RwandAir is the new name of the former Rwandair Express. CEO Gerald Zirimwabagabo said the initial phase of a five-year plan recommended the name change because Express "gives the impression of a 'small' point-to-point airline." The carrier plans to implement an online reservation and payment system in August and establish a loyalty program "a few months from now."
Lufthansa Systems completed implementation of its GroundSolutions/Mobile check-in solution at Austrian Airlines, enabling passengers to check in via mobile phone.
Air India "will have to do a lot of restructuring. . . organizationally, financially and manpowerwise," Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told reporters following the airline's formal presentation requesting government aid. "There is a lot of excess flab on the entire body of Air India and it does not only mean manpower but also it means various cost-cutting measures that have to be looked at comprehensively," he said, according to Agence France Presse.
Air New Zealand said May yield rose 7.1% year-over-year, due largely to foreign exchange gains. Excluding those, yield climbed 1.7%. It flew 1.72 billion RPKs during the month, down 11.4%, against a 13.9% decline in capacity to 2.28 billion ASKs. Load factor rose 2.2 points to 75.7%. Allegiant Air flew 381.1 million RPMs in May, up 23.9% from the year-ago month. Capacity rose 22.9% to 420.5 million ASMs and load factor increased 0.7 point to 90.6%.
United Airlines said it will cut an additional 600 flight attendant positions this year, bringing the total number of flight attendant job reductions planned in 2009 to more than 2,000. The cuts reportedly will begin Aug. 31. "We will offer our flight attendants a voluntary package and hope to receive enough responses to prevent any involuntary furloughs," the airline said. UA and cabin staff represented by the Assn. of Flight Attendants-CWA in April launched negotiations on their labor contract that is amenable Jan.
Clear program, which offered passengers the opportunity to speed through designated security lanes at 18 US airports for a $200 annual fee, abruptly ceased operations Monday night. Parent Verified Identity Pass said on its website that it "has been unable to negotiate an agreement with its senior creditor to continue operations" and that it "will continue to secure [customer data] and will take appropriate steps to delete the information." However, it said it could not issue refunds "because of its financial condition."
US Air Transport Assn. said yesterday that US airline passenger revenue dropped 26% year-over-year in May, the seventh straight month of decline. The number of passengers traveling on US airlines fell 9.5% year-over-year while the average price to fly 1 mi. decreased 17.6%. "Revenue declines extended beyond the mainland United States to the transatlantic, transpacific and Latin markets," ATA said.
Singapore Airlines and Air Line Pilots Assn.-Singapore reached an agreement under which pilots will take one day of leave without pay each month and a cut of 65% from an additional day's pay effective July 1. The groups reached a similar deal in May that now is superseded ( ATWOnline, May 5). SIA plans to decommission 16 aircraft and cut capacity by 11% during the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2010.
BAE Systems Asset Management announced the sale of one BAe 146-100 and three ATPs to Miami-based lessor Regional One. The three ATPs are on operating lease with SATA Air Acores.
Austrian Airlines Group flew 1.38 billion RPKs in May, down 18.8% year-over-year, against a 13.9% fall in capacity to 1.95 billion ASKs. Load factor slipped 4.2 points to 70.8%. Norwegian said May unit revenue fell 2% year-over-year to NOK0.46 (7.17 cents) while yield was steady at NOK0.59. It flew 909 million RPKs during the month, up 19%, against a 21% increase in ASKs to 1.18 billion. Load factor fell 2 points to 77%.
European Cockpit Assn. and US Air Line Pilots Assn. warned they will "not be in a position to support" any further negotiations on a second-stage open skies agreement between the EU and US if their bargaining rights are not "rebalanced." The statement coincides with a new round of negotiations starting this week.
