Virgin Atlantic Airways and Lufthansa confirmed discussions regarding future cooperation and the latter's impending takeover of bmi ( ATWOnline, Dec. 10). "Lufthansa can confirm that it is exploring options regarding the future ownership of BMI. These options include different scenarios," the German carrier said in a statement cited by the BBC.
United Airlines flew 7.47 billion system RPMs in November, a 17% decline from the year-ago month. Capacity fell 14.2% to 9.71 billion ASMs and load factor was down 2.7 points to 76.9% Continental Airlines said November consolidated RASM rose 1%-2% year-over-year and mainline unit revenue climbed 2%-3%. It flew 6.58 billion consolidated RPMs last month, down 10.5%, against a 7.3% fall in ASMs to 8.51 billion. Load factor dropped 2.8 points to 77.3%.
Siemens PLM Software signed a deal with Safran Group's Snecma to provide its Teamcenter lifecycle management solution, which is expected to increase partner and supplier collaboration and improve product development practices. Deployment through three implementation phases will occur over the next three years. Separately, Satair will continue to provide Siemens with product support and serve as its authorized distributor in the Asia/Pacific region under a renewal agreement.
PASSUR Aerospace said Orlando International selected its Pulse Proactive landing fee management technology featuring radar network intelligence, flight information validations, Web transparency and specialized activity filters.
Air New Zealand will conduct the world's first commercial aviation test flight powered by a sustainable second-generation biofuel on Dec. 30. The flight was scheduled for Dec. 3 but was postponed after the loss of one of the airline's A320s during a "return from lease acceptance test flight" in France ( ATWOnline, Nov. 12). The 2-hr.
Mexicana took delivery of an A330-200 on lease from CIT Aerospace. A second will arrive later this month. Aircraft is powered by Trent 772Bs. Separately, MX recently unveiled a new logo and livery featuring an angled eagle's head and two shades of blue.
American Airlines Chairman and CEO Gerard Arpey said this week that the US airline industry "should certainly be at the top of the list of the industries that are deserving of economic stimulus as it relates to infrastructure," the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported. The US government is debating a $14 billion bailout of the country's automobile manufacturing industry, while President-elect Barack Obama said his economic stimulus package likely will include hundreds of millions of dollars of investment in national infrastructure improvements.
China Eastern Airlines, whose stock has been suspended from trading since Nov. 27, said yesterday that it will receive a CNY3 billion ($435.8 million) cash injection from the government, according to press reports. China Southern Airlines received a similar payout late last month ( ATWOnline, Dec. 8).
Nordam Group named Repair Group COO and former CFO Bill Peacher as its new CEO, effective Jan. 1. He succeeds Ken Lackey, who will remain executive chairman.
Eurocontrol said the number of flights in Europe in November fell 7% from the year-ago month and noted that "a decline of this magnitude has not been seen since the months immediately following 9/11." Even low-cost carriers, which for years have been the biggest driver of European growth, operated fewer flights--the first decrease for the segment in 15 years. Conversely, Eastern Europe, particularly Turkey, continued to see growth. Boosted by high oil prices, Russia also has been a significant contributor of new flights on the European network.
Greek air traffic controllers are expected to stage a one-day strike today, forcing the cancellation of all commercial flights, according to press reports. Aegean Airlines confirmed the cancellation of its program on its website.
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey yesterday said it "applauds" the US Court of Appeals decision to stay FAA's slot auctions at New York JFK, LaGuardia and Newark ( ATWOnline, Dec.
Airbus booked 84 firm orders in November, including 51 from Etihad Airways, helping it pull away from Boeing in the 2008 orders race. It also delivered 46 aircraft.
UK CAA yesterday issued its proposals for charges at London Stansted during the five years from April 1 and recommended caps lower than the ones proposed by the Competition Commission last month ( ATWOnline, Nov. 5) "to take account of airport charge revenues from cargo and other non-passenger flights." CAA said caps should be set at £6.34 ($9.39) per passenger for the first two years and then rise to £6.65 for the final three.
