Air Transport World articles from April 2009

Air Transport World archives from April 2009

Trends.(airline traffic)(Statistical table)
April 1, 2009... WORLD AIRLINE TRAFFIC JANUARY-DECEMBER 2008 US 2008 2007 % chg RPKs (mil.) 1,305,543 1,334,505 -2.2 ASKs (mil.) 1,641,341 1,669,659 -1.7 Pass. (000) 741,400 769,600 -3.7 Pass. LF...

An 'economic heart attack'.(Editorial)(Conference notes)
April 1, 2009... How low and how long? Those were the primary questions at last month's SpeedNews 23rd Annual Commercial Aviation Industry Suppliers Conference where some of the industry's leading forecasters took turns speculating on the length and depth of...

Lufthansa finalizes CSeries order.(NewsBriefs)(Lufthansa Group)(Bombardier Commercial Aircraft)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Lufthansa Group's firm order for 30 110-seat CSeries valued at $1.53 billion, plus 30 options, announced March 11, puts to rest any doubt that the program will take off, said Bombardier Commercial Aircraft President Gary Scott. The first...

IATA: airlines lost $8 billion last year.(NewsBriefs)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... The world's airlines lost up to $8 billion in 2008, $3 billion more than previous estimates, IATA said last month, stating that a "larger than expected" $4 billion fourth-quarter deficit weighed down results. The organization also said...

North Korean threat forces rerouting.(NewsBriefs)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Air Canada rerouted flights that normally pass through North Korean airspace last month after Pyongyang said it was "compelled to declare that security cannot be guaranteed for South Korean...

Ryanair to require web check-in.(NewsBriefs)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Ryanair plans to close all its airport check-in counters by Oct. 1, forcing passengers to check in online. "All we will have is a bag drop where passengers can drop off their luggage; otherwise everything will be done online. Ultimately, we...

Airbus cuts A320 production.(NewsBriefs)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Airbus said it will cut the A320 family production rate from 36 to 34 aircraft per month starting in October and will maintain A330/A340 production at the current level of 8.5 per month rather than increasing the rate to 10 as previously...

Done and done: BAA ordered to sell STN, LGW.(NewsBriefs)(Gatwick and Stansted airports )(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... UK Competition Commission on March 19 finalized its previously announced decision requiring BAA to sell both Gatwick and Stansted airports as well as either Edinburgh or Glasgow. They are to be sold within two years "in sequence," beginning...

Lufthansa finalized.(INTEREST BEGETS ORDERS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Lufthansa finalized a letter of interest for 30 Bombardier CSeries jets plus 30 options to be operated by its Swiss subsidiary. Aircraft will be powered by Pratt & Whitney's PW1000G geared turbofan engine. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Air France KLM.(EUROPE Report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Air France KLM, citing a "sharp decline in demand," said capacity in its summer schedule will be down 3.4% year-over-year, not 2% as previously announced. It also intends to defer delivery of two A380s as well as some 777-300ERs and 777Fs as...

Lufthansa Group.(EUROPE Report)
April 1, 2009... Lufthansa Group concluded a volatile 2008 with a [euro]599 million ($759.8 million) net profit, down 63.8% from the hefty [euro]1.66 billion earned in 2007, and admitted that it expects declines in passengers, revenue and operating profit this...

Austrian Airlines Group.(EUROPE Report)
April 1, 2009... Austrian Airlines Group posted a worst-ever annual loss [euro]429.5 million ($550.3 million) in 2008, compared to a profit of [euro]3.3 million in 2007. Revenue fell 0.8% to [euro]2.53 billion while expenses climbed 13.3% to [euro]2.84 billion....

Crash of a Turkish Airlines.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Crash of a Turkish Airlines 737-800 on final approach to Amsterdam Schiphol en route from Istanbul was attributed to a malfunctioning radio altimeter that caused the autopilot system to reduce power prematurely. By the time the pilots reacted,...

Air New Zealand.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Air New Zealand A320 that crashed into the Mediterranean Sea during a Nov. 27 test flight undertaken by XL Airways pilots was in the midst of a low-speed test conducted on approach to Perpignan when the cockpit crew lost control, according to a...

