Airlines & Lessors

Irish lessor Avolon more than doubled its owned and managed fleet to 565 aircraft in the first-quarter of 2017 compared to the year-ago quarter, the company reported April 18.

Alitalia’s workforce begins voting April 20 on a deal that will decide whether the struggling airline receives a fresh infusion of cash.

Emirates Airline will reduce flights to the US starting next month, citing a “significant deterioration” in demand for travel to the US since President Donald Trump took office three months ago.

Finland flag carrier Finnair has finalized a sale-and-leaseback agreement with GE Capital Aviation Services for one Airbus A350 XWB.

UK regional airline Flybe is seeking a new CFO after the resignation of Philip de Klerk.

China’s Juneyao Airlines reported a net profit of CNY1.25 billion ($180 million) in 2016, up 19% over a net income of CNY1.05 billion in 2015.

BOC Aviation leased, purchased and sold a total of 54 aircraft in the first quarter of 2017, up 25.6% compared to a total 43 leased, purchased and sold aircraft in the year-ago quarter.

Dublin-based lessor AerCap signed $7.2 billion in financing transactions during the first quarter of 2017, eclipsing—by $2.6 billion—the company’s financing transactions for the full year of 2016.

United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz encouraged the public, the carrier’s customers and investors to patiently wait for April 30 to hear a more detailed response from the airline about how last week’s passenger bumping incident will change United’s policies and procedures.

Hong Kong-based China Aircraft Leasing Group (CALC) has agreed to buy an Airbus A320-200, following an order for two A320 aircraft April 3.

United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz said United Express flight 3411, from which passenger David Dao was violently dragged after being involuntarily bumped on April 9, “will prove to be a watershed moment for our company.”

The US Export-Import bank (Ex-Im), a key financing tool for major commercial aircraft transactions, moved a step closer to becoming fully functional again after US President Donald Trump nominated two new Ex-Im board members.

Mexico City-based low-cost carrier (LCC) Interjet took delivery of the first of three Airbus A320neos, powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines, on April 17, according to Interjet CEO Jose Luis Garza.

Taiwan’s EVA Air posted a full-year 2016 net profit of TWD3.5 billion ($107 million), down 46% from the company’s TWD6.4 billion 2015 net result.

Germany-based AeroLogic, a joint venture of Lufthansa Cargo and DHL Express, has appointed Josef Moser as COO and accountable manager at AeroLogic from May 1.

Russia’s Ural Airlines carried 1.33 million passengers in 1Q 2017, up 28% year-over-year (YOY).

United Airlines pilots are “infuriated” by the bumped passenger event, which should not have escalated into a violent encounter, the union representing them says in a statement.

Explaining why it took him two days to issue a full apology for the bumped passenger incident that shocked the world, United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz said he was waiting for the facts. One fact should have been immediately clear; the brand was in grave danger.

Florida-based ultra-low-cost-carrier (ULCC) Spirit Airlines has lowered its revenue guidance for the 2017 first quarter by two percentage points, according an SEC filing.

British Virgin Islands startup BVI Airways is ready to start operations, the company said.

For Brazilian manufacturer Embraer's commercial aircraft, consolidated 2017 orders, deliveries and cancellations -- updated through the 2017 first quarter.

The lawyer representing David Dao, the passenger violently dragged off a United Airlines flight April 9, said he is preparing to file a lawsuit against United for using “unreasonable force and violence” against the passenger.

Hainan Airlines has moved one step closer toward launching low-cost carrier (LCC) Shen Niao Airlines after securing approval from China’s State Administration for Industry & Commerce (SAIC).

Startup carrier Cyprus Airways will start operations in June with “scheduled flights to three to four short-haul destinations and charter flights in collaboration with tour operators,” a Cyprus Airways spokesperson told ATW.

United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz said an incident like the one involving a bumped passenger being violently dragged off an aircraft earlier this week “will never happen again on a United Airlines flight” and promised that law enforcement would never again be used in a similar situation.