The launch of Jade Cargo International, the joint cargo carrier announced by Lufthansa Cargo and Shenzen Airlines last October ( ATWOnline, Oct. 25), has been pushed back to autumn. Operations originally had been expected to begin in the first quarter, "but with a change in Chinese law, it was not possible for us to start services with three A300-600Fs as we planned," Lufthansa Cargo Chairman Jean-Peter Jansen told ATWOnline.
Alteon Training announced that an A320-300 full flight simulator at its Miami Training Center and a 737-300/-400/-500 full flight simulator with a Flight Dynamics Head-up Display at its Atlanta Training Center have received FAA Level C certification.
Air Wisconsin will end all flying on behalf of United Airlines over the next year, according to an internal document obtained by ATWOnline. The Regional currently flies 70 aircraft in the United Express feeder network, but last fall United issued an RFP to replace Air Wisconsin and on Monday announced that SkyWest and GoJet, a new subsidiary of Trans States Holdings, had been selected to take over some of those services and will operate a total of 30 70-seat regional jets ( ATWOnline, April 5).
Singapore and Bahrain have inked an open skies agreement. The pact was signed in Singapore yesterday by Bahrain Minister of Transportation Shaik Ali Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa and Singapore Minister for Transport Yeo Cheow Tong.
Ryanair carried 2.6 million passengers in March, up 20.1% over the year-ago period. Load factor climbed 2 points to 80%. For the rolling 12 months ended March 31, the airline carried 27.6 million and load factor was 84%.
CSA Czech Airlines finalized an agreement to purchase six CFM56-5B6/P-powered A319s and six CFM56-5B4/P-powered A320s with deliveries scheduled from March 2006 to September 2008. The order was announced last October and the two parties agreed on the final text of the agreement late last month ( ATWOnline, March 30). "The purchase of aircraft is another step to fulfill the CSA strategy for the 2004-2014 period," Chairman and President Jaroslav Tvrdik said.
Lufthansa Cargo generated €33.5 million ($42.9 million) in operating profits during 2004, reversing a loss of €16 million in 2003, but showed red ink on the bottom line, posting a net loss of €39.5 million, which it attributed partly to one-time charges and a 38.4% hike in fuel costs. Comparisons with 2003 are complicated owing to the fact that in 2004 LHC consolidated accounts for all of its logistics business units within Lufthansa Group.
Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp. was awarded a subcontract by CAE to provide two EP-1000CT/ESCP-2000 visual systems, including options for its new LaserWide projector, that will be installed on A330/A340 full-flight simulators being manufactured by CAE for Airbus.
Northwest Airlines flew 6.85 billion RPMs in March, up 8.6% over the year-ago period. Capacity climbed 4.7% to 8.1 billion ASMs and load factor jumped 3 points to 84.6%. For the three months ended March 31, RPMs were ahead 8.8% to 18.17 billion, ASMs increased 4.3% to 22.77 billion and load factor gained 3.3 points to 79.8%.
BAE Systems Regional Aircraft reached agreements with two Lufthansa Regionals, Eurowings and Air Dolomiti, under which 11 BAe 146-300s will be added to the carriers' fleets. In addition, BAE inked sale and leaseback extensions on three aircraft with Lufthansa CityLine, another Lufthansa Regional. Eurowings signed a deal to lease a further six BAe 146-300s that will be added to its current fleet of eight BAe 146s. The six aircraft, which the airline will use to replace some of its 48-seat ATR 42-500 turboprops, will be delivered from mid-April to the beginning of September.
Thai Airways International has taken delivery of the first of four A340-500s, which feature a striking new livery. The delivery also marks the start of a major widebody fleet expansion that includes six A340-600s, six 777-200ERs and six A380-800s entering service up to 2009. The A340-500s will operate new nonstops between Bangkok and Los Angeles and New York, while the A340-600s will fly to Europe. Airline President Kanok Abhiradee said the A340-500 "will open up new markets for Thai.
