Air Transport World

US airlines reported only two domestic flights with tarmac delays exceeding three hours in August; no international flights were reported experiencing with a tarmac delay exceeding four hours, according to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) Air Travel Consumer Report and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

Aircraft News

Low-cost carrier Norwegian Air Shuttle has reported a third-quarter, pre-tax profit of NOK604 million, down from NOK873 million ($102.3 million) year-over-year.

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has fined United Airlines $1.1 million for a series of lengthy tarmac delays at Chicago-O’Hare International Airport one day last year when the airport was affected by severe thunderstorms.

Leisure carrier Monarch Airlines is weeks away from a final decision on an order for 60 narrowbodies, according to comments made by group chairman Iain Rawlinson.

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will hold a two-day investigative hearing in December on the crash of Asiana Airlines Flight 214.

A Turkish Airlines spokesman told ATW the carrier has not finalized its aircraft assessments for the 2020-2023 period after several media outlets reported the carrier is in talks with manufacturers for aircraft orders.

Spain will introduce a number of incentives to airlines in terms of discounted airport charges in a bid to boost airport traffic.

Russia’s Aeroflot will provide a RUB430 million ($13.5 million) loan for its Far East subsidiary Aurora Airline for initial investments.

Following the scrapping of Ireland’s air travel tax, Ryanair has announced a batch of new services starting in April 2014.

Lufthansa is ending turboprop services Oct. 26 with Italian subsidiary Air Dolomiti’s final ATR 72-500 flight from Munich to Triest, Italy, as the German-based carrier moves ahead with its restructuring program SCORE.

GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) has taken delivery of the first of three 777-300ERs for lease to Kenya Airways.

People

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration.

* Ranked by reports per 1,000 passengers. Source: US DOT Aviation Consumer Protection

Korean Air has finalized an order for five Boeing 747-8Is and six 777-300ERs that was announced as a commitment during the Paris Air Show in June.

El Al Israel Airlines has finalized an order for two additional Boeing 737-900ERs, bringing the total number of orders for the type to eight.

United Continental Holdings (UCH), parent of United Airlines, is reporting third-quarter earned net income of $379 million, up substantially from a $6 million net profit during 2012’s third quarter.

Alaska Air Group, parent of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, has reported a third-quarter net profit of $289 million, up 77.3% compared to a net income of $163 million in the year-ago quarter.

Southwest Airlines reported a third-quarter net income of $241 million, more than doubled from a $97 profit in the year-ago quarter.

Aegean Airlines has signed a definitive agreement with Marfin Investment Group to acquire Olympic Air for €72 million ($99.2 million) in cash, and the transfer of 100% of Olympic Air shares has been completed.

Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. (HAECO) has signed an agreement to buy US MRO provider TIMCO Aviation Services in a $390 million cash deal.

Jet Airways has reported a net loss of Rs8.91 billion ($145 million) for the quarter ended Sept. 30, widened from a net loss of Rs997 million in the year-ago period.

Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Co., parent of Allegiant Air, is reporting a third-quarter net income of $17.1 million, up 1% compared to $16.9 million in the year-ago quarter.

Russia’s Aeroflot will delay delivery of its 22 Airbus A350 XWBs to between 2018 and 2023.