US National Transportation Safety Board hearings commence today on the Feb. 12 Colgan Air Q400 crash outside Buffalo that killed 50 including one person on the ground, and a great deal of attention is expected to be focused on the flight captain's training and competence.
The European Commission received notification of Lufthansa Group's proposed acquisition of Austrian Airlines Group and set a June 17 deadline to complete a first-phase review of the deal. LH launched a public offer for AAG on March 2 after reaching agreement with state holding company OIAG to buy its 41.56% stake for €366,000 ($498,843) plus an "earn-out option" that could amount to as much as €164 million depending on AAG's future economic performance and LH's share outperforming its competitors.
Delta Air Lines said it has installed Wi-Fi on 139 of the more than 300 domestic mainline aircraft it operates including its entire MD-88 fleet. The aircraft are equipped with Gogo Inflight Internet. It added that all of its MD-90s will be equipped by the end of May with the remainder of the domestic fleet scheduled for completion by September. The cost of Wi-Fi on a DL flight ranges from $7.95 to $12.95. In June it will begin offering "month-long, unlimited use passes."
Arinc Direct is adding electronic APIS filing (eAPIS) to its standard portfolio of flight services for corporate aircraft. The eAPIS service is available immediately for flights arriving or departing the United States and U.S. territories.
Oxford Aviation Academy said it received UK CAA "agreement" for its first Multi-Crew Pilot License course to be launched in partnership with Flybe. According to OAA, it "will be the first MPL to be delivered using instructors, aircraft and simulators based in the UK." Students selected to launch the program will benefit from a joint sponsorship under which Flybe and OAA will prove £20,000 ($30,100) per student in funding.
Japan Airlines subsidiary JALways closed its Oahu office and terminated the assignments of 130 contract pilots that operated 747s from Hawaii to Japan and Asia, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin reported. Wages will be paid through June. Japan-based JAL pilots now are crewing the five daily flights formerly operated by JALways, the paper said.
American Airlines flew 10.28 billion system RPMs in April, a 4.7% decline from the year-ago month. Capacity dropped 6.1% to 12.64 billion ASMs, lifting load factor 1.2 points to 81.3%. American Eagle's RPMs fell 5.5% to 644.4 million against a 7.8% drop in capacity to 887.7 million ASMs. Load factor rose 1.8 points to 72.6%. Continental Airlines said April consolidated RASM fell an estimated 12.5%-13.5% year-over-year while mainline RASM dropped an estimated 10.5%-11.5%.
United Airlines Chairman, President and CEO Glenn Tilton called upon regulators to press ahead with liberalization, warning that "this is hardly the time for further protectionism in our industry." Speaking last week to the European Aviation Club in Brussels, Tilton stressed that airlines are doing their part to move beyond the current recession, "but we need governments to work with us, to partner with us, across the globe to put policies in place, and the infrastructure in place, to allow us to meet the demands that will be placed on us."
Ukrainian government intends to sell its 62% stake in Ukraine International Airlines, according to a government statement cited by Reuters. Existing shareholders Austrian Airlines (22.5%) and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (10%) will have rights of first refusal.
American Airlines said it deployed a 757 on New York JFK-Brussels service last week, the first of 18 757s it is reconfiguring with 166 economy/16 business-class seats for international flying. The aircraft feature "new seats, new cabin interiors and updated [IFE]," AA said. The 18 757s (out of the 124 it operates) will be reconfigured by year end and will serve select transatlantic and Latin American routes.
Mechtronix World Corp. is expanding research and development capabilities in anticipation of what officials see as a growing need for additional pilot training programs. The company, which unveiled its new facility last week in Montreal, obtained C$39 million ($33.4 million) in funding from Richardson Capital of Calgary and C$7 million from Business Development Bank of Canada.
Etihad Airways unveiled a new first class cabin containing 12 individual suites with sliding doors, changing room/wash basin and a lie-flat, 80.5-in. seat with built-in massager. It invested $70 million in the upgrade. "Competition for premium customers remains intense and during the last 12 months a number of airlines have unveiled significant enhancements to their first class cabins, with others deciding to remove the cabin completely from their aircraft," CEO James Hogan said.
