IATA unveiled several new safety initiatives, including a program called Fatigue Risk Management Systems designed to monitor flight crew fatigue and a Web-based Global Safety Information Center granting IATA members access to its internal safety databases. "The GSIG will enable airlines to benchmark their safety performance with other operators," Senior VP-Safety, Operations and Infrastructure Gunther Matschnigg noted at last week's press day in Geneva.
SR Technics named Titan Aviation President and CEO Raymond Sisson as chief commercial officer. Nexcelle, the GE Middle River Aircraft Systems and Aircelle joint venture, named Michel Abella director-programs. Abella was Aircelle's program manager for its A380 nacelles.
Welcome Air, an Innsbruck-based regional, acquired a 76% stake in financially troubled Air Alps, which also is based in Innsbruck but operates mainly out of Milan Malpensa and Rome Fiumicino in partnership with Alitalia. The new group will operate eight Do-328s and four business jets and focus on niche markets in Central Europe. Financial details of the transaction were not announced. The combined company will produce some €40 million ($57.1 million) in annual revenue and carry around 120,000 passengers.
Embraer announced the sale of two E-190s to Aircraft Asset Management of Germany, which already has agreed to place them with Augsburg Airways. Aircraft are worth $79 million at list prices and will count against the manufacturer's third-quarter backlog. Augsburg took delivery of the first in September and will take the second in 2010. Augsburg, a Lufthansa Regional partner, currently operates 16 aircraft to 21 destinations.
SAS Scandinavian Airlines yesterday said "It is time. . .to expand again" and announced the following new routes: Twice-daily Copenhagen-Vilnius starting Jan. 11 and daily CPH-Lyon beginning April 6; daily Stockholm Arlanda-Visby from June 6 to Sept. 5; six-times-weekly Oslo Gardermoen-Bardufoss from May 31 to Aug. 20. It also will add frequencies from CPH to ARN, OSL, Brussels and Bologna. Emirates will launch daily Dubai-Prague service July 1 aboard a two-class A330.
Boeing formally announced Air Austral's order for two 737-800s, which are worth $152 million at list prices and will replace one 737-300 and one 737-500. The manufacturer also said it delivered four 737-900ERs to Indonesian carrier Lion Air this month. Lion's 737 fleet now comprises 41 -900ERs, -300s and -400s.
LAN Airlines signed a contract for the purchase of 30 A320 family aircraft for delivery between 2011 and 2016. LAN said the aircraft are valued at $1.97 billion at list prices and "will be used for the renewal and growth of the company's short-haul fleet." It said it plans to sell five A318s in 2011 as part of the renewal effort. The LAN mainline and its affiliates currently operate 85 passenger aircraft and 11 freighters. The passenger fleet comprises 767-300ERs, A340-300s and A320 family aircraft.
Navtech said that Delta Air Lines completed its transition to its Preferential Bidding System rostering software. Pilots will use the tool beginning next month. PROS Revenue Management won a contract from Royal Jordanian Airlines to deploy its new suite of network revenue management systems, with implementation scheduled for the 2010 fourth quarter.
Iberia flew 3.72 billion RPKs in November, a 5.9% decline from the year-ago month. Capacity was cut 6.8% to 4.79 billion ASKs and load factor rose 0.7 point to 77.8%. Norwegian's November yield fell 20% year-over-year to NOK0.55, while unit revenue dropped 21% to NOK0.41. The LCC flew 872 million RPMs last month, up 27%, against a 29% increase in ASKs to 1.18 billion. Load factor dropped 1 point to 74%. Germanwings transported 501,687 passengers in November, down 1.3% year-over-year. Load factor fell 5.8 points to 70.5%.
ST Aerospace renewed a three-year deal with US Airways covering heavy maintenance on US's 737, 757 and 767 aircraft. It also announced a three-year, $90 million deal with a "major US airline" covering C checks and heavy MRO on A320 family and 767 aircraft. Contract includes a two-year option. International Communications Group received EASA Part 145 approval for its Newport News, Va., repair station.
