Ryanair announced a return to Fuerteventura. The LCC pulled out of the Canary Islands airport in January following a dispute with tourism authorities ( ATWOnline, Dec. 11, 2008). It will return next March after reaching an agreement with the local government to extend an airport charges discount scheme through February 2012.
Moscow Domodedovo announced that "in accordance to ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices" it now is capable of operating simultaneous departures from its parallel runways spaced 2 km. apart. The airport said this will "ensure future increased capacity" up to 90 movements per hr. DME is Russia's largest airport in terms of passenger traffic, with a 45% share of passenger volume. It is served by 80 airlines.
Air Arabia reported a AED144 million ($39.2 million) third-quarter profit excluding exceptional items, down 8.9% from the AED158 million earned in the year-ago period. Its nine-month profit excluding exceptional items rose 6% year-over-year to AED337 million from AED318 million last year. Revenue was down 1.7% to AED1.47 billion. Nine-month passenger traffic increased 13.8% to 3 million and load factor was 79%.
Alaska Airlines ramp service and stores agents represented by the International Assn. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers ratified a two-year contract extension, while 2,800 clerical, office and passenger service employees represented by the same union rejected an identical two-year offer, the airline announced. It said it will reopen negotiations with the latter group in early 2010.
Turkish Airlines Chairman Candan Karlitekin submitted his resignation last week and will leave the company on Jan. 1. A source close to THY told ATWOnline that Karlitekin left of his own free will and offered no reason for the decision. He had held the post since 2002. Reuters reported that Deputy Chairman Hamdi Topcu will succeed Karlitekin next month.
Telluride (Colo.) Regional reopened last Thursday following completion of Phase II of the airport's modernization project. The $22 million program included removal/replacement of the existing runway, reducing grades, widening safety areas, extending the length of the runway and adding all new runway lighting. The airport said that Phase III of the reconstruction "will likely begin in 2010 and will widen the remaining safety areas and add an engineered material arresting system for runway overruns."
Transaero Airlines is discussing increasing its cooperation with Star Alliance (it currently codeshares with Austrian Airlines and bmi) and would consider full membership, although DG Olga Pleshakova said this currently is "not the top priority," Vienna's Der Standard reported. Transaero is the most obvious Russian target for Star since Aeroflot is a member of SkyTeam and S7 Airlines is set to join oneworld ( ATWOnline, May 27).
Qantas subsidiary Jetstar Airways and AirAsia "have entered discussions regarding a potential cost-saving joint venture," QF said in a statement last week. A Jetstar spokesperson told Dow Jones that the companies are "looking at ways we can further cut costs through economies of scale" via cooperation on airport operations and procurement. "We both compete for passengers from a growing pool, and that clearly will remain." A source told Dow Jones that no cross-ownership is involved.
The US Air Transport Assn. reported that passenger revenue fell 7% in November versus the same month in 2008 based on a sample group of carriers that includes the major network airlines and their regional partners but excludes Southwest Airlines. November was the 13th consecutive month of annual revenue declines, which ATA said were fueled primarily by the 12th consecutive month of ticket price declines. Approximately 1% fewer passengers traveled on US airlines in November, while the average price to fly 1 mi. fell 6.4%.
AMF, the French stock market regulator, last week cleared 17 current and former EADS/Airbus executives of wrongdoing regarding alleged insider trading related to A380 program delays.
Thai Airways will pass operation of routes to Phitsanulok, Ubol Ratchathani and Mae Hong Son to LCC Nok Airways, in which Thai is the largest shareholder. The change takes effect March 1. Thai said passengers "will continue to receive the same standard of services" on Nok flights. It said it lost an average of THB211.1 million ($6.3 million) per year over the past five years operating to the three cities.
Unite, the union that represents London Heathrow and Aberdeen baggage handlers and check-in staff employed by SAS Ground Services UK, said the workers "will strike next week unless there is movement on resolving a pay dispute." It said a series of strikes would take place Dec. 22-24 (48 hr.), Dec. 26-27 (24 hr.) and Jan. 3-4 (24 hr.). "The stoppages will hit travelers on Turkish [Airlines], Emirates and Thai [Airways] at London Heathrow and KLM, Air France, Wideroe and [Virgin Atlantic Airways] at Aberdeen," the union said.
Pemco World Air Services agreed to acquire the 757 cargo conversion operations and assets of Alcoa--SIE Conversions, a California-based Alcoa company joined with Structural Integrity Engineering. Pemco will acquire ASCC's 757-200 STC, allowing it to add the conversion program to its product line early next year. It currently offers freighter, combi, and quick-change configurations of the 737-300 and 737-400. Financial details were not disclosed.
Trans States Airlines will cut 50 baggage handlers and customer service representatives handling its United Express flights at St. Louis, according to an announcement cited by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Layoffs will take effect Feb. 11.
Business travelers are returning slowly to the front of the cabin and typical business fares are rising slightly against 2009 lows but still remain well down from year-ago levels, according to the third-quarter American Express Business Travel Monitor. The BTM shows that the average one-way international fare paid from North America including taxes and fees booked through AEBT increased 2.2% compared to the second quarter, from $1,603 to $1,638, but was down 18.5% compared to an average of $2,010 in the third quarter of 2008.
Ryanair said it will begin displaying third-party advertising on boarding passes early next year. The carrier this year implemented 100% online check-in and said the ads will appear on passes printed by customers. "Ryanair passengers must reference their boarding cards on a number of occasions during a trip, providing repeat exposure for advertisers," it said.
Southwest Airlines Chairman, President and CEO Gary Kelly said there has been a "very dramatic shift" in domestic US market share over the last year, with "1% moving from the rest of the industry to Southwest."
British Airways yesterday obtained an injunction from the UK High Court blocking a 12-day flight attendant strike because of irregularities in the balloting conducted by the Unite union, which countered with a promise that its dispute with the airline "is not settled."
Andes Lineas Aereas of Argentina leased two used 90-seat CRJ900s, Bombardier announced. Andes currently operates three MD-80s from its Salta base to five destinations.
Austrian Airlines passed a resolution to squeeze out remaining minority shareholders, who will be paid €0.50 ($0.73) per share. Transactions "probably" will take place in the first half of 2010, it said. Lufthansa subsidiary Osterreichische Luftverkehrs Holding currently holds 95.4% of the company.
United Airlines said it expects fourth-quarter consolidated passenger RASM to fall 6.25%-7.25% year-over-year to 11.09-11.21 cents, while mainline PRASM should be down 7.5%-8.5% to 10.12-10.23 cents.
Aircastle announced the placement of six new A330-200s with South African Airways on long-term lease. Aircraft are powered by Trent 772Bs and will deliver during 2011. The lessor said it now has secured customers for 11 of the 12 A330s it has on order. Two were delivered to Avianca this year, three freighters are headed to an unidentified Asian customer in 2010-11, and the last aircraft is scheduled for delivery in May 2012. Aircastle said it is "actively marketing" that plane.
Rolls-Royce announced an order from Aviation Capital Group for Trent 1000 engines to power the five 787s ordered by the lessor in 2007. The contract is worth $170 million at list prices.
