Goodrich was selected by TUI Group to provide MRO nacelle system services and support across its group of airlines. In total the carriers operate a fleet of approximately 120 aircraft.
Seabury Group announced that Airbus Executive VP-Procurement Henri Courpron will join the investment banking and advisory firm effective in July as president of its newly formed Aerospace Division and regional head for Europe, Middle East and Africa for Seabury's broader transportation advisory practice. Courpron spent 20 years with Airbus. Seabury said it acquired a global cargo, freight and logistics advisory group along with a proprietary cargo/trade database.
Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly said the carrier will "prototype inflight wireless connectivity next year" ( ATWOnline, April 20). Speaking at the Merrill Lynch Global Transportation Conference in New York yesterday, Kelly also said the carrier's 8% growth this year "is too high" in the face of the soft demand environment. "We don't need to be growing at 8%," he said.
Ryanair yesterday claimed that it now is the world's largest international airline in terms of passengers, based on IATA statistics. The LCC carried 40.5 million passengers on international flights in 2006 compared to Lufthansa's 38.2 million, Air France's 30.4 million and British Airways' 29.5 million. Low-cost rival easyJet was sixth with 21.9 million, with American Airlines the largest non-European carrier--and seventh overall--at 21.2 million. "Just 10 years ago most of the other airlines on this IATA ranking carried 10 times more passengers than Ryanair," the airline said.
Air Canada Jazz said a Federal Court judge reversed a previous order denying the carrier the right to appeal its eviction from Toronto City Centre Airport last year ( ATWOnline, Oct. 24, 2006). Porter Airlines now is operating from the airport. ACJ said it was "gratified that the case will be heard based on the merits and will proceed with this action expeditiously."
Delta Air Lines announced an amendment to its Visa/MasterCard processing agreement that will eliminate the previously required $1.1 billion holdback comprising an $800 million cash reserve and a $300 million letter of credit. The cash was returned to DL and the LOC was terminated, with no future holdback required "except in limited circumstances," the airline said. It will end the current quarter with $4.2 billion in liquidity, including a $1 billion revolving line of credit.
The European Commission yesterday proposed the creation of a €1.6 billion ($2.14 billion) "Clean Sky" Joint Technology Initiative, which it called a "major public-private research partnership to reduce the environmental impact of aviation." The JTI's objective is to reduce the industry's carbon dioxide emissions by 40%, nitrous oxide emissions by 60% and noise by 50% through the delivery of "innovative technologies and solutions" developed in time to be incorporated into "the major airline fleet renewal cycle" projected for 2015.
Royal Jordanian President and CEO Samer Majali was elected incoming chairman of IATA's board of governors during the 63rd AGM last week. He will assume the role at the next AGM in June 2008.
Airbus will bring a pair of A380s and an A330-200 to next week's Paris Air Show. A380 MSN009, powered by Engine Alliance GP7200s, will take part in the daily flying displays and a second A380, MSN007 fitted with a demonstration cabin and Trent 900 engines, will be on static display throughout the week. The A330-200 will be on loan from Qatar Airways.
United Airlines is implementing a new ground-hold policy to help avoid extended delays during what is expected to be a challenging summer travel season in the US.
CHAMP Cargosystems said 28 "of the world's leading cargo carriers" are switching over to the new Web-enabled and Java-based version of ULD Manager. Among them are Air China, Finnair, Icelandair and Saudi Arabian Airlines.
Lufthansa flew 10.37 billion RPKs in May, up 6.2% on the year-ago month. Capacity climbed 4.4% to 13.64 billion ASKs and load factor rose 1.3 points to 76.1%.
Shannon-based Genesis Lease Ltd. signed a definitive agreement with InterGlobe Aviation Ltd. (IndiGo) for the sale and leaseback of two new A320-200s. Aircraft are scheduled to be delivered to IndiGo in July and September.
Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation warned that commercial aviation's growth in India may depend on whether or not the government is willing to "redouble their commitment to reform." CAPA said it conducted an industry survey in India and found that "investor uncertainty related to issues of transparency, evenhanded application of regulations and policies governing inter-airport competition and this was limiting potential new investment in the country, especially in its critical airport sector." Executive Chairman Peter Harbison said the Indian government "must institute a clear policy road
Sabre Airline Solutions signed a "major" revenue management contract with Aegean Airlines. The Greek carrier will use the product to control seat price and availability by both flight leg and segment. It anticipates "significant" incremental revenue as a result.
Alteon Training signed an agreement yesterday with Northwest Airlines to provide simulator training for carriers on seven aircraft types at NWA's training center in Eagan, Minn. NWA and Alteon will place a 787 full flight simulator and other 787 training equipment in the center by April 2008. Alteon will have exclusive rights to market excess simulator time to all 787 operators and will provide training at the facility to airlines throughout the world on the 747-400, 747-200, 757, DC-9, A320 and A330.
Finnair President and CEO Jukka Hienonen has concluded that the airline's Asian strategy has "paid off." He told ATWOnline at last week's IATA AGM in Vancouver that 2007 Asian traffic has grown 30% year-over-year and is expected to maintain that rate through year end. Last month, 70% of passengers inbound from Asia connected on Finnair's European network, he added. He said the airline is considering opening a fifth Chinese destination and is targeting South Korean service as well.
EADS named Marwan Lahoud, currently CEO of missile manufacturing subsidiary MBDA, chief strategy and marketing officer replacing Jean-Paul Gut, COO-marketing, strategy and global development, who will leave the company Oct. 1. ATR named Stephane Mayer CEO replacing Filippo Bagnato, who is now chairman of the turboprop manufacturer's board. Mayer, whose appointment is effective immediately, has been chairman and CEO of EADS Socata since 2003.
American Airlines flew 11.89 billion system RPMs in May, down 2.9% from the year-ago month. Domestic traffic fell 2.5% and international was down 3.7%. Capacity dropped 4% to 14.55 billion ASMs on a 4.0% domestic decline and a 4.1% international decrease. Load factor rose 1 point to 81.7%--domestic was up 1.2 points to 84.2% and international 0.3 point to 77.2%.
ARINC said US FAA awarded it a three-year contract to continue providing the VHF Extended Range Network that supports ATC communications in the Gulf of Mexico.
Republic Airways Holdings reached a five-year labor agreement with more than 60 dispatchers represented by the Transport Workers Union and working at Republic Airlines, Chautauqua Airlines and Shuttle America.
China's traditionally isolationist flag carriers are taking the initiative to ally with foreign counterparts in order to take advantage of increasing liberalization and maintain their competitive position.
Transat, parent of Canadian leisure charter specialist Air Transat, reported net income of C$56.1 million ($53 million) for the six months ended April 30, a 16.8% increase over C$48 million earned in the year-ago period, on an 18.2% lift in revenue to C$1.62 billion.
