US FAA yesterday approved the merger transition plan submitted by Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines that envisions the carriers moving to a single operating certificate within 15-18 months. "The plan outlines the methodology, processes, tools and timing to maintain the safety of the day-to-day operations and to achieve a single operating certificate," the airlines said in a statement. DL Senior VP-Maintenance Operations John Laughter added that FAA's acceptance of the plan is "a significant milestone in our efforts to bring together our two airlines."
Lufthansa Cargo said it allocated seven MD-11 heavy C checks for 2009 after an "intensive tendering procedure. The work will be carried out by EGAT in Taipei and TAECO in Xiamen. LHC valued the contracts at around €6.5 million ($9.4 million).
AviIT said it launched its AviTag module extending its AviCheck handheld wireless check-in system. Technology connects to DCS and secures real-time credit card approval authorization, enabling airlines to collect excess baggage fees before passengers reach check-in counters or baggage drop locations.
Etihad Airways CEO James Hogan told reporters in New York that the carrier believes it can lift passenger numbers from the current 6 million per year to 25 million annually by 2020 while doubling the number of cities served from 48 to 100. It plans to grow its workforce from 6,600 today to 27,000 in 2020.
Afriqiyah Airways reached a deal with Air France Industries to provide component support for 14 A319s and A320s. Contract includes access to a spare parts pool managed by AFI at Paris de Gaulle.
DayJet, Services, which described itself as the world's first "per-seat, on-demand jet service," ceased operations last Friday and laid off most of its staff less than a year after launching service among five cities in Florida. It attributed its failure to the inability to "arrange critical financing in the midst of the current global financial crisis." It said it would be unable to honor customer reservations and/or issue refunds for unused travel.
FedEx reported net income of $384 million for its fiscal first quarter ended Aug. 31, down 22% from the same period last year, citing "challenging" economic conditions. Chairman, President and CEO Frederick Smith said the delivery giant will "continue to hold the line on costs across all segments." It also will raise shipping rates 6.9% from Jan. 5 for domestic US and US export services as part of its effort to compensate for "weaker global macroeconomic conditions."
Singapore and Japan Friday announced an expanded air services agreement that will nearly double the number of passenger flights Singaporean airlines can operate to Tokyo and also allow carriers from both nations to operate unlimited passenger and cargo flights between Singapore and all cities in Japan other than Tokyo. Under the agreement, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, Singaporean carriers will be allowed to operate four daily flights between Singapore and Tokyo Haneda from October 2010.
Croatia Airlines signed an order for two Q400 NextGens plus four options in a deal valued at $57 million, possibly rising to $180 million if all options are exercised.
Mecmesin said British Airways selected its MultiTest 5-x force system to perform brake unit springs assessments on a variety of aircraft including 737s, 747s, 757s, 777s, A319s, A320s and A321s. System simulates spring performance within load ranges and displays pass/fail messages automatically. Inventory Locator Service said InterSky of Austria selected its ILS Optimizer to streamline repair, inventory and sales operations. Technology will track parts and components through the repair process, synchronize in-stock inventory with website listings and manage sales orders.
Sensis Corp. said its Multistatic Dependent Surveillance multilateration system is approved and operational at London Gatwick. Expected to enhance safety and efficiency, the system provides location and identification of aircraft operating on runways, taxiways and stand areas.
Jat Airways on Friday countered assertions that it is in serious financial trouble, insisting in a statement that "the situation. . .is stable and there are no signs of bankruptcy."
Embraer named Luiz Carolo Siqueira Aguiar executive VP-finance and CFO and Emilio Kazunoli Matsuo executive VP-strategic planning and technology development.
Qantas used the ceremony commemorating the handover of its first A380 in Toulouse Friday to announce that it is likely to add to the 20 of the type it already has on order. CEO Geoff Dixon and his successor, Alan Joyce, made clear that a new order is a virtual certainty, though Dixon qualified that any order would have to be within QF's current A$35 billion ($27.9 billion) budget for capital spending on aircraft, meaning that it may be interested in aircraft swaps with Airbus. Qantas Group last year ordered 60 A320s/A321s for its LCC Jetstar.
Pacific Blue Airlines, the regional international arm of Virgin Blue Australia, announced a major drive into Asia with plans to launch 11 weekly flights from Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth to Denpasar. The new services will start from Dec. 1 and will be the first to link Adelaide and Brisbane directly with the provincial capital of Bali, a popular tourist destination for Australians. Pacific Blue currently operates 62 weekly international flights from Australia's east coast to New Zealand and the South Pacific.
Frontier Airlines is considering moving some of its maintenance operations outside the US, Denver's Rocky Mountain News reported. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents Frontier maintenance workers, said the bankrupt carrier sees outsourcing as a way to save money but complained that the move could result in the loss of 150 jobs. The Teamsters said Frontier management shared with the union a proposal to outsource heavy maintenance, which includes major repairs and checks.
The Boeing machinists strike has entered its third week, continuing to silence the manufacturer's production lines and raising airlines' anxieties over delayed aircraft deliveries.
Amadeus said Air France finalized implementation of its Ticket Changer Shopper solution featuring online rebooking and revalidation capabilities. Since launching the technology across 80 websites in July, the carrier has seen a 35% increase in online rebooking transactions.
American Airlines expects third-quarter mainline unit revenue to increase 9.5%-10.5% year-over-year, VP-Corporate Development and Treasurer Beverly Goulet said yesterday. Speaking at the Calyon US Airline Conference, she said, "In spite of our continued concerns about the economy, our revenue results have held up reasonably well." She cited the carrier's increased emphasis on "unbundling" prices, including checked bag fees, and higher fares as key drivers of revenue growth. "The pressure we are under because of fuel has upped the ante. .
Detroit Metropolitan's new $431 million North Terminal had its official opening Sept. 17. The 850,000-sq.-ft., 26-gate terminal sits on the site of the former Davey Terminal that was demolished in 2005 and replaces the Smith and Berry Terminals. It is expected to handle 8-14 million passengers per year and will be occupied by Air Canada, American Airlines, AirTran Airways, Frontier Airlines, Lufthansa, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways, USA 3000 and charter carriers. Gensler served as the terminal's architect.
Airbus, preparing to deliver to Qantas its first A380 today, yesterday moved to quell speculation in the French media that more production problems may delay future deliveries. According to Agence France Presse, Airbus President and CEO Tom Enders said the manufacturer is still on track to deliver 12 A380s this year, 21 in 2009 and between 30 and 40 in 2010. France's Journal du Dimanche reported Sunday that Emirates would not receive its second A380 until the end of October, effectively a two-month delay.
BAE Systems Regional Aircraft won a three-year deal with Saab Aerotech for warehousing services covering spares for Saab 340 and Saab 2000 regional turboprops. Contract is valued at £1.5 million ($2.7 million).
US Air Transport Assn. praised the US House of Representatives for passing a bill that ATA said "gives the Commodity Futures Trading Commission the authority to impose additional position limits on certain types of energy trades and provide greater transparency" to the energy market. "This will close some of the loopholes that speculators have used to pour billions of dollars into the energy markets and bring more transparency to commodities trading," ATA stated, adding, "We look to the Senate for their support in including strong speculation reform in their energy bill."
