IN EARLY 2004, KLAUS ZUMWINKEL, CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF DHL Express parent Deutsche Post World Net, made something of a victory lap in the US. The contentious legal dispute over whether DHL subservice airlines Astar Air Cargo (formerly DHL Airways) and ABX Air (formerly the air arm of Airborne Express) could carry DHL cargo in the US had just been decided favorably.
CAE won orders for full-flight simulators and related CAE Simfinity training devices valued at more than C$126 million ($124.1 million) from Continental Airlines, US Airways, Etihad Airways, Air Algerie and Alteon Training.
LLamasoft released Version 4.0 of its Supply Chain Guru network design software featuring data importation and modeling options, a new simulation engine, multitime period optimization and production process and transportation modeling.
CSA Czech Airlines approved the sale of its Air Czech Catering subsidiary to Italian company Alpha Overseas Holdings. Sale is subject so shareholder approval at a meeting scheduled for next month. "By selling the catering service we will succeed in disengaging ourselves from past debts and freeing up funds for the further development of the company without the help of the owner," President Radomir Lasak said. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Iberia said it will not open its books to a Spanish consortium led by Gala Capital, which approached the airline last month with a suggested offer of €3.60-€3.90 ($5.17-$5.60) per share ( ATWOnline, Nov. 28). "For the board of directors it is essential to maintain a framework of stability and certainty, which is being compromised by the excessive delay in the analysis of the company undertaken by interested third parties who, to date, have not submitted any binding offer," IB said.
US federal court in New York upheld a passenger rights law passed earlier this year by the state legislature and signed by Gov. Eliot Spitzer, rejecting the Air Transport Assn.'s assertion that states do not have the authority to regulate airlines. The law, the first of its kind in the US, is set to take effect Jan. 1 and enables the state government to impose fines of up to $1,000 per passenger against airlines operating at JFK, LaGuardia and other New York airports.
The European Commission on Friday issued charges against at least five airlines "concerning their alleged participation in a cartel in the provision of airfreight services in violation of EU rules on restrictive practices."
Workers at BAA airports represented by Unite voted to conduct 24-hr. strikes at all seven facilities from 6 a.m. on Jan. 7, 14, 17 and 18 in protest of BAA's decision to close the final salary pension scheme to new members. BAA said in a statement that it would "work hard to resolve this issue."
Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Assn. reassured travelers that it will not disrupt services over the Christmas-New Year break despite its members voting to approve an industrial campaign against Qantas. The union claims the airline has "stalled" negotiations on a new agreement covering 1,700 engineers. The engineers flagged industrial strife late last month over a salary increase ( ATWOnline, Nov. 30).
Vietnam Airlines and its leasing arm Vietnam Aircraft Leasing Co. firmed up commitments for 10 A350 XWB-900s and 20 A321s worth a combined $3.8 billion at list prices ( ATWOnline, Oct. 2). Contracts were signed in Hanoi by Vietnam Airlines CEO Pham Ngoc Minh and Airbus COO-Customers John Leahy. The A321s will be delivered from 2012 and the A350s from 2016. VN will take the A350s and 10 A321s while VALC will acquire the remaining A321s.
Air New Zealand Engineering Services signed a NZ$45 million ($34 million), five-year contract with Virgin Blue for heavy maintenance of its 50-strong 737-700/-800 fleet. ANZES has carried out heavy maintenance checks on Virgin Blue's 737s at its Christchurch base for the past three years. The deal renews a contract due to expire at year end.
Cathay Pacific Airways announced an agreement with the Flight Attendants Union on adjustments to the company's medical plan, ending threats of a work stoppage during the Christmas/New Year period.
Jade Cargo International named Lufthansa Cargo Head of Transport Management and Flight Operations Kay Kratky as its new GM. Claus Richter, who had been head of operational support and acting leader of flight operations at LH's passenger division, will succeed Kratky.
Following months of lobbying against the potential implementation of congestion pricing and/or an auction of existing capacity at New York JFK and Newark, US airlines operating at the airports appear willing to accept flight caps and make voluntary scheduling changes to avoid imposition of what they believe would have been far more damaging congestion-reduction proposals.
Air France announced yesterday that passengers onboard an A318 operating in Europe now can send and receive SMS and MMS messages and e-mails via mobile phones with Internet access using the Mobile OnAir system. The capability is similar to the one JetBlue Airways launched last week on an A320 ( ATWOnline, Dec. 12). First flight occurred Monday between Paris Charles de Gaulle and Warsaw.
Iberia flew 4.42 billion RPKs in November, up 5.2% on the year-ago month. Capacity rose 3.3% to 5.55 billion ASKs, lifting load factor 1.4 points to 79.5%.
Virgin Atlantic Airways cabin staff represented by Unite voted with a 71% majority to conduct two 48-hr. strikes, the first beginning at 6 a.m. on Jan. 9 and the second at 6 a.m. on Jan. 16. "Their pay lags behind many other airlines who fly the same business and holiday routes," Unite said, claming that British Airways flight attendants earn up to £10,000 ($20,087) more per year flying comparable routes. Unite members last month rejected a 4.8% pay raise.
Rockwell Collins reached agreement with China Eastern Airlines to launch its dPAVES IFES for 30 A320s and six 737-800s. Deliveries are scheduled to begin next year and continue through 2010.
The world now will have to wait until next month to learn the identity of Alitalia's savior as the Italian government decided to hold off until at least mid-January to determine with whom to negotiate the sale of its 49.9% stake.
GE Aviation reached a 10-year material management deal with Evergreen Aviation Technologies covering CF6-80C2s for EGAT third-party customers. GE's OnPoint Solution contract includes overhaul, on-wing support, new and used serviceable parts, component repair, technology upgrades and engine leasing and diagnostics.
European Commission will launch a formal investigation into alleged illegal state aid to Olympic Airlines that may have followed the EC's September 2005 decision that the Greek government provided "illegal and incompatible" aid. "The thorough preliminary investigation we have conducted so far following complaints by competitors has not allayed our doubts that further aid may have been granted to [Olympic], and we have no choice but to open a formal investigation," VP-Transport Jacques Barrot said ( ATWOnline, Dec.
Standard Aero won two APU maintenance contracts from Lufthansa CityLine valued at $9 million. One is a Standard Aero Total Engine Asset Management program agreement, a five-year pay-by-the-hour deal for GTCP36-150RJ APUs on 24 CRJ200s. The other is a 10-year TEAM maintenance cost guarantee program contract for RE220 APUs on 12 existing and 15 forthcoming CRJ900s.
Qantas and MAS Aerospace Engineering, a wholly owned subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, signed an MOU to form a joint venture to provide aircraft maintenance services from Malaysia. Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon said the new company will target the rapidly growing Asia/Pacific MRO market, which is expected to reach $15 billion by 2016. It also will perform overflow airframe maintenance for QF and its subsidiary airlines. Dixon said he was confident the companies would create a world-class yet cost-competitive MRO.
