Engine Alliance GP7200-powered A380 received type certification from US FAA and EASA, the GE Aviation/Pratt & Whitney joint venture announced. The GP7200 accumulated 2,855 engine flight hr. along with extensive ground testing and is scheduled to enter service next year with Emirates.
While JetBlue Airways executives continued to insist that Lufthansa's eye-opening $309.6 million investment in the New York-based LCC was nothing but a financial transaction, Lufthansa revealed Friday that it may have more strategic goals in mind. "They're a premium product supplier. They have a stronghold along the East Coast that we wouldn't find elsewhere, and they're very complementary to our routes and our alliance partners," LH CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber was quoted as saying at a Friday news conference.
The grounding and disposal of its 27 Q400s continues to be a major issue at SAS Group, which is faced with choosing a replacement while pursuing compensation from Bombardier and deciding what to do with the employees charged with operating the turboprops, CEO Mats Jansson said during last week's Star Alliance meeting in Beijing.
Airbus reached a historic milestone Friday, delivering its 5000th aircraft (an A330-200 to Qantas) at a special, although low-key, ceremony in Toulouse. Its first aircraft, an A300B2, was delivered to Air France in May 1974 and nine years passed before it delivered its 1,000th. With growing acceptance of its expanding product line, the 2000th was delivered in 1999, the 3000th in 2002 and the 4000th in 2005. Since 2001, Airbus has secured at least 50% of the market for airliners over 100 seats.
Qantas yesterday said it now expects its pre-tax profit for the fiscal year ending next June 30 will increase approximately 40% year-over-year, rather than the 30% forecast last August. It posted a A$1.03 billion ($907.8 million) pre-tax profit in the 12 months ended June 30, 2007. "Since then, Qantas's operating businesses have continued to perform strongly, with the results for the first five months of 2007-08 above forecast and the forward booking profile also remaining robust," CEO Geoff Dixon said.
China Eastern Airlines said yesterday that it formally has established a "strategic cooperation partnership" with Singapore Airlines and parent Temasek ahead of next month's shareholder vote on SIA/Tamasek's 24% stake purchase, and Chairman Li Fenghua insisted the deal is final, pointing out that minority shareholder Air China would be defying the Chinese government if it voted to block the sale.
Babcock & Brown announced the acquisition of seven aircraft currently on lease with four carriers. The planes, worth a combined $250 million, will increase the lessor's portfolio to 54 aircraft, it said. The purchase comprises four A319-100s on lease to US Airways, one A320-200 on lease to Clickair, one 737-900ER on lease to SpiceJet and one 747-400 on lease to United Airlines. B&B CEO Colm Barrington said, "Market conditions remain robust, with strong demand from airlines for new aircraft and insufficient capacity from manufacturers to meet this demand."
Reluctant to pursue acquisition opportunities currently available in Europe, Lufthansa instead opted to invest approximately $300 million in a recently loss-making carrier based in one of the world's most saturated and volatile markets. The German giant yesterday announced the acquisition of 19% of the equity of JetBlue Airways, a move that Chairman and CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber said marked "a compelling opportunity to invest in the US point-to-point carrier market as the industry continues to evolve."
GE Commercial Aviation Services yesterday announced that it has ordered 53 737-800s and two 777-300ERs collectively valued at $4.5 billion. The massive order includes an exercise of existing options and was listed last week by Boeing as placed by an unidentified customer. "This additional order with Boeing will allow GECAS to help our customers around the world benefit from. . .leading-edge operational efficiency," President and CEO Henry Hubschman said.
Alitalia once again postponed its decision on an investor, this time scheduling a board meeting for Dec. 18 following yesterday's receipt of a letter signed by representatives of SA Holdings, Evergreen LLC and THL Transportation regarding the consortium's interest in the Italian government's 49.9% stake in the airline. AZ had said it would choose an exclusive negotiating partner from a group comprising Air France KLM, Air One and a consortium led by an Italian attorney at yesterday's board meeting ( ATWOnline, Dec.
Airbus announced creation of the Airbus Maintenance Training Network designed to extend its MRO Network and simplify access to its training courses. Contracts with major training providers include Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. Ltd., Iberia Maintenance & Engineering, SIA Engineering Co., Sogerma Training and SR Technics, according to the aircraft manufacturer. Computer assisted training, Virtual Aircraft and the Airbus active learning and competence focused training concept are some of the learning tools available.
