LLamasoft released Version 4.0 of its Supply Chain Guru network design software featuring data importation and modeling options, a new simulation engine, multitime period optimization and production process and transportation modeling.
Air France KLM's nonbinding bid for Alitalia received unanimous approval from the Italian airline's board Friday, setting up an intriguing debate next month when the government will have to decide whether to turn over ownership and management of its flag carrier to a foreign company.
CSA Czech Airlines approved the sale of its Air Czech Catering subsidiary to Italian company Alpha Overseas Holdings. Sale is subject so shareholder approval at a meeting scheduled for next month. "By selling the catering service we will succeed in disengaging ourselves from past debts and freeing up funds for the further development of the company without the help of the owner," President Radomir Lasak said. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Iberia said it will not open its books to a Spanish consortium led by Gala Capital, which approached the airline last month with a suggested offer of €3.60-€3.90 ($5.17-$5.60) per share ( ATWOnline, Nov. 28). "For the board of directors it is essential to maintain a framework of stability and certainty, which is being compromised by the excessive delay in the analysis of the company undertaken by interested third parties who, to date, have not submitted any binding offer," IB said.
Bmi is looking for additional capacity, possibly 757s or 767-200s, to support growth on several former BMED routes, Chairman Michael Bishop told ATWOnline at the recent Star Alliance meeting in Beijing. "We are looking for interim aircraft to improve the competitive element of our operation to certain destinations, which I can't disclose at the moment. But I can say that three of the routes that we inherited [from former British Airways franchise operator BMED] look to us as if they are capable of almost immediate development and expansion into bigger aircraft," he said.
China Eastern Airlines is confident that its stake sale deal with Singapore Airlines and parent Temasek will be approved at the shareholders conference scheduled for Jan. 8 despite Air China's calling the move "a wrong step." CEA President Li Fenghua said, "So far we haven't got any indication that it will be vetoed in January. Air China, one of our stakeholders, should have little chance of rejecting it." But Air China VP Fan Cheng holds a different view ( ATWOnline, Dec. 5).
Workers at BAA airports represented by Unite voted to conduct 24-hr. strikes at all seven facilities from 6 a.m. on Jan. 7, 14, 17 and 18 in protest of BAA's decision to close the final salary pension scheme to new members. BAA said in a statement that it would "work hard to resolve this issue."
Vietnam Airlines and its leasing arm Vietnam Aircraft Leasing Co. firmed up commitments for 10 A350 XWB-900s and 20 A321s worth a combined $3.8 billion at list prices ( ATWOnline, Oct. 2). Contracts were signed in Hanoi by Vietnam Airlines CEO Pham Ngoc Minh and Airbus COO-Customers John Leahy. The A321s will be delivered from 2012 and the A350s from 2016. VN will take the A350s and 10 A321s while VALC will acquire the remaining A321s.
FedEx reported net income for its fiscal second quarter ended Nov. 30 of $479 million, down 6% from $511 million last year despite a 6% boost in revenue to $9.45 billion. Chairman, President and CEO Frederick Smith cited "high fuel prices and weak US economic growth" in explaining the profit drop. He added that "challenging near-term economic trends" likely will affect earnings for the remainder of the fiscal year, but said long-term confidence remains high, particularly in its international express business.
Jade Cargo International named Lufthansa Cargo Head of Transport Management and Flight Operations Kay Kratky as its new GM. Claus Richter, who had been head of operational support and acting leader of flight operations at LH's passenger division, will succeed Kratky.
Air France announced yesterday that passengers onboard an A318 operating in Europe now can send and receive SMS and MMS messages and e-mails via mobile phones with Internet access using the Mobile OnAir system. The capability is similar to the one JetBlue Airways launched last week on an A320 ( ATWOnline, Dec. 12). First flight occurred Monday between Paris Charles de Gaulle and Warsaw.
Iberia flew 4.42 billion RPKs in November, up 5.2% on the year-ago month. Capacity rose 3.3% to 5.55 billion ASKs, lifting load factor 1.4 points to 79.5%.
Kingfisher Airlines and Deccan Aviation boards have decided to merge the companies, according to widespread press reports from India, paving the way for Kingfisher to gain clearance to operate internationally next year ( ATWOnline, Oct. 15). Kingfisher parent UB Group holds 46% of Deccan and recently renamed its low-cost airline Simplifly Deccan, repainting its aircraft in red-and-white Kingfisher livery. The two brands will remain after the merger, with Kingfisher the full-service carrier.
Big Sky Airlines, a subsidiary of MAIR Holdings, will shutter its US East Coast operations as a Delta Connection partner on Jan. 7. MAIR plans to sell seven Big Sky Beech 1900s and will attempt to offload its operating certificate as well, President Paul Foley said. Big Sky has been operating the 19-seat turboprops under codeshare with DL since April.
TAP Portugal expects to report positive results for 2007, its second straight year in the black, despite increasing competition from low-cost carriers. "All parameters are good, even very good, and they would have been a lot better if we did not face these very high fuel prices," CEO Fernando Pinto told ATWOnline during the Star Alliance meeting last week in Beijing. The carrier made €7.3 million ($11.4 million) in 2006 ( ATWOnline, March 14).
GE Aviation reached a 10-year material management deal with Evergreen Aviation Technologies covering CF6-80C2s for EGAT third-party customers. GE's OnPoint Solution contract includes overhaul, on-wing support, new and used serviceable parts, component repair, technology upgrades and engine leasing and diagnostics.
Qantas and MAS Aerospace Engineering, a wholly owned subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, signed an MOU to form a joint venture to provide aircraft maintenance services from Malaysia. Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon said the new company will target the rapidly growing Asia/Pacific MRO market, which is expected to reach $15 billion by 2016. It also will perform overflow airframe maintenance for QF and its subsidiary airlines. Dixon said he was confident the companies would create a world-class yet cost-competitive MRO.
United Airlines expects fourth-quarter mainline passenger RASM to increase 11.5%-12.5% year-over-year and consolidated PRASM to rise 11%-12% from the year-ago quarter, it said in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Mainline RPMs are expected to decline 1.25%-1.75% against a 0.8% drop in capacity, while consolidated RPMs will fall at the same rate but against a 0.5% ASM decline. "North American PRASM has strengthened supported by capacity reductions while international PRASM remains strong," UA said.
Finnair said FL Group, the second-largest shareholder in the carrier behind the Finnish government, reduced its stake to 12.7% from 24.4% by selling 15 million shares. The Icelandic investor said the move "is in line with FL Group's strategy to lower exposure to the aviation sector" and would result in a ISK2.8 billion ($44.4 million) loss. FLG said it remains the second-largest shareholder and "continues to support Finnair's ambitious growth strategy."
Grupo Marsans said yesterday that it has made a formal offer for SAS subsidiary Spanair and that it expects a reply in early 2008, according to press reports from Madrid ( ATWOnline, Oct. 5). Marsans' business plan reportedly includes the opening of a hub in Barcelona.
Delta Air Lines named United Airlines Cargo VP-Sales and Marketing Neel Shah as VP-cargo effective Jan. 14. He replaces MD-Cargo Ben Darnell, who is leaving the company.
Skybus Airlines lost $16 million in the third quarter, according to statistics the startup LCC provided to the US Dept. of Transportation and cited by several press reports. Revenue was $22 million as the carrier achieved a 79% load factor. Yield was just 5.08 cents. The Ohio-based airline told media that the results were "in line" with expectations.
Airbus and parent EADS yesterday selected "preferred bidders" for the partial divestiture of six industrial plants to "partners," tabbing GKN, Latecoere and MT Aerospace.
