EasyJet yesterday launched thrice-weekly Liverpool-Innsbruck service. The LCC transported 2.9 million passengers last month, up 9.9% from December 2006. Load factor fell 2.2 points to 78.9%.
John Keells Computer Services unveiled its eCheck-in Suite technology aimed at streamlining the passenger check-in and boarding pass process. Features include BCBP capabilities and check-in via mobile phones, PDAs and other Web-based tools.
Standard Aero announced completion of a $1.6 million transformation project at its PT6A MRO facility in Winnipeg. Enhancements are expected to boost overhaul capacity and accelerate turn times.
British Airways flew 9.08 billion RPKs in December, up 1% from the year-ago month, against a 2% rise in ASKs to 12.35 billion. Load factor slipped 0.7 point to 73.5%. Northwest Airlines flew 6.27 billion consolidated RPMs in December, a 1.7% drop from the year-ago month. Capacity declined 2.2% to 7.72 billion ASMs, lifting load factor 0.5 point to 81.2%.
Finnair shut down Estonian subsidiary Aero Airlines Sunday as part of its strategy to concentrate on its mainline business and development of its Asian route network. The closure also ends its propeller aircraft era, as the ATR 72s owned by Finnair Aircraft Finance and operated by Aero have been sold ( ATWOnline, Jan. 7). Finnair took control of Aero in 2001, hoping to develop a cost-effective model for a regional operator while increasing its market share in the Baltic.
News from Travel Technology Update: Social networking was undoubtedly the hot trend of the year, at least according to the people who plan travel industry conference agendas. The travel industry is still grappling with how to monetize the huge and amorphous phenomenon. "Two-thirds of online customers use social media," Cindy Estis Green, managing partner of the Estis Group, said.
US Aerospace Industries Assn. elected Rockwell Collins Chairman, President and CEO Clayton Jones as its 2008 chairman, succeeding Raytheon Chairman, President and CEO William Swanson, who held the post last year.
Pinnacle Airlines announced the purchase of its Class A Preferred Share from Northwest Airlines for $20 million ( ATWOnline, Dec. 3, 2007). "This is the last step in the process of becoming independent that began with our IPO in 2003, and well positions us to take advantage of future opportunities," President and CEO Phil Trenary said. "We remain firmly committed to Northwest Airlines, our largest customer."
Pratt & Whitney and Turkish Airlines Technic signed a joint venture agreement yesterday to build a major engine overhaul center at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen ( ATWOnline, Oct. 8, 2007). The facility will be P&W's eighth commercial engine overhaul center. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Pratt & Whitney Turkish Technic Aircraft Engine Maintenance Center will overhaul V2500 and CFM56(r) engines. Construction will begin shortly and the facility will induct its first engine in 2009.
Air Berlin now is airberlin following the release of a revised identity and logo that the airline said will be part of its repositioning as a global company. First aircraft with the familiar red color but new logo, featuring a red tail and stylized lower-case a, will roll out this month, along with a new advertising campaign. Rapp Collins led the rebranding effort.
BAE Systems received a $29 million award from the US Dept. of Homeland Security to equip three American Airlines 767-200s with its Jeteye infrared aircraft missile defense systems on a test basis. DHS already has conducted trials of the system's missile-defeating capability at government test ranges. Systems on AA aircraft will be used to evaluate Jeteye's compatibility with daily passenger airline operations and maintenance.
Virgin Atlantic Airways and the Unite union reached agreement yesterday on a two-year pay deal for cabin crew, averting the first flight attendant strike in the carrier's history. Unite planned 48-hr. strikes on Jan. 9-10 and Jan.16-17 ( ATWOnline, Jan. 7). "The outcome is a triumph of common sense," Virgin's Richard Branson said. Agreement includes a 4.8% pay increase in the first year and a guarantee of RPI in the second.