Iberia Group.(EUROPE Report)(financial news)(Financial report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Iberia Group achieved its 13th consecutive full-year profit in "one of the most difficult years in recent memory" with net earnings of [euro]32 million ($40.8 million), down 90.2% from the [euro]328 million reported in 2007. Revenue fell 1.3%...

Aer Lingus.(EUROPE Report)(financial news)(Financial report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Aer Lingus lost [euro]107.8 million ($136.7 million) in 2008, a sharp reversal from the [euro]105.3 million earned the previous year. Annual revenue increased 5.6% to [euro]1.36 billion while operating costs before employee profit-sharing and...

Bmi Group.(EUROPE Report)(financial news)(Financial report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Bmi Group lost [pounds sterling]99.7 million ($137.2 million) in 2008, reversed from a [pounds sterling]7 million profit in 2007, and said it plans to reduce costs by an additional [pounds sterling]45 million this year and is negotiating a pay...

Norwegian.(EUROPE Report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Norwegian slid to a NOK7.6 million ($1.1 million) full-year deficit from a NOK84.6 million profit in 2007 as a heavy fourth-quarter loss of NOK149.1 million overcame nine-month earnings of NOK142 million. Annual revenues rose 47.3% to NOK6.23...

Finnair.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Finnair said it will furlough about 700 pilots for at least one week beginning in April as part of a [euro]30 million ($38.4 million) cost-savings program. Finnair Catering also will place employees on unpaid leave of two weeks to three months...

CSA Czech Airlines.(EUROPE Report)
April 1, 2009... CSA Czech Airlines posted a 2008 pre-tax profit of CZK500 million ($23.6 million) compared to a CZK111 million profit in 2007. Operating revenue of CZK23.24 billion was flat while expenses fell 1.6% to CZK22.83 billion.

Ryanair.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Ryanair pilots voted "overwhelmingly" to accept a 12-month pay freeze and productivity increases in lieu of the 10% pay cut originally sought by the airline. Ryanair launched OnAir's inflight mobile phone service onboard 20 Dublin-based...

Icelandair Group.(EUROPE Report)(financial news)(Financial report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Icelandair Group suffered a huge fourth-quarter loss of ISK10.57 billion tied to the collapse of Iceland's banking and financial sector that dragged it to a ISK7.47 billion ($65.9 million) full-year deficit, reversed from a ISK257 million...

Cyprus Airways.(EUROPE Report)(financial news)(Financial report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Cyprus Airways reported a [euro]1.7 million ($2.2 million) profit in 2008, up 41.7% from the [euro]1.2 million earned in 2007, on a revenue increase of 8% to [euro]311.4 million.

Clickair board.(EUROPE Report)(Vueling Airlines aquisitions)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Clickair board approved the merger with Vueling Airlines Feb. 18 and said CEO Alex Cruz will hold the same position at the merged carrier that will keep the Vueling name.

TUIfly will.(EUROPE Report)
April 1, 2009... TUIfly will cut winter 2009-10 capacity by around 100 weekly flights, or approximately 14%. Reductions in the upcoming summer schedule also are being considered.

Greek government.(EUROPE Report)(Marfin Investment Group acquire with Olympic Airlines)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Greek government selected domestic holding company Marfin Investment Group to purchase Olympic Airlines. MIG bid [euro]45.7 million ($57.5 million) for OA's flight operations and [euro]16.7 million for its MRO division. It was chosen over...

European Commission.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... European Commission in March amended its "use or lose" slots regulation to enable airlines to reduce schedules to cope with the downturn without risking losing their slots. The new measure will apply for the summer season but could be renewed,...

Airbus.(EUROPE Report)
April 1, 2009... Airbus reported EBIT of [euro]1.79 billion ($2.26 billion) in 2008, reversed from an [euro]881 million deficit in 2007. Parent company EADS also enjoyed a turnaround, posting a [euro]1.57 billion net profit compared to a [euro]446 million loss...

GKN Aerospace.(EUROPE Report)
April 1, 2009... GKN Aerospace said it completed "on schedule" production of the prototype composite spars for Airbus's A350 XWB wing box demonstrator.

Teledyne Controls.(EUROPE Report)
April 1, 2009... Teledyne Controls said German charter airline Blue Wings selected its Flight Data Interface Management Unit for 20 new A320s.

Panasonic Avionics Corp.(EUROPE Report)
April 1, 2009... Panasonic Avionics Corp. announced that TUIfly Nordic will install the eFX IFE system on three 767s.

