Airlines & Lessors

American Airlines, hampered by higher fuel prices, is setting up to have a “slightly off” year, but still expects to generate a profit that falls within its notional target range, CEO Doug Parker told attendees at this week's J.P. Morgan Global Aviation and Transportation Conference.

Lufthansa’s supervisory board has extended the contract of the group’s CEO Carsten Spohr by five years, assuring continuity at Europe’s largest airline.

A new Belgian airline—Air Belgium—with backing from a huge Chinese travel agency has received its air operator’s certificate (AOC) and plans to begin flying to China in April, beginning with a service to Hong Kong.

Airbus and Boeing commercial aircraft deliveries for 2018 year-to-date, sorted by most-recent delivery date.

Chicago-based United Airlines assumed “full responsibility” for the death of a passenger’s dog on United flight 1284 from Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport to New York LaGuardia Airport the evening of March 12.

Singapore-headquartered lessor BOC Aviation has announced a record $587 million net profit for the full year ended Dec. 31, 2017, marking a 40% increase on the prior year.

International Airlines Group (IAG) CEO Willie Walsh has said the board is keen to pursue the more ambitious of two possible plans for long-haul LCC Level.

Airbus and Boeing commercial aircraft gross orders for 2018 year-to-date, sorted by most-recent date of order placement with manufacturer.

Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific has reported a deeper group-wide loss of HK$1.3 billion ($160.6 million) for 2017, although a return to profit in the second half signals its transformation plan is yielding results.

People-March 13, 2018

Delta Air Lines continues to express strong interest in shaping Boeing’s new mid-market aircraft (NMA), the airline’s chief executive said March 13.

Citing strong network-wide demand, United Airlines raised first-quarter PRASM guidance to up 1%-3% and said pre-tax margins, expected to be flat before, could be up 1% or more.

Hawaiian Airlines has raised its revenue forecast for the first quarter, although it has also trimmed its full-year capacity outlook because of delays in Airbus A321neo deliveries.

Former Royal Dutch Shell executive Dick Benschop has been named as the next president and CEO of Amsterdam Schiphol Airport operator Royal Schiphol Group.

Taiwan’s proposed startup, StarLux Airlines, aims to begin operations in early 2020 with three leased Airbus A321s.

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary sees operations as the Irish LCC’s biggest challenge in 2018 as passenger numbers and fleet continue to grow.

Hainan Airlines Holding, the Shanghai-listed unit of debt-ridden HNA Group, has said it will take over stakes owned by parent HNA Group as part of an assets restructuring plan.

A Bombardier Q400, operated by Bangladeshi airline US-Bangla, crashed on landing at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal on March 12.

Global mobile satellite communications provider Inmarsat reported $1.4 billion in total group revenue for 2017, up 5.4% from 2016, largely on the strength of 36.7% growth in Inmarsat’s aviation sector, which includes in-flight connectivity (IFC), business/general aviation (BGA) and safety/operational services (SOS) revenue. The aviation sector reported $195 million in total revenue for the year.

European OEM Airbus expects that airline traffic in India will grow by 8.1% per year over the next 20 years, almost double the global average of 4.4%.

Turkish LCC Pegasus Airlines’ predicted rebound from 2016’s losses materialized in 2017, with the Istanbul-based carrier recording a TL501 million ($131.5 million) net profit, compared to a loss of TL136.2 million in the previous year.

China Southern Airlines has set up a branch company in the southwestern Chinese province Yunnan, a stronghold of rival China Eastern Airlines.

Ho Chi Minh City-based VietStar Airlines is hoping to launch LCC operations this year, pending government approval.

The global air cargo market produced a strong start to 2018, as traffic increased 8% year-over-year (YOY) in January, up from 5.8% annual growth in December. Per IATA’s January Air Freight Market Analysis, released March 7, global manufacturers continue to report strong demand for their exports, particularly in Asia-Pacific and Europe.

Ryanair has signed a union recognition agreement with Italian pilots union ANPAC, continuing the formalization of the airline’s decision to recognize unions across Europe.