The prospect of a link-up between AirAsia and Australia's Virgin Blue appears to be gathering momentum, with the world's lowest-cost operator flagging the launch of a joint venture with Blue to establish an "ultra-low-cost" carrier in Australia. Blue has been searching for ways to counter low-cost entrants Jetstar Airways and Tiger Airways as it focuses more on the corporate market. Speaking to News Ltd. in Australia, Toll Holdings, which owns 62% of Virgin Blue, said it has received expressions of interest for its majority stake.
Airways New Zealand, Airservices Australia and US FAA signed a trilateral agreement to accelerate development of air traffic control procedures among the three countries that will reduce aviation's environmental footprint. Dubbed ASPIRE--Asia and South Pacific Initiative to Reduce Emissions--the accord aims to provide a regional platform for a host of technologies pioneered by the trio.
Qantas will hire 900 new long-haul flight attendants by year end in the first phase of what it calls "its largest ever cabin crew recruitment drive." CEO Geoff Dixon said QF will continue to build its full-time cabin staff numbers through 2010, at which point it expects to have approximately 2,000 new flight attendants working on its A380s, 747s and A330s.
Singapore Technologies Engineering said Flybe awarded ST Aerospace Solutions a $160 million component maintenance support and management deal for Dash 8 aircraft. Agreement includes additional aircraft and a contract extension until 2016.
China Southern Airlines announced sale and leaseback deals covering 10 A330s ordered in December 2005. Eight aircraft now will be owned by and leased from Shenzhen Financial Leasing, with the remaining two owned by HSBC. CZ said the deals were "for the purpose of reducing the tremendous need of capital and relieving the pressure on the manufacture and operation of the company caused by the high asset/liability ratio."
KVH Industries said it reached a $20.1 million multiyear deal with an inflight entertainment supplier to design and manufacture DirecTV-compatible satellite TV antennas for narrowbody US commercial aircraft.
British Airways will launch flights from London Gatwick to Poznan (daily from March 30), Antalya (thrice-weekly from April 10) and Genoa (daily from April 4). CSA Czech Airlines will start six-times-weekly Munich-Bordeaux on March 2. Air New Zealand will add a fourth weekly Auckland-Vancouver frequency in early December. It launched the route last November. AirAsia launched flights from Kuala Lumpur to Yogyakarta (daily) and Vientiane (twice-daily). Air Mauritius will launch weekly Plaisance-Bangalore on April 28 using A330-200s.
China Southern Airlines flew 6.78 billion RPKs in January, up 22.1% over the year-ago month. Capacity rose 11.6% to 9.2 billion ASKs and load factor lifted 6.3 points to 73.7%.
The impact of a softening global economy and high fuel prices apparently has yet to reach Australia, where Qantas yesterday reported a profit of A$618.1 million ($566.4 million) in the fiscal semester ended Dec. 31, more than double the A$307.3 million earned in the year-ago period. QF is targeting a 40% year-over-year increase in full-year pre-tax earnings. "While we have benefited from a strong revenue environment, our focus has also remained on costs, efficiencies, customer service and product improvement. Our results reflect these efforts," Chairman Leigh Clifford said.
NavAero said Freebird Airlines of Turkey selected its tBag C22 computer and display technology as the EFB flight deck hardware for the carrier's A320s and A321s. Deployment will begin this year with full implementation slated for early 2009.
Air China intends to make Air China Cargo its wholly owned subsidiary and is negotiating with Beijing Capital Airport to purchase the latter's 24% stake in the country's largest cargo carrier. "We did talk with Beijing Capital Airport about the purchase of their shares in the Air China Cargo carrier, but so far no substantial progress has been made," CA Board Secretary Huang Bin revealed.
Pinnacle Airlines reported a dramatic drop in full-year net income to $34.6 million, 55.5% lower than the $77.8 million reported in 2006. It cited changes in its air service agreement with Northwest Airlines along with costs related to training new pilots and introducing CRJ900s as causes. Revenue fell 4.5% to $787.4 million, expenses were up 5.5% to $735.3 million and operating income plunged 59.2 % to $52.1 million from $127.5 million. In addition to NWA, Pinnacle and its Colgan Air subsidiary operate in partnership with Continental Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways.
