Allegiant Travel Co. has inked a purchase agreement with Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) for up to 13 MD-80 aircraft and 12 JT8D-219 spare engines in 2012 and 2013.
Aeroflot (SU) plans to modernize the fleet of its subsidiaries with Airbus A320s and Russian regional aircraft Sukhoi Superjet 100s (SSJ100s), SU CEO Vitaly Savelyev said.
Air Berlin (AB) believes the carrier will be profitable again in 2012, having battled through this year’s crises in Europe and the introduction of Germany’s new aviation taxes.
Emirates SkyCargo completed its first paperless flight, operating a Singapore-Dubai 777-300ER service with 100% of its shipments processed electronically. It said it is “on track” to meet the 2014 target of removing all paper Air Waybills, documents and certificates by the end of 2014, under IATA’s E-freight cargo industry initiative. Swissport was selected by Finnair (AY)to handle AY baggage and apron services at Helsinki Vantaa. The five-year contract takes effect Dec 1.
United Continental Holdings (UCH) selected Panasonic Avionics to provide Ku-band satellite Wi-Fi connectivity on more than 300 United Airlines (UA) and Continental (CO) aircraft, beginning in mid-2012, enabling onboard connectivity for both domestic and international flights. The service, which will be installed on Airbus A319, A320 and Boeing 747, 757, 767, 777 and 787 aircraft, is slated to be implemented in the entire UCH mainline fleet by 2015.
Qantas (QF) long-haul pilots have challenged Fair Work Australia’s (FWA) decision to terminate its protected action, further igniting its industrial dispute with the national carrier.
Rosaviatsia—Russia’s Dept. of Aviation/Ministry of Transport has prohibited VIM Avia (NN), the ninth biggest carrier in Russia, from flying to EU countries. NN spokeswoman Elena Fedorova confirmed to ATW that the airline received a wire from authorities stating the carrier’s AOC restriction forbids it to fly to Europe with Boeing 757-200s. But Fedorova said the carrier has not received the official document from Rosaviatsia yet. The Moscow-based carrier’s fleet consists of 11 757-200s.
Airbus has confirmed to ATW that it has pushed back entry into service (EIS) of its A350-900 aircraft by six months to the “first half of 2014” owing to the “late availability of some key parts.”
WestJet (WS) reported a C$39.3 million ($38.8 million) third-quarter net profit, down 10.4% from net income of C$43.8 million in the prior-year period.
Air France KLM Group reported a net profit of €14 million ($19.2 million) for the quarter ended Sept. 30, down 95.2% from net income of €290 million in the year-ago quarter, due mainly to foreign exchange losses and a decline in the fair value of hedging instruments.
Taipei-based EVA Airways Corp. (BR) is “in aggressive talks” to join either oneworld or Star alliance by 2013, senior VP-Europe Tim Yang confirmed to ATW in Vienna.
Embraer is dropping plans to enter the 130-160 seat narrowbody market and instead focusing on developing a re-engined variant of its E-jet family that could be ready in 2018, the company announced Thursday.
Embraer is dropping plans to enter the 130-160 seat narrowbody market and instead focusing on developing a re-engined variant of its E-jet family that could be ready in 2018, the company announced Thursday.
Airbus has confirmed to ATW that it has pushed back entry into service (EIS) of its A350-900 aircraft by six months to the “first half of 2014” owing to the “late availability of some key parts.”
Rosaviatsia—Russia’s Dept. of Aviation/Ministry of Transport has prohibited VIM Avia (NN), the ninth biggest carrier in Russia, from flying to EU countries.
International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC) entered into a sale-leaseback arrangement with American Airlines (AA) to finance 15 previously ordered Boeing 737-800NextGen aircraft. Two aircraft have been delivered; the rest are scheduled for delivery in 2012.
Etihad Airways (EY) will begin to roll out onboard Internet on flights between Abu Dhabi and select European cities from December, with a total of five aircraft slated to be fitted out by March 2012. It has not yet announced the provider. Three of the five aircraft will be Airbus A330-300s, operating to London, Frankfurt, Geneva, Munich and Paris.
Caribbean Airlines (BW) took delivery of its first of nine ATR 72-600s, becoming the first operator of the new -600 series in a $200 million contract ( ATW Daily News, Feb. 2). The aircraft are configured with 68 seats and will be equipped with inflight entertainment.
Kenya Airways (KQ) posted a net profit of KES2.03 billion ($21.1 million) for its fiscal year first-half ended Sept. 30, up 41.6% from KES1.4 billion in the year-ago period. It noted the improved profitability was realized despite the challenging economic and geopolitical environment and said it was “optimistic” for continued improvement in the second half.
Pinnacle Airlines Corp., the Memphis-based parent of regionals Pinnacle Airlines, Colgan Air and Mesaba Aviation, reported a third-quarter net loss of $3.5 million, down from a net profit of $9.4 million in the year-ago quarter.
Lufthansa (LH) announced it is investing €60 million ($81 million) to increase its presence at the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), which is expected to open June 3, 2012 ( ATW Daily News, Oct. 18). LH destinations from BER will increase from eight to 38 starting from summer 2012. New routes will include mostly European and two Middle East destinations. LH’s dedicated BER-based fleet will increase from nine to 15 A320 family aircraft, resulting in 40% more ASKs.
Copa Holdings, parent of Panama's Copa Airlines and Copa Airlines Colombia (formerly Aero Republica), posted third-quarter net income of $70.3 million, nearly on par with a $71.5 million net profit earned in the prior-year period.
The world’s governments should stop their international spat over the European Union’s proposed Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) and focus their energy on finding a common solution through ICAO, the head of IATA said Wednesday.
