUF5-HUF7 billion ($27.1-$38 million) this year, reduced from HUF10 billion in 2008, CEO Martin Gauss told Pester Lloyd this week. The carrier is shooting for a profitable 2012.
Continental Airlines said the overallotment option has been exercised on the convertible note offering announced this week and that it will issue $230 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.5% convertible notes due 2015 ( ATWOnline, Dec. 8). Net proceeds are expected to be around $224 million.
Delta TechOps signed a five-year agreement with Skymark Airlines of Japan to provide CFM56-7B maintenance in partnership with Evergreen Aviation Technologies.
Air Algerie signed a deal for four ATR 72-500s worth approximately $82 million, ATR announced yesterday. Aircraft will seat 66 passengers each and will deliver next year. The carrier already operates eight of the type. "The ATRs allow us to open up regions not able to receive other types of aircraft. We are therefore doubly satisfied to be able to provide high-quality public service and coverage over all the national territory," AH President, CEO and MD Abdelwahid Bouabdallah said.
Thales signed a five-year repair-by-the-hr. agreement with EVA Air for support and maintenance of a selection of avionics equipment aboard its 11 A330s.
Commercial aviation's carbon footprint in 2009 will fall 7% from the "just under" 670 million tonnes of carbon dioxide produced in 2008, IATA DG and CEO Giovanni Bisignani said at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. The global recession is responsible for a 5% reduction, while strategies employed by airlines resulted in a further 2% cut. "Shortening routes, spreading best practice in fuel management and using more efficient ways to land are among the measures that we are implementing to reduce emissions. Since 2004, our. .
United Airlines yesterday announced an order for 50 long-haul aircraft evenly split between the A350-900 and 787, along with purchase rights for 50 of each type, claiming that the "breadth in size and capabilities of the different aircraft models ensure the company has the right aircraft for the right market through the fleet replacement cycle." The order was United's first for new aircraft since 1998. Boeing said the deal was not yet finalized and that it has not added the Dreamliners to its Orders and Deliveries'list.
Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal said yesterday at the US-India Aviation Partnership Summit in Washington that consolidation among Indian airlines is inevitable and will be necessary to restore financial sanity to the market.
Japanese Transport Minister Seiji Maehara rejected widespread reports that the government has decided to provide ¥700 billion ($7.74 billion) in credit guarantees to Japan Airlines. "We haven't decided how to fund state guarantees for JAL yet, let alone the size of such potential guarantees," he told reporters yesterday.
Copa Airlines announced an order for an additional two 737-800s scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2010. In July, the carrier placed an order for 13 -800s for delivery in 2012-15, plus eight options for 2015-17 delivery ( ATWOnline, July 17). It did not say how the new delivery positions became available or whether the two new firm orders represented option conversions.
