United Airlines Friday completed an ASPIRE (Asia and South Pacific Initiative to Reduce Emissions) flight from Sydney to San Francisco and said it saved 1,564 gal. of fuel and 32,656 lb. of carbon dioxide emissions. UA said that 11 fuel-saving initiatives were deployed "from gate to gate." The 777 flight, dubbed "ASPIRE United," followed in the footsteps of a similar flight operated by Air New Zealand in September ( ATWOnline, Sept. 15).
British Airways confirmed that passengers using its all-business-class London City-New York service will be able to clear US customs at the Shannon stopover. The twice-daily A318 service, set to launch next autumn, will require a fuel stop on the westbound segment ( ATWOnline, Aug. 19).
IBM reached a deal with Philippine Airlines for IT enhancement and consolidation focused on streamlining response capabilities and decreasing file maintenance time on ALCS systems.
SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines flew a combined 1.37 billion RPMs in October, down 12.3% year-over-year, against a 14.6% fall in ASMs to 1.72 billion. Load factor rose 2 points to 79.6%. Hawaiian Airlines flew 644 million RPMs in October, down 8.6% year-over-year. Capacity dropped 0.8% to 777.2 million ASMs and load factor fell 7 points to 82.9%. Copa Airlines flew 489.1 million RPMs in October, a 20.6% year-over-year increase. Capacity rose 15.4% to 648.7 million ASMs, lifting load factor 3.2 points to 75.4%.
Alitalia pilots and flight attendants continued work disruptions for a fourth day yesterday, part of a series of protests against the carrier's sale that has forced AZ to cancel some 300 flights this week ( ATWOnline, Nov. 13). ENAC fined the airline €250,000 ($313,618) because of a lack of assistance to passengers, an agency spokesperson told Reuters.
Russia Federal Antimonopoly Service will attempt to block Aeroflot's effort to acquire the state's 25.5% stake in S7 Airlines ( ATWOnline, Oct. 24), FAS head Igor Artemyev said yesterday on Vesti television. "We have concerns about transferring the blocking stake in the private company to SU. A monopoly could form in this situation. . .We will try to block this deal," Artemyev said, according to Reuters. The Ministry of Transport said this week that it supported SU's bid.
The four-day strike called by French pilot unions to protest a potential change in the retirement age is expected to cause "severe disruption" to Air France's schedule beginning today and could cost the carrier up to €100 million, AF KLM Chairman and CEO Jean-Cyril Spinetta said.
Royal Air Maroc reportedly is planning to establish a regional subsidiary called Atlas Inter, which will start flying in March with eight leased turboprops (most likely ATR 72s). Local media are reporting that RAM is looking to cut costs on regional routes it currently operates with A321s or 737s.
The JetBlue Pilots Assn. filed a petition with the US National Mediation Board this week seeking to become the bargaining agent for the carrier's nearly 2,000 pilots. JBPA leaders said they want formal recognition in order to provide career protection for pilots that will help "redefine pilot-labor relations in our industry." The in-house body would be not affiliated with a national union.
EasyJet transported 4 million passengers in October, up 18.4% from the year-ago month. Load factor rose 1.4 points to 83.9%. Republic Airways flew 795.7 million RPMs in October, down 2.8% year-over-year, against a 0.4% fall in ASMs to 1.09 billion. Load factor dropped 1.8 points to 73%. Allegiant Air flew 248 million RPMs in October, up 8.6% year-over-year. Capacity fell 2.4% to 284.1 million ASMs, lifting load factor 8.9 points to 87.3%.
US Dept. of Transportation task force comprising representatives from airlines, airports, consumer groups and DOT this week issued recommendations for treating passengers during extended tarmac delays, calling for better communication and improved preparedness to provide stranded passengers with food and water. But the nonbinding "model contingency plan," approved by a 34-1 vote, did not include a suggested set time for returning delayed aircraft back to a gate, a provision desired by consumer advocates and some lawmakers.
