Airlines & Lessors

Kurt Hofmann interviewed Mark Schwab in Rio de Janeiro in December, where the Alliance celebrated the opening of a dedicated lounge at Rio’s Galeão–Tom Jobim International Airport. Schwab joined Star from United Airlines in 2011. He retires Jan. 1 and will be succeeded by COO Jeffrey Goh.

Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico have accepted antitrust conditions imposed by US regulators on the carriers’ transborder joint venture (JV), and will move forward to establish the JV.

Chorus Aviation, the parent company of Canadian regional carrier Jazz Aviation, will establish an aircraft leasing subsidiary, Chorus Aviation Capital.

Anticipated higher costs and a sluggish global economy lead IATA forecasters to believe 2017's net profit will be almost $6 billion lower than 2016's.

Fast-expanding low-cost carrier (LCC) Norwegian is examining the possibility of setting up operations in Argentina.

Nigerian carrier Arik Air has resumed operations after a Dec. 20 meeting called by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) addressed concerns between the airline and protesting aviation unions.

Hong Kong Airlines plans to accelerate its intercontinental expansion with the scheduled delivery of its first Airbus A350 in August 2017.

Swedish air accident investigators have concluded that an instrument failure was the root cause of the crash of a Swedish cargo aircraft in January 2016.

IATA and aviation stakeholders in Brazil are launching an advocacy campaign to ensure lawmakers and government officials understand the importance of airlines to the country’s economy, which has been decimated.

Santiago, Chile-based LATAM Airlines Group is estimating its 2017 operating margin will be in the 6%-8% range in 2017, a 1.5 point boost over 2016.

Congestion and lack of airport access in key markets is complicating network growth plans for low-cost carrier (LCC) Tigerair Taiwan.

UK regional carrier Flybe has named the former head of Irish regional CityJet, Christine Ourmieres-Widener, as its next CEO and has secured slots to launch services from London Heathrow.

Airberlin has named Thomas Winkelmann as its new CEO, effective Feb. 1, 2017. He will replace Stefan Pichler.

London’s third airport, Stansted, is to build a separate arrivals building to allow for future expansion.

Members of the Professional Pilots’ Union have balloted in favor of a work-to-rule policy at UK carrier Virgin Atlantic Airways, as the group seeks to be the only pilot body represented at the airline.

In an indication that steadily tightening global economic conditions are hitting even the most prominent airlines, Etihad Airways has announced it intends to reduce staff numbers.

Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines and Seattle-based Alaska Airlines have announced the impending dissolution of their codeshare relationship, effective April 30, 2017.

Turkish Airlines has chosen Panasonic Avionics to install its eX1 inflight entertainment and communications (IFEC) system on Turkish Airlines’ upcoming fleet of narrowbody aircraft.

Luxembourg-based freight airline Cargolux has joined lobby group Airlines for Europe (A4E) as the group’s first dedicated freighter operator.

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has deferred delivery of its first Airbus A350 from 2018 to 2019, pushing back some of its prepayment commitments.

People-Dec. 15, 2016

Budapest-based low-cost carrier (LCC) Wizz Air plans to open its 27th base at Bulgaria’s Varna Airport, from July 21, 2017, with one new Airbus A320.

Delta Air Lines is viewing 2017 as a “transition year” in which it will focus intently on returning to positive unit revenue growth, CEO Ed Bastian said.

Lufthansa Group has taken over 100% of SN Airholding, the parent company of Brussels Airlines, in a deal to fully integrate the Belgian carrier into Lufthansa’s Eurowings Group in 2018.