Air One's appeal to have the negotiations between Air France KLM and Alitalia suspended was denied by the Lazio administrative court yesterday ( ATWOnline, Feb. 12). The court now will consider whether Air One can enter its own bid or if the merger talks will stay exclusive, according to press reports. Air One said it will appeal the decision.
Austrian Airlines Group's negotiations with Saudi investor Mohamed bin Iassa Al-Jaber regarding his interest in investing €150 million ($220.5 million) in the flag carrier continue ( ATWOnline, Feb. 1), with several press reports out of Austria indicating that his investment could rise to €200 million and his stake in AAG to 30% from 20%. Many AAG shareholders and Austrian politicians (state holding group OIAG remains a 42.75% owner of AAG) have been positive about the potential investment.
IBS Software reached agreement with Jet Airways to implement its crew management system AvientCrew. IBS also launched a development center at Bengaluru.
OpenSkies, British Airways' new transatlantic subsidiary, will operate its first flight between either Paris Charles de Gaulle or Orly and New York JFK, BA said in a filing and application for traffic rights with the US Dept. of Transportation. It also had considered Brussels as an initial European gateway ( ATWOnline, Feb. 7). OpenSkies will fly with both the BA and its own EC code and plans to launch service in June.
Boeing considers 'slightly' lowering airfreight demand forecast, cites maritime diversion Boeing seeking viable biofuel solution within five years Keskar: Indian airlines' losses likely to mount Ametek aims for Asian MRO market with Singapore facility Lufthansa Technik targets strong revenue growth in 2008 Saab Aircraft Leasing: 'Not enough' used turboprops available Additional stories
Copa Airlines and AeroRepublica parent Copa Holdings reported full-year net income of $160.4 million for 2007, up 19.9% from $133.8 million earned in 2006. Operating revenue climbed 20.7% to $1.03 billion and operating income, adjusted to include special charges related to the early termination of leases on five AeroRepublica MD-80s, rose 18.5% to $196.8 million from $166.6 million. The two airlines flew a combined 5.86 billion RPMs last year, up 16.8% over 2006, against a 15.3% increase in capacity to 7.92 billion ASMs.
Continental Airlines announced yesterday that it placed firm orders for 19 737NGs and eight 777s, increasing its commitment for Boeing aircraft to 111 for delivery over the next six years.
Boeing yesterday released a statement confirming that it is "engaged" with the Iraqi government and Iraqi Airways regarding an aircraft order. Government officials this week claimed there was an agreement to purchase 44 Boeing aircraft for the depleted carrier ( ATWOnline, Feb. 20). "We're pleased they have announced their intent to purchase Boeing airplanes and we look forward to finalizing our commercial negotiations," the manufacturer said.
Messier Services Asia reached a deal with China Eastern Airlines to provide landing gear MRO services for 24 A320s. Work will continue through 2009. MSA also has begun MRO work on 737NGs.
Aegean Airlines weathered increased competition in Western Europe and soaring fuel prices to post a profit of €35.8 million ($52.6 million) in 2007, up 39% from the €25.7 million earned the prior year, as rising load factors and "distribution efficiencies" resulting from higher Internet bookings boosted its bottom line.
Willis Lease Finance added Aloha Airlines to the North American engine-sharing agreement. Other members include American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, WestJet and Alaska Airlines covering CFM56-7Bs powering 737s. Pool represents more than 500 aircraft to be serviced.
Kenya Airways will suspend its thrice-weekly Paris Charles de Gaulle service on Feb. 26 owing to a plunge in bookings that followed a French government advisory against travel to Kenya. "We are hopeful that we will resume Paris flights for the summer high season once the. . .travel advisory has been removed," CEO Titus Naikuni said. Air Canada and Jet Airways announced a codeshare agreement effective Feb. 28.
