Airlines & Lessors

Calgary-based low-cost carrier (LCC) WestJet earned a net profit of C$367.5 million ($265.1 million) for the full-year 2015, up 29.4% over net income of C$284 million in 2014.

The South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) has outlined a set of new safety guidelines requiring all low-cost carriers (LCCs) to employ six sets of pilots, and 12 type-certified mechanics for each of the aircraft in its fleet.

The Taiwanese Aviation Safety Council (TASC) has concluded that the July 2014 TransAsia ATR 72-500 crash was caused by non-compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS), poor flight crew coordination, lack of communication, and ineffective threat and error management.

Airport freight traffic, year-to-date, organized by world regions. Year-over-year percentage changes provided by Airports Council International.

Airport passenger traffic, year-to-date, organized by world region. Year-over-year percentage changes provided by Airports Council International.

Aeroflot subsidiary Aurora Airline—which serves Russia’s Far East—carried 1.125 million passengers in 2015, up 7.1% year-over-year (YOY).

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) expects to operate between six and nine Bombardier CS100 jets by the end of 2016, outgoing CEO Harry Hohmeister told ATW.

Jiangxi Airlines, the Xiamen Airlines and Jiangxi provincial government joint venture, launched its inaugural flight on the Nanchang-Xi’an-Urumqi route on Jan. 29.

Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair doubled net profits to €103 million ($112 million) for the 3Q 2015 period from a net profit of €49 million in the year-ago period.

The story of Wizz Air’s creation and success is astonishing. But even by the standards of this story, 2015 was an amazing year for this Budapest-based low-cost carrier that has changed the face of air travel in Central and Eastern Europe.

The story of Wizz Air’s creation and success is astonishing. But even by the standards of this story, 2015 was an amazing year for this Budapest-based low-cost carrier that has changed the face of air travel in Central and Eastern Europe.

Norwegian has selected Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines for its19 new Boeing 787-9s, which were ordered in October 2015.

Finnair is to take two additional Airbus A321s on lease from BOC Aviation, firming up options from a letter of intent it signed in December 2015.

Iran Air has placed a firm order for 20 ATR 72-600s and taken options on a further 20, valued at €1 billion ($1.1 billion) at list prices.

All Nippon Airways parent ANA Holdings posted ¥73.3 billion ($608.5 million) in net profit for the nine-month period to Dec. 31, 2015, up 40% year-over-year (YOY).

Thai flag carrier Thai Airways will pursue a far-reaching cost-cutting program from 1Q2016 to realize up to THB1billion ($28 million) in savings.

LOT Polish Airlines’ supervisory board has made management changes.

United Airlines plans to revive a direct link between the US and Singapore when it launches San Francisco-Singapore Boeing 787-9 flights on June 1.

IATA said airlines globally can expect to see the record profit levels achieved in 2015 again this year, but with major variations across different regions.

Czech leisure carrier Travel Service is aiming to operate 40 Boeing 737 MAX 8s by 2025 and has just leased a further 16 aircraft, increasing its total commitment to 25 of the type.

Lufthansa Group subsidiary Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has taken delivery of the first of nine Boeing 777-300ERs in Zurich.

American Airlines reported a net profit of $7.61 billion for the full-year 2015, well more than double net income of $2.88 billion in 2014.

Hong Kong-based Dragonair is being renamed Cathay Dragon in an effort to align itself more closely with parent Cathay Pacific.

Japanese carrier ANA Holdings has confirmed it will purchase three Airbus A380s, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines, in a deal worth more than $1 billion.