Thailand-based duty-free conglomerate King Power International Group purchased a 39% shareholding in low-cost carrier Thai AirAsia (TAA) in June, giving it a controlling stake.
Netherlands-based lessor AerCap has experienced strong demand as low fuel prices have boosted airlines into record-making profits, creating a need for additional aircraft, according to AerCap president and CCO Philip Scruggs.
Malaysia Airlines COO Peter Bellew has been named as its next CEO and group managing director from July 1, taking over from Christoph Mueller who was scheduled to leave in September.
Canadian startup travel company NewLeaf Travel has resumed ticket sales after a hiatus of several months, and added former Spirit Airlines CEO Ben Baldanza to its board.
African low-cost carrier (LCC) Fastjet has fought off an attempt from its unhappy largest shareholder, Stelios Haji-Ioannou, to dismiss chairman Colin Child, but warned it continues to face a “challenging” trading environment.
Turkish Airlines is feeling pressure on yields as it grows its transfer business to compensate for a drop in local demand caused by political and economic instabilities in Turkey and Europe.
Bernd Hildenbrand is tasked with overseeing a modernization of PIA that aims to improve service and grow the carrier’s network, market share and customer base.
The Middle East retained its position as one of the world’s most dynamic regions for airline growth, with several of the region’s smaller players following the “big three” of Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways in expanding their fleets and route networks.
European airlines are bracing themselves for tough times ahead, against a backdrop of declining fares, labor actions and the impact of terrorist attacks.
Delta Air Lines took the preemptive step in May of lowering its planned second-half 2016 system capacity growth by 1% to below 2% year-over-year, citing rising fuel prices. The move was seen by many analysts as the latest evidence that the US airline industry has fundamentally changed to the point where sustained, strong profitability should be expected regardless of circumstances.
