Northwest Airlines flew 7.11 billion RPMs in June, up 5.6% over the year-ago period. Capacity climbed 3.9% to 8.11 billion ASMs and load factor rose 1.3 points to 87.7%. For the six months ended June 30, RPMs jumped 7.6% to 38.19 billion, ASMs increased 4.4% to 46.54 billion and load factor was up 2.5 points to 82.1%. ATA Airlines flew 622.6 million RPMs in June, down 48.8% compared to the year-ago period. Capacity dropped 45.7% to 810.5 million ASMs and load factor declined 4.1 points to 76.8%.
SR Technics Switzerland put its new CHF8 million ($6.2 million) pneumatic testing facility into operation last week. According to the company, the facility will be used to conduct tests on 25 technically different components including those for controlling onboard air-conditioning and valves for regulating air supply throughout the aircraft. It also features sufficient flexibility to handle components of new-generation Boeing aircraft and to permit further testing modules to be added to it.
Gol flew 770.6 million RPKs in June, up 77.4% over the year-ago period. Capacity climbed 61.1% to 1.08 billion ASKs and load factor was up 6.5 points to 71.1%.
South African Airways reported a net profit of 966 million rand ($140.6 million) for the fiscal year ended March 31, reversing a massive 8.6 billion rand loss in the prior financial year that largely was owing to currency hedges that went badly wrong. Revenue increased 6.8% while costs rose just 1.9% (below inflation) during the 12-month period. CEO Khaya Ngqula said the financial turnaround was led by the carrier's aggressive and strict operating cost control as well as the first impact of the materialization of operating efficiencies.
Bmibaby appointed Steve Burns as commercial director. The post previously was held by David Bryon, now the airline's MD. Burns earlier held various commercial roles with easyJet.
European Regions Airline Assn. member carriers flew 11.1% more RPKs in the first quarter on an ASK increase of 8.5% as compared to the prior-year period. Load factor was 56.9%. ERA also said average trip distance flown by members rose to 555 km. from 521 km. in the 2004 quarter. The association said new routes spanning Eastern, Central and Western Europe and the presence of more turbofan aircraft in members' fleets contributed to the increase.
Cerberus Capital Management completed its purchase of debis AirFinance from DaimlerChrysler, Bayern LB, Dresdner Bank, DZ Bank and NypoVereinsbank. Price was not disclosed.
TAT Technologies acquired Piedmont Aviation Component Services through its fully owned subsidiary Limco Repair. Under terms of the agreement, TAT paid $5.3 million for the company and repaid $11 million of outstanding indebtedness. Piedmont, based in Kernersville, N.C., is a provider of overhaul, repair, maintenance, service and supply of propellers, landing gear and APU/LRU units in the Regional airline market.
Carmen Systems AB signed a long-term agreement with Northwest Airlines to provide its preferential bidding system for the carrier's 5,300 pilots. The deal also includes an option to add Northwest's 10,000 flight attendants.
Independence Air flew 332.2 million RPMs in June on capacity of 436.1 million ASMs. Load factor was 76.2%. For the six months ended June 30, RPMs totaled 1.48 billion and ASMs were 2.2 billion. Load factor averaged 67.1%.
Lufthansa Systems enhanced its ELWIS cargo handling system with RFID technology. The free trade zone at the new Bangkok International Airport plans to launch the new ELWIS in its warehouse.
Alaska Air Group flew 1.54 billion RPMs in June, up 1.4% over the year-ago period. Capacity dropped 2.9% to 1.93 billion ASMs and load factor rose 3.4 points to 80.1%. For the six months ended June 30, RPMs climbed 6.9% to 8.21 billion, ASMs increased 0.9% to 10.91 billion and load factor gained 4.2 points to 75.3%.
US Airways Group flew 3.73 billion RPMs in June, up 0.1% over the year-ago period. Capacity climbed 0.4% to 4.59 billion ASMs and load factor fell 0.4 point to 81.2%. For the six months ended June 30, RPMs rose 3% to 20.37 billion, ASMs increased 1.9% to 27 billion and load factor was up 0.8 point to 75.4%.
SAS Group flew 3.31 billion RPKs in June, up 4% over the year-ago period. Capacity rose 1.4% to 4.62 billion ASKs and load factor gained 1.8 points to 71.6%. For the six months ended June 30, RPKs increased 3.7% to 16.63 billion, ASKs grew 3.8% to 26.28 billion and load factor was flat year-over-year at 63.3%.
American Airlines will begin selling its $3 Food on Board snack boxes to passengers in the main cabin on select flights departing from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time each day from Aug. 1. Currently, the program is available from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. According to the carrier, the time extension gives customers on 38 additional flights the option to purchase snack boxes and expands the service to more than 650 domestic flights.
JAT intends to spin off its technical operation into a separate company called Jat Tehnika, which would employ 950. The company plans to obtain the necessary licenses and authorities to perform third-party maintenance.
Ryanair said the number of earned seats flown in June amounted to 3 million, up 31% from a year earlier. Load factor stayed stable at 87%. For the rolling 12 months ended June 30, earned seats flown totaled 29.6 million and load factor averaged 84%.
The European Parliament rejected an agreement reached between the European Union and Canada that would permit the transfer of passenger data from EU airlines to the border authorities of Canada.
JetBlue Airways flew 1.79 billion RPMs in June, up 31.1% over the year-ago period. Capacity climbed 25.9% to 2.01 billion ASMs and load factor rose 3.5 points to 89%. For the six months ended June 30, RPMs increased 30.8% to 9.56 billion, ASMs jumped 24.1% to 11.01 billion and load factor was up 4.5 points to 86.8%.
Air Jamaica canceled all of its scheduled flights to and from Jamaica yesterday owing to Hurricane Dennis, which is slowly working its way through the Caribbean. The airline said it will resume all Jamaica flights as soon as authorities at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay and Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston give clearance. Service to Eastern Caribbean destinations Grenada and Barbados will operate as scheduled.
