ARINC Engineering Services opened an 81,000-sq.-ft. aircraft modification and operations facility at Oklahoma City's Will Rogers World Airport yesterday. Certified as an FAA Part 145 Repair Station, the facility can provide heavy aircraft modifications, upgrades and maintenance and offers avionics installation, aircraft systems integration and engineering design.
Naverus was designated by US FAA as the first RNP Approval Consultant. "Airlines looking for the benefits of RNP are often frustrated by the implementation process. Having helped a number of airlines outside of the US through this process, Naverus has a unique perspective and significant experience from which applicants can benefit," VP-Flight Operations Hal Andersen said. The company has assisted Qantas, Air China and WestJet in securing RNP approvals from their respective civil aviation authorities.
Shandong Airlines posted net income of CNY44 million ($5.7 million) in 2006, a reversal from the prior year's loss of CNY273.6 million, on a 45.2% lift in operating revenue to CNY 4.2 billion.
Those hoping to use their mobile phones or PEDs onboard US aircraft will have to wait awhile longer following yesterday's announcement that the Federal Communications Commission is terminating its review of the December 2004 NPRM proposing a relaxation or replacement of the regulations banning the devices.
Northwest Airlines' full reorganization plan, filed Monday with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, includes detailed P&L projections through 2010. It projects net income of $794 million this year on $12.77 billion in revenue, a reversal from its $2.84 billion loss in 2006 ( ATWOnline, Feb. 7). Net earnings in 2008 are expected to fall 12.6% to $694 million on rising expenses and taxes, but 2009 profit will be back up 21.6% to $844 million on revenues of $13.94 billion.
Amadeus said KLM, Kenya Airways and Martinair successfully switched to Altea Reservation. More than 1.4 million PNRs migrated to Amadeus and 22 applications were adapted as part of the cutover. "By now using the same reservation system as Air France, this migration represents an important step in realizing common IT platforms and applications between Air France and KLM," KLM Executive VP and CIO Boet Kreiken said.
Air Arabia's 10-day IPO closed with approximately 40,000 subscribers buying up 2.57 billion shares representing 55% of the company's share capital ( ATWOnline, March 19). It said the AED2.57 billion ($698.8 million) offering was 150% oversubscribed and that share allocation will occur April 8, with refunds distributed April 11 and 14. Shares will be listed on the Dubai Financial Market.
Oman Air signed a letter of intent to purchase five A330-200s with deliveries starting in 2009, CEO Ziad Karim Al Haremi told reporters in Muscat, according to the Oman News Agency. The order follows the Omani government's February OMR37 million ($95.9 million) capital injection ( ATWOnline, Feb. 21).
CAE said yesterday that it sold two 7000 Series 787 full-flight simulators to Japan Airlines valued at C$36 million ($31.2 million). The first will be delivered to JAL's Tokyo Haneda training center in 2008.
American Airlines flew 11.93 billion system RPMs in March, down 1.4% from the year-ago month. Capacity fell 2.9% to 14.48 billion ASMs, lifting load factor 1.3 points to 82.4% United Airlines flew 10.32 billion system RPMs in March, up 1.6% on the year-ago month. Capacity rose 0.5% to 12.14 billion ASMs and load factor improved 1 point to 85%.
Japan Airlines completed oneworld's spring expansion Sunday, joining Malev Hungarian Airlines and Royal Jordanian as members of the alliance ( ATWOnline, March 30). JAL subsidiaries JALways, Japan Asia Airways, JAL Express, J-AIR and Japan Transocean Air are new oneworld affiliate members. JAL was the largest airline in the world outside one of the three major alliances, oneworld said. It adds nearly 50 airports to the grouping's network and one new country, Guam.
SkyWest Airlines launched its Midwest Connect service Sunday, offering four-times-daily Milwaukee-Columbus service and twice-daily flights from MKE to Minneapolis-St. Paul and Philadelphia. The five-year agreement calls for SkyWest to operate 15-25 CRJ200s, all of which will be in service by October ( ATWOnline, Dec. 22, 2006). Next month it will start thrice-daily MKE-Pittsburgh flights and service from Kansas City to Columbus, Pittsburgh and San Antonio.
Aer Lingus will charge passengers who wish to pre-book a specific seat on short-haul flights starting April 4. Customers will pay €3 ($4) to choose their seat online. From the end of May, passengers also will have the option to reserve a seat in the first five rows for €10 and in an exit row for €15. Seat selection at check-in will remain free of charge.
ExpressJet Airlines launched operations yesterday under its own name in eight markets--Ontario (Calif.), Austin, Boise, Kansas City, Omaha, San Antonio, Spokane and Tucson--aboard 50-seat ERJ-145s. The airline, which announced details of its independent operation two months ago ( ATWOnline, Feb. 5), also unveiled its JetSet loyalty program.
Virgin Blue converted options for three E-170s to firm orders and took purchase rights on three additional E-190s, Embraer announced yesterday. The transaction adds to last fall's order for 14 aircraft ( ATWOnline, Nov. 3, 2006). "This added flexibility initially provides a range of new operating opportunities in Australia and, potentially, for short-haul routes to New Zealand and the South Pacific islands," Virgin Blue CEO Brett Godfrey said.
British Airways selected Trent 800s to power the four 777-200ERs ordered last week ( ATWOnline, March 28) for delivery in 2009. It also signed a long-term maintenance agreement. Of BA's 43 777s, 15 are Trent-powered -200ERs with the remainder outfitted with the GE90.
Brazil's air traffic control system will transfer from military to civilian control following a one-day walkout late last week by top-level ATC officials that forced the temporary closure of airports throughout the country and again highlighted the nation's ongoing ATC woes, which Brazilian airlines claim have cost them more than $48 million since September.
Alitalia has attracted the interest of SkyTeam partner Aeroflot, Italy's Ministry of Economy and Finance confirmed yesterday. The Russian carrier will team up with Italian bank UniCredit, which will control 5% of the bidding group, although UniCredit and Aeroflot reportedly are open to another airline joining the consortium. The Moscow Times reported that SU's bid is worth up to €700 million ($934.5 million).
Lufthansa Systems signed a five-year deal with China Southern Airlines to provide its NetLine network management tool. Implementation is scheduled for late this year.
Already a significant presence in Italy, Air One is committed to enhancing its international profile and expanding its European network. "Our growth in the next three years will be mainly in Europe," VP-Network and Marketing Giorgio De Roni told ATWOnline. Last year the carrier captured a 30% share of the domestic market, carrying 6.3 million passengers on more than 1,900 weekly flights to 23 Italian and 13 European destinations. By the end of next year it plans to serve 20 European cities and expects a 10% increase in total passenger numbers.
United Airlines signed a contract with the US Postal Service to carry domestic mail from April 28 through Sept. 30, 2011. The deal is worth up to $400 million, UA said.
EU's first written submission in its WTO challenge to US government subsidies to Boeing details "massive, long-standing and WTO-inconsistent" federal, state and local government support totaling $23 billion, the EU announced. It cited NASA and Dept. of Defense research and development support and tax beaks and infrastructure support from the states of Kansas and Washington as examples. A nonconfidential version will be released in "due course," the EU said. The US is scheduled to present its written defense on June 14 with the first panel hearing set for July 11.
AirTran Holdings raised the stakes once again in its bid to acquire Midwest Air Group by offering to purchase each outstanding Midwest share for $15 in cash and stock ($9 in cash and 0.5842 share of AirTran common stock), up from an October offer of $11.25 and a January bid of $13.25.