United Airlines yesterday announced that it will close its Seattle call center on June 4 in a move that will eliminate 400 jobs. According to the carrier, the Seattle facility is one of its most costly and has a long-term lease, but bankruptcy gives the company an opportunity to reject the lease without penalty. United also cited record high fuel prices, increasing competition and low yields as reasons behind the closure.
European Commission has sought EU Council approval to start negotiations on a cooperation agreement with Argentina on the development of a Civil Global Navigation Satellite system. "This proposal for a new international cooperation agreement clearly underlines the success of Galileo [Europe's satellite navigation program] and demonstrates again the widespread interest in the project," said EC VP in charge of transport Jacques Barrot.
Southwest Airlines flew 5.24 billion RPMs in March, up 12% over the year-ago period. Capacity climbed 11.9% to 7.11 billion ASMs and load factor gained 0.1 point to 73.7%. For the three months ended March 31, RPMs increased 12.3% to 12.24 billion. ASMs rose 10.1% to 20.23 billion and load factor improved 1.2 points to 65.4%.
ARINC and Telenor yesterday unveiled AeroMobile, a service they said will enable passengers to use their cellular phones in flight. The companies said they are working closely with several potential airline customers and are readying demonstration flights planned for mid-2005.
Lufthansa Systems said its operating result for 2004 increased 56.4% over 2003 to €61 million on a 3% rise in revenues to €628 million. The share of business generated by customers outside LH Group increased 9.8% to €224.2 million or almost 36% of revenues.
Hungary's government again is trying to sell loss-making national airline Malev. Reuters reported that on Monday the government published an invitation to potential investors to submit letters of interest by today if they plan to take part in direct negotiations to buy the carrier. Last week the government cancelled the fourth privatization effort, stating that the bids were too low ( ATWOnline, March 31).
Alpine Air Express and its subsidiary Alpine Aviation said they have terminated all discussions with Capitalliance Financial Services regarding a possible merger or acquisition. "Although Alpine seriously considered working with Capitalliance on business opportunities, the Alpine board finally decided that independently seeking other opportunities was more prudent for the company and its shareholders," Alpine Air Express Chairman and CEO Gene Mallette said.
Singapore-based Jetstar Asia is upping the ante in the bitter war for travelers by offering its passengers return flights to Australian cities on its parent Qantas from just $278 excluding taxes.
British Airways reported a 4.5% gain in passenger traffic in March to 9.32 billion RPKs, with increases seen across most of its network. The airline's Africa/Middle East and Asia/Pacific segments led the way with increases of 9.9% and 10.2% respectively. In the UK/Europe market RPKs climbed 6.2%, while traffic to the Americas dipped just 0.4%.
American Airlines flew 12.07 billion RPMs in March, up 9.1% over the year-ago period. Capacity climbed 2.1% to 15.04 billion ASMs and load factor gained 5.1 points to 80.2%. For the three months ended March 31, RPMs increased 6.7% to 32.25 billion, ASMs rose 0.6% to 42.75 billion and load factor jumped 4.4 points to 75.4%.
Aided by a decline in weather-related delays, US airlines posted a better ontime arrival rate in February compared to January 2005 and February 2004, the Dept. of Transportation reported yesterday. According to DOT statistics, the 19 US airlines reporting ontime performance recorded an overall ontime arrival rate of 77.6% in February, up slightly over February 2004's 77.5% and well above January 2005's 71.4%. Of the flight delays in February 2005, 5.3% were caused by weather, down sharply from February 2004 and January 2005 when 6.1% of flights were delayed by weather.
OnAir, the SITA/Airbus joint venture, said it selected the Airbus facility at Buxtehude near Hamburg to develop and seek certification for its airborne system for the use of mobile phones onboard aircraft.
Delta Air Lines flew 10.36 billion RPMs in March, up 14.4% over the year-ago period. Capacity climbed 7.8% to 12.93 billion ASMs and load factor jumped 4.6 points to 80.1%. For the three months ended March 31, RPMs increased 12.3% to 27.22 billion, ASMs rose 6.4% to 36.54 billion and load factor gained 3.9 points to 74.5%.
