Olympic Airlines' privatization has attracted bids from four companies. According to Reuters, which cited financial daily Imerisia, Aegean Airlines was the first to confirm its interest, while Germany's DBA, Dutch investment fund Sure Eastate and a consortium that calls itself Olympic Investors also tabled binding bids.
Iberia said yesterday that it expects to book a pre-tax gain of €600 million ($775 million) through the sale of its Class A shares in Amadeus Global Travel Distribution. After the offer, Iberia will maintain an "indirect stake" in Amadeus representing a maximum of 11.44% through its investment in WAM Acquisitions, a newly incorporated company created as the vehicle for the Amadeus offering. Its investment in WAM will be €102 million.
Air New Zealand Engineering Services signed a three-year maintenance contract with Virgin Blue, effective immediately. Under the deal, ANZES will perform heavy maintenance support for the carrier's fleet of 48 737NGs. It previously supported Virgin Blue's maintenance needs on an annual basis.
Japan Airlines, responding to four safety incidents and a rebuke in March from the Civil Aviation Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport that resulted in a major shakeup in the airline's management, announced a series of measures to improve safety monitoring and reporting within the organization. JAL established a new Safety Measures Committee comprising the president, executive VP, executive directors for safety and executives from the flight operations, maintenance, cabin attendants, airport operations and cargo departments.
IAE and Spirit Airlines signed a 15-year fleet hour agreement covering the V2500s powering the airline's A320s. The deal also covers the 15 aircraft Spirit will purchase and the 20 it will take on lease in the future.
Finnair flew 1.59 billion RPKs in March, up 12.1% over the year-ago period. Capacity climbed 8.5% to 2.15 billion ASKs and load factor gained 2.3 points to 74.1%. For the three months ended March 31, RPKs increased 7.4% to 4.32 billion, ASKs rose 5.3% to 5.89 billion and load factor grew 2 points to 73.4%.
PACE Aerospace Engineering and Information Technology announced that Air France Industries purchased its standard cabin configuration solution, Pacelab Cabin, which will support the AF division in "streamlining its cabin interior design process for commercial aircraft and in improving its customization services."
BAE Systems will provide actuator control electronics units for 777s through 2012 under an agreement with Boeing. BAE has supplied this type of equipment to Boeing since 1990 under a contract that was set to expire at year end.
Global Aircraft Solutions through its wholly owned subsidiary Hamilton Aerospace Technologies negotiated a maintenance contract with BCI Aircraft Leasing. GACF will perform heavy maintenance and fleet integration work on a 737-200 owned by BCI.
Alaska Air Group flew 1.46 billion RPMs in March, up 10% over the year-ago period. Capacity climbed 1.9% to 1.88 billion ASMs and load factor gained 5.8 points to 77.9%. For the three months ended March 31, RPMs increased 8.9% to 3.9 billion, ASMs rose 3.7% to 5.37 billion and load factor jumped 3.5 points to 72.6%.
A war of words has erupted between United Airlines management and the union representing its cabin staff and it appears as though relations only will get worse.
Telair International announced a firm acceptance from China Southern Airlines for 18 sliding carpet loading systems for its fleet of nine 737-800s, which China Southern will take over in mid-2005 from ATA Airlines.
Bilateral air services talks between the UK and Indian governments in Delhi have yielded a further opening of the market between the two countries, including an additional 28 services per week for airlines on each side between London Heathrow and Delhi/Mumbai phased in over the next 18 months. Separately, China and India agreed to additional services under an MOU that took effect earlier this week (see item below).
Air France and KLM are raising their fuel surcharges. The fuel levy on Air France tickets issued in France will rise by €1 ($1.29) on domestic flights, €2 on medium-haul flights and €8 on long-haul flights from April 20. KLM is adding €6 on long-haul flights and €3 on European flights effective April 15.
Global ePoint received an order from Lufthansa for additional cockpit door surveillance systems manufactured by Global's Airworks Division for installation on seven 737-300s, two 737-500s, three A330s and one A340, with two additional systems to be installed in flight simulators for the A330 and A340.
India and China signed an MOU, which went into effect Monday, to expand capacity between the two countries. The MOU covers the phased introduction of an increase in passenger services and "open skies" cargo rights with a range of unlimited third, fourth and fifth freedom traffic rights for dedicated cargo operations. It also covers a range of other issues including codesharing and simplification of visa protocols. In addition, both countries agreed to examine a feasibility study on a Free Trade Area Agreement.
Alteon is opening a new training facility near Singapore Changi, President Pat Gaines announced yesterday at the World Airline Training Conference and Tradeshow in Dallas. Set to open in the first quarter of 2006, the center will be able to train more than 6,000 pilots and flight attendants annually. "The three-story facility will house six full flight simulators and other advanced-technology training devices such as flat panel trainers," the company said.
ACE Aviation Holdings, in conjunction with its previously announced debt and equity offering ( ATWOnline, April 8), said underwriters elected to exercise in full their overallotment options to purchase an additional 1.135 million Class A shares at C$37 per share ($29.83) and C$30 million of 4.25% convertible senior notes due 2035. This resulted in additional gross proceeds of C$72 million, bringing the total to C$792 million.
Northwest Airlines would not confirm a report in Tuesday's Wall Street Journal that it is set to order up to 18 787s. In a statement, an airline spokesperson said, "We continue to speak with aircraft manufacturers about their product offerings." An NWA order would be a big win for Boeing and a setback for Airbus because the carrier operates the A330 and has a number still to be delivered. Separately, on Monday Northwest and China Southern Airlines inked a new partnership that includes reciprocal frequent-flier and airport lounge benefits.
L-3 Communications Security & Detection Systems received an order from the US Transportation Security Administration for eXaminer 3DX explosives detection systems. The deal is valued at $33 million.
Continental Airlines announced that Senior VP-Flight Operations Debbie McCoy will retire. The company said her position will not be filled and her team will now report to Executive VP Operations Mark Moran.
Kale Consultants of India said Delta Air Lines successfully implemented APEX, which is used to prorate Special Prorate Agreement-based revenue transactions as they flow through Delta's Revenue Pipeline System.
