Air Transport World articles from February 2008

Air Transport World archives from February 2008

Trends.(Statistical table)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [TABLE OMITTED] JET FUEL PRICES * December 21, 2007 New York 266.35 US Gulf Coast 258.90 Los Angeles 265.02 Rotterdam 265.59 Singapore 259.91 * Spot cash markets (average). Source: US Dept. of...

Beijing joins the crowd.(EDITORIAL)
February 1, 2008... Winston Churchill famously described Russia as "a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma." It is a formulation that is equally applicable to the Chinese government and particularly to the fluid relationship between the government and the...

787 delays mount, first delivery in '09.(FINANCIAL RESULTS, NEW DEALS, AND REPORTS FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE GLOBE)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Boeing on Jan. 16 announced further delays to the 787 program as it struggles to finish the first aircraft while suppliers continue to fall short in completing work correctly and in a timely manner on successive Dreamliners. First flight now...

Boeing, Airbus set sales records.(FINANCIAL RESULTS, NEW DEALS, AND REPORTS FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE GLOBE)(Financial report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Boeing and Airbus, as expected, smashed their previous yearly sales records in 2007, with Boeing outselling Airbus for a second year and Airbus maintaining its lead in deliveries. The two combined for 2,754 net orders, up from 1,834 in 2006....

Ascend: passenger fatalities down in 2007.(FINANCIAL RESULTS, NEW DEALS, AND REPORTS FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE GLOBE)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... The number of passenger fatalities on commercial revenue flights declined by 20% in 2007 to 631 from 790 in 2006, although the number of fatal accidents rose from 13 in 2006 to 15 last year, according to the "Annual Aviation Safety Report" from...

BA launches OpenSkies unit.(FINANCIAL RESULTS, NEW DEALS, AND REPORTS FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE GLOBE)(British Airways PLC)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... British Airways will launch its new transatlantic subsidiary, OpenSkies, in June, initially with daily flights from New York JFK to either Brussels or Paris Charles de Gaulle using a single 757. A second aircraft will be added later in the year...

EC cargo probe casts wide net.(FINANCIAL RESULTS, NEW DEALS, AND REPORTS FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE GLOBE)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Airlines throughout the world are contending with antitrust charges made at the end of 2007 by the European Commission, which has accused at least 11 and as many as 25 carriers of "cartel" activity relating to airfreight transport. British...

Alitalia board chooses Air France KLM.(FINANCIAL RESULTS, NEW DEALS, AND REPORTS FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE GLOBE)(Linee Aeree Italiane S.p.A.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Air France KLM's nonbinding bid for Alitalia received unanimous approval from the Italian airline's board Dec. 21, setting up a debate when the Italian government will have to decide whether to turn over ownership and management of its flag...

Turnabout is fair play.(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Caption: With international carriers taking advantage of US-EU open skies to come to London Heathrow, BA is launching an airline to fly 757s from the continent to New York. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... * Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines have launched formal merger negotiations, Congressman James Oberstar (D.-Minn.) told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "Northwest sees a benefit to them of a merger with Delta," Oberstar said, adding that...

US major airline.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... US major airline mainline domestic passenger capacity grew less than 1% last year as all but one of the big six network carriers reduced domestic mainline capacity (see table). Continental was the only exception. Domestic capacity growth was...

US Transportation secretary Mary Peters.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... US Transportation Secretary Mary Peters and US airlines in late December announced a compromise solution in which flights will be capped at New York JFK during peak hours and carriers will make voluntary scheduling changes. Neither congestion...

US federal court.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Eliot Spitzer)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... US federal court in New York upheld a passenger rights law passed last year by the state legislature and signed by Gov. Eliot Spitzer, rejecting the Air Transport Assn.'s assertion that states do not have the authority to regulate airlines (see...

Virgin America.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Virgin America lost $34.8 million during the third quarter, its first full quarter of operation, according to data it filed with US Dept. of Transportation. Operating revenues totaled $16.2 million against $51.6 million in expenses, resulting...

