Air Transport World articles from January 2005

Air Transport World archives from January 2005

World airline traffic.(Trends)
January 1, 2005... [GRAPHIC OMITTED]

Jet fuel prices*.(Trends)
January 1, 2005... [GRAPHIC OMITTED]

Top 20 airlines: January-November 2004.(Trends)(Illustration)
January 1, 2005... TOP 20 AIRLINES JANUARY-NOVEMBER 2004 RANK AIRLINE RPKS (000) 1 American 191,545,257 2 United 169,157,628 3 Delta 161,317,822 4 Air...

Exchange rate: currency units per US dollar.(Trends)(Illustration)
January 1, 2005... EXCHANGE RATE CURRENCY UNITS PER US DOLLAR COUNTRY/ CURRENCY 11/30/04 9/30/04 Brazil/Real 2.748 2.855 Canada/$ 1.1866 ...

Change marks ATW's 41st year.(Publisher's Memo)(Air Transport World Inc. new outlook and lauch of digital format)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... You probably did a double-take when this month's issue of ATW arrived in the mail. With the new year--our 41st--comes a whole new look for the magazine, developed by Unconformity, LLC. It is our first major redesign in five years and I hope you...

Stubborn: it's time to get flexible.(Editorial)(airlines to operate under free-market regime)(Editorial)
January 1, 2005... Our fixation on internationalizing the airline industry grows with each report of multimillion-dollar losses, layoffs, agonizing labor negotiations and airlines stumbling along in a near-death state. Exactly when, we wonder, will the...

Airbus gets authorization to offer A350 to customers.(Financial results, new deals, and reports from every corner of the globe)(Airbus S.A.S)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Airbus shareholders EADS and BAE Systems on Dec. 10 gave the go-ahead for the company to begin making "firm commercial offers" to potential launch customers for the A350. Entry into service for the A330 derivative is the first half of 2010, two...

AA defers nearly all aircraft deliveries into next decade.(Financial results, new deals, and reports from every corner of the globe)(American Airlines Inc)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... In a step that speaks volumes about its short- and medium-term outlook, American Airlines reached agreement with Boeing to defer delivery of 54 of 56 aircraft originally scheduled to arrive between 2006 and 2010. Under the agreement, the...

Boeing shakes up commercial sales.(Financial results, new deals, and reports from every corner of the globe)(Boeing Co salesman replacement)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Following the loss of several high-profile sales campaigns and with time running out on Alan Mulally's bold prediction of achieving 200 7E7 orders by year end 2004, Boeing in early Dec. announced that Connexion by Boeing President Scott Carson...

French government cuts Air France stake.(Financial results, new deals, and reports from every corner of the globe)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The French government last month sold 18.4% of Air France-KLM, a step that in conjunction with a planned future stock distribution to the airline's employees will see its ownership position fall below 20%. Proceeds to the government were...

Lufthansa and Vereinigung Cockpit.(Europe Report)(Lufthansa CityLine wage freeze for pension plans)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Lufthansa and Vereinigung Cockpit, which represents 4,400 pilots, reached a tentative agreement on a pay accord that includes a wage freeze through March 31, 2006, and "measures to raise productivity as well a new contributory company pension...

Air France-KLM Group.(Europe Report)(Air France-KLM operation income)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Air France-KLM Group earned 201 million [euro] ($264.8 million) in the fiscal second quarter ended Sept. 30, up 40.6% from pro forma net income of 143 million [euro] in the corresponding period in 2003. Owing to stringent cost-control measures,...

Alitalia.(Europe Report)(Alitalia Linee Aeree Italiane S.p.A operation cost and revenue)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Alitalia narrowed its loss before taxes and extraordinary items in the third quarter ended Sept. 30 to 28.8 million [euro] ($37.4 million) from 47.4 million [euro] in the 2003 period. Operating loss declined to 13.6 million [euro] from 21.9...