Air India announced the formation of a four-member committee that will examine its labor agreements and identify INR5 billion ($102 million) in annual savings. AI said employee costs currently exceed INR30 billion per year. "Besides reduction in wage cost[s], Air India is also looking at improving productivity of employees, elimination of restrictive work practices and reducing wasteful expenditure," it said. The committee will issue its report by July 15.
Airbus CEO Tom Enders and Airbus China President Laurence Barron told ATWOnline yesterday in Tianjin that the financial commitment involved in establishing the manufacturer's new final assembly line is taking a back seat to its effort "to build a Chinese identity for Airbus."
Iberia Maintenance signed a three-year engine MRO agreement with Russia's Yakutia Airlines covering two Rolls-Royce RB211-535-E4s and a contract with India's Blue Dart Aviation for MRO on three RB211-535-C37s powering its 757-200 freighters.
The Argentine government outlined its plans to "modernize" newly nationalized Aerolineas Argentinas and Austral Lineas Aereas in a statement released Friday and indicated its commitment to a long-haul Airbus order. The airlines were brought under state control six months ago ( ATWOnline, Dec. 22, 2008). AR recently took delivery of a new 737-700, the first new aircraft purchased for the carrier in 16 years. A second will arrive before July and nine "similar aircraft" will be added on lease this year.
University of Queensland students won Airbus's inaugural "Fly Your Ideas" challenge at last week's Paris Air Show for a project looking into the use of the castor plant to develop the first single-plant-based composite material for aircraft cabin components. Project's goal was to reduce dependency on nonrenewable sources and improve end-of-life disposal. A feasibility analysis entailing fiber production and testing was conducted that demonstrated "encouraging mechanical and environmental properties," Airbus said. The three students won a €30,000 prize.
Boeing is expected to start slow-speed taxi tests of its first 787 on June 25, according to factory insiders. There had been some suggestions that the first fight would be around that date but the company now may opt for the morning of June 27 or 28. The second 787, ZA002, already is in ANA livery, has started its APU and is expected to be in the air shortly after ZA001.
Assn. of European Airlines released winter schedule (November-March) performance data indicating a slight improvement in baggage handling to 13 missing pieces per 1,000 passengers compared to 15.5 in the 2007-08 winter. Passenger numbers fell 6% year-over-year and flights dropped 9%, AEA noted. Of the 26 members reporting baggage data, Turkish Airlines performed the best at 4.5 missing bags per 1,000 passengers, followed by Air Malta (4.6) and Virgin Atlantic Airways (4.9). Iberia fared worst at 19.2, followed by Air France (18.9) and TAP Portugal (17.3).
Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance and AirAsia X signed a contract covering component support for its fleet of A330-300s. The Malaysian carrier ordered 25 of the type and has taken delivery of two. The remainder will enter service between now and 2013.
Austrian Airlines offered to reduce the size of its fleet in order to win approval from the European Commission for its acquisition by Lufthansa ( ATWOnline, June 12), state holding company OIAG CEO Peter Michaelis told Format magazine. In comments cited by Reuters, Michaelis said LH also offered to cut frequencies. "In [Austrian's] case, [the offer] is about the demand to cut AUA in size because of the state aid. In Lufthansa's case, [the offer] is about the antitrust conditions," he said.
Air Mauritius Group reported a loss of €85.5 million ($119.2 million) for the fiscal year ended March 31, a reversal from the €17 million surplus posted in the prior year. A €50.8 million charge related to the unwinding of 40% of its fuel hedges and an actual €49.7 million hedging loss were key drivers of the result. Revenue rose 0.2% to €448.6 million on a 9% fall in passenger numbers to 1.2 million.
Dubai fight support specialist JetEx has spread its wings to Paris and has opened a new luxury terminal building s at Le Bourget airport to supply support for its Middle Eastern VVIP customers.
AVISA Gulf, the Middle East joint venture between AVISA UK and Al Jaber Aviation has been awarded the first ever UAE Airworthiness GCAA Part M CAMO (Continued Airworthiness and Maintenance Management) approval.