Skybus Airlines.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Skybus Airlines lost $16.1 million in the third quarter, according to DOT data. Revenue was $22 million as the carrier achieved a 79% load factor. Yield was just 5.08 cents. Operating deficit was $17.2 million. The Ohio-based airline told media...

MAXJet Airways.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
February 1, 2008... MAXJet Airways shut down Christmas Eve, 25 months after it commenced operations. It offered all-business-class transatlantic services using five 767-200s.

Continental Airlines.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
February 1, 2008... Continental Airlines field service employees comprising ramp, operations and cargo agents rejected representation by the Transport Workers Union, CO said.

US Airways.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
February 1, 2008... US Airways announced the recall of more than 200 flight attendants effective Feb. 15.

Air Transport Assn.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
February 1, 2008... Air Transport Assn. elected Northwest Airlines President and CEO Doug Steenland as chairman. He will serve a two-year term.

Airbus.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(United States. Air Force signed a deal with Airbus S.A.S. and European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V. for A330 freighters)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Airbus said last month that if the US Air Force selects Northrop Grumman over Boeing to produce next-generation aerial refueling tankers, it will establish its first US final assembly line in Mobile to produce both the tankers and commercial...

International Aero Engines.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... International Aero Engines said the SelectOne build standard of the V2500 received FAR 33 certification from FAA. IAE said SelectOne will reduce fuel burn and carbon dioxide emissions 1%, improve time-on-wing 20% and reduce "miscellaneous" shop...

Rockwell Collins.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Southwest Airlines Co.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Rockwell Collins said Southwest Airlines selected the GPS-4000S for RNP operations. In May, Southwest said it will equip its entire fleet for RNP, including its 737 Classics.

BAE Systems.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... BAE Systems received a $29 million award from the US Dept. of Homeland Security to equip three American Airlines 767-200s with its Jeteye infrared aircraft missile defense systems on a test basis.

ACTS Aero Technical Support & Services.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... ACTS Aero Technical Support & Services reached a 10-year OnPoint Solutions agreement with GE for material to repair CF34 engines and a 10-year materials deal with CFMI covering CFM56 engines. Contracts total an estimated $2.5 billion.

GE Aviation.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
February 1, 2008... GE Aviation reached a 10-year material management deal with Evergreen Aviation Technologies covering CF6-80C2s for EGAT third-party customers.

Goodrich.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
February 1, 2008... Goodrich announced a $5.5 million project to expand its customer service headquarters and MRO facility in Monroe, La.

TIMCO Aerosystems.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
February 1, 2008... TIMCO Aerosystems won FAA STC authority for the lower lobe crew rest unit on 767s.

Megadata Corp.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
February 1, 2008... Megadata Corp. said Newark Airport selected its PASSUR Portal and inSight software technologies offering Web-based operational information and flight following capabilities.

US majors traffic December 2007.(FACT FILE)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... US Majors Traffic December 2007 * +/- RPMs % chg ASMs % chg. LF chg. Airline (bil.) 2006 (bil.) 2006 (%) 2006 AirTran 1.42 16.6 1.96...

Air China.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Air China parent China National Aviation Holding Co. was preparing its own bid for a larger stake in China Eastern Airlines after CEA's minority shareholders overwhelmingly rejected the airline's plan to sell a 24% stake to Singapore Airlines...

Chinese commercial airlines.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Chinese commercial airlines overcame rising fuel prices to post a collective profit of CNY9.1 billion ($1.23 billion) in the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2007, up 65.4% over the CNY5.5 billion reported in the year-ago period, according to CAAC...

Vietnam Airlines.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Vietnam Airlines Corp. revenue report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Vietnam Airlines reported a pre-tax profit of VND370 billion ($22.8 million) in 2007, according to a company statement cited by press reports, a 6.4% improvement over the 2006 figure. Revenue climbed 15.5% to VND20.37 trillion as passenger...