Finnair technical services and Iberia maintenance.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Finnair Technical Services and Iberia Maintenance signed a seven-year component support agreement under which IB will provide spares and related repair services for AY A330s and A340s. FTS in turn will perform component repairs on IB A320s and...

MNG Technic.(EUROPE Report)
April 1, 2009... MNG Technic won a tender issued by the Turkish airports authority for construction of a new MRO hangar at Istanbul Ataturk.

SITA and Swissport.(EUROPE Report)
April 1, 2009... SITA and Swissport announced deployment of the world's first common-use bag-drop solution at Zurich, allowing passengers from multiple airlines to use the same queue.

A J Walter Aviation.(EUROPE Report)
April 1, 2009... A J Walter Aviation was awarded a seven-year power-by-the-hour contract to provide rotable component support for Czech Airlines' fleet of 33 Airbus aircraft.

AD Aerospace.(EUROPE Report)
April 1, 2009... AD Aerospace said charter carrier Air Italy selected its CabinVu-123 cockpit door surveillance technology for its 737s.

Oxford Aviation Academy.(EUROPE Report)(contract with Jet2.com Ltd.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Oxford Aviation Academy reached a five-year deal with Jet2.com covering full flight simulator provision and ab initio training. Jet2.com agreed to source future cadet pilots from Oxford's training program.

European airline traffic February 2009.(FACT FILE)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... European Airline Traffic February 2009 Load RPKs % chg. ASKs % chg. factor +/- Airline (billions) 2008 (billions) 2008 (%) 2008 ...

The 500th A321.(STRETCH TO SUCCESS)
April 1, 2009... The 500th A321 ever produced recently was delivered to Air France at Airbus's Hamburg, Germany, facility. More than 750 units of the A320 stretch have been sold. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Air Canada.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
April 1, 2009... Air Canada reported a 2008 net loss of C$1.03 billion ($827.6 million), reversed from a profit of C$429 million in 2007, citing "unprecedented" fuel price volatility, foreign exchange fluctuations and a worsening global economy. The Canadian...

Delta Air Lines.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(plans to cut capacity)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Delta Air Lines will cut international capacity by an additional 10% beginning in September, with transatlantic capacity down 11%-13% year-over-year and transpacific capacity 12%-14% lower. In a memo to employees, CEO Richard Anderson and...

Southwest Airlines.(NORTH AMERICA Report)($7.5 million fine for noncompliance with an airworthiness directive)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Southwest Airlines agreed to pay US FAA a $7.5 million fine, reduced from $10.2 million originally, to settle an enforcement action stemming from the carrier's operating 46 737 Classics in 2007 after it had disclosed to FAA that the aircraft...

US National Transportation Safety Board.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Rolls-Royce Corp.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... US National Transportation Safety Board last month issued an "urgent safety recommendation" calling for Rolls-Royce to "redesign" the Trent 800's fuel/oil heat exchanger to prevent the fuel feed system icing that is believed to have caused both...

Hawaiian Airlines.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
April 1, 2009... Hawaiian Airlines parent Hawaiian Holdings benefitted from the "unpredicted fortune" of the collapse of its two chief competitors Aloha Airlines and ATA Airlines in the first half of 2008 to post net income of $28.6 million for the year, more...

Alaska Airlines.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(new wireless Internet service)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Alaska Airlines launched a trial of inflight Wi-Fi service at the end of February in conjunction with Row 44, allowing passengers aboard a 737-700 to use wireless Internet service on their laptops or other devices. Southwest also is trialing a...

Allegiant Air.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
April 1, 2009... Allegiant Air will open its sixth base May 1 when it launches operations at Los Angeles with two MD-80s offering flights to 12 destinations.

Spirit Airlines.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(fees)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Spirit Airlines began charging passengers booking flights on its website or through its reservation center a fee of $4.90 per segment. Customers who purchase tickets at airport check-in counters will not be charged the fee.

FAA Acting Administrator Lynne Osmus.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Federal Aviation Administration has appointed Peggy Gilligan )(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... FAA Acting Administrator Lynne Osmus named Peggy Gilligan associate administrator-aviation safety, replacing the retired Nicholas Sabatini. Gilligan previously served as deputy assistant administrator-aviation safety. John Hickey, director of...

