WestJet named Vito Culmone executive VP-finance and CFO, replacing interim CFOs Janice Paget and Derek Payne, who took over when Sandy Campbell retired last July. Culmone, VP-commercial finance for beer giant Molson Canada, will join the Calgary-based LCC March 1. Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste appointed Chairman Fernando Chico Pardo as interim CEO effective immediately, filling the hole left when Kjeld Binger resigned last month ( ATWOnline, Dec. 25).
Aviation Partners Boeing announced yesterday that Shanghai Airlines and China Eastern Airlines have ordered Blended Winglets for aircraft purchased as part of last year's combined order for 150 737-700s/-800s. Shanghai is taking 13 aircraft and China Eastern 20 through 2010 ( ATWOnline, Sept. 15, 2006). APB said the orders will bring to 190 the number of winglet-equipped 737NGs in China. "We are realistically targeting to install winglets on every eligible aircraft in China," CEO John Reimers said.
British Airways asked the publicly funded UK-based Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service to help avert a three-day strike by cabin staff called for next week. "A strike would be completely unnecessary and unjustified. I am convinced we can settle the issues at the center of this dispute through sensible discussion and negotiation," BA CEO Willie Walsh said.
AMR Corp., parent of American Airlines, yesterday announced a public offering of 13 million newly issued shares of common stock. The company said it expects to grant underwriters Credit Suisse, UBS and Merrill Lynch a 30-day option to purchase up to 1.95 million additional shares to cover any overallotments. AMR will use the proceeds "for general corporate purposes."
Brazilian officials investigating the Sept. 29 midair collision between a Gol 737-800 and an ExcelAire Legacy 600 that led to the deaths of all 154 aboard the 737 said Sunday that air traffic controllers were at least partly at fault in the accident. The two ExcelAire pilots, who were detained in Brazil for more than a month after the crash, were charged last month with endangering aircraft safety and face the prospect of a criminal trial ( ATWOnline, Dec. 11, 2006).
Sabena Technics acquired EADS Barfield, extending its MRO offering across North and South America. Barfield counts 250 employees at its Miami, Phoenix and Louisville facilities with a total turnover of €50 million ($64.7 million). Following several recent acquisitions, the maintenance activities of TAT Group now generate a turnover of €450 million and employ some 3,300 people worldwide. Its brand portfolio includes Sabena Technics, Sogerma Services, Sogerma Tunisie and Barfield.
Finnish Ministry of Defense published a report last week proposing that Finnair acquire A330 MRTT widebodies that the state could lease for troop transports and possible evacuations in crisis situations. Finnair said it sets business fundamentals as the primary justification for all of its projects. "We are currently working on a modernization of our long-haul fleet and we must consider very carefully how we will implement the huge investment that lies ahead.
Swissport International President and CEO Joseph In Albon will leave the company "to take on a new professional challenge." Santiago Olivares will assume the duties of acting CEO with immediate effect. Air Transport Assn. named Edward Barron VP-government affairs and legislative counsel.
Mexicana de Aviacion last week signed a new labor agreement with its ground workers that it said will yield $20 million in annual savings and improve customer service. The accord, which amends rules that had been in place for 15 years, will run through 2009 and give workers inflation-indexed raises plus 1% this year and each of the next two years.
Vueling Airlines said it plans to open its first base outside Spain this year "in order to actively pursue its expansion plans," and is considering Paris Charles de Gaulle, Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa and Amsterdam. It will announce the location of its first international base toward the end of this month. It carried 3.5 million passengers in 2006, up 75% from 2005, as it increased frequencies on existing routes and launched 17 new services. The Barcelona-based carrier operated 28,382 flights last year, 70% more than in 2005.
Republic Airways Holdings said it is looking to grow its pilot workforce from 1,675 to approximately 2,600 by the end of 2008 and is accepting applications for pilots to fly for Chautauqua Airlines, Republic Airlines and Shuttle America. Chautauqua will add 24 CRJ200s by the end of this year to support its new Continental Express operation ( ATWOnline, July 24, 2006).
Alteon Training opened its Singapore Training Center on Jan. 18. The $60 million facility represents the Boeing subsidiary's largest investment in Singapore to date and will have the capability to train 6,000 pilot crews annually, including maintenance and cabin crew personnel. It houses seven full flight simulator bays. Four FFSs--777, F100, A320 and 737-300--are installed, with a 737-800 to be added by mid-year and a 787 in the first quarter of 2008.
Iberia Maintenance began servicing CF34 engines last month under a contract signed with General Electric. The first engine serviced belonged to IB affiliate Air Nostrum, but the company is licensed to perform third-party maintenance.
Singapore Technologies Aerospace announced a massive freighter conversion deal with FedEx Express yesterday covering 87 757s, with ST Aero President Tay Kok Khiang putting the value of the contract at $450-$470 million over the seven-year life of the program. Work will be done at ST Mobile Aerospace Engineering in Mobile, Ala., using an STC developed and owned by ST Aero based on data licensed from Boeing, including design and certification data from a previous 757 passenger-to-freighter conversion, according to Boeing VP-Technical Services Tim Copes.
AirAsturias will cease operations Jan. 26, just two months after it launched its first flight ( ATWOnline, Aug. 23, 2006). The Oviedo-based carrier started with a leased A320 and currently flies to Madrid, Lisbon, Rome Fiumicino and Paris Charles de Gaulle. It had intended to expand to Brussels and Amsterdam. Reportedly, it is seeking to relaunch with long-haul A340 service to South America via Madrid.
Vienna Airport operator Flughafen Wien announced yesterday that it plans to acquire a 25.15% stake in Flughafen Friedrichshafen. The companies recently signed a letter of intent and will request the approval of their responsible corporate bodies in the coming weeks. Friedrichshafen Airport is located at the crossroads between Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
STG Aerospace of the UK signed supply deals with both British Airways and Air Canada for its SafTGlo photoluminescent cabin floorpath marking system. BA will install STG's ColorMatch product across its 757 fleet. AC's order was one of the largest single deals in STG's history, the company said, adding that 2006 marked a record sales year thanks in large part to the ColorMatch technology that allows airlines to install strips that match cabin decor.
European Commission allowed Malta to offer startup aid totaling MTL25 million ($75.1 million) for new air routes from Malta International Airport until September 2011. The EC stipulated that aid will be limited to five years for each new service and to 40% of startup costs.
The Chinese government is considering an injection of up to $2 billion into the country's three major airlines to address balance sheet debt problems brought on by high fuel prices. Sources in the government confirmed to ATWOnline the existence of a financial injection plan, first revealed in the Asian Wall Street Journal.
Alaska Airlines and regional affiliate Horizon Air will spend $18 million to bring the Airport of the Future check-in concept to Seattle-Tacoma International by the end of 2007. The company, which introduced the concept in 2004, said it will eliminate traditional ticket counters at the airport and replace them with "customer-friendly islands of check-in kiosks and bag-check stations." The design will allow passengers "to get from curbside to planeside in record time," Alaska VP-Real Estate Ed White said.
China Southern Airlines said it carried 49.21 million passengers last year, up 11.5% over 44.12 million carried in 2005. In addition, China's largest airline added 64 new aircraft in 2006, bringing its total fleet to 298 planes. SN Brussels Airlines and Virgin Express, which will merge into Brussels Airlines on March 25, carried a combined 5.94 million passengers in 2006, up 8% over the combined total in 2005.