Rockwell Collins.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(China Eastern Airlines Corporation Ltd. selects Rockwell Collins Inc. for its digital programmable audio video entertainment system)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Rockwell Collins said China Eastern Airlines chose its dPAVES IFE for 30 A320s and six 737-800s. Deliveries are scheduled to begin next year and continue through 2010.

Qantas and MAS Aerospace Engineering.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Qantas Airways Ltd.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Qantas and MAS Aerospace Engineering, a wholly owned subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, signed an MOU to form a joint venture to provide aircraft maintenance services in Malaysia. Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon said the new company will target the...

SR Technics.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... SR Technics reached a seven-year Integrated Engine Solutions deal with Air India covering its A330-200s and a three-year IES agreement with Vietnam Airlines covering three A330s.

Singapore Technologies Aerospace.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(facility opening)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Singapore Technologies Aerospace said subsidiary ST Aerospace Supplies will open an import, export and logistics facility, Guangzhou Aerospace Technologies & Engineering, to support customers in China and component maintenance-by-the-hour...

Air New Zealand Engineering Services.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Air New Zealand Engineering Services signed a NZ$45 million ($34 million), five-year contract with Virgin Blue for heavy maintenance of its 50-strong 737-700/-800 fleet. The deal renews a contract due to expire at the end of last year.

CAE.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... CAE said Kuala Lumpur will be the location of its new training center, which will be developed in partnership with AirAsia. It will serve as CAE's regional hub for MPL and Airbus OEM training.

First for continental.
February 1, 2008... Continental Airlines took delivery of its first 737-900ER last month. It has 26 more on order. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Doubling the fleet.
February 1, 2008... Singapore Airlines took delivery of its second A380 on Jan. 11. Aircraft will initially operate on the Singapore-Syndey route, before switching to Singapore-London. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Airbus and parent EADS.(EUROPE Report)
February 1, 2008... Airbus and parent EADS in late December selected "preferred bidders" for the partial divestiture of six industrial plants to "partners," tabbing GKN, Latecoere and MT Aerospace. It plans to sell outright to GKN the wing component and...

A British Airways.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... A British Airways 777-200ER was heavily damaged in a landing accident at London Heathrow on Jan. 17. Seventeen persons were treated for minor injuries while an 18th passenger suffered a broken leg. A total of 152 passengers were on board the...

SAS Group.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... SAS Group board of directors was set to make decisions on the "future structure" of SAS Ground Services, SAS Technical Services and Spirit (terminal management within SAS Cargo) at its next board meeting in early February. Decisions were...

Europe's airlines.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Europe's airlines expressed disappointment with the European Parliament's adoption of a legislative report that sets out common principles for the levying of charges at airports in the 27-member EU bloc but does not regulate fees and charges...

Eurocontrol.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Eurocontrol revealed that the number of flights in Europe surged to approximately 10 million in 2007, an all-time high and an increase of 5.3% on 2006. Average daily traffic was 27,676 flights last year compared to 26,286 in 2006. Traffic...

Grupo Marsans.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Grupo Marsans said that it made a formal offer for SAS subsidiary Spanair and that it expects a reply in early 2008, according to press reports from Madrid Marsans' business plan reportedly includes the opening of a hub in Barcelona.

Virgin Atlantic Airways.(EUROPE Report)
February 1, 2008... Virgin Atlantic Airways has scheduled a brief 747 biofuel demonstration flight for February. Boeing and GE Aviation will participate in the test.

Ryanair.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Ryanair will establish its 24th European base at Bournemouth and its 25th base at Birmingham International. It said its proposal to establish operations at Milan Malpensa was rejected by airports operator SEA, which is 84.5% controlled by the...

EasyJet.(EUROPE Report)(easyJet Airline Company Ltd.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... EasyJet will establish a base at Manchester, building on the presence of GB Airways, which currently has two aircraft based there. It also plans to develop its base at Liverpool with an additional two aircraft by 2010.

Air France.(EUROPE Report)
February 1, 2008... Air France in late December began testing SMS and MMS messaging and e-mail services onboard an A318 operating in Europe using the Mobile OnAir system. The capability is similar to the one JetBlue Airways also launched in December on an A320. AF...

