China Southern Airlines flew 6.78 billion RPKs in January, up 22.1% over the year-ago month. Capacity rose 11.6% to 9.2 billion ASKs and load factor lifted 6.3 points to 73.7%.
Air One's appeal to have the negotiations between Air France KLM and Alitalia suspended was denied by the Lazio administrative court yesterday ( ATWOnline, Feb. 12). The court now will consider whether Air One can enter its own bid or if the merger talks will stay exclusive, according to press reports. Air One said it will appeal the decision.
Austrian Airlines Group's negotiations with Saudi investor Mohamed bin Iassa Al-Jaber regarding his interest in investing €150 million ($220.5 million) in the flag carrier continue ( ATWOnline, Feb. 1), with several press reports out of Austria indicating that his investment could rise to €200 million and his stake in AAG to 30% from 20%. Many AAG shareholders and Austrian politicians (state holding group OIAG remains a 42.75% owner of AAG) have been positive about the potential investment.
IBS Software reached agreement with Jet Airways to implement its crew management system AvientCrew. IBS also launched a development center at Bengaluru.
OpenSkies, British Airways' new transatlantic subsidiary, will operate its first flight between either Paris Charles de Gaulle or Orly and New York JFK, BA said in a filing and application for traffic rights with the US Dept. of Transportation. It also had considered Brussels as an initial European gateway ( ATWOnline, Feb. 7). OpenSkies will fly with both the BA and its own EC code and plans to launch service in June.
Messier Services Asia reached a deal with China Eastern Airlines to provide landing gear MRO services for 24 A320s. Work will continue through 2009. MSA also has begun MRO work on 737NGs.
EasyJet transported 2.8 million passengers in January, up 7.3% from the year-ago month. Load factor slipped 2.9 points to 72%. Allegiant Air flew 304.3 million RPMs in January, a 47.1% increase over the year-ago month. Capacity rose 40.3% to 383.7 million ASMs and load factor was up 3.6 points to 79.3%.
United Airlines promoted United Express and Ted VP-Operational Services Alexandria Marren to VP-onboard service. She will be succeeded by VP-Airport Operations-O'Hare Cynthia Szadokierski. AirTran Airways Senior VP and CFO Stan Gadek will leave the airline on April 30, the carrier announced. A search for his successor is underway.
Aeroflot Cargo, which recently announced the resignation of DG Andrey Goryashko, said it transported 121,879 tons in 2007, with 44,971 tons onboard freighters and the remainder as belly cargo on SU passenger flights. It also said it posted a RUB6.8 million ($277,000) net profit in October and a RUB12.8 million net profit in November. It operated six MD-11 freighters and two 737Fs in 2007 and plans to take delivery of six leased Il-96-400Ts beginning this year.
Emirates said it raised $253 million for the financing of a 777-200LR and a 777-300ER delivered in January. Twelve-year finance leases were underwritten by HSH Nordbank, Mashreqbank.psc and Mizuho Corporate Bank. EK has 53 more 777s on order comprising six -200LRs, eight -200LR freighters and 39 -300ERs.
Airbus said US FAA and EASA have approved reduced training for pilots transitioning from the A320 family, A330 or A340 to the A380. The manufacturer said an A320 family pilot now can be qualified to fly the A380 in 13 working days and an A330/A340 pilot in 12 working days. A pilot with no Airbus fly-by-wire experience requires 24 working days to complete the A380 standard type rating course.
JetBlue Airways took delivery of its first A320 featuring a redesigned cabin that will be available on each of its 88 future deliveries. New interior is 1,050 lb. lighter than its predecessor and results in annual fuel savings of $52,000 per aircraft, JetBlue said. The cabin includes lighter Recaro seats that offer increased personal space created by thinner seat profiles, new sidewall paneling that adds width and shoulder room, 10% more overhead bin space and new LED lighting.
Frontier Airlines Holdings announced that Executive VP and CFO Paul Tate will resign effective March 21. Frontier said a search for Tate's successor is underway.
SkyTeam Chairman and former KLM chief Leo van Wijk told The Wall Street Journal that Air France KLM intends to inject €3 billion ($4.4 billlion) into Alitalia and to acquire 100% of the ailing flag carrier. "If we get a deal with the Italian government, then we will make a general offer for Alitalia and if it works out, we will delist it," van Wijk told the paper.
Russian authorities extended Lufthansa Cargo's overflight rights through March. They were scheduled to expire at the end of this month, according to press reports. Russia temporarily suspended LHC's rights in a dispute over the location of its hub. The carrier bases in Astana, but Russia prefers that it hub out of Krasnoyarsk ( ATWOnline, Nov. 5, 2007).
News from Travel Technology Update: Even people with creative jobs occasionally wonder what they might accomplish if work didn't get in the way. SITA, the airline-owned information technology company, is unleashing the power of "What if?" with SITA Lab, a new research and development facility based in Geneva, Switzerland, that is liberated from day-to-day product development. The company said the goal of the SITA Lab is "to drive innovation for the air transport industry working both independently and in partnership with others."
Boeing has begun final assembly of the fourth 787 and second flight test aircraft. Ships two and three are static and fatigue test aircraft. According to VP-787 Final Assembly and Change Incorporation Steve Westby, there is "significantly less traveled work on this [fourth] airplane." He added in a statement: "The degree of completeness of sections at the partners is significantly better than Airplane 1. Condition of assembly is much better and we will see continued improvements on the condition of each assembly shipped.
AviIT reached agreement with Etihad Airways to support all ACARS services across the carrier's fleet. Contract includes implementation of AviIT's Archimedes and Airboard system, flight operations log transmission services and integration of ACARS data with engineering fault diagnostic, crew planning and fuel planning systems. ACARS technology provides two-way messaging between aircraft and ground stations via VHF, HF or satellite.
China Eastern Airlines will be the first of the country's big three carriers to expand into the niche regional market following CAAC's approval of its joint venture with AVIC I, Happy Air ( ATWOnline, Feb. 5). AVIC I will be Happy's controlling shareholder with a 60% stake, while CEA will put in CNY400 million ($55.7 million) for the remaining 40%. The new venture will be based in Xi'an and use Chinese-built aircraft for its fleet, specifically the MA60 and ARJ21.
Singapore Airlines canceled an A380 flight to Sydney Monday night owing to a fuel pump defect, according to a statement provided to the Associated Press. A replacement pump did not solve the problem and a 747-400 was used on the flight as SIA's other A380 was undergoing maintenance. "Airbus and our own engineers have dedicated teams to try to address these issues quickly, but last night's fuel pump defect took much longer to fix," SIA told AP.