UK CAA.(Europe Report)(United Kingdom. Civil Aviation Authority market allocation)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... UK CAA chose to maintain British Airways' dominance of the UK-India market, allocating to the carrier a third of the 21 frequencies available under a new bilateral between the countries. BA currently operates all 19 weekly services available to...

Aer Lingus.(Europe Report)(Aer Lingus Group PLC financial backup issue)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Aer Lingus CEO Willie Walsh, COO Seamus Kearney and CFO Brian Dunne, who masterminded the Irish carrier's financial turnaround following 9/11 and subsequent rebirth as a low-cost carrier, announced their resignations in Nov. effective this May....

After the 7E7 comes the A350.(Financial results, new deals, and reports from every corner of the globe)
January 1, 2005... Airbus A350, shown above in an artist's rendering, will enter servce in 2010 assuming it is launched. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

EasyJet.(Europe Report)(Easyjet Airline PLC revenue and services)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Easyjet reported a net profit of 41.1 million [pounds sterling] ($76.9 million) for the financial year ended Sept. 30, up 26.9% versus net profit of 32.4 million [pounds sterling] in the prior fiscal year. Revenue increased 17.1% to 1.09...

Swiss International Air Lines'.(Europe Report)(Swiss International Air Lines AG revenue)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Swiss International Air Lines' restructuring is beginning to pay dividends as the carrier reported net income of Sfr16 million ($13.6 million) for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, vastly improved from a loss of Sfr276 million for the...

Italy's Volare Group.(Europe Report)(Volare Airlines services)
January 1, 2005... Italy's Volare Group suspended operations on Nov. 19. The company included Volare Airlines SpA, which operated to some 20 destinations in Italy and Europe under the low-fare banner volareweb.com, and AirEurope SpA, a charter airline. At the...

Ryanair.(Europe Report)(Ryanair Holdings PLC new routes)
January 1, 2005... Ryanair moved quickly to fill the vacuum created by Volare's collapse, adding new flights and capacity to bring its routes to Italy to 65. Ryanair executives predicted a coming "bloodbath" resulting in the collapse of loss-making low-fare...

SAS Braathens.(Europe Report)(Scandinavian Airlines Sweden )
January 1, 2005... Norway's competition authority proposed a fine against SAS Braathens of Nok20 million ($3.3 million) for pricing its fares below costs in an effort to drive tiny Norwegian rival Coast Air off the Oslo-Haugesund route. The authority said it...

Air Polonia.(Europe Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Polish startup Air Polonia halted operations Dec. 5, grounding its three 737s. Reportedly, the airline had been negotiating a $10 million investment that fell through, necessitating the shutdown.

Norweigian Air Shuttle.(Europe Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Norwegian Air Shuttle reduced its loss for the third quarter ended Sept. 30 to Nok11.2 million ($1.8 million) from Nok30.2 million in the year-ago period. Operating revenues rose 56.2% to Nok331.7 million. The LCC had an operating loss of...

European airline traffic: November 2004.(Illustration)
January 1, 2005... FACT FILE European Airline Traffic November 2004 % % Load RPKs change ASKs change factor +/- Airline (billions) 2003 (billions) ...

Finnair Group.(Europe Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Finnair Group reported net income of 5.4 million [euro] ($7 million) for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, down 3.6% versus net income of 5.6 million [euro] in the 2003 period, but warned that it still expects to report a loss for the fourth...

PW600 Flies on A318.(Europe Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... An A318 powered by PW6000A engines made its first flight early last month. Certification of the aircraft/engine Combination should occur near the end of 2004. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Quoted Briefly.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... "With intense competition all over Europe and high oil prices, only the strongest low-fare airlines will survive." --Ryanair Deputy CEO Michael Cawley

SN Brussels Airlines.(Europe Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... SN Brussels Airlines reported a net result of 5 million [euro] ($6.5 million) for the Sept. quarter compared to a net profit of 2 million [euro] in the 2003 period. Operating profit for the quarter was 3.3 million [euro] on a 4% increase in...

Virgin Express.(Europe Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Virgin Express earned 3.4 million [euro] ($4.6 million) for the Sept. quarter, almost doubling the 1.9 million [euro] net profit achieved in the equivalent 2003 period. Driven by additional cost savings and increased productivity, operating...