Alitalia.(EUROPE Report)(Linee Aeree Italiane S.p.A.)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Alitalia announced the sale of three of its 13 slot pairs at London Heathrow for [euro]92 million ($134.2 million). It called the slots "nonstrategic" and said it will report a [euro]54 million gain on its 2007 balance sheet and a [euro]38...

Lufthansa.(EUROPE Report)(Deutsche Lufthansa AG)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Lufthansa will add 4,300 new employees this year in Germany, including 2,000 flight attendants and 1,000 ground staff to be based in Frankfurt and Munich. In addition, 360 flight cadets will start their careers at Lufthansa Flight Training in...

Germanwings.(EUROPE Report)
February 1, 2008... Germanwings said 2007 turnover rose 12.7% year-overy-ear to [euro]630 million ($919 million) on a 12.5% increase in passengers to approximately 8 million.

Air Berlin.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Air Berlin now is airberlin following the release of a revised identity and logo that the airline said will be part of its repositioning as a global company. Separately, it said investment company Vatas has become the airline's single...

Bmi.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Bmi is looking for additional capacity, possibly 757s or 767-200s, to support growth on several former BMED routes, Chairman Michael Bishop told ATW at the recent Star Alliance meeting in Beijing. He added that bmi wants to introduce nonstop...

CSA Czech Airlines.(EUROPE Report)(Alpha Overseas Holdings)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... CSA Czech Airlines approved the sale of its Air Czech Catering subsidiary to Italian company Alpha Overseas Holdings. Sale is subject to shareholder approval at a meeting scheduled for next month.

Assn. of European Airlines.(EUROPE Report)
February 1, 2008... Assn. of European Airlines elected KLM President and CEO Peter Hartman as chairman for 2008. Hartman takes over from Iberia Chairman and CEO Fernando Conte.

Martinair's.(EUROPE Report)
February 1, 2008... Martinair's supervisory board elevated Diederik Pen to COO.

UK Dept. for Transport.(EUROPE Report)(Department for Transport)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... UK Dept. for Transport lifted the restriction limiting passengers to one piece of hand luggage at 22 domestic airports including London Heathrow, Stansted and London City, but left the rule in place at Gatwick and Luton. EasyJet said that to...

European Commission.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... European Commission will launch a formal investigation into alleged illegal state aid to Olympic Airlines that may have followed the EC's September 2005 decision that the Greek government provided "illegal and incompatible" aid.

Rolls-Royce.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Rolls-Royce intends to reduce its managerial, professional and clerical staff by 2,300 positions as part of its "continuing program aimed at improving efficiency and competitiveness." It will seek reductions in the UK through voluntary means...

Thales.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Thales said it received Category IIIb approval from EASA to utilize its MLS precision approach and landing system. EASA certification has been granted for the system on A320 family aircraft. British Airways will be the first to implement it at...

Airbus.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Airbus announced creation of the Airbus Maintenance Training Network designed to extend its MRO Network and simplify access to its training courses. Contracts with major training providers include Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. Ltd., Iberia...

Pratt & Whitney and Turkish Airlines Technic.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Pratt & Whitney and Turkish Airlines Technic finalized an earlier MOU to build a major engine overhaul center at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Pratt & Whitney Turkish Technic Aircraft Engine...

Lufthansa Technik.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Lufthansa Technik announced the inauguration and first-phase completion of its widebody MRO hangar in Frankfurt with capacity for two A380s or three 747s in a 25,000-sq.-m. ground plan. Second-phase completion is slated for 2015, when four...

Austrian Airlines Group and LHT.(EUROPE Report)(Lufthansa Technik )(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Austrian Airlines Group and LHT signed a wide-ranging MRO cooperation agreement in Vienna based on an MOU reached last spring that the two said will reduce Austrian's annual technical costs by approximately [euro]15 million ($21.6 million) from...

Lufthansa Systems.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Lufthansa Systems reached agreement with Turkish Airlines to implement its codeshare management solution SchedConnect featuring agreements in real time, flight synchronization technology and network expansion. Product launch is expected this...