Lufthansa Chairman and CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber, whose company yesterday announced a surprising foray into the US market with its investment in JetBlue Airways (see story above), confirmed to ATWOnline in Beijing that LH will not bid for Iberia despite the Spanish carrier's strong position in Europe and last month's withdrawal of the British Airways/TPG consortium ( ATWOnline, Nov. 28).
In line with its strategy to fill in the so-called "white spots" in a network that now spans 897 destinations in 160 countries, the Star Alliance Board of Chief Executives Thursday voted to accept the application of Air India to become a member.
SR Technics reached a seven-year Integrated Engine Solutions deal with Air India covering its A330-200s and a three-year IES agreement with Vietnam Airlines covering three A330s. Contracts include MRO services on PW4168s to be conducted at SRT's shop in Zurich.
CIT Aerospace ordered five 737NGs just two days after announcing a deal to purchase 15 737-800s from Ryanair ( ATWOnline, Dec. 11). Aircraft are worth around $311 million at list prices and will be delivered in 2011 along with the last of the 10 737 NGs previously ordered by CIT.
Under the motto "Sharing Unbounded Space," Air China and Shanghai Airlines formally joined Star Alliance yesterday at a ceremony held in the vast new Terminal 3 at Beijing Capital International Airport.
Hamilton Sundstrand was selected by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to provide the electrical system, fire detection and suppression system, air management system, APU and flap/slat actuation system on the new Mitsubishi Regional Jet. MHI already has selected the Geared Turbofan produced by HS's United Technologies partner Pratt & Whitney ( ATWOnline, Nov. 14).
SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines flew 1.44 billion RPMs in November, up 10.7% from the year-ago month. Capacity increased 12.3% to 1.9 billion ASMs and load factor dropped 1.1 points to 75.6%. Midwest Air Group flew 380.7 million RPMs in November, up 14.2% from the year-ago month. Capacity climbed 21.1% to 545.7 million ASMs and load factor fell 4.2 points to 69.8%. Yield rose an estimated 4% to 15.51 cents and passenger unit revenue fell an estimated 2% to 10.82 cents.
Singapore Airlines' new A380 has performed with 100% reliability since the carrier placed it in operation about a month ago, CEO Chew Choong Seng told ATWOnline during the Star Alliance event in Beijing.
Alitalia board is scheduled to meet today to discuss bids by Air France KLM, Air One/AP Holding and a consortium led by an Italian attorney ( ATWOnline, Dec. 11). The company said that "at the end of the . . . meeting, a press release will be issued announcing the decisions taken." AF KLM Chairman Jean-Cyril Spinetta promised yesterday in Milan that his company's bid does not include cuts at the loss-making flag carrier.
Frontier Airlines yesterday celebrated the "birth" of its new regional subsidiary, Lynx Aviation, after months of delays. The first flight took place Dec. 7 from Denver to Billings aboard one of Lynx's 10 Q400s. "We can move into markets with less competition and have more opportunity to feed connecting traffic through our hub, all with a very fuel efficient aircraft that burns 30% less fuel than a comparably sized regional jet," Frontier President and CEO Sean Menke said.
UK House of Lords Science and Technology Committee issued a report calling on the government to tax "premium economy" seats on long-haul flights at the same £40 ($82) rate as economy seats rather than, as is current practice, at the £80 rate it charges for first class seats. The committee argued that "premium economy was intended to represent a small extra charge to guarantee extra legroom for those who required it. .
Jordanian government yesterday announced the "successful completion" of an IPO of 71% of flag carrier Royal Jordanian at JOD3.08 ($4.32) per offer share ( ATWOnline, Dec. 5). With 59.9 million shares being sold, the market capitalization of the carrier is JOD260 million. Total proceeds came to JOD164.5 million. The shares are expected to begin trading on Dec. 17.
China Southern Airlines announced the launch of a new telephone payment system that will allow customers to book their e-tickets with a CZ representative rather than directly entering their credit card information. CZ flew 6.79 billion RPKs in November, up 18.6% from the year-ago month. Capacity rose 10.5% to 8.89 billion ASKs, lifting load factor 5.2 points to 76.4%.
China Airlines said yesterday that its board approved the signing of a letter of intent with Airbus to purchase 14 A350-900s plus six options valued at $4.2 billion if all options are exercised.
