Airlines & Lessors

With the release of the first round of major US airlines’ operational data for June 2016, half-year results are taking form.

New Cyprus-based carrier Cobalt has launched initial services, with plans to ramp up its fleet and destinations over the next few weeks.

Air France-KLM Group has announced the resignation of CFO Pierre-François Riolacci, effective Nov. 4, when he will become CFO at Danish facilities manager ISS A/S.

South Korea-based Asiana Airlines’ new LCC subsidiary, Air Seoul, is scheduled to start flying next week.

Airbus and Boeing commercial aircraft deliveries for 2016 year-to-date, sorted by most-recent delivery date.

Airbus and Boeing commercial aircraft gross orders for 2016 year-to-date, sorted by most-recent date of order placement with manufacturer.

People-July 7, 2016

Global air passenger traffic grew 4.6% year-over-year in May, unchanged from April and signaling a slowdown in growth, according to IATA’s latest Air Passenger Market Analysis.

China’s HNA Group, parent of Hainan Airlines, has acquired 61.7% of Swiss airline catering and logistics services company Gategroup—and 63.6% of the voting rights and shares as of July 1—which is sufficient for its takeover bid.

Airlines in China and Taiwan have either canceled or delayed flights over the next few days as the region braces for Typhoon Nepartak, which is expected to make landfall on Taiwan’s east coast early Friday, then hit China Saturday.

Airbus had its biggest delivery month so far this year with 64 commercial aircraft handed over in June to 33 airlines and nine lessors.

Global air freight market demand slowed to 0.9% in May year-over-year (YOY) while global air freight capacity increased 4.9% YOY, the slowest pace since March 2015, according to IATA’s Air Freight Market Analysis.

Addis Ababa-based Ethiopian Airlines, which operates the largest network within Africa, has seen a 2%-3% drop in African business, mainly because of microeconomic challenges in oil export nations, Group CEO Tewolde Gebremariam told ATW at last week’s Airbus A350 XWB delivery in Toulouse.

Russia’s international traffic fell 33.9% in May, according to Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsia.

Lithuanian leisure carrier Small Planet Airlines has named IT industry executive Kristijonas Kaikaris as its new CEO, replacing Vytautas Kaikaris who will take charge of Small Planet Group.

Scandinavian low-cost carrier (LCC) Norwegian Air Shuttle will wet lease up to 10 aircraft to cope with demand on its routes this summer.

Irish lessor Avolon is to acquire 45 aircraft from the portfolio of US lessor GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS).

Russia’s Aeroflot Group carried 15.8 million passengers from January to May, up 11.5% year-over-year (YOY).

The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) reported 23.6 million international passengers in May, up 2.8% year-over-year.

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.

SAS Scandinavian Airlines has completed its divestment of shares in Norwegian regional airline Widerøe.

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.

People-June 29, 2016