Airlines & Lessors

Austrian Airlines plans to resume services to Iranian capital Tehran, following the country’s return to stability.

Aeroflot has launched a Tier 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program.

Japan Airlines (JAL) said a “main battery failure occurred” on one of its Boeing 787-8s parked at Tokyo Narita Airport on Tuesday. The airline reported that “white smoke” was seen in the incident, which resulted in no injuries.

Alaska Airlines has firmed an order for two additional Boeing 737-900ER aircraft, in a deal worth $192 million at current list prices.

American Airlines Group said its wholly owned regional subsidiary carrier American Eagle will be renamed “Envoy” in the spring.

A biofuel supply sufficient to meet up to 1% of aviation’s fuel needs could be available “instantly,” and at a price competitive with petroleum jet fuel, if green diesel is approved for use in aircraft, according to Boeing. The company is working with partners to gain approval by the end of 2014.

Southwest Airlines on Tuesday told ATW the Boeing 737-700, which mistakenly landed at Taney County airport in Branson, Mo. instead of Branson Airport Sunday evening, has been placed back into service.

Airbus COO-customers, John Leahy has said he is “closing in” on an order for 20 Airbus A380s from Doric Lease Corp.

Etihad Airways president and CEO James Hogan told ATW in Berlin that 20% of the carrier’s revenue—or $5 billion in business—comes from its partners.

Irish budget carrier Ryanair will open bases at Athens and Thessaloniki in April 2014, adding three more aircraft and nine new routes to its Greek operations.

TAP Portugal has become the latest European carrier to relax restrictions on the use of personal electronic devices (PED) on takeoff and landing.

Russia’s Saint Petersburg-based Rossiya Airlines will transfer all flights to Aeroflot commercial management from the 2014 IATA summer season.

Germany-based Rostock Airways will launch operations Feb. 3, according to a statement on its website.

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and FAA said Monday they are investigating Sunday’s incident involving a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 that landed at the wrong Missouri airport.

In 2013, Airbus booked 1,619 gross orders valued at $240.5 billion at list prices and delivered 626 aircraft, marking a record full-year performance for the European manufacturer.

Airbus has removed five A350-800s and five A380s originally destined for India’s Kingfisher Airlines from its order book, along with 12 A319/A320ceos that were for United Airlines.

American Airlines Group said it has started the first phase of codesharing between American Airlines and US Airways as the carriers’ merger integration process gets underway in earnest.

Fiji Airways is looking to purchase and/or lease four new aircraft by 2017, as part of a five-year strategic master plan that will increase its fleet size 25%.

Airberlin and Etihad Airways, which have been in a strategic partnership for two years, have unveiled an Airbus A320 aircraft in a specially designed joint livery at Berlin Brandenburg International Airport.

Russian and UK aviation authorities have agreed to designate second carriers for the Saint Petersburg-London route, Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsia, said in a statement.

Japan’s Skymark Airlines’ first Airbus A380 has started final assembly (FAL) in Toulouse, Airbus said.

Estonia’s national carrier Estonian Air has sold its 60% stake in Amadeus Estonia to Madrid-based Amadeus IT Group as part of the airline’s restructuring process.

Southwest Airlines has confirmed to ATW that a Southwest Boeing 737-700, on a scheduled flight from Chicago Midway to Branson airport, landed instead at Taney County Airport in Missouri Sunday evening.

The new Indian full-service airline planned by the Tata group and Singapore Airlines has chosen to launch with Airbus A320 aircraft.

Shenzhen-based cargo carrier Donghai Airlines may launch passenger operations in February to help compensate for the stagnant cargo market.