WestLB.(Europe Report)(Divestments)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... German banking giant WestLB sold its 31% stake in Europe's largest tourism services conglomerate, TUI AG. The stake shifted for nearly 1 billion [euro] ($1.34 billion) to Deutsche Bank, which then sold 17.3% of the shares to a Spanish...

Ilyushin Finance Corp.(Europe Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Ilyushin Finance Corp., Russia's largest aircraft lessor, placed orders for five long-range II-96-300s, seven medium-range Tu-204s and 12 of the new An-148 regional jets for delivery in 2005-06. The lessor has signed contracts or is in final...

SAS Components.(Europe Report)(Contracts)(Nordic NR )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... SAS Components signed up Nordic NR Regional AB, a new Swedish carrier, for Free2Fly component support. The deal covers three MD-80s.

Rolls-Royce and Lufthansa Technik.(Europe Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Rolls-Royce and Lufthansa Technik chose a site near Erfurt, Germany, for a new 100 million [euro] ($133 million) joint-venture engine overhaul facility. Known as N3 Engine Overhaul, the MRO will support Trent 500, 700 and 900 engines on the...

Dba and Lufthansa Technik.(Europe Report)(Dba)(Contracts)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Dba and Lufthansa Technik signed a new contract under which LHT will perform C checks on dba's 737s for the next three years.

SR Technics Switzerland.(Europe Report)(People)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... SR Technics Switzerland expects to cut 70-100 jobs as part of a long-term change process called the "forward" program, which aims to improve performance by focusing on core competencies. Ultimate expectation is for a "permanent 8-figure sum...

Snecma Services.(Europe Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Snecma Services signed a five-year engine maintenance by the hour contract with Meridiana and Bayerische Landesbank. The pact covers six CFM56-5B6/2Ps that power Meridiana's fleet of three A319s leased for five years from Bayerische Landesbank....

Lufthansa Systems.(Europe Report)(Alliances)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Lufthansa Systems and Unisys teamed up on a modernization of LHS's integrated MultiHost solution for reservations, inventory management and check-in. Identified as the FACE (Future Airline Core Environment) project, the hosting solution will be...

LSG Lufthansa Service Holding AG.(Europe Report)(Resignations)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... LSG Lufthansa Service Holding AG announced the resignation of Executive Board Chairman Hanns Rech. He was succeeded by CFO Walter Gehl until further notice.

Aviapartner.(Europe Report)(Contracts)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Aviapartner reached agreement with Thomas Cook Airlines and sister company Condor Flugdienst to provide handling services for the carriers in Brussels, Liege and Ostend for three years from Jan. 1.

Trax.(Europe Report)(Contracts)(My Way Airlines )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Trax was selected by My Way Airlines to provide its comprehensive maintenance application for the carrier's fleet of A320s.

Computer Services Corp.(Europe Report)(Agreement)(SAS Braathens)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Computer Services Corp. signed an IT outsourcing agreement with SAS Braathens. The contract, which has a four-year base period plus up to four more years, is valued at roughly $63 million if all options are exercised. Approximately 40 SAS...

Air China.(Asia/Pacific Report)(securities)
January 1, 2005... Air China raised $1.06 billion in its IPO last month covering the sale of 2.8 billion shares, representing 31% of the airline, at HK$2.98 ($0.38) each. Cathay Pacific bought 905 million shares, or 32.3% of the offering, for HK$2.69 billion. Air...

Korean Air.(Asia/Pacific Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Korean Air reported a 62% drop in third-quarter profits because of higher fuel costs--which were up 56%--and falling domestic passenger traffic. The airline's net profit slumped to 85.4 billion won ($77.6 million) from 227 billion won for the...

Australia's Virgin Blue.(Asia/Pacific Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Australia's Virgin Blue posted a 1.8% fall in net profit to A$63 million ($49.4 million) for the six months to Sept. 30 from earnings of A$64.2 million in the 2003 period and warned its "outlook remains uncertain" in the current environment....

