Airlines & Lessors

Panama City-based Copa Holdings will launch Wingo, a low-cost carrier subsidiary of Copa Airlines Colombia, on Dec. 1.

Seattle-based Alaska Air Group remains in discussions with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) over gaining antitrust clearance for its acquisition of San Francisco-based Virgin America and continues to be confident the deal will be approved.

By 2036, 7.2 billion passengers will travel by air annually, according to IATA’s newest 20-year Air Passenger Forecast, released Oct. 18.

Fast-expanding low-cost carrier (LCC) Norwegian recorded a third-quarter net profit of NOK992.5 million ($121.1 million), up 19% compared to a net profit of NOK832.8 million in the year-ago quarter.

American Airlines reported third-quarter 2016 net income of $737 million, down 56.5% from a net profit of $1.7 billion in the prior-year period, and is planning conservative capacity growth through 2017.

Lufthansa has again changed its full-year adjusted EBIT guidance from “below previous year” to “approximately on previous year’s level.”

The parent companies of China Southern Airlines, Air China and China Eastern Airlines have relaunched China Aviation Supplies Co.

Air New Zealand (ANZ) has raised A$65.7 million ($50.4 million) from the sale of its remaining Virgin Australia shares.

Hawaiian Airlines reported a net profit of $102.5 million for the third quarter, up 46% from a net profit of $70 million in the year-ago quarter.

Miami-based Eastern Air Lines Group, the startup charter operator attempting to revive the iconic brand, has replaced CEO Edward Wegel, effective immediately.

Aircraft & Leasing Market-Oct. 18, 2016

Sweden and Norway have each reduced their shareholding in SAS Scandinavian Airlines, after jointly selling 7% of the airline.

Spanish flag carrier Iberia has formally joined the Europe-Japan joint venture with oneworld alliance members British Airways (BA), Finnair and Japan Airlines (JAL).

Irish low-cost carrier (LCC) Ryanair has lowered its 2016-17 full-year net-profit guidance to €1.3-€1.35 billion ($1.4-$1.5 billion), 5% lower than previously forecast, because of currency exchange effects following the UK’s decision to leave the European Union (Brexit).

Chicago-based United Airlines parent United Continental Holdings reported a third-quarter net profit of $965 million, down 80% from a net income of $4.8 billion in the 2015 September quarter.

Aeroflot subsidiary Aurora Airline—which serves Russia’s Far East—has forecasted it will carry 1.4 million passengers in 2016, a 20% year-over-year (YOY) traffic increase, according to CEO Konstantin Sukhorebrik.

China Eastern Airlines has opened a branch company in Guangdong as the Shanghai-based carrier aims to enhance its position in the Pearl River Delta regional market of South China.

Irish regional CityJet is aiming to turn a profit by 2017, but is remaining silent on reports that it plans to make further acquisitions.

Spanish regional airline Binter Canarias is establishing a subsidiary in Cape Verde, an archipelago of islands off the northwest coast of Africa.

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued an emergency order banning Samsung Galaxy Note7 smartphones from being transported by air in the US—either by passengers or as air cargo—because of fire concerns. The ban went into effect Oct. 15 at 12 p.m. eastern time in the US.

UK low-cost carrier Monarch Airlines is understood to have converted its order for Boeing 737 MAX8s into a sale-and-leaseback deal.

For Brazilian manufacturer Embraer's commercial aircraft, consolidated 2016 orders, deliveries and cancellations -- updated through the 2016 third quarter.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) has signed a letter of intent (LoI) to acquire “up to 12” Bombardier Q400 regional turboprops, the Canadian OEM announced Oct. 14.

Air France-KLM Group has announced a year-over-year 3.7% capacity increase for the upcoming northern winter season.

Boeing has named VP-sales Northeast Asia Ihssane Mounir the new Boeing Commercial Airplanes VP-sales and marketing, replacing John Wojick as the company’s top commercial aircraft salesperson.