Airlines & Lessors

American Airlines president Scott Kirby has resigned, effective immediately, to take the same position with rival United Airlines.

UK-based tour operator Thomas Cook Group has appointed former SunExpress CEO Paul Schwaiger as commercial director-Continental Europe, effective Sept. 1.

The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) reported 26.2 million international passengers in July, up 10.2% year-over-year (YOY).

Russia’s Aeroflot Group reported first-half 2016 profit of RUB2.5 billion ($39 million), reversed from a net loss of RUB3.5 billion in the 1H 2015.

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 diverted Saturday morning after a major engine malfunction, but landed safely without any injuries caused.

Turbine blade erosion is causing engine failures on some of its Boeing 787s and Rolls-Royce is developing a new blade, Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways (ANA) has told ATW.

Peter Bellew became CEO and group managing director of Malaysia Airlines Berhad on July 1, succeeding Christoph Mueller. Bellew had been the airline’s COO since August 2015, and previously was director of flight operations at Irish low-cost carrier (LCC) Ryanair.

Belgian flag carrier Brussels Airlines has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for its Airbus A330 replacement, as it progresses with its Avro RJ100 phase-out. “For the refleet of the A330, the RFP is already in the market and we’re talking to different lessors,” a Brussels Airlines spokeswoman told ATW, adding that the phase-out of its oldest A330s will begin in 2018–19.

Shanghai-based Spring Airlines plans to circulate up to 91.5122 million shares of its stock at 43.71 yuan ($6.55) per share, to no more than 10 specified investors.

Worldwide airlines ranked by available reported Passenger Load Factor year-to-date 2016, as of August 26, 2016.

Taipei-based China Airlines, which was scheduled to take delivery of its first Airbus A350 XWB in July, has been informed by the European manufacturer that its first aircraft delivery should take place in Q3 2016.

Russia’s AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC) has been granted fifth-freedom designations by local authorities to perform cargo flights from Russia via European hubs to the US.

The top 30 Airlines, calculated and ranked by available reported RPK figures for 2016 as of August 26, 2016.

For commercial airlines and airline groups worldwide, year-to-date 2016 passenger traffic, RPKs, load factors, and FTKs, as of August 25, 2016.

Given pilot shortage forecasts, a new ab initio hiring program launched by a US airline is going to be watched closely.

Beijing-based Air China from Nov. 11 will launch 3X-weekly Airbus A330-200 flights between Chengdu, China, and Sydney.

Aircraft values and prices, world airline traffic figures, selected airport traffic and more

Purchase, New York-based Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings announced Aug. 24 an agreement to supply air cargo carrier FedEx Express with five Boeing 747-400 freighter aircraft during the December peak-flying seasons of 2017 through 2021.

Smyth will take up his new position Aug. 29 and will relocate to Paris to work from WFS’ Charles de Gaulle Airport offices.

Technology crashes force Delta and Southwest to cancel 4,000 combined flights, raising troubling questions

For all of airline executives’ assurances that sustained, strong profitability is possible without low fuel prices

Southwest Airlines head of labor relations and former FAA administrator Randy Babbitt is to retire, the airline announced.

Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) has signed an agreement with DHL Express for the construction of a logistics hub.

Canadian scheduled air freight carrier Cargojet reported a C$3.8 million ($2.9 million) net profit for the 2016 second quarter, reversing the company’s C$6.1 million net loss in 2Q 2015.

American Airlines retired 20 MD-80s on Aug. 23 as it continues to wind down an aircraft type that was once a fleet workhorse.