Airlines & Lessors

SkyTeam member Alitalia and Star Alliance carrier Avianca Brasil and have entered into a wide-ranging codeshare, with effect from July 3.

Irish business lobby group Ibec has created a new representative body, Aircraft Leasing Ireland (ALI), which has the buy-in of all major Ireland-based lessors.

The European Commission has opened an in-depth state-aid investigation into Ryanair’s marketing agreements related to Montpellier Airport in France.

Chinese conglomerate HNA Group founder and co-chairman Wang Jian died in France July 3, following a serious injury sustained from a 50ft fall.

Cambodian startup airline KC International Airlines took delivery of its first aircraft, an Airbus A320, July 2.

Hawaiian Airlines is continuing to expand its US mainland network, as it takes delivery of two more Airbus A321neos.

The owners of Irish lessor Intrepid Aviation are to take a stake in widebody lessor Amedeo Capital, which will in turn buy a minority shareholding in Intrepid, creating a strategic partnership between the widebody specialists.

Air Serbia has posted a €15.7 million ($18.3 million) net profit for 2017 and announced that Etihad Airways plans to continue as a 49% equity partner.

Etihad Aviation Group has decided to make significant changes to its corporate structure, reflecting a strategy shift from its previous partnership model to a focus on its core business.

African LCC fastjet has raised $10 million from investors, staving off imminent financial collapse after the airline warned last week that it might not survive without a further round of equity fundraising.

People-July 2, 2018

Estonian national carrier Nordica passed a milestone in 2017 as it moved into profit in just its second year of existence.

Barcelona-based LCC Volotea reported a net profit of €11.2 million ($13 million) for 2017 on revenue of €307 million, up 23% year-over-year (YOY).

Korean LCC Jin Air has signaled it will cooperate with the South Korean government’s move to hold hearings on its future, and has committed to improvements in various management and operational areas.

Star Alliance continues to open branded lounges in key markets where no member carriers have a main hub. The global airline alliance opened its seventh branded lounge at Rome Fiumicino airport this week.

Turkish Airlines is introducing an in-house produced in-flight entertainment (IFE) system, which will be initially installed on the airline’s 44 narrowbody aircraft.

European aviation industry groups have given a cautious welcome to news that the ICAO has agreed on a set of standards for the planned CORSIA global aviation carbon emissions offsetting scheme.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN), China Southern Airlines’ home base, plans to open 30 international routes in the next three years, according to airport chairman Qiu Jiachen.

Japanese LCC Peach is reporting its fifth consecutive fiscal year net profit, although profits were down from the previous year.

Southwest Airlines is adding about 15 daily flights, including nonstop service to six new markets, out of Dallas Love Field (DAL) in early 2019, crediting schedule-optimization for creating room to fly out of its already-crowded headquarters airport.

LCC Norwegian has introduced its first Boeing 737 MAX with a cabin featuring new slimline seats that the airline says are designed for more comfort on longer routes and will give taller passengers more personal space.

The Norwegian government has sold its remaining stake in Scandinavian Airlines (SAS).

Fastjet warned it may not be able to survive without equity fundraising and said it was talking to its major shareholders about such an operation.

The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) president denounced the US Supreme Court’s decision barring public-employee contracts that require workers to pay union dues.

Long-serving Qantas Airways chairman Leigh Clifford is planning to step down in October and will be replaced by Richard Goyder.