FlyLAL Group.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... FlyLAL Group announced the opening of a 5,000-sq.-m. hangar at Vilnius. Subsidiary FlyLAL Technics will operate it, conducting MRO services on 737s and A320s including maintenance checks, engine replacements and other repairs and modifications....

GKN Aerospace.(EUROPE Report)(GKN Aerospace Services)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... GKN Aerospace said it received FAA PMA authority and EASA STC authority for 737 No. 1 and No. 2 heated cockpit windshields. Separately, GKN reached a three-year, $1.5 million overhaul and repair deal with Prime Air to support Delta radomes on...

ARINC.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... ARINC announced installation of its AviNet Type B business networking service for airberlin under a three-year service contract. Technology features protocol translation and IATA Type B messaging.

Aviapartner.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Aviapartner announced a joint venture with 2Serve of Cyprus aimed at expanding ramp handling services at Larnaca and Paphos. Aviapartner Handling won a contract from Lufthansa and Swiss International Air Lines for provision of full handling...

Aviareps.(EUROPE Report)
February 1, 2008... Aviareps will represent South African Airways as general sales agent in Italy and Benelux.

GuestLogix.(EUROPE Report)
February 1, 2008... GuestLogix will provide mobile virtual store onboard technology across Ryanair's fleet. Cabin crew will use handheld electronic point-of-sale devices to streamline transactions.

Fraport.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Fraport said it got the green light from German authorities to expand Frankfurt Airport, clearing a major hurdle for the [euro]4 billion ($5.8 billion) project that includes construction of a fourth runway scheduled to become operational in...

Moscow Domodedovo.(EUROPE Report)(Domodedovo Airlines )(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Moscow Domodedovo announced the completion of its renovation project on Runway 1, which began in 2003 and was part of a modernization program costing approximately RUB12 billion ($492.2 million). The new Runway 1 will handle up to 45 operations...

Dublin Airport Authority.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Dublin Airport Authority said it welcomed the decision by the Irish High Court to reject Ryanair's appeal against the granting of planning permission for a second terminal at Dublin. Ryanair expressed regret, calling the terminal a "white...

European airline traffic December 2007.(FACT FILE)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... European Airline Traffic December 2007 Load RPKs % chg. ASKs % chg. factor +/- Airline (billions) 2006 (billions) 2006 (%) 2006...

SAS.(DECISION TIME)
February 1, 2008... SAS board of directors was expected to make a decision on the disposition of the company's nonairline activities last month. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

IATA.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN Report)(International Air Transport Association)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... IATA blasted the Brazilian government's proposal to raise per-hr. aircraft parking fees at Sao Paulo Guarulhos significantly, asserting that the hike could cost international airlines operating there as much as $90 million per year and likely...

TAM.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN Report)(TAM Brazil)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... TAM said it will adjust its domestic schedule as further restrictions take effect at Sao Paulo Congonhas. Its daily slots will be reduced to 106 from 117, with total movements at the airport dropping from 33 to 30 per hr. between 6 a.m. and 10...

Boliviana de Aviacion.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Boliviana de Aviacion, a new state-owned carrier in Bolivia, is to start services in April flying domestic trunk routes, with international routes set to follow using rights granted to the Bolivian flag but that have not been exercised owing to...

Mexico's VivaAerobus.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN Report)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Mexico's VivaAerobus announced that it will launch its first two international routes next month, a daily Monterrey-Austin service and a daily Cancun-Austin flight. Another Mexican upstart, ALMA, was at press time finalizing plans to launch...

VEM Maintenance & Engineering.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN Report)
February 1, 2008... VEM Maintenance & Engineering received EASA certification for maintenance services on A310 aircraft and components. The certificate follows similar certification from US FAA.

Panasonic Avionics.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN Report)
February 1, 2008... Panasonic Avionics said Grupo Marsans selected eX2 IFE systems for installation on 12 A330-200s operated by Aerolineas Argentinas and Air Comet.