ATW editor-in-chief Karen Walker and Aviation Daily editor Madhu Unnikrishnan discuss the Alaska Airlines deal to acquire and merge with Virgin America; what’s needed to complete the deal, why it was so appealing and potential fleet options.
Worldwide air passenger traffic grew 8.6% year-over-year (YOY) in February, reaching a four-year high, according to IATA’s latest Air Passenger Market Analysis.
Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings has closed its acquisition of Southern Air Holdings for $110 million. Atlas is the parent company of international airfreight carriers Atlas Air and Polar Air Cargo. It operates the world’s largest Boeing 747 freighter fleet with more than 40, including 10 747-8Fs.
Russia’s Transaero Airlines—which ceased operations in October 2015—has paid RUB320 million ($4.65 million) out of a RUB1.5 billion debt to Moscow Vnukovo International Airport.
LATAM Airlines Group, as part of its brand unification initiative, has brought all of its affiliated cargo operations under a single brand: LATAM Cargo.
China Southern Airlines reported a net profit of CNY3.85 billion ($593 million) in 2015, more than doubled from a net income of CNY1.77 billion in 2014.
Air France-KLM Group chairman and CEO Alexandre de Juniac is set to replace the retiring Tony Tyler as IATA’s DG and CEO after a unanimous recommendation by the IATA board of governors.
Malaysia-based long-haul, low-cost carrier (LCC) AirAsia will issue 559 million new shares, which will be taken by holdings of original airline founders Tony Fernandes and Kamaruddin Meranun.
Alaska Air Group cited gaining a strong foothold in California as the primary driver in its proposed $4 billion acquisition of San Francisco-based Virgin America, which the Seattle-based carrier said gives it the opportunity to become the leading domestic-services airline on the US West Coast.
Alaska Airlines and Virgin America announced plans to merge in a $4 billion deal unanimously approved by each company’s board of directors but still needs US regulatory approval.
Former EVA Air chairman Steven Lin has been reinstated as chairman after K.W. Chang was removed during an extraordinary meeting of the Taiwanese airline’s governing board.
Philippine-based low-cost carrier (LCC) Cebu Pacific Air reported a PHP4.4 billion ($93.6 million) net profit in 2015, a fivefold increase over a PHP85.3 million net profit in 2014.
Less than 18 months after taking control of UK carrier Monarch Airlines, its new owner is exploring strategic options for the London Luton Airport-based leisure operator.
São Paulo-based low-cost carrier GOL reported a net loss of BRL4.29 billion ($1.1 billion) in 2015, more than doubling its BRL1.12 billion net loss in 2014.
The latest airport passenger traffic and aircraft movements for 173 airports worldwide - current through March 30, 2016 - presented in monthly and year-to-date figures.
Brazilian regulatory agency Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (CADE) has rejected United Parcel Service’s (UPS) appeal of CADE’s approval of the FedEx Corp.-TNT Express merger.
