VLM Airlines denied rumors that it is in takeover talks with Air France KLM. De Telegraaf reported last week that the regional carrier, the largest operator at London City, was negotiating a possible sale to AF KLM.
Martinair will initiate a restructuring program that includes ending European short-haul passenger operations and the start of negotiations to bring the company under a single shareholding, preferably KLM. Martinair reported a €7 million ($9.4 million) loss in 2006, reversed from a profit of €14 million the prior year.
KLM appointed Paul Elich executive VP-ground services effective July 1. He will succeed Frank de Reij, who will become project leader-procurement for Air France KLM. Marjan Rintel will succeed Elich as VP-hub operations.
Air Canada cited record load factors for its decision to stop flying pets beginning July 15. The current policy allows pets to be boarded in the cargo hold, but with the increasing number of passengers and their luggage it has become more difficult to accommodate pets, an AC spokesperson told ATWOnline. The airline stopped transporting pets, save for service animals, in the cabin in September 2006 after it found it increasingly difficult to balance pet owners' interests with those who were unwilling or unable to sit near an animal.
Enviro.aero is the name of a new industry-supported website that launched two weeks ago under the umbrella of the Air Transport Action Group. The site, which has received financial support from IATA, ACI, air navigation service providers and airframe and engine OEMs contains information about industry efforts to reduce emissions and airlines' overall impact on the environment.
Singapore Technologies Aerospace announced that subsidiary Panama Aerospace Engineering commenced operations. First aircraft to enter the facility constructed at a former US military base was a Copa Airlines 737-700 in for a 4C check and additional modifications.
United Airlines yesterday said the computer outage that disrupted its schedule for 2 hr. Wednesday morning was the result of employee error, according to a statement from UA executives to employees cited by the Associated Press. Nearly 300 flights were delayed or canceled when the Unimatic system shut down after "an employee made a mistake and caused the failure of both Unimatic and our backup system," COO Pete McDonald said without elaborating, according to AP.
AirTran Holdings announced that independent inspectors for Midwest Air Group confirmed that shareholders representing 65% of the company's shares elected three AirTran nominees to the Midwest board at last week's election ( ATWOnline, June 15) and that AirTran will meet with the newly constituted Midwest board on July 16 regarding its bid to buy the Milwaukee-based airline.
ICAO cited improving capacity management and airlines' flexibility in the face of higher fuel prices for the collective net profit of approximately $2.71 billion that the world's carriers enjoyed in 2006, a reversal from an estimated $4.13 billion loss in the prior year.
Chinese airlines posted a collective profit in May, although the exact figure has yet to be released, according to a monthly report from CAAC. The industry's operating revenue rose 10.9% from the year-ago month to CNY21.08 billion ($2.76 billion) against a 2.6% lift in expenses to CNY19.94 billion. Local industry analysts credited a drop in domestic oil prices and the "strong Chinese domestic air transport market" for the improved performance. It was reported that Chinese Oil Co. implemented a cost reduction of CNY90 per ton from April 1, which followed drops of CNY180 on Jan.
Airbus announced that EASA has certified OnAir, the onboard mobile phone and communications system it has developed in partnership with SITA. "The EASA airworthiness certification comes after successful tests were carried out by Airbus earlier this year and confirms the GSM onboard system's compatibility in the aircraft environment," the company said, adding that the OnAir service initially will be available on single-aisle aircraft operating short-haul flights in Western Europe.
KLM Engineering & Maintenance Executive VP Peter Somers told ATWOnline at the Paris Air Show that Air France Industries and KLM M&E intend to increase their collective profile among the world's largest MRO providers and narrow the gap with Lufthansa Technik through both the addition of new capabilities and acquisitions. "Several of KLM M&E's present customers and/or KLM alliance partners [such as Northwest Airlines and Kenya Airways] have ordered the Dreamliner and they have approached us to see if can support them.
Alaska Airlines announced the promotion of Angela Ursino to MD-talent strategy and organizational development, Dean DuVall to MD-procurement for Alaska Air Group, Arnie Stapnes to MD-IT customer service and infrastructure (succeeding DuVall) and Herman Wacker to associate general counsel and MD-labor and employment law.
CSA Czech Airlines has a new fare structure that divides tickets into five categories featuring a variety of benefits and restrictions: Business Premium, Business, Economy Premium, Economy and Value Special. The new Economy Premium package offers free rebooking or cancellation, increased loyalty program benefits and the right to check in at business class counters.
Flybe is looking to differentiate itself from airlines offering only a carbon offset program with a new "ecolabel" system that grades the environmental impact of each flight based on emissions, noise level and fuel use. The ratings will be available to each passenger on every Flybe flight. The UK-based LCC said it believes customers can be swayed to travel with eco-friendly companies. Newer aircraft like the Q400 or E-195 receive marks in the A/B range while older BAe 146s, which will be replaced next year, receive a D, Flybe CCO Mike Rutter said.
Alaska Airlines flew 1.58 billion RPMs in May, a 5.7% increase from the year-ago month. Capacity rose 6.2% to 2.05 billion ASMs and load factor fell 0.4 point to 77.1%. ATA Airlines flew 350.6 million RPMs in May, a rise of 9.6% from the year-ago month. Capacity fell 5.7% to 397.3 million ASMs, raising load factor 12.3 points to 88.2%. SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines flew a combined 1.57 billion RPMs in May, up 15% from the year-ago month. Capacity rose 13.5% to 1.94 billion ASMs, lifting load factor 1 point to 80.6%.
Air Berlin acknowledged yesterday that police and Federal Financial Supervisory Authority officials searched the offices and homes of six individuals accused of insider training, including CEO Joachim Hunold and Chairman Johannes Zurnieden.
IATA and Airlines Reporting Corp. announced a joint marketing and licensing agreement under which the organizations will provide sales, fare and ticketing data in the same format, "eliminating the need for airlines to combine different sets of market intelligence information," IATA said. Data now will be offered in the ARC Segment Detail specification.
SriLankan Airlines is trying to entice passengers to its Doha service by doubling the amount of permitted luggage on the return leg to 40 kg. per person. The carrier said the new allowance is "up to 100% more than our regional competitors."
Macquarie Airports yesterday announced the sale of its 44.7% stake in Aeroporti di Roma to the Gemina investment firm for €1.24 billion ($1.66 billion), nearly triple the €480 million it paid for the share in March 2003. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval. "We have been actively seeking to resolve the situation at AdR for some time.
Dutch government's proposed €25 tax on tickets for passengers departing the Netherlands drew fire from the Assn. of European Airlines. The levy is designed to bring in €350 million per year in addition to "reducing the impact of aviation on climate change," AEA said. However, said Secretary General Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus, "If the entire Dutch aviation sector were to close down, the impact on global CO2 emissions would be so small you could hardly measure it. But that is not what will happen.
US Dept. of Transportation issued a ruling largely in favor of the 28 airlines (seven domestic and 21 foreign) who complained in February about a variety of security, rental and terminal fees imposed by Los Angeles World Airports ( ATWOnline, April 16).
