Last year's surge in new and conversion freighter programs confirms the confidence felt within the air transport community regarding the intermediate- and long-term outlook for air cargo. In May Boeing launched the 777 Freighter. At the end of October it moved forward with the 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighter and followed this in mid-November with the program launch of the 747-8, which is being offered in both freighter and passenger versions. Significantly, the first orders were for the freighter.
Nothing succeeds like success. Perhaps this is the explanation for Emirates' phenomenal performance over the past two decades, a period in which it has experienced only one annual loss. From a two-airplane, four-city network launched on Oct. 25, 1985, it has grown into the world's ninth-largest international passenger carrier in terms of RPKs, serving 77 cities in 54 countries.
Vietnam Airlines said Thursday that its revenues for the first 11 months of 2005 totaled VND22 trillion ($1.38 billion), according to Vietnamese media reports. It flew 6.8 million passengers during the period.
Airbus last week laid the first stone in its new delivery center on a 40-hectare site near Toulouse-Blagnac International Airport. The four-building complex will be equipped to handle the deliveries of all aircraft leaving Toulouse including the A380. The facility is due to be completed in October 2006. Separately, Airbus announced that the PW6000-powered version of the A318 was granted type certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency following a year-long test period. The A318 was powered originally by CFM56-5Bs.
Volvo Aero was selected by GE as a component supplier for the GE90-115Bs used on the 777-200LR and 777-300ER. The 10-year deal is worth SEK2 billion ($251.3 million). Volvo will manufacture fan hub frames, low pressure turbine cases and turbine rear frames.
Delta Air Lines asked the US Bankruptcy Court last week for permission to shut down 16 of its 24 gates at Orlando International Airport, breaking a lease due to expire at the end of 2008. The carrier's sway over Orlando began to erode earlier this year as Southwest Airlines took the lead in market share there, but a Delta spokesperson said the company has no intention of reducing its commitment to the market, according to media reports. It will maintain its average of 115 flights per day although capacity will decrease by about 6%.
Singapore Airlines hosed down media speculation that it is about to order 80 aircraft from Boeing made up of 777-200LRs, 787s and 747-8Fs. SIA has issued three RFPs--one for 19-hr. nonstop capability, one for A350/787 regional capability and the third for high capacity in the A380/747-8 range.
Alpine Air announced it was awarded contracts to fly cargo routes between Honolulu and Kamuela and Honolulu and Lanai-Kalapapa-Molokai. SAS Cargo received its Cargo 2000 certification last week.
Royal Jordanian added its second leased 72-seat Q400 last week. BAE Systems Regional Aircraft leased and delivered a second BAe 146-100 to Air Botswana, which will use it mainly on its Gaborone-Johannesburg route. The carrier also signed a JetSpares agreement with BAE covering both of its 146s.
Slovakian Privatization Commission announced it will recommend the 66% sale of Bratislava Airport to the TwoOne consortium comprising Vienna Airport, RZB Bank and Slovakian investment company Penta. The deal is worth €368 million ($436.5 million) and includes Kosice Airport for €34 million. The government will vote on the deal in January.
Pratt & Whitney Canada appointed Lufthansa Aero as the first independent MRO facility for its PW150 turboprop engines. The work will take place at LH's facility in Alzey, Germany.
Heico Corp. reported net income of $6.6 million for the fourth quarter ended Oct. 31, a 28.2% increase over profits from the year-ago period. The Florida-based aerospace technology and services company increased sales by 25.5% to $76.5 million and reported a 28% rise in operating income to $12.8 million. Expenses climbed 25% to $63.7 million. FY profits totaled $22.8 million, a 10.6% increase from $20.6 million.
Northwest Airlines received approval from the US Bankruptcy Court for its aircraft financing deal with Airbus and Pratt & Whitney ( ATWOnline, Dec. 12). Airbus will finance 85% of soon-to-be-delivered A319s and 10 A330s scheduled for delivery in the next two years, according to media reports. Prepayments of approximately $100 million made by NWA prior to its entry into bankruptcy will be allocated to the aircraft costs.
United Airlines bid to buy an unspecified portion of FLYi, parent company of bankrupt Independence Air. The bid was filed under seal in US Bankruptcy Court, according to media reports. FLYi still is seeking damages from its former Washington Dulles partner but does not have precedence over other unsecured creditors. It will put its assets up for auction on Jan. 3 unless an investor is located. Mesa Air Group also is reported to be a bidder.
Turkish Airlines is looking into launching a low-cost carrier by next year. According to several Turkish media reports, THY plans to use its older aircraft for the operation, likely its 737-400 fleet. The new airline would offer 20% lower fares.
Azerbaijani aircraft operated by flag carrier Azerbaijan Airlines crashed near the Caspian Sea shortly after takeoff from Baku Friday, reportedly killing the 18 passengers and five crewmembers onboard. The aircraft was an An-140 twin-engine turboprop.
American Airlines said yesterday in a Form 8-K filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission that it expects fourth-quarter revenue to increase 12.5%-13.5% over the year-ago quarter and anticipates ending the quarter with a cash and short-term investment balance of more than $4 billion ($500 million restricted). Consolidated unit revenue is expected to climb 12.8%-13.8%.
A request for unprecedented antitrust immunity on transatlantic service made in September 2004 by SkyTeam members Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines tentatively was denied yesterday by the US Dept. of Transportation, which said the carriers failed to demonstrate that immunity "would provide significant public benefits" or that the alliance's goals "could not be achieved without antitrust immunity."
Delta Air Lines asked the US Bankruptcy Court yesterday for a six-month extension to file its reorganization plan, according to media reports. The current deadline to file its plan exclusively is Jan. 12 and creditor acceptance is due March 13. "The debtors have made tangible progress toward their goal of developing a competitive cost structure while increasing revenues," Delta said, adding, "At this early stage there is a great deal more that needs to be done." A hearing is scheduled for Jan. 5.
Emirates tapped the US Export-Import Bank to finance the acquisition of two 777-300ERs to be delivered in February and March. Financing was arranged and funded by Royal Bank of Scotland. It combines an Eximbank-supported loan with commercial funding and runs for a period of 12 years. Emirates previously used support from the bank to purchase GE90 engines for its 777 fleet.
Aer Lingus countered Ryanair's Dublin expansion ( ATWOnline, Dec. 22) with an announcement yesterday of six new routes from Dublin and Cork. It will base a fourth A320 in Cork from June and launch service to Berlin (thrice-weekly), Birmingham (thrice-weekly) and Tenerife (weekly). It will add frequencies on routes to Amsterdam, Rome, Nice, Warsaw, Alicante and Malaga. From Dublin it will begin service in March to Poznan, Palma (thrice-weekly) and Rennes (twice-weekly).
China Airlines' board appointed Philip Hsing-Hsiung Wei chairman and Ringo Chao president. EADS' board named Anne-Marie Perus head of EADS Sogerma Services, a subsidiary specializing in maintenance, aircraft and cabin customization and aerostructures, effective Jan. 1. She succeeds Michel Freuchet, who was appointed chief of the launcher business line at EADS Space Transportation.
