Air France exercised options for three additional CFM56-powered A318s seating 123 in a single-class layout. AF launched the model in 1999 with an order for 15. It brought its first A318 into service in October 2003 and currently operates nine fitted with seating for 34 passengers in business class and 72 in coach. It will take delivery of nine more, including the three newly ordered aircraft, between now and spring 2007.
Emirates signed a leasing agreement with two UAE banks, National Bank of Dubai and Emirates Bank Group, for a new A340-500. The $119.5 million financing is for the last of the 10 A340-500s Emirates has on firm order. It is structured as an operating lease over a 12-year term and carries a weighted average cost of funds 0.9% over six-month Libor.
Etihad Crystal Cargo extended its ULD control and pooling contract with Unitpool, a load device pooling company, with the signing of a new long-term contract.
AirAsia will launch service from its base at Kuala Lumpur to Chiang Mai and Phnom Penh on Oct. 20 and Nov. 1 respectively with a single daily roundtrip to each destination. To kick off the routes, it is offering 10,000 seats to each city at an introductory fare of MYR49.99 ($15) each way excluding airport fees and taxes.
General Electric named Bradley Mottier president and CEO of GE Engine Services within GE Transportation, Aircraft Engines. He replaces Dan Heintzelman, who assumes the role of VP-energy services for GE Energy. Mottier has served as president and CEO of Unison Industries, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aircraft Engines' Engine Services operation, since GE acquired Unison in 2002. Prior to the acquisition he worked for more than 20 years at Unison.
North American Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of World Airways, renewed its contract to provide service to GWV Vacations flying from Providence and Hartford to Caribbean and Mexico vacation destinations.
SkyEurope shares began trading on the Vienna and Warsaw stock exchanges yesterday at an initial price of €6 ($7.25) per share and climbed to €6.60 on the Vienna exchange before closing at €6.30 ( ATWOnline, Sept. 23).
Swiss International Air Lines reportedly plans to supply up to 60 pilots to China Airlines for the carrier's 747, A330 and A340 fleets. Pilots have been made surplus to Swiss needs owing to its decision to phase out its Embraer 145s and Saab 2000s. Another 15 pilots may find some work with Etihad Airways. Also, Jet Airways of India is looking for some A340 pilots from Swiss.
Lufthansa and Frankfurt Airport operator Fraport signed a deal Tuesday lowering the cost of ground handling for the carrier at the airport for the next five years. Savings amount to more than €10 million per year, according to Reuters, which cited Lufthansa Passenger Airline management board member Carsten Spohr. Savings will come from a combination of lower prices and greater efficiencies, Spohr said. Fraport Chief Executive Wilhelm Bender said the airport operator will offset the reduction in ground handling fees from Lufthansa through its own cost savings.
In the largest US airline merger since American Airlines acquired TWA in 2000, US Airways emerged from Chapter 11 and completed its merger with America West Airlines, with the US Airways brand surviving.
Singapore Airlines and Asiana, both members of the Star Alliance, have begun codesharing between Singapore and Seoul. SIA is putting the SQ code on 10 weekly A330 services operated by Asiana, while the latter is putting the OZ code on 44 weekly 747 and 777 services operated by SIA. Subject to regulatory approval, the carriers expect to extend their cooperation to include transpacific flights beyond Seoul, domestic destinations in South Korea, intra-travel in north Asia and flights beyond Singapore.
CSA Czech Airlines intends to move forward on an ambitious cost-cutting plan in response to continuing high oil prices that have caused its fuel bill to rise by more than CZK1 billion ($41 million) in 2005. "The only way to successfully face the increasing pressures of rising fuel costs and competition is to aggressively cut the airline's own costs and to introduce effective, modern technological tools at the same time," said Eduard Janota, chairman of the CSA board of trustees.
British Airways announced that Group Treasurer and Head of Taxation Keith Williams will succeed John Rishton as CFO on Jan. 1 following Rishton's resignation to join Amsterdam-based retailer Ahold.
Alteon said it will place 787 simulator training locations in China, the UK and the US, "enhancing [its] commitment to provide a global training network for the new airplane." Facilities will be established at London Gatwick, in Seattle and at a site to be determined in China. The Boeing subsidiary said it aims to have six 787 locations up and running before the first Dreamliner delivers in 2008. It already reached agreement in cooperation with ANA to establish a center at Tokyo Haneda ( ATWOnline, Sept. 13).
Denim Air on Monday started flying for Voli Regionali from its base in northern Italy to Rome Ciampino, Denim Air CCO Raymond Vrijenhoek confirmed to ATWOnline at Routes in Copenhagen. The Italian startup is Denim Air's first client for its new ACMI Plus product, which offers full operational support to airlines including interlining, sales, distribution and marketing support in addition to the traditional ACMI service. "There is a high demand for this product offering, mainly from startup airlines," according to Vrijenhoek.
AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines and MAS parent PMB took a historic first step toward rationalizing domestic capacity with the announcement in Kuala Lumpur Monday that the two carriers will cooperate to reduce domestic capacity between Oct. 1 and Oct. 15 to address "low travel demand" during the Ramadan period. "We hope that this is a start for greater cooperation which will mutually benefit MAS and AirAsia in reaching our respective objectives.
Telair International said it successfully completed its FAA STC System Conformity Inspection for the first Main Deck Cargo Loading System installation of the 747-400SF passenger-to-freighter conversion. Cathay Pacific is the launch customer for the system with six firm and six option conversions. SriLankan Cargo opened an office at the cargo terminal in Abu Dhabi Airport.
Northwest Airlines' Regional partners Pinnacle and Mesaba will see their wings clipped as a result of the Major's shrinkage during its bankruptcy reorganization, notes JP Morgan's Jamie Baker. In a report released yesterday, Baker stated that Northwest "has significantly modified planned flying levels at its two Regional partners" that participate in the Northwest Airlink codeshare program.
Sterling owner Fons Eignarhalsfelag and Icelandair owner FL Group could announce a merger as early as this week. Reportedly, FL Group, which also has a 13.8% stake in easyJet, is interested in acquiring Sterling, the Denmark-based low-fare airline that is itself is in the process of absorbing Maersk Air, which recently was acquired by Fons.
Attempts to restart Malev's privatization process, which recently failed for a fifth time, could face an extended delay owing to political considerations. Secretary of the Ministry of Economy and Transport Gabor Diossy told ATWOnline that with elections set for May 2006, "it is possible that the current government will not go further with the privatization process" until after the elections.
Mesa Air Group Friday said it plans to set up an independent Hawaiian airline "in partnership with other financial investors," with service expected to commence in the first quarter of 2006.
Greek government gave Olympic Airlines temporary protection from creditors after an adverse European Commission ruling on state aid made the government's effort to privatize the carrier more difficult, Reuters said Friday. In an amendment to an education bill voted into law by parliament late Thursday, Olympic Airlines and Olympic Airways-Services were granted protection from creditors until Feb. 28. "It is imperative that the European Commission's decision be studied in depth. .