Atlas Air and Polar Air Cargo.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
April 1, 2009... Atlas Air and Polar Air Cargo dispatchers voted to join the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Atlas and Polar pilots elected to join IBT in December.

AAR Corp. Landing Gear Services.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... AAR Corp. Landing Gear Services in Miami was shut down by FAA for a few weeks in February over issues dating back to last summer. AAR said it was permitted to reopen after it agreed to revise its maintenance procedures and manuals and method of...

GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(contract with Honeywell Aerospace)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies announced a 25-year pressure sensor contract with Honeywell, which will use them on the A350 XWB's air management and conditioning system. Contract is expected to generate $80 million, GE said.

Esterline CMC Electronics.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Esterline CMC Electronics reached an agreement with Boeing for its PilotView Class 2 Electronic Flight Bag hardware to be made available for select aircraft types, starting with 737NGs.

Korean Air.(LONGER-RANGE A330)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Korean Air became the first customer for the increased takeoff weight version of the A330-200, which boosts range up to 7,200 nm., ordering six. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Cathay Pacific Airways.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
April 1, 2009... Cathay Pacific Airways reported its first full-year net loss in a decade, posting a 2008 deficit of HK$8.56 billion ($1.1 billion), reversed from net income of HK$7.02 billion in 2007. It attributed the loss to falling passenger and cargo...

Singapore Airlines.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Singapore Airlines will reduce capacity in the fiscal year beginning April 1 by 11% year-over-year and ground 17 aircraft, 13 more than previously planned. It said it has met with three staff unions to discuss its plans for "mitigating the...

Qantas Group.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Qantas Airways Ltd.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Qantas Group will transfer its domestic flying within New Zealand to its low-cost subsidiary Jetstar Airways. CEO Alan Joyce denied speculation that the move is a portent of things to come on its Australian operations. A Jetstar spokesperson...

AirAsia.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... AirAsia lost MYR471.7 million ($128.3 million) last year, reversed from a MYR697.6 million profit in 2007, but insisted its 2009 outlook is strong and noted it has "unwound" fuel hedges that pushed it into the red in the third and fourth...

Virgin Blue Holdings.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Virgin Blue Holdings blamed A$80.8 million in hedging losses and a nonrecurring A$60 million charge related to V Australia for a net loss of A$101.4 million ($65.3 million) in the six months ended Dec. 31 compared to a A$113.3 million profit in...

Thai Airways.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Thai Airways International PCL)(Financial report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Thai Airways reported a THB21.38 billion ($592.1 million) loss in 2008 compared to a THB4.43 billion profit in 2007 as the economic downturn and the protest-induced closure of Bangkok Suvarnabhumi in the fourth quarter proved too much to...

Chinese airline industry.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Chinese airline industry showed signs of recovery in January as domestic carriers posted a collective net profit of CNY40 million ($5.8 million), according to CAAC. The regulator credited "favorable policies" implemented in December for...

Shenzhen Airlines.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Shenzhen Airlines Company Ltd's earnings)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Shenzhen Airlines reported CNY26 million ($3.8 million) in net earnings in 2008, its 15th consecutive annual profit. It earned CNY640 million in 2007. Operating revenue climbed 26.4% year-over-year to CNY13.07 billion.

Indonesian prosecutors.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(case against Garuda Indonesia's Marwoto Komar )(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Indonesian prosecutors dropped the most serious charge against Garuda Indonesia Capt. Marwoto Komar but still are seeking a four-year prison term for negligence in the 737-400 accident at Yogyakarta that killed 21 in March 2007. Komar is...

India's SpiceJet.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(loss due to settlement)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... India's SpiceJet said a INR187 million charge "to settle a long-pending dispute with an erstwhile investor" dragged it to a INR180 million ($3.6 million) loss in the third fiscal quarter ended Dec. 31. Excluding the charge, the New Delhi-based...

Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore will distribute S$200 million ($132.5 million) this year "to help airlines and airport partners tide over the current economic downturn," comprising S$50 million in rental rebates, a S$20 million fund for...

JAL Group.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... JAL Group will integrate four subsidiary aircraft maintenance companies on Oct. 1, forming JAL Engineering Co. The companies are JAL Narita Aircraft Maintenance Co., JAL Tokyo Aircraft Maintenance Co., JAL Engine Technologies Co. and JAL...

