Biofuel-powered commercial flights could become standard operations within five to seven years, according to Lufthansa’s (LH) head of aviation biofuel.
Chinese carriers earned a collective net profit of CNY 26 billion ($4.12 billion) in 2011, down 26% compared to CNY35.1 billion from 2010, according to an industry insider.
Taiwan-based China Airlines' (CI) cargo division, China Airlines Cargo, is making adjustments in its operations to cope with a challenging global economic environment.
All Nippon Airways (ANA) plans to launch Tokyo Narita-San Jose Mineta Boeing 787 service in fiscal year 2012-2013. Porter Airlines will launch 3X-daily Toronto City-Washington Dulles service April 16. Southwest Airlines will launch daily Atlanta-Los Angeles service June 10. JetBlue Airlines launched daily Hartford, Conn.-West Palm Beach, Fla. service.
Estonian Air (OV) carried 678,049 passengers last year, up 16.4 % compared to 2010. In December, OV carried 44,541 passengers, up 4%. “The positive results were supported by new network and improved products. Flights have been also made more affordable. The bookings for 2012 indicate similar growth figures to continue,” said OV commercial manager Rauno Parras. In 2011, OV operated 11,691 flights, up 11.5% compared to the previous year. In December, OV operated 883 flights, up 16.1% compared to the year-ago month.
Lufthansa (LH), the largest foreign carrier in Russia, will transfer its Dusseldorf (DUS) and Hamburg (HAM) flights from Moscow Domodedovo (DME) to Moscow Vnukovo (VKO) beginning June 3, according to a VKO statement. In November 2011, LH revealed plans to add VKO to its network ( ATW Daily News, Nov. 23). From March 25, LH will operate two out of six scheduled daily flights from Frankfurt (FRA), and from June 3 it will add 12 flights per week from Berlin.
Brussels Airlines (SN) will invest €30 million ($38.3 million) to revamp the interiors of its widebody fleet, comprising five Airbus A330-300 and two -200s. Business class will be fitted with full-flat beds with built-in LED mood lighting; economy seats will be equipped with the IMS Company’s innovative seat-centric RAVE inflight entertainment system.
Bombardier Aerospace named Mike Arcamone, a longtime executive with General Motors (GM) who most recently headed the company's South Korea unit, as Bombardier Commercial Aircraft's new president effective Feb. 1.
Nine African airlines have come together to purchase aircraft fuel jointly, a move the carriers believe will increase their leverage and raise the value and quality of fuel being procured.
Chile's LAN Airlines and Brazil's TAM said their planned merger under LATAM Airlines Group, expected to be completed by the end of March, will produce even more synergies than previously expected.
Bombardier Aerospace named Mike Arcamone, a longtime executive with General Motors (GM) who most recently headed the company's South Korea unit, as Bombardier Commercial Aircraft's new president effective Feb. 1.
PPG Industries’ aerospace coatings group announced it has commercialized Aerocron, the first electrocoat-application primer for global airframe manufacturers and subcontractors. The primer can coat parts for commercial, military and general-aviation aircraft. AFI KLM E&M has signed a contract with Libyan Airlines covering component support (pool access and repairs) and maintenance checks for the carrier’s Airbus A320 and ATR 42-500 fleets.
Malaysia Airlines (MH) is increasing its weekly frequencies to several ASEAN destinations as well as to Beijing (PEK) and Taipei from March 25. The changes are in line with MH’s business plan rolled out in December to streamline operations, focus on growth and cut losses ( ATW Daily News, Dec. 12, 2011).
Ryanair (FR) will introduce a €0.25 ($0.32) levy per passenger per segment for all bookings made from Jan.17 to cover costs incurred from the inclusion of aviation in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) ( ATW Daily News, Dec. 22, 2011). Europe’s largest LCC said it estimates the EU ETS will cost it between €15 million ($19.1 million) and €20 million this year.
Etihad Airways (EY) has finalized a $367 million sale/leaseback deal with Sanad Aero Solutions and Engine Lease Finance Corp. (ELF) to finance 23 spare engines. The transactions, which are for a 10-year operating lease, cover the financing for 16 in-service spare engines and seven future spare engine deliveries. Sanad will buy and lease back five GE90 and six Rolls-Royce Trent 500 engines. ELF will purchase and lease back six Trent 700 and six IAE V2500 engines, EY said. The spare engines are for EY’s fleet of passenger and cargo aircraft.
US Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Thomas Donohue called on Congress to make transitioning to a satellite-based, NextGen air traffic control (ATC) system "a top priority." Delivering his annual "State of American Business" address in Washington Thursday, the influential business lobbyist said upgrading ATC should be part of a "broader effort to modernize the nation's entire physical platform."
Aeroflot (SU) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Russian state corporation Rostechnology to lease 50 Boeing 737 NGs, the two companies announced Thursday.
AirAsia X (D7) will suspend services to the UK and France from March 31, citing the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) and escalating air passenger duty taxes.
Mexican low-cost carrier Volaris (Y4) has finalized a previously announced order for 44 Airbus A320 aircraft, comprising 30 A320neos and 14 A320 family aircraft.
Air France (AF) KLM Group on Thursday revealed its three-year “transformation plan” to bring the company back to profitability by cutting costs immediately by €1 billion ($1.27 billion) and rapidly reducing debt by €2 billion to €4.5 billion by the end of 2014.
