In one of the most significant industrial votes in the history of Boeing, members of the International Assn. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) approved a four-year labor contract extension ( ATW Daily News, Dec. 1) . The agreement covers 28,000 employees represented by IAM in Washington State, Oregon and Kansas, and extends the machinists' contract to September 2016.
MA60. Courtesy, AVIC African carriers have placed six firm orders for the Chinese-produced MA60 turboprop, according to AVIC. National Airways Cameroon ordered three MA60s, Air Burundi ordered two aircraft and Trans Air Congo ordered one of the type. Deliveries are scheduled for 2012.
Thai Airways International (TG) expects a fourth-quarter loss of THB3 billion ($97.6 million) owing to the flooding in Thailand, TG president Piyasvasti Amranand said in an interview with the Bangkok Times.
Iberia (IB) pilots, represented by the SEPLA union, announced one-day strikes Dec. 18 and Dec. 29 to protest the company's plans to create Iberia Express.
Pinnacle Airlines Corp., the Memphis-based parent of regionals Pinnacle Airlines, Colgan Air and Mesaba Aviation, said Thursday it has serious financial issues it must address and will initiate a "comprehensive program to reduce short- and long-term costs and enhance liquidity."
Opposition from governments against the inclusion of aviation next year in the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is growing and could result in a trade war, IATA warned.
In one of the most significant industrial votes in the history of Boeing, members of the International Assn. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) approved a four-year labor contract extension.
Turkish Technic inked base a maintenance and services agreement and paint services agreement with SmartLynx Airlines for one C check on an Airbus A320. Air Berlin Technik said it will perform a transit check on an Emirates Airbus A380 each day it is in Munich.
Pratt & Whitney, which said it sees its future inextricably linked to the development of alternative fuel sources, has participated in the publishing of “The Path to Fuel Readiness," along with the rest of the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI) R&D committee made up of representatives from FAA, GE, P&W and Boeing.
Air Seychelles (HM) will slash all its remaining European routes as demand weakens and competition increases. According to CEO Bram Steller, the European economic crisis—coupled with tough competition from the Middle East—has led HM to shut down its long-haul operations. HM will stop flights from Mahe to Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa as well London Heathrow from Jan 8. Services to Paris Charles de Gaulle will be reduced from 5X to 3X weekly from January and will stop completely by March 25. HM stopped flights to Singapore Nov. 24.
Austrian Airlines (OS) may have to extend its cost-cutting program as the economic outlook weakens demand ( ATW Daily News, Sept. 28). OS will save up to €100 million ($134 million) this year but this may not be enough.
IATA lowered its global airline earnings forecast for 2012 to a net profit of $3.5 billion, 28.6% below its previous forecast, and warned of a possible net loss of $8.3 billion if the Eurozone crisis deteriorates into a renewed banking crisis and worldwide GDP growth slows to 0.8%.
Delta Air Lines (DL) signed a binding agreement to invest $100 million in GOL to gain preferred shares in the Brazilian airline and a seat on the GOL board of directors.
Delta Air Lines (DL) signed a binding agreement to invest $100 million in GOL to gain preferred shares in the Brazilian airline and a seat on the GOL board of directors.
IATA lowered its global airline earnings forecast for 2012 to a net profit of $3.5 billion, 28.6% below its previous forecast, and warned of a possible net loss of $8.3 billion if the Eurozone crisis deteriorates into a renewed banking crisis and worldwide GDP growth slows to 0.8%.
Greater Toronto Airports Authority appointed Pteris Global Limited was awarded London City Airport (LCY) appointed US Dept. of Transportation's (DOT) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) said the nation’s largest carriers reported NAV Canada said it reached a tentative agreement
Kurumoch Airport (KUF) in Samara, Russia, will become a part of the Russian conglomerate Renova's subsidiary airport holding company Koltsovo-Invest, which won a tender to manage KUF's renovation and operations. According to the tender rules, Koltsovo-Invest will buy 71.1773% shares of KUF. After completing the renovation program, it will gain permission to buy another 25.0114%. Renova, however, won't get to manage the airside facilities (runway, taxiways, etc.) due to Russian law requiring government ownership and control of airside facilities.
Reports from London indicated that the Nov. 30 UK public sector strike, in which a large number of Border Agency immigration officers participated, did not cause gridlock at London Heathrow (LHR) and other major UK airports as had been feared ( ATW Daily News, Nov. 29).
Basic Element Group, which owns several airports in South Russia, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Changi Airports International (CAI) and LLC Sberbank Investments to form a joint venture (JV) to invest in and develop airports in Russia. Basic Element will hold 50% plus one share, CAI will hold 30% and Sberbank will hold 20%, minus one share. The creation of the JV is targeted to be completed in the second quarter of 2012. It is subject to due diligence and final negotiations between the parties and approval by the regulatory authorities.
The European Commission (EC) issued a reasoned opinion (a formal request to comply with EU law) against Belgium, which it said failed to comply with the bloc's legislation on the common charging scheme for air navigation services.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), which is scheduled to open June 3, 2012, is gearing up for test runs of all systems and procedures using 10,000 employees and volunteers. The test phase will start in January and run through April.
Brazil is scrambling to figure out a way to upgrade its airport infrastructure in time to accommodate the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics, and airlines are concerned they will end up paying the bill for the county's airport expansion.
