US industry trade organization Airlines for America (A4A) forecast 45.2 million passengers—a 3.5% year-over-year increase—will fly globally on US airlines during the upcoming holiday season.
Chinese carriers have reduced US dollar debt ratios on aircraft purchases as the weakening yuan (CNY) continues to impact airlines’ financial performance.
The Lufthansa supervisory board has appointed telecommunications expert Thorsten Dirks as the new CEO of low-cost carrier (LCC) Eurowings and Aviation Services, effective May 1, 2017.
Manila-headquartered Philippine Airlines has finalized a firm order for five Bombardier Q400s and purchase rights for another seven, launching the two-class, 86-seat variant.
The world’s airlines will continue their streak of collective profitability in 2017, but anticipated higher costs, coupled with a sluggish global economy that lead IATA forecasters to believe next year’s industry net profit will be almost $6 billion lower than 2016’s expected profit.
Global air cargo traffic increased 8.2% year-over year (YOY) in October, the best growth pace since February 2015, according to IATA’s October Air Freight Market Analysis.
Russia’s Aeroflot Group will carry 43.5 million passengers in 2016, up 10.4% year-over-year (YOY), Aeroflot Airline CEO Vitaly Savelyev at the group’s community board meeting.
Alaska Air Group and the US Department of Justice (DOJ) have agreed to terms that will allow for regulatory approval of Alaska’s $4 billion acquisition of Virgin America, which Alaska said it plans to close “in the very near future.”
RwandAir continues to add aircraft and expand long-haul routes even though it faces challenges in Africa’s economic climate and in the aviation industry.
Italian flag carrier Alitalia is planning to release a new strategy this month and has named former LATAM Airlines executive Jorge Vilches as CCO after three board resignations.
United Airlines has agreed to pay $2.4 million to settle civil charges related to a money-losing flight it operated to “curry favor” with former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNY) chairman David Samson, according to a statement from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Irish regional airline CityJet has withdrawn from talks to acquire UK regional Stobart Air, formerly known as Aer Arann, saying the negotiations were taking too long.
Oneworld member airberlin, which announced the sale of 49.8% of its Austrian subsidiary FlyNiki to Abu Dhabi-based Etihad for €300 million ($320 million) Dec. 5, said the deal will deliver much-needed cash injection.
Norwegian Air International (NAI) has been granted approval to begin flights between Ireland and the US after a three-year process in which the US Department of Transportation (DOT) seemed reluctant to give the go-ahead despite being unable to find any legal reason to reject the application.