Virgin Atlantic Airways said Friday that "hundreds of cabin crew volunteers" had come forward to ensure the airline is able to operate a near-normal service during the planned forthcoming industrial action ( ATWOnline, Jan. 4). VS hopes to operate 90% of its schedule during the Jan. 9-10 and Jan. 16-17 strikes. It also reiterated that there will be no pay increase if cabin staff strikes.
Southwest Airlines will begin charging each ticketed customer for a third piece of checked luggage on Jan. 29, according to regulations published on its website. Its current policy requires passengers to pay $50 each for the 4th-12th item and $110 for each bag thereafter. On Jan. 29, passengers will be charged $25 for a third bag, $50 for a fourth-ninth bag and $110 for every item thereafter. SWA told The Dallas Morning News that only 2% of passengers checked a third piece of luggage last year.
GuestLogix will provide mobile virtual store onboard technology across Ryanair's fleet under a deal announced Friday. Cabin crew will use handheld electronic point-of-sale devices to streamline transactions. Rollout is scheduled for April.
Poland's Treasury Ministry plans to sell its 68% stake in LOT Polish Airlines, Deputy Treasury Minister Zdzislaw Gawlik said last week, although there first must be changes to current regulations that permit the sale of only a minority stake, Reuters reported. "There are no rational grounds for the carrier to remain state-owned. We want to change the law in order to sell the shares," Gawlik said. The ministry plans to float the carrier this year on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, possibly in the third quarter.
United Airlines flew 9.23 billion system RPMs in December, down 1.2% from the year-ago month. Capacity fell 0.1% to 11.76 billion ASMs, dropping load factor 0.8 point to 78.8%. A record 19 "severe" weather days during the month will result in a 1% year-over-year drop in fourth-quarter capacity rather than the forecast 0.8%, UA said. Ryanair transported 3.95 million passengers in December, up 18% from the year-ago month. Load factor slipped 2 points to 79%.
Finnair said it intends to buy back up to 600,000 shares through public trading on the Helsinki Stock Exchange, with the purchase beginning on Feb. 5 at the earliest and ending April 1. Separately, the carrier announced the sale of the last three ATR 72s operated by its Aero subsidiary to Russia's Utair. Aero's four other ATR 72s were sold last year to ATR Leasing ( ATWOnline, July 25, 2007).
The number of passenger fatalities on revenue flights declined by 20% in 2007 to 631 from 790 in 2006 although the number of fatal accidents rose from 13 in 2006 to 15 last year, according to the "Annual Aviation Safety Report" from Ascend. However, Ascend noted that despite the numeric increase, the industry maintained "the long-term improvement" trend in safety. It stated that "the average number of fatal accidents since 2000 is 16.0, and in the 1990s the average was 24.2."
Fraport Cargo Services said the German Civil Aviation Authority granted it final accreditation as a regulated agent. Awarded until December 2011, accreditation follows efforts by FCS to observe EU Directive 2320/2002 including measures to enhance air cargo handling safety, operating area security, warehouse entrance efficiency and various training initiatives.
EasyJet now is selling tickets on its website for 32 routes operated by GB Airways. The LCC's purchase of the London Gatwick-based carrier is expected to close this month ( ATWOnline, Oct. 26, 2007). GB will cease operating under the British Airways banner on March 29.
SkyEurope Airlines secured a €15 million ($22 million) loan from York Global Finance, the LCC's largest shareholder. It said it will use the funds "to continue with the execution of its turnaround plan without diluting shareholders' interests through the issuance of new capital." It lost €24.1 million in the fiscal year ended Sept. 30.
Singapore Technologies Aerospace said subsidiary ST Aerospace Supplies will open an import, export and logistics facility, Guangzhou Aerospace Technologies & Engineering, to support customers in China and component maintenance-by-the-hour program participants. The 130-sq.-m. facility includes a warehouse and office at Guangzhou Baiyun. Initial investment is $500,000. Operations will commence immediately.