International Assn. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers said Friday that it has launched a campaign to replace the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in representing United Airlines' 9,000 mechanics. IAM, which currently represents 17,000 UA employees including ramp workers, claimed it has been asked by a "diverse group" of UA mechanics to step in. It said its focus would be on securing a pension plan for the mechanics.
EBACE: Project Phoenix, the Dubai-based specialist for converting airliners for VIP/executive use, has signed an agreement with American firm, Spectrum Aeromed, to develop a dedicated air ambulance version or to offer a quick change fit option.
Alitalia Chairman Roberto Colaninno told La Repubblica that load factors have climbed to 65%-66% from 43% in January, according to Reuters. He said breakeven load factor is 67%-68% and that AZ's market share in Italy has risen from January's 54% to 61%-62%. Delta Air Lines flew 15.41 billion system RPMs in April, a 7.7% decline from the year-ago month. Capacity dropped 7.1% to 18.94 billion ASMs and load factor fell 0.5 point to 81.4%.
Pinnacle Airlines Corp. parent of Pinnacle Airlines and Colgan Air, reported a first-quarter profit of $18.8 million compared to $1.2 million in the year-ago period, thanks largely to a one-time gain of $16.5 million relating to an income tax settlement and other nonrecurring items. Excluding those gains, its profit was $2.7 million. It also took a $600,000 charge related to the loss of the Colgan Q400 that crashed near Buffalo in February ( ATWOnline, March 26).
Gategroup, the onboard services company that is the parent of Gate Gourmet, will list its shares and begin trading on the SIX Swiss Exchange on May 12. No new shares will be issued and there is no public offering of the company's 19.7 million shares from any existing owners. Gategroup posted a CHF93 million ($82 million) net profit in 2008.
Air Berlin will keep its order for 25 787s, a spokesperson told ATWOnline, and now expects the first aircraft in 2013. Its long-haul plans remain in flux. AB management is talking with employees at its LTU subsidiary about a possible integration of its long-haul operation into AB and the spokesperson said the future of both carriers' long-haul operations "depends on the results of these talks." Discussions with the Vereinigung Cockpit union are scheduled later this month.
Aeroflot board "decided to continue the study on the rationale of acquiring" Alexander Lebedev's 49% stake in Blue Wings, according to a statement cited by Reuters ( ATWOnline, May 6).
EU and Canada Wednesday signed a far-reaching open skies agreement under which airlines from each side may operate freely without any restrictions on the number of carriers or flights between any airport in the EU and any in Canada. Agreement contains provisions for a phased easing of restrictions on control and ownership of carriers, leading to the right to set up airlines in the territory of the other party in the third phase and the right to own and control 100% of a foreign carrier in the fourth phase. "This will generate major benefits for consumers and airlines. .
The European Parliament accepted the European Commission's proposal to suspend the "use it or lose it" slot rule at EU airports during the current summer schedule.
IATA said France has adopted one-stop security protocols allowing passengers screened at a European airport to bypass a second screening when connecting in France. One-stop security will begin at Lyon and selected Paris Charles de Gaulle terminals, then expand. IATA estimated it will save $30 million a year.
Jet Airways announced the launch of a new economy service called Jet Airways Konnect that will be available on select domestic routes starting today. "Designed to meet the needs of the low-fare segment," JAK will feature reduced fares and buy-on-board meals and will be available on two 737s and six ATR 72-500s to start.
Southwest Airlines said that current revenue and booking trends "continue to be adversely impacted by the weak economic environment" and continuing swine flu concerns, leading the LCC to predict that second-quarter unit revenue will fall more than the 2.8% decrease reported in the first quarter. April RASM is expected "to be in line" with the year-ago month. SWA flew 6.52 billion RPMs last month, up 4.1% year-over-year, against a 1.9% decline in capacity to 8.46 billion ASMs. Load factor rose 4.4 points to 77%.
Finnair and its Helsinki Vantaa-based Northport Oy ground handling subsidiary reached a cost-savings agreement worth some €3.5 million that will include the layoff of 15 employees, the two-week furlough of 87 more and the shift of 183 full-time positions to part-time status. Northport employs 858. Separately, Finnair will launch a seasonal twice-weekly Helsinki-Pisa flight on May 8.