Air France Industries.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
April 1, 2009... Air France Industries sold its stake in Hangxin Aviation Engineering Group to senior management and "cadre employees" at the Chinese component MRO organization.

General Electric.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(acquisitions)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... General Electric said it will purchase Teleflex Inc.'s 51% share of Airfoil Technologies International-Singapore for $300 million in cash. The two were partners in the venture. GE Aviation opened its new systems manufacturing facility in...

Goodrich Corp.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
April 1, 2009... Goodrich Corp. reached a three-year deal with Taiwan's TransAsia Airways to provide MRO on Goodrich products on seven A320s.

B/E Aerospace.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
April 1, 2009... B/E Aerospace won STC approval from US FAA to provide Japan Airlines with cabin interior retrofit installation on 777-200s.

Jetstar Airways.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
April 1, 2009... Jetstar Airways launched Navitaire's New Skies reservation system following a successful migration from Open Skies.

US majors traffic February 2009.(FACT FILE)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... US Majors Traffic February 2009 * +/- RPMs % chg ASMs % chg. LF chg. Airline (bil.) 2008 (bil.) 2008 (%) 2008 AirTran 1.23 -13.6 1.66...

Copa Holdings.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN Report)(financial news)(Financial report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Copa Holdings, parent of Copa and Aero Republica, posted a $152.2 million profit in 2008, down 6% from the $161.1 million reported in 2007 as a result of a $20.2 million writedown in the value of its fuel hedges. The Panamanian company enjoyed...

MexicanaClick.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN Report)(contract)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... MexicanaClick, Mexicana's low-fare/regional subsidiary, will lease 25 717-200s from Boeing Capital Corp. Delivery will begin this month and aircraft will replace Click's F100s. Contract includes provision of training for flight crew, cabin...

TAP Maintenance & Engineering.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN Report)
April 1, 2009... TAP Maintenance & Engineering listed VEM Maintenance & Engineering as an affiliated company, extending the scope of its membership in the Airbus MRO Network.

Airbus MRO Network.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN Report)
April 1, 2009... Airbus MRO Network added Mexicana MRO Services, a division of Grupo Mexicana de Aviacion, to its worldwide network.

MexicanaClick will lease.(NEW LEASE ON LIFE)
April 1, 2009... MexicanaClick will lease 25 717s from Boeing Capital Corp. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST Report)(briefs)(Emirates Airline)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways are maintaining their strong expansion plans in the face of the global downturn. Etihad CEO James Hogan said the carrier is targeting a 24% increase in 2009 revenue to $3.1 billion as it takes...

Sharjah-based LCC Air Arabia.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST Report)(LCC Air Arabia financial news)(Financial report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Sharjah-based LCC Air Arabia concluded a "landmark" 2008 with a AED509.7 million ($138.7 million) profit, up 35.6% from the AED376 million reported in 2007. Annual revenue soared 61% to AED2.07 billion on a 33% increase in passenger numbers to...

South Africa's Comair.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST Report)(financial news)(Financial report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... South Africa's Comair, which operates as a British Airways franchisee and as LCC kulula.com, reported a ZAR31.8 million ($3.2 million) profit in the fiscal half-year ended Dec. 31, down 46.6% from the ZAR59.5 million earned in the year-ago...

Aerolift IL-76.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST Report)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Aerolift IL-76 freighter en route from Entebbe to Mogadishu crashed in Lake Victoria shortly after takeoff March 9, killing 11. The aircraft was chartered by Dynacorp to ferry equipment and peacekeepers for the African Union mission in Somalia....

Royal Jordanian.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST Report)(Royal Jordanian Airlines)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Royal Jordanian launched OnAir's inflight mobile service onboard A319 aircraft flying to Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and India in late February. Technology allows passengers to use mobile phones and PDAs to make and receive calls and...

Singapore.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST Report)
April 1, 2009... Singapore and Oman announced an open skies agreement covering both passenger and cargo flights.

Thales.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST Report)
April 1, 2009... Thales said Wataniya Airways selected its TopSeries IFE system for nine A320s, the first of which was delivered last month.

ACSS.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST Report)
April 1, 2009... ACSS said Saudi Arabian Airlines selected its T3CAS integrated surveillance platform for installation on 42 firm and eight optional A320s.