In addition, V Australia, Virgin Blue's new long-haul airline, will adopt the Amadeus Altea Customer Management System. The standalone solutions for the company's short-haul operations will manage connectivity on behalf of Virgin Blue's interline and GDS partners. They also will process incoming e-ticket coupons from interline partners, enabling Virgin Blue to receive passengers from full-service carriers such as Etihad and Virgin Atlantic.
Alaska long has been called America's last frontierthe final refuge for the restless, the risk-takers and the adventurers. But it also has been an entrepreneurial frontier, providing a chance to build business success from its vast expanses of undeveloped wilderness. The founding fathers of Alaska Airlines, marking its 75th birthday this year, were both adventurers and entrepreneurs. And certainly they were risk-takers, bush pilots par excellence who often literally flew on a wing and a prayer.
IATA estimates that the airline industry "may need 17,000 new pilots annually due to expected industry growth and retirements" and cautioned that training standards need to be revised in order to tackle a "looming" shortage. "It's time to ring the warning bell," DG and CEO Giovanni Bisignani told the FAA International Safety Forum yesterday. "We must re-think pilot training and qualification to further improve safety and increase training capacity. There are no global standards for training concepts or regulation.
Orbitz Worldwide and Priceline.com reached distribution agreements with JetBlue Airways. The Orbitz deal will make JetBlue inventory available on the Orbitz, CheapTickets and Orbitz for Business websites while the Priceline agreement will give the discount site full access to JetBlue fares under a multi-year deal.
Alitalia revised the deadline for nonbinding offers to Dec. 6 after receiving an update from its adviser, Citigroup, on potential industrial and financial investors who may bid for a majority shareholding. Air One/Intesa Sanpaolo, Lufthansa and Air France KLM reportedly remain interested ( ATWOnline, Nov. 21).
Coalition of Smaller Airlines, a group representing midsize US carriers including Virgin America, AirTran Airways, Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines, is lobbying the US Dept. of Transportation to ensure that any new traffic management rules at New York JFK ( ATWOnline, Nov. 29) do not unduly favor major international airlines. "We've got to find a solution. . .that doesn't shut out smaller airlines, which in many cases are offering premium service at lower fares," VA Vice Chairman Samuel Skinner said.
Russian court ruled yesterday that Boris Berezovsky, a longtime political enemy of Russian President Vladimir Putin who has been living in exile in the UK since 2000, fraudulently embezzled RUB214 million ($8.78 million) from Aeroflot when he maintained financial control over the carrier in the 1990s. He rejected the verdict as a "farce" and the UK government said it would not extradite Berezovsky to Russia.
Malev Hungarian Airlines announced that it will cut staffing levels by 9%, resulting in annual savings of HUF1.2 billion ($6.9 million). It did not say when the layoffs will take place. The carrier employs 3,508 and said it will cut a "maximum" of 250 workers even though 9% would equal 315. CEO Peter Leonov confirmed the 9% figure, saying that "besides reducing expenditures, optimization of the staff level is necessary primarily to ensure that 91% of the employees. .
Ryanair lodged yet another case in the European Court of First Instance against the European Commission for failing to act on the LCC's complaint about illegal state aid to Volare, a subsidiary of Alitalia. Ryanair claims the aid consisted of the writeoff of around €20 million in debts owed by Volare to Italian airports and reductions in airport charges and fuel costs in favor of the airline. Ryanair said it initially called on the EC to investigate the allegations two years ago.
Goodrich signed a 12-year agreement with LAN Airlines to provide MRO and asset management solutions for its fleet of V2500-A5-powered A319s and A320s. Goodrich's Alabama Service Center will refurbish thrust reversers and provide as-needed services for inlets and fan cowls. Goodrich also will supply on-site spares.
SITA Passenger and Travel Solutions and S7 Airlines launched online calendar booking this week via SITA Airfare Shop. S7 said it is the first Russian carrier to display all fares across multiple days and offer calendar-based booking for all domestic and international flights. It currently sells 6.3% of its tickets on its website and expects "further significant growth in 2008."
Rolls-Royce Trent 700s will power six A330 freighters owned by Aircastle. Deliveries are scheduled for 2010-11. Separately, Rolls signed a TotalCare services agreement with Singapore Airlines covering the Trent 900s on SIA's A380s. SIA selected the engine for its initial 10 aircraft. Deal runs to 2021 and work will be conducted at Singapore Aero Engine Services.
During a visit to Washington yesterday, IATA DG and CEO Giovanni Bisignani urged US officials not to employ congestion pricing at crowded US airports such as New York JFK and described President George W. Bush's recent efforts to alleviate flight delays as "a political placebo for a serious long-term illness."
ANA will pay cash for at least 20% of its order for 50 787s, or at least ¥140 billion ($1.3 billion), from the proceeds realized from its hotel sales ( ATWOnline, April 16), Senior VP-Finance and Accounting Eiji Kanazawa told Bloomberg News. It also will sell bonds and use loans backed by Japan Bank for International Cooperation. "We're not going back to the days of more than ¥1 trillion in debt," Kanazawa told Bloomberg.
AmSafe said FedEx Express now is using the AcuTemp RKN container, which employs compressor technology rather than dry ice to maintain temperature, for appropriate shipping services.
European Commission yesterday issued the sixth update of its airline blacklist, removing Suriname's Blue Wings Airlines and lifting the operating restrictions imposed on Pakistan International Airlines ( ATWOnline, July 6). Both carriers, however, will remain subject to prioritized ramp inspections at Community airports in order to ensure their "consistent adherence" to relevant safety standards.
Iberia won three five-year contracts from Conviasa Airlines for A340 airframe and engine maintenance. The first includes inspection, engineering, paint and interior services. The second calls for C checks of the structure, systems and interior and exterior areas. The third involves inspection and MRO of the aircraft's CFM56-5C4 engines. Work will be conducted at Iberia's facilities in Madrid. Value of the contracts was not disclosed.
Alteon Training and Lufthansa Technical Training announced an alliance they said "will optimize the organizations' training capacity for airline maintenance personnel around the world." Cooperation will start with joint maintenance training courses for 737NGs, 777s and 747-400s.
United Airlines expects a decision next week on a proposal presented to lenders yesterday under which it would pay down $350 million of the term loan on its existing credit agreement and "get the flexibility to implement up to $500 million of shareholder initiatives." The proposed amendment also would allow for future term loan pre-payments. UA said it has reduced its total net debt by $2.7 billion in the past 20 months, including $1.6 billion this year.
Zurich Airport named Thomas Kern CEO effective Jan 15, replacing Josef Felderer. CFO Beat Spalinger will leave the company in April and will be succeeded by controlling, treasury and investor relations head Daniel Schmucki.
Bombardier opened a new spare parts depot near Tokyo Narita to support operators of its CRJ and Q-series aircraft ( ATWOnline, Nov. 14). The 4,000-sq.-ft. facility will be operated by Schenker-Seino and will be stocked with approximately 2,300 regional aircraft line items.
British Airways yesterday confirmed that it will not increase its 9.95% stake in Iberia through the acquisition of shares being sold by BBVA and Logista, to which it has preemption rights as a core shareholder under a 1999 agreement.
