SITA announced creation of a Geneva-based technology research facility, SITA Lab, focused on driving innovation for the air transport industry. CTO Jim Peters will head the operation, which will deploy an innovation knowledge management system.
Lufthansa will start operating a wet-leased PrivatAir A319LR outfitted with an all-business-class cabin on a Munich-Dubai flight from June 1, creating an all-year service that will supplement LH's winter flights aboard a three-class A340-300, the carrier confirmed to ATWOnline. It sees sufficient demand to justify an all-business operation during the summer. LH currently has two PrivatAir A319LRs operating from its minihub in Dusseldorf on a daily Newark run and a five-times-weekly service to Chicago O'Hare.
Eurocontrol revealed that the number of flights in Europe surged to approximately 10 million in 2007, an all-time high and an increase of 5.3% on 2006. Average daily traffic was 27,676 flights last year compared to 26,286 in 2006. Traffic growth was strongest in Eastern Europe, with several states seeing growth near 20%, while growth in Finland, Sweden, Azores and Canary Islands was lower than the European average.
Boeing Commercial Aviation Services reached agreement with El Al to provide landing gear MRO services for the carrier's 777s. Contract features a landing gear exchange program.
ARINC won US FAA certification for issuing aircraft STCs and performing related service and modification work under the new Organization Designation Authorization program. ODA regulations allow FAA to delegate additional responsibility to private industry, reducing workload while streamlining aircraft certification and inspection. The agency expects the ODA program to replace its existing Designated Alteration Station program by November 2009.
Norwegian plans to offer onboard wireless Internet and mobile phone services in the fourth quarter, according to a company statement cited by press reports. An independent subsidiary, Call Norwegian, will be established to provide the services.
Sabre Airline Solutions and Saudi Arabian Airlines signed four separate agreements for advanced technology business solutions covering network management, operations, ground handling and cargo revenue management. Sabre will work with the airline over the next two years to deliver the tools.
China Southern Airlines flew 6.52 billion RPKs in December, a 21.8% increase over the year-ago month. Capacity rose 11.6% to 8.94 billion ASKs, driving up load factor 6.1 points to 72.9%. AirTran Airways flew 1.42 billion RPMs in December, up 16.6% over the year-ago month. Capacity climbed 13.1% to 1.96 billion ASMs and load factor rose 2.3 points to 72.7%. LAN Airlines flew 2.2 billion RPKs in December, up 13.8% from the year-ago month, against a 13.6% climb in capacity to 2.89 billion ASKs. Load factor rose 0.2 point to 76%.
ACE Aviation Holdings yesterday said it will sell 13 million units of its Jazz Air Income Fund to West Face Capital and Sunrise Partners Ltd. Partnership for approximately $96.9 million, Reuters reported. ACE's stake in the regional will drop to 9.5% from 20.1%.
Alenia Aeronautica and Sukhoi Civil Aircraft announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin signed off on the Italian firm's acquisition of a 25%-plus-one-share stake in the Russian OEM ( ATWOnline, Sept. 12, 2007), which is designing and producing the Superjet 100 ( ATWOnline, Sept. 12, 2007).
SunExpress, the JV between Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines, will open a third base in Turkey at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen. It will base two aircraft there starting with the new summer schedule, operating flights to Eastern Anatolia and Western European destinations. It currently operates from Antalya and Izmir. It carried 3 million passengers last year, up 27.3% from 2006, as revenue rose 23.6% to €300 million ($445.4 million). Come summer the carrier will operate 14 737-800s and three 757-200s.
Airberlin said Saudi Arabian investor Kamal Abdullah purchased 3.1% of the carrier through Moab Investments. Vatas is AB's largest shareholder at close to 18.6%.
ANA Aviation will provide cargo management services to Tui Travel, formed recently from the integration of Thomsonfly and First Choice Airways. Fleet totals 82 aircraft comprising 737s, 757s, 767s, A320s and A321s. Viking Freight, First Choice Airways' in-house cargo team, will transfer to ANA when services under the new provider begin Feb. 4.
Jazeera Airways began trading on the Kuwait Stock Exchange Monday ( ATWOnline, April 17, 2007). The Kuwaiti LCC is the third Arab carrier to list shares on a regional stock exchange. Air Arabia staged an IPO in March and is listed on the Dubai Financial Market and Royal Jordanian launched an IPO in December and is listed on the Amman Stock Exchange.
VEM Maintenance & Engineering received EASA certification for maintenance services on A310 aircraft and components. The certificate follows similar certification from US FAA.
Fraport Cargo Services will be the handling agent for Japan Airlines under a long-term deal that gives JAL Cargo use of FCS's CargoCity South warehouse including its own freight acceptance and delivery office. JAL Cargo will head shipment document handling and oversee operations. Construction of a 5,000-sq.-m. warehouse and a four-story, 2,600-sq.-m. adjoining office building next to the airport tower is slated for completion this year.
Amadeus reached agreement with Flybe to expand fare content, enabling agents to gain access to full content. Flybe's route network is now 70% domestic UK, 20% European business and 10% European leisure destinations.
CHAMP Cargosystems acquired 100% of Zurich-based Softair, which provides integrated software solutions to cargo carriers and their distribution partners and recently introduced the first of its new Java/Oracle-based Cargospot suite of products. It has more than 100 airline customers around the world. "The Softair acquisition enables CHAMP to expand and reinforce its addressable market to include ground handling agents, general sales agents and forwarders, thereby supporting the full air cargo supply chain," CHAMP CEO John Johnston said.
Virgin Atlantic Airways announced it has scheduled a 747 biofuel demonstration flight for February. Unveiled in October ( ATWOnline, Oct. 16, 2007), the alternative fuels initiative will start with a flight from London Heathrow to Amsterdam with no passengers and using "a truly sustainable type of biofuel that doesn't compete with food and fresh water resources." Boeing and GE Aviation will participate in the test.
CAE said Kuala Lumpur will be the location of its new training center, which will be developed in partnership with AirAsia. In November, CAE signed a contract to manage AirAsia's TRTO at the AirAsia Academy and provide pilot training services. The center also will train technicians and cabin crew across Southeast Asia. Kuala Lumpur will serve as CAE's regional hub for MPL and Airbus OEM training.
Airbus said yesterday that if the US Air Force selects Northrop Grumman over Boeing to produce next-generation aerial refueling tankers, it will establish its first US final assembly line in Mobile to produce both the tankers and commercial A330 freighters. Northrop's proposed KC-30 tanker is based on the A330. The defense firm is teamed with Airbus and parent EADS in its effort to win the tanker contract, which is valued at about $40 billion and is scheduled to be awarded on Jan. 31. The contract calls for 12-18 aircraft to be produced annually.
BOC Aviation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of China, announced 10-year lease agreements for five 737NGs with India's Jet Airways. Aircraft will be delivered to Jet by Boeing between March 2010 and November 2011. BOC currently owns 76 aircraft flying with 29 airlines worldwide and has 40 more 737NGs on firm order, 37 of which already have been leased. Last month BOC announced deals to lease four 737-800s to Hainan Airlines, two -800s to Shandong Airlines and one -800 to Skymark Airlines.
