London Luton said Friday that it will "focus on making the most of the existing airport site," withdrawing its October 2005 proposal for a full-length replacement runway 950 m. south of the existing runway along with adjacent tournament facilities. The airport will publish development proposals for the period up to 2015 later this year.
GA Telesis announced that Aldebaran Leasing, its joint venture with EB-Erste Bank Internationale Beteiligungen, acquired two A340-200s on long-term lease to Royal Jordanian from GIE Lizad. Transaction represents GAT's first A340 acquisition and first Middle East lessee.
US Airways said last week in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission that it expects second-quarter nonfuel CASM to be higher than previously forecast, primarily due to maintenance costs related to returning eight leased aircraft throughout the year, the timing of engine MRO expenses and "additional spending to improve our operation." CASM is expected to rise in the third and fourth quarters as well due to an approximate 2% mainline and regional capacity reduction implemented through decreased utilization and "as a result of industry conditions."
Air Berlin, Qantas, CIT Aerospace and Kuwaiti lessor Alafco helped Boeing celebrate yesterday's 787 unveiling in Seattle while the manufacturer promised further improvements to the record-setting aircraft. Qantas ordered an additional 20 787s Friday and on Saturday the German LCC committed to 25 and Alafco ordered 10. In addition, CIT Aerospace doubled its order to 10 last week. In addition, ATWOnline learned that Qatar Airways is the customer for 30 previously unidentified aircraft.
The so-called High Level Group for the future European aviation regulatory framework formed by European Commission VP-Transport Jacques Barrot last week delivered its long-awaited report containing 10 recommendations and a roadmap with concrete measures boosting performance of Europe's air traffic management system.
Qantas yesterday said the level of foreign shareholding in the company has fallen to 44.5% from "just below" 50% ( ATWOnline, May 31). "Foreign shareholding is trending down and we are confident that our share register is in compliance with the Qantas Sale Act," CEO Geoff Dixon said.
CIT Aerospace yesterday announced an order for five additional 787s worth approximately $810 million at list prices. The lessor already had five 787s on order. Delivery schedule was not announced.
Okay Airways of Tianjin, as part of its accelerated preparation to launch a regional carrier, is nearing an order for 30 Xian MA60 turboprops. Negotiations with AVIC I are expected to conclude soon, Okay President Liu Jieyin announced yesterday. The airline signed an LOI at last year's Zhuhai Air Show for the aircraft, which are worth approximately CNY1.8 billion ($236.7 million).
The European Commission on Wednesday published the fourth update of its "blacklist" of airlines banned from operating in the EU. The list, which takes effect today, now includes all 51 carriers certified in Indonesia, Angolan flag carrier TAAG Angola Airlines and Ukrainian cargo operator Volare Aviation Enterprise.
Lufthansa Technik started construction yesterday on a 27,000-sq.-m. maintenance hangar for A330s and A340 in Malta. LHT will invest €55 million ($74.9 million) and said the project will create about 540 jobs. The facility should be operational by the 2008 fourth quarter and will be leased to Lufthansa Technik Malta, in which Lufthansa will hold 92% and Air Malta the remainder. LH said the expansion is required to meet rising demand for MRO on the Airbus widebodies. LHT also operates an A330/A340 facility in Manila.
World Air Holdings, parent of World Airways and North American Airlines, reported a net loss of $2.3 million for 2006, down from net income of $31.6 million the prior year, on a 4.9% rise in revenue to $825.7 million.
American Airlines announced the following changes to its London service: One of its two daily Dallas/Fort Worth-Gatwick flights and its daily Raleigh/Durham-LGW service, both aboard 777s, will switch to Heathrow on March 29. A new daily New York JFK-Stansted flight begins Oct. 28 aboard a 221-seat 767-300, with a second daily frequency added next spring. Separately, AA flew 12.22 billion system RPMs in June, down 3.5% from the year-ago month, as domestic traffic declined 3% and international fell 4.3%.
American Eagle Airlines flew 806 million RPMs in June, down 2.4% from June 2006, against a 2.2% fall in ASMs to 1 billion. Load factor was off 0.2 point to 80.3%. Ryanair transported 4.3 million passengers in June, up 18% from the year-ago month. Load factor dropped 2 points to 85%. AirTran Airways flew 1.63 billion RPMs in June, up 26% from the year-ago month. Capacity climbed 21.3% to 1.97 billion ASMs, lifting load factor 3.1 points to 82.9%.
The Carlyle Group, a private equity firm, reached a definitive agreement to acquire ARINC from its current shareholders, which include more than a dozen major airlines and Boeing.
US House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee last week cleared its version of FAA reauthorization legislation, which calls for more than $65 billion to fund aviation operations in the US in 2008-11. The bill provides $15.8 billion for the Airport Improvement Program and nearly $13 billion for FAA facilities and equipment, as well as $37.2 billion for FAA operations over the next four years.
Continental Airlines and Kingfisher Airlines announced a partnership under which they will offer loyalty program and lounge reciprocity effective Oct. 1. Codesharing is scheduled to begin by year end. CO operates a daily Newark-Delhi service and plans to launch daily EWR-Mumbai flights on Oct. 1.
SAS Scandinavian Airlines yesterday officially introduced its new flexible fare structure allowing business, Economy Extra and economy passengers to purchase Fully Flexible, Flexible and Fixed fares for any class on any segment. All fares are available to book immediately save Fixed Economy Extra, which will be ready by year end. "The new fixed fares allow customers to purchase business or Economy Extra class at a competitive price, if they book well in advance," SAS International CCO Lars Sandahl Sorensen said. "They can also mix classes to suit their budgets and schedules.
Rockwell Collins said Shandong Airlines selected a suite of avionics for 18 737-800s including the MultiScan Hazard Detection System, Model 4000 HGS and Programmable Audio Video Entertainment System. Deliveries are scheduled through 2009.
South African Airways' restructuring program, which is aiming for revenue improvement/cost reduction of ZAR2.7 billion ($378 million) by the end of 2008, is moving ahead rapidly, CEO Khaya Ngqula told Business in Africa. He said losses in the second half of its fiscal year ended March 31 were about ZAR200 million, not as steep as some had projected and reduced from a loss of ZAR652 million in the first fiscal semester.
London Heathrow's Terminal 4, which is used by British Airways, Qantas, KLM, Kenya Airways, Iberia and TAM, was partially evacuated yesterday following discovery of a suspicious package. "As an extra precaution, it was decided to perform secondary searches on all departing passengers at the aircraft gate," airports operator BAA said.
Southwest Airlines flew 6.83 billion RPMs in June, up 11% on the year-ago month. Capacity rose 8.7% to 8.32 billion ASMs and load factor was up 1.7 points to 82.1%. Gol flew 1.61 billion RPKs in June, up 30.6% from the year-ago month. Capacity climbed 47.3% to 2.35 billion ASKs, dropping load factor 8.7 points to 68.6%.
Spring Airlines plans a stock listing to finance the acquisition of six A320s in 2009 ( ATWOnline, June 29), President Wang Zenghua announced. The LCC also plans to reach a deal with an international investment bank as a strategic investor next year, preferring an institution over another airline as it holds fast to its "go it alone" strategy. Wang said Citibank is Spring's first choice and the parties already are in discussions. He said the carrier's biggest headache at present is a shortage of pilots.
S7 Airlines said it recorded net profit of RUB61 million ($2.4 million) for 2006, down 44.5% from a net profit of RUB1.1 billion in the prior year, on a 27% increase in revenue to RUB24.97 billion. Passengers carried rose 16.4% to 4.9 million.