SkyWorks Leasing announced a mandate to remarket three 757-200SFs for sale or lease. Two are currently on lease with Varig Logistica and will be available in January and May respectively. Aircraft were converted in 2006 at Flightstar Aircraft Services.
Madrid-based Air Comet, which specialized in flights to Latin America, suspended all operations yesterday and had its AOC revoked by Spanish authorities.
Estonian government is discussing reacquiring a majority share in Estonian Air by purchasing part of SAS Group's stake, officials told The Baltic Times. OV currently is held by SAS (49%), Estonia (34%) and Cresco investment bank (17%). Prime Minister Andrus Ansip said it will partner with another airline investor on the acquisition. "SAS plans to sell its holding in Estonian Air and has made a corresponding offer to the Estonian state.
US Dept. of Justice, whose objection to the antitrust immunity application from several Star Alliance members was dismissed by the Dept. of Transportation over the summer ( ATW, August 2009), has expressed similar concerns over the transatlantic ATI application from oneworld partners American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, Finnair and Royal Jordanian.
Spirit AeroSystems, based in Wichita, announced the immediate commencement of direct international parts sales and distribution. It said it is "responding to [international] customers' expressed desire to deal directly with Spirit and not through an intermediary" and that it now is "fully capable of engaging directly with international customers." It said it plans to establish "regional centers around the world to be closer to [customer] markets" and that the transition from its current distributor will be complete by June 30.
Malaysia Airlines, whose current long-haul fleet comprises 747s, 777s and A330s, yesterday announced plans to purchase 15 A330-300s for delivery in 2011-16, with options for an additional 10.
Air France will launch five-times-weekly Paris Charles de Gaulle-Abu Dhabi service on May 3 aboard a two-class A330. Air Canada will launch daily Toronto-Copenhagen service on June 24 aboard a 767-300ER. Royal Air Maroc will launch twice-weekly Agadir-Lyon service in February aboard an A321. Air New Zealand will operate weekly Sydney-Roarotonga flights in July-October 2010 aboard a 767-300.
Rockwell Collins will provide avionics and pilot controls to Irkut Corp. for use on the new MC-21 narrowbody passenger aircraft set to enter service in 2016. Rockwell will partner with Concern Avionica and Aviapribor on the avionics and pilot controls respectively.
LAN Airlines flew 2.62 billion RPKs in November, up 13.3% from the year-ago month. Capacity rose 8.8% to 3.3 billion ASKs, lifting load factor 3.2 points to 79.5%. Copa Airlines flew 552.9 million RPMs in November, up 14.2% year-over-year, against a 7.8% lift in ASMs to 675.8 million. Load factor rose 4.6 points to 81.8%. SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines flew a combined 1.37 billion RPMs in November a 9.4% increase year-over-year. Capacity was up 7.8% to 1.78 billion ASMs and load factor climbed 1.1 points to 77%.
Qantas took delivery of its fifth A380 Monday and will take the sixth before the New Year. It plans to operate the aircraft on a Melbourne-Singapore-London Heathrow routing beginning Jan. 22. It has flown the A380 between Sydney and LHR since January. From March 29, QF's six A380s will operate daily SYD-Los Angeles, five-times-weekly SYD-SIN-LHR, thrice-weekly MEL-LAX and twice-weekly MEL-SIN-LHR.
Boeing flew the second 787 yesterday with much less fanfare than last week's first flight. ZA002, powered by the Trent 1000 and already painted in ANA livery, took off from Paine Field in Everett at 9:09 a.m. local time and flew for 2 hr. before landing at Boeing Field. Capt. Randy Neville and Chief Pilot Mike Carriker took the aircraft to 13,000 ft. and an airspeed of 200 kt. ZA002 test flights will focus on systems performance, Boeing said ( ATWOnline, Dec. 16).
Japanese officials said yesterday that the government will not guarantee any loans extended to Japan Airlines ( ATWOnline, Dec. 9). Finance Minister Hirohisa Fujii said the government had agreed to "consider" backing some ¥100 billion ($1.09 billion) in loans from the Development Bank of Japan, "but it did not say we would actually do it." He added: "This is a matter that should be worked out by private companies.
