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Staff
XOJET named Eilif Serck-Hanssen, previously executive VP and CFO at Eos, to become CFO and president of international operations and expansion.

By Adrian Schofield
Israel’s El Al is continuing to improve its financial performance despite cost challenges and growing competition, reporting a US$31.7 million profit for 2007, compared with a loss of about the same size in the previous year. El Al said its 2007 revenue was up 16% to US$1.93 billion. The airline had to contend with “a steep upsurge in competition” as well as high fuel prices and “geopolitical conditions worldwide.” Airline executives said El Al is still on track with its 2010 strategic plan.

Madhu Unnikrishnan

Staff
Rising fuel costs could accelerate the use of parts manufacturer approval (PMA) parts in Asia/Pacific as operators in the region seek ways to cut expenditures, according to Frost & Sullivan’s “Strategic Analysis of Asia/Pacific PMA Parts Market” report. “Although the penetration of PMA parts is still low when compared to other regions, such as North America and Europe, rising aircraft operating costs are expected to ignite the penetration of PMA parts in the Asia/Pacific region,” said Syahril Shariff, a consulting analyst for the company.

By Bradley Perrett
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Pratt & Whitney have launched the MRJ regional jet and its GTF geared turbofan engine, marking a renewed Japanese attempt to break into commercial aircraft and the arrival of a potentially revolutionary engine. First delivery is planned in 2013, as previously stated by All Nippon when it ordered the 90-seat MRJ90 version of the aircraft, although the airline thinks it might get its first unit in early 2014. A shorter version with about 70 seats, the MRJ70, is also offered.

Annette Santiago
American, Delta, Spirit and US Airways are criticizing the U.S. Transportation Dept.’s tentative award of seven U.S.-Colombia frequencies to Continental, with some suggesting the carrier is not using the authority it has and could upgauge aircraft to meet demand in the market. The carriers are hoping to sway DOT to re-award the frequencies. Such a move would have the potential to boost service to be operated by Delta and Spirit or would result in the addition of a new carrier -- US Airways -- to the U.S.-Colombia market.

Staff
The current market for aircraft leasing remains strong even though there are signs lease values peaked in 2007, says Standard & Poor’s in its latest rating report of International Lease Finance Corp. Lease rates have “strengthened materially” in the past three years, and there are still shortages of popular models and multi-year production wait-times, S&P notes.

Staff
The first aircraft for British Airways’ OpenSkies subsidiary is in the process of being refitted, the airline says. Winglets are being added to the Boeing 757, and the cabin is being configured for 82 seats divided between business, premium economy and economy classes. The business class will have 24 lie-flat beds. The subsidiary will launch flights this summer, with a second aircraft joining OpenSkies later this year.

Staff
You can now register online for AVIATION WEEK events. Go to www.aviationweek.com/conferences or contact Lydia Janow, 212-904-3225 or 800-240-7645 ext. 5 (U.S. and Canada only) APRIL 15-17 — MRO/MRO Military/AVIATION WEEK’s Interiors, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. SEPT. 23 — Green Aviation, Madrid, Spain SEPT. 24-25 — MRO Europe, Madrid Spain OCT. 15-16 — MRO Asia, Singapore NOV. 18-19 — Aerospace & Defense Finance, New York, N.Y.

Staff
AirTran recently named Cynthia Tinsley-Douglas corporate communications manager.

Luis Zalamea
Aeropostal’s fleet problems date back to when Nelson Ramiz still owned the airline and used Falcon Air, one of its affiliates, to supply aircraft for charters, according to new information reported in El Universal.

By Bradley Perrett
China’s Avic 1 ARJ21 regional jet has joined the crowd of delayed commercial aircraft projects, with its first flight deferred from this month, the scheduled period, to September. Supplier delays are to blame, the company says, without naming the responsible companies.

Andrew Compart
Ryanair, citing oil prices over US$100 a barrel and the end of its US$68-per-barrel fuel hedges as of April 1, said it is freezing the pay of its senior management for the year unless oil prices fall and it “can see some prospect of profits being increased.”

Luis Zalamea
Brazilian and Chinese tourism ministers met in Peiping last week to discuss transportation services for large numbers of Brazilians attending the Summer Olympics to be held there this year. Brazil’s minister of tourism, Marta Suplicy, and Chinese counterpart Du Jiang also considered the needs and preferences of regular tourists from both countries, and agreed on early approval of designated carriers and flights to fit the future needs and preferences of business and leisure travelers from both countries.

Staff
The Transportation Security Administration selected Daniel Liddell to become the federal security director (FSD) for Syracuse (N.Y.) Hancock International Airport (SYR). He will oversee all TSA operations at Syracuse Hancock and spoke operations at the Binghamton, Ithaca, Watertown, Ogdensburg, Massena and Rome airports.

Madhu Unnikrishnan
Construction of Panama City, Fla.'s new greenfield airport is underway and back on schedule for a May 2010 opening date, even after the airport authority fended off moves by environmental groups earlier this year to stop the construction.

Oliver Wyman

Staff
Priceline.com is relocting Adrian Currie, chairman of Agoda.com, to New Zealand to develop priceline.com’s business in the Asia/Pacific region. The company also named Erik Wienk CFO of Booking.com.

By Bradley Perrett
Qantas is increasing services to Western Australian mining towns enjoying the global minerals boom led by the surging Chinese economy. The airline will add five weekly services from Perth, the state capital, to Port Hedland, an important center for the iron ore industry, plus three to Broome and two to Newman. Boeing 737s will replace 717s on services to Karratha and Kalgoorlie, the latter a key gold mining town. The state of Western Australia is about four times as big as Texas.

Staff
Virgin America tapped Diana Walke to become VP-planning and sales.

Oliver Wyman

Jennifer Michels
The Caribbean Tourism Development Company has launched a new Web site to promote travel to the region. The consumer-focused site, www.caribbeantravel.com, offers an airline booking portion powered by Travelocity. The CTDC is owned equally by the Caribbean Tourism Organization and the Caribbean Hotel Association. “This branding strategy should help reap rewards not just for the businesses that operate in the region, but for the people and communities who call the Caribbean home,” said Caroline Racine, director of Caribbean franchise development for Choice Hotels.

By Adrian Schofield
The new U.S./European Union open-skies agreement does not create too many competitive headaches at London Heathrow despite the addition of extra transatlantic flights, a Virgin Atlantic executive believes.

By Adrian Schofield
The U.K.’s National Air Traffic Services (NATS) announced last week it has renewed Lockheed Martin’s support contract for its London Area Control (LAC) operation, in a deal worth GBP80 million (US$161 million). The contract extension is the second awarded to Lockheed for support of LAC. It will cover support and maintenance for the LAC ATC system through 2013, although options could extend this through 2018.

Staff
Skybus Airlines appointed CFO Mike Hodge to succeed Bill Diffenderffer as CEO, effective immediately.