Airlines & Lessors

Singapore Airlines has dropped its short-haul low-cost carrier (LCC) brand Tigerair, merging the airline into mid- to long-haul LCC Scoot.

New York-based JetBlue Airways reported second-quarter net income of $211 million, up 16.7% over a net profit of $181 million in the 2016 June quarter and a solid turnaround from a 58.8% year-over-year (YOY) net income decline in the 2017 first quarter.

Russian airlines carried 46.2 million passengers in 1H 2017, up 21.5% year-over-year (YOY).

Azul Brazilian Airlines has named longtime CFO John Rodgerson as its new CEO, replacing Azul founder David Neeleman, who will remain with the São Paulo-based airline as chairman of its board of directors.

Ireland-based lessor SMBC Aviation Capital is continuing to focus on the most technologically advanced fleet and is evaluating further orders of next generation widebody aircraft.

Ireland-based low-cost carrier (LCC) Ryanair reported a 55% jump in net profit for the first quarter of its 2018 financial year, with the post-tax figure rising to €397 million ($453 million), compared to €256 million a year ago.

Darwin Airline’s newly appointed CEO Heinrich Ollendiek said its new owners will be a much better “fit” with the Swiss regional carrier than its previous equity partner, Etihad Airways.

Russia’s S7 Airlines has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320neo, on lease from BOC Aviation.

Germany-based airberlin has confirmed to ATW it will lease two Airbus A330-900neos, but has not disclosed the lessor.

Taiwan’s Mandarin Airlines, which announced July 19 it was buying six ATR 72-600s, has signed a conditional letter of intent to lease three more of the Franco-Italian turboprops.

The deadline for proposals for the future of troubled Italian carrier Alitalia has passed and the airline’s administrators are regrouping to confirm the next steps.

None of the three largest U.S. carriers has ordered the Boeing 777X, and it's unclear when any of the 82 U.S. A350s on order will be delivered.

Mandate taking effect in June 2018 will push airlines to upgrade baggage handling systems. Expectations rise as passengers pay fees.

Unions want their members to share in airlines' success, while Congress questions use of fees for checked bags, seat selection and more.

Latin American airlines are expected to post a collective $800 million net profit in 2017, up 33.3% from $600 million in net income in 2016.

Uncertainty hangs over Europe as the headwinds of Brexit, terrorism, declining yields and ongoing labor battles pummel the industry.

Growth of the three major Gulf carriers has continued. But even Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways have seen clouds on the horizon over the past year.

Despite earnings pressure on many Asia-Pacific region airlines in 2017, the annual collective profit for this region is likely to be similar to 2016s.

UK-based low-cost carrier (LCC) easyJet reported a strong balance sheet with net cash of £426 million ($553 million) as of June 30.

Mexico City-based ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) Volaris reported a MXN519.9 million ($29 million) net loss for the 2017 second quarter, reversed from the airline’s MXN935 million net profit in 2Q 2016.

For commercial airlines and airline groups worldwide, 2017 passenger traffic, RPKs, ASKs, load factors, and FTKs, as of July 21, 2017.

UK low-cost carrier (LCC) EasyJet’s decision to place an air operator’s certificate (AOC) in Austria, launching EasyJet Europe, has been well received in the UK.

While the airlines collectively might not be quite as profitable in 2017 as in 2016, it looks increasingly likely they will get close to record net profit.

From the outset, the Boeing 787 was designed to be a family of three. Now that the –10 is flying, how will the family stack up against its Airbus rivals?

The parent of All Nippon Airways wants to achieve record profitability by 2020 and grow international revenues by 40% while expanding LCC business 10-fold.