Caribbean Sun Airlines and Caribbean Star Airlines are working with Decision Strategies Inc. on a comprehensive "strategic business plan" for long-term growth and development, the companies said in a statement. The carriers are affiliated but operate as separate companies providing Regional service to 18 Caribbean destinations, although they now are considering expanding "to other areas of the region and beyond," according to CEO Skip Barnette.
Embraer 170 has been certified by Brazilian and European aviation authorities to perform CAT IIIa autoland operations. Aircraft also is certified for CAT I and CAT II operational conditions. Certification is expected soon from US FAA.
US Dept. of Transportation reported yesterday that domestic traffic in November grew 2.3% to 43.87 billion RPMs. Capacity fell 2.2% to 59.87 billion ASMs, lifting load factor 3.3 points to 73.3%. Southwest Airlines led with 7.4 million enplanements. Mountain Air Cargo of North Carolina carried 8.2 million lb. of freight in January.
Air France-KLM reported a sharp increase in net earnings in the third fiscal quarter ended Dec. 31 to €77 million ($91.7 million) from €23 million in the year-ago quarter thanks to "dynamic" passenger activity featuring record load factors and strong unit revenues plus an "encouraging recovery" of its cargo business.
Republic Airways, which operates Republic Airlines, Chautauqua Airlines and Shuttle America, reported a net income of $60.6 million for 2005 compared to a $38.8 million profit the prior year. Operating revenues jumped 40% to $905 million as expenses increased 34.5% to $746.3 million, leading to a 73.8% rise in operating profit to $158.7 million. Traffic grew 47.5% to 4.52 billion RPMs on a 42.1% capacity increase to 6.56 billion ASMs, sending load factor up 2.5 points to 68.8%. Republic lifted its operating fleet to 142 aircraft from 111 in 2004.
Northwest Airlines and its unions were given an extra week to reach an accord by a US Bankruptcy Court yesterday. Judge Allan Gropper originally was scheduled to rule Thursday whether the carrier could cancel agreements with its pilots and flight attendants, but after meeting with attorneys during the day he gave NWA and its unions until close of business on Feb. 24 to negotiate. "We will continue our efforts to reach a consensual agreement," Professional Flight Attendants Assn. President Guy Meek said.
SITA and Airservices Australia announced an alliance to offer ADS-B services across Australia's entire upper-level airspace by early 2007. The two also will support an Indonesian Directorate General for Air Communications ADS-B trial in Indonesia.
Jet Airways, fresh off its acquisition of Air Sahara, is considering ordering the A380 or 747-8, CEO Wolfgang Prock-Schauer told ATWOnline. He said delivery positions for either aircraft will not be available before the 2010-11 timeframe, "when we will need more capacity."
Airbus said it is studying two types of wingtip devices for the A320 family to improve aerodynamic performance and reduce fuel burn. The devices will be flight-tested on Airbus's A320 development aircraft in March. In addition, JetBlue Airways will provide an A320 for part of the test program. Winglet Technology LLC, located in Wichita, will supply one of the winglet designs for testing. Airbus said development of the devices is the result of "more sophisticated analysis techniques," in particular arising out of the A380 program.
Swedish LCC FlyMe has committed to acquiring Lithuanian Airlines. FlyMe will be issued a 33% stake in Lithuanian and gain control through the appointment of a new MD and the majority of the board. It will purchase the remaining shares over the next three years. FlyMe, headquartered in Gothenburg, launched two years ago and operates five 737s. Lithuanian, which was privatized last year, flies five 737-500s and two Saab 2000s and runs its own MRO operation.
Temasek Holdings, the controlling shareholder of Singapore Airlines and a major investor in two Singapore-based LCCs, Tiger Airways and Jetstar Asia, will retain a sizeable stake in Thai AirAsia under a new ownership structure announced yesterday to keep the carrier in compliance with Thai laws on foreign ownership. Last week, Temasek acquired Thai telecom giant Shin Corp. ( ATWOnline, Feb. 9), which owns 50% of Thai AirAsia. The other major shareholder is AirAsia with 49%. Thai AirAsia CEO Tasapon Bijleveld holds 1%.
