Egyptian government announced its intention to sell 20% of EgyptAir to the public after an ongoing commercial study is finalized. According to the Arab Air Carrier Organization, the government will maintain 80% control of the airline. Also, the government announced that EgyptAir's fleet will increase from 32 to 52 aircraft next year. It has ordered 12 737-800s with deliveries starting this year.
Sabena Flight Academy will purchase a 737NG full-flight simulator, raising its FFSs to six. SFA offers training on A319s/A320s/A321s, A330s/340s, 737-200s, 737-300s/-400s/-500s and RJ85s/100s.
The Cape Town Convention and its Aircraft Protocol will take effect tomorrow, March 1, following ratification of the treaty by Malaysia, the eighth nation to do so. Countries that ratify the Cape Town Convention agree to abide by an international legal framework for enforcement of financial rights in mobile assets, such as aircraft.
Aloha Airlines, which emerged from a 13-month bankruptcy Feb. 17, reportedly is under investigation by US authorities for allegedly using employee pension funds to pay bank loans. US Labor Dept. has subpoenaed four banks for data on the defined benefit pension plan of Aloha's machinists union, the Associated Press reported. The airline's emergence from bankruptcy was delayed by negotiations with its unions and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. regarding pension termination.
Northwest Airlines and the unions representing its pilots and flight attendants were granted a second extension, this time through March 1, by a US Bankruptcy Court judge Friday afternoon. The parties originally had until Feb. 17 to reach an accord before the court ruled on Northwest's request to cancel its labor agreements but were given an extension through yesterday ( ATWOnline, Feb. 17). Negotiations continued last week, prompting Judge Allan Gropper to give the parties still more time.
Singapore Technologies Aerospace and Airbus announced a three-year renewable agreement Friday enabling the airframer to place any aircraft for MRO work at any of STA's maintenance and modification sites around the world. Separately, STA announced a five-year, $5.9 million agreement with Pacific Airlines of Vietnam for complete component support and technical services for up to three 737s.
Venezuela's Instituto Nacional de Aeronautica Civil said in a statement on its website Friday that it is reducing dramatically the number of flights US carriers American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines and FedEx will be allowed to operate into the country beginning March 30.
Jagson Airlines of India revealed details of the fleet upgrade first unveiled in January ( ATWOnline, Jan. 6). CEO Uttam Kumar Bose told reporters in India that the carrier has agreed to purchase up to 20 A321s in a deal worth $1.3 billion. The contract covers 14 firm orders and six options and will be finalized once delivery dates can be negotiated. Jagson is making the transition from a regional turboprop operator to a national carrier.
Assn. of European Airlines said 21% of members' departures were delayed by more than 15 min. in 2005, an increase over the three prior years when the rate hovered at around 19%. London Heathrow was the most affected airport, with 27.9% of departures delayed. AEA said the problems causing many delays would be solved through a Single European Sky and "coherent European policy on airport capacity."
Ukraine International Airlines took delivery of a 737-400 leased from GECAS. It also is planning to take delivery of two dash 500s leased from Boeing Capital Corp. within the next six weeks.
EasyJet introduced Internet check-in for UK passengers following a trial period earlier this month. It implemented the service at London Gatwick, Stansted and Edinburgh. It will be available to 90% of easyJet's UK passengers by April and eventually to customers across Europe. The carrier said passengers with preprinted boarding passes can arrive at the gate 15 min. prior to departure time.
United Airlines flight attendants, represented by the Assn. of Flight Attendants-CWA, granted their "last concession" and ratified a pension replacement plan Friday with an approval rating of 79%. The new defined contribution plan, effective from Jan. 1, 2006, is "significantly better than what United Airlines was originally willing to provide as a replacement to our terminated defined benefit pension plan," according to the union. It includes company direct and matching contributions starting at 5% and escalating to 6% of employee earnings within two years.
JetBlue Airways promoted Assistant Treasurer Gerald Lee to VP-business development and VP-Operational Planning Rob Maruster to senior VP-airports and operational planning.
Boeing named Messier Services-Asia as a new Component Repair Network Service Center. It will perform MRO work on landing gear on MD-11s, 777s and 737NGs.
California-based Ramco Systems announced that Virgin America selected its Web-based M&E software solution to automate its MRO business processes and integrate with IT systems at partner organizations.
Aegean Airlines said its 2005 sales are expected to exceed €330 million ($392.8 million), representing an 18% increase over 2004. The carrier flew 4 million passengers last year, a rise of 12.3%.
VLM Airlines will introduce business class service on its six daily flights between Brussels and London City from March 1. The carrier said more than 80% of its passengers travel for business purposes.
Swiss International Air Lines will lease an A300-600 from Hapag-Lloyd Express to increase capacity on African services to Malabo, Douala, Yaounde, Nairobi and Dar es Salaam. Separately, Swiss will add a third daily Zurich-New York JFK flight from May 1 using A330-200s. All flights will be operated as codeshare services with future Star Alliance partner United Airlines, a previous agreement with American Airlines having expired.
ARINC was awarded a contract for VHF data link service by Hong Kong Express Airways. The airline will use ARINC's GlobaLink/VHF service on its Embraer 170s.
Boeing selected supply chain management company New Breed Logistics of North Carolina to provide services supporting final assembly of the 787 beginning in 2007. Separately, Boeing named Boeing Fabrication VP and GM Ross Bogue VP and GM for the 747/767/777 programs and the Everett, Wash., site, replacing retiring Dan Becker.
Malev Hungarian Airlines and American Airlines, future oneworld partners, agreed to implement e-ticket capability on each other's flights from March 1.
Air France Industries signed a six-year deal with Royal Jordanian for full equipment support of four new A320s and two new A321s, along with a Maintenance Base Kit to be installed in Amman. Support will be provided per flight-hr. The first aircraft was delivered on Dec. 4, 2005, and the rest will be delivered by November 2006.
KLM Engineering & Maintenance and KLM cityhopper signed a contract covering pooling and maintenance of components for cityhopper's 21 F70s and 18 F100s. Agreement was valued at €60 million ($71.8 million). KLM E&M will cooperate with Fokker Services to support the airline.
US FAA Director-Aviation Research and Development Joan Bauerlein won this year's National Public Service Award presented by the National Academy of Public Administration and the American Society of Public Administration.
IBS Software Services said Air New Zealand has implemented iFly, its solution for managing airline staff travel requirements. ANZ is the launch customer.