Hawaiian Airlines announced the acquisition of an additional 298-seat A330-200 on lease from CIT. It reached an agreement to lease two others from AWAS last month and has six of the type on order from Airbus ( ATWOnline, Oct. 28). HA will take delivery of two of the leased A330s in the 2010 second quarter, beginning its "transition to a new long-range fleet two years earlier than originally planned." The second AWAS aircraft will join the fleet in 2011 and the Airbus deliveries will begin the following year.
International Air Carrier Assn. urged the European Parliament to reject amendments adopted last month by its Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety relating to the inclusion of aviation in the continental emissions trading scheme ( ATWOnline, Oct. 13), and said the gradual increase in the percentage of emissions certificates auctioned (to 100% in 2020) will cost affected airlines "an unaffordable" €8 billion ($10.04 billion) per year.
Joy Air, the Xi'an-based regional launched by China Eastern Airlines and China Aviation Industry Corp. in March, will commence operation by year end, according to CAIC President and CEO Lin Zuoming ( ATWOnline, March 31). Joy plans to operate 50 MA60 series turboprops within the next 6-7 years. It has three MA60s on firm order and scheduled for delivery starting next month and has signed a letter of intent for 10 MA600s to be delivered from 2010. It also plans to order 50 ARJ21s. Chinese regionals are still losing money.
Alitalia must pay back the €300 million emergency loan from the Italian government, which the European Commission yesterday called "unlawful aid and incompatible with the common market."
World travel is projected to grow an average of 5% per from 2009 through 2028, with China leading at 7.5%, according to Embraer's 20-year market forecast for commercial aircraft. Emerging markets in Latin America and Russia/CIS will grow a projected 6% annually, Asia/Pacific and Africa will grow about 5% and Europe and North American 4%. Some 6,750 jets in the 30/120-seat range will be required, generating sales of $220 billion over the next two decades.
Air France KLM flew 18.41 billion RPKs in October, up 9% from the year-ago month, against an 8% increase in ASKs to 22.65 billion. Load factor rose 0.7 point to 81.3%. United Airlines flew 8.68 billion system RPMs in October, a 9.7% year-over-year decrease. Capacity dropped 9.9% to 10.68 billion ASMs and load factor rose 0.2 point to 81.3%. Alaska Airlines flew 1.42 billion RPMs in October, down 1% year-over-year. Capacity fell 3.7% to 1.92 billion ASMs, lifting load factor 2 points to 73.6%.
United Airlines will operate the second ASPIRE (Asia and South Pacific Initiative to Reduce Emissions) flight on Nov. 14 from Sydney to San Francisco, following in the footsteps of Air New Zealand, which flew "ASPIRE 1" with a 777-200ER two months ago ( ATWOnline, Sept. 15).
AirTran Airways will begin charging $15 for the first checked bag on flights from Dec. 5. It will continue charging $25 for the second checked bag and $50 for each additional bag. Business class and premium loyalty program members will be exempt. AirTran also said it now will allow passengers to upgrade to business class for $49-$99 one way when checking in online 24 hr. prior to departure and onboard the aircraft either before takeoff or at cruising altitude.
FedEx said yesterday that it intends to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its aircraft fleet by 20% by 2020. It said it already has reduced CO2 emissions by 3.7% per ATM since 2005. Key to the increased efficiency will be the replacement of its 90 727Fs with at least 87 757-200 converted freighters by 2016. The 757s will reduce "fuel consumption up to 36% while providing 20% more payload capacity," it said.
CAE won orders for full-flight simulators and related CAE Simfinity training devices valued at C$63 million ($52.6 million) from American Airlines, Air New Zealand, Suzuyo and Embraer CAE Training Services. AA purchased a CAE 7000 Series 737NG FFS and CAE Simfinity 737NG Integrated Procedures Trainer. ANZ ordered a 787 FFS and a 777-300 FFS as well as a suite of CAE Simfinity training devices for each aircraft type including IPTs and virtual simulators. Suzuyo bought a CAE 7000 Series E-170 FFS and an E-170 IPT. ECTS committed to a CAE 5000 Series Phenom 100/300 FFS.