Delta Air Lines' turbulent year, which featured its September bankruptcy filing, ended with a net loss of $3.82 billion, or $2.21 billion excluding reorganization and special items, with the former figure representing a 26.5% improvement over a 2004 deficit of $5.2 billion.
US FAA named Dr. Frederick Tilton the new Federal Air Surgeon. He served as deputy Federal Air Surgeon for the past six years and replaces recently retired Dr. Jon Jordan.
Hawaiian Airlines signed letters of intent to acquire four 767-300s rejected by Delta Air Lines during its bankruptcy reorganization and said yesterday that it will announce the dates of delivery and introduction into service at a later date. The four aircraft will be overhauled and configured with 18 first class and 242 coach seats and will bring Hawaiian's dash 300 fleet to 18.
ANA's board of directors decided yesterday to sell 230.5 million shares of common stock, with an overallotment option of 19.5 million additional shares. The shares constitute about 14% of ANA's outstanding stock and are worth approximately ¥109.6 billion ($929.7 million), according to news reports. The subscription period is scheduled for March 6-8.
SkyEurope Airlines is shifting capacity from Poland, where low-cost competitor Wizz Air holds sway, to the Czech Republic, where the Slovakian carrier will open its fifth base at Prague Ruzyni. "In spite of being influenced by the low-cost revolution mostly from the UK, the market in Prague remains underserved and missed a dedicated low-cost, low-fare airline based there," SkyEurope said. It will take delivery of 16 149-seat 737-700s over the next two years and will base a pair in Prague.
Bombardier said it delivered 337 aircraft in 2005, up slightly over the 329 delivered in 2004. But the increase was owing to robust business jets sales rather than commercial aircraft. Of last year's delivery total, 149 were commercial aircraft compared to 200 in 2004.
Thai Airways said it earned a profit of THB3.8 billion ($96.6 million) in its first fiscal quarter ended Dec. 31, a 33% drop from the THB5.72 billion profit posted in the year-ago quarter, Reuters reported.
Freddie Laker, whose name became synonymous with low fares, died Feb. 9 in Hollywood, Fla. He was 83. Aviator, showman, entrepreneur and populist, Laker briefly shook up the transatlantic established order with his Skytrain service before going bust as a result of his own mistakes, a ruthless and even illegal response by incumbent competitors, fallout from the DC-10 grounding and the global recession of the early 1980s.
SAS Group yesterday overruled objections by its pilots unions in Sweden and Denmark and announced it is implementing "the operational transfer" of the pilots into the individual airline units in each country effective March 1.
Aegean Airlines extended its engine maintenance and repair agreement with Snecma Services for two more years, until 2009. The deal covers Aegean's CFM56-3s. The original contract, signed in March 2004, encompassed engine MRO plus analysis of inflight performance. The extension includes an exclusive Time & Material provision.
Sabre Airline Solutions said Gulf Air and TAP Portugal signed to use its AirServIn-Flight Solutions systems "allowing them to integrate their entire range of catering and cabin services management and drive savings of up to 15% from their total catering budgets." Separately, Sabre Travel Network signed a long-term GDS agreement with online travel agency priceline.com.
Shandong Airlines advised the Shandong Stock Exchange that it will acquire eight 737-800s to be delivered in 2007 and 2008. Six will be purchased from Boeing and two will be leased. Thomas Cook Airlines said it will lease a third A330-200 from CIT Group for delivery in October. Aircraft is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700s.
Hamburg International, a German charter airline, ordered 14 A319s and took options on a further six. The contract was signed in December, Airbus said. Engine choice and delivery dates were not announced. According to ATW's "World Airline Report," the carrier currently operates six leased 737-700s, which it will replace with the new aircraft.