Virgin Atlantic Airways President Richard Branson yesterday said that "talks will take place with Lufthansa, maybe are taking place, to see whether it makes sense for the two companies to work together," the Associated Press reported. "There is some logic in the two companies getting together," Branson said. Virgin has maintained interest in either a stake or cooperation with UK rival bmi ( ATWOnline, Nov.
United Airlines parent UAL Corp. announced a sale and leaseback transaction with Wayzata Opportunities Fund II subsidiary East Shore Aircraft covering 15 757s. UAL said the deal will boost liquidity by $150 million.
Delta Air Lines announced a multiyear extension of its branded credit card partnership with American Express that will provide it with more than $2 billion in combined incremental liquidity and contract enhancements. DL said it will receive "an immediate $1 billion boost to its liquidity" from an American Express purchase of SkyMiles, in addition to $1 billion in contract improvements through 2010.
Ukraine International Airlines said yesterday that it plans to buy back the 6% stake held by AerCap for approximately $3.3 million, or $100 per share, Reuters reported. State Property Fund of Ukraine is the controlling shareholder at 61.6% while Austrian Airlines holds 22.5% and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has 9.9%.
Lufthansa Group airlines flew 11.83 billion RPKs in November, up 0.7% from the year-ago month. Capacity rose 3.6% to 15.56 billion ASKs, dropping load factor 2.2 points to 76%. Air Canada and Jazz flew a combined 3.22 billion RPMs in November, down 5.2% year-over-year. Capacity fell 7.5% to 4.15 billion ASMs and load factor rose 1.9 points to 77.6%. JetBlue Airways flew 1.9 billion RPMs in November, a 7.8% year-over-year decrease. Capacity dropped 6.3% to 2.51 billion ASMs and load factor fell 1.3 points to 75.7%.
Skymark Airlines of Japan expects to post a ¥2.1 billion ($22.6 million) loss in the fiscal year ending March 31 but should return to profit the following year, President Shinichi Nishikubo told Bloomberg News. Skymark expects to return two leased 767s, helping it cut costs and boost net earnings to approximately ¥2.6 billion in the 2009-10 fiscal year. It is reconfiguring its fleet around the 737 and plans to operate 11 by the end of the current FY.
Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air parent Alaska Air Group promoted Executive VP-Finance and Planning and CFO Brad Tilden to president. Executive VP-Customer Service Glenn Johnson will succeed Tilden in his current position. Also, VP-Seattle Operations Ben Minicucci was named executive VP-operations and COO, MD-Planning Andrew Harrison was named VP-planning and revenue management and Executive VP-Flight and Marketing Gregg Saretsky will leave the company.
Okay Airways began its one-month passenger service suspension on Saturday rather than the originally scheduled Dec. 15 after airports began demanding cash for fueling services, the Xinhua news agency reported ( ATWOnline, Dec. 8).
Lufthansa will purchase LCC Germanwings from Eurowings, in which LH already holds a 49% stake, according to a statement cited by the Associated Press. "Eurowings can now concentrate more on its core business," CEO Friedrich-Wilhelm Weitholz said. Transfer is expected to occur Jan. 1. Germanwings posted revenue of €630 million ($801 million) last year.
British Airways will reduce the number of aircraft based at London Gatwick to 37 from 41 next summer and cut more than 100 ground operations positions. "We have briefed our staff and their trade unions that the number of departures at Gatwick will reduce by 15% next summer compared to this summer. We aim to have a voluntary severance program in place by the end of the year," BA said in a statement cited by Bloomberg News.
Boliviana de Aviacion, a state-owned startup designed to replace Lloyd Aereo Boliviano, will take delivery of its first two aircraft by year end, GM Ronald Casso told Reuters. Three more will be leased soon, he added, and BdA will begin flying domestic services next year.