Malaysia goes paperless.(Asia/Pacific Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Malaysia Airlines took delivery of a 777-200ER equipped with Boeing's Class 3 EFB. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

China Southern Airlines'.(Asia/Pacific Report)(Appointments)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... China Southern Airlines' board of directors named Liu Shao Yong chairman, replacing Yan Zhi Qin, who is retiring. Liu was president of China Southern Airlines Holding since Aug. 2004. Prior to that he was vice minister of CAAC. Separately,...

A Lion Air.(Asia/Pacific Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... A Lion Air MD-82 landing at Solo City-Adi Sumarmo Airport in heavy rain ran off the runway and broke apart on Nov. 30, killing 25 persons and injuring at least 40 out of a total of 146 passengers and crew onboard. The Indonesian LCC operates...

Korean Air.(Asia/Pacific Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Korean Air resumed flight services to Taiwan last month after a 12-year break. Regular flights between Korea and Taiwan were discontinued after diplomatic ties were severed in 1992 following the establishment of diplomatic relations between...

Jetstar Asia.(Asia/Pacific Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Jetstar Asia, the Singapore-based low-fare airline 49% owned by Qantas, inaugurated service on Dec. 13, operating daily between Singapore and Hong Kong followed by Taipei on Dec. 16 and Pattaya on Dec. 20. More destinations will come on line...

PT AWAir International.(Asia/Pacific Report)(PT AWAir International partnership with AirAsia Sdn. Bhd)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... PT AWAir International of Indonesia took to the skies again on Dec. 8 in partnership with AirAsia. Reportedly, AirAsia paid a token $2 to acquire a 49% stake in the carrier, which suspended operations in March 2002, less than two years after...

Connexion by Boeing.(Asia/Pacific Report)(Connexion finalized agreements with China Airlines)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Connexion by Boeing finalized agreements with China Airlines and Singapore Airlines covering the installation of high-speed Internet service on the carriers' respective long-haul fleets. Installation on the SIA fleet begins this quarter while...

Qantas.(Asia/Pacific Report)(Qantas Airways Ltd)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Qantas completed the cutover to Altea Plan, making it the first airline to process its yield, pricing and inventory via Amadeus's new-generation inventory management system.

Boeing's Integrated Materials Management solution was selected by ANA.(Asia/Pacific Report)(All Nippon Airways)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Boeing's Integrated Materials Management solution was selected by ANA. Under the arrangement, Boeing is responsible for the purchasing, inventory management and logistics for a number of ANA's expendable aircraft parts.

Lufthansa Technik.(Asia/Pacific Report)(agreements)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Lufthansa Technik signed a 12-year, $10 million-plus contract to provide component support for EVA Air's A330 fleet.

Air New Zeland.(Asia/Pacific Report)(joint venture)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Air New Zealand boosted its financial interest in the newly inaugurated V2500 MRO shop at the Christchurch Engine Centre from 10% to 49% in a deal valued at $7.9 million. The Engine Centre is a joint venture with Pratt & Whitney. ANZ already...

US Airways Group.(North America Report)(agreements)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... US Airways Group said it reached an agreement with GE Capital Aviation Services and GE Engine Services that will provide it with $140 million in interim liquidity and more than $80 million annually in cash savings and reductions in aircraft...

US Airways.(North America Report)(labor contracts)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... US Airways reached a tentative agreement with its flight attendants union on a new contact that will result in $94 million in savings. Terms were not disclosed. It also has a tentative agreement with the Communications Workers of America...

United Airlines.(North America Report)(pilot union contracts)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... United Airlines and the negotiating committee for its pilots union reached a tentative agreement on a new contract in mid-Dec. Terms were not released, but UA has said it needs $725 million in annual savings from its employees with $191 million...

US majors traffic: November 2004.(Fact File)(Illustration)
January 1, 2005... FACT FILE US Majors Traffic November 2004 Revenue passenger % Available % Airline miles change seat miles change ...

ATA Airlines.(North America Report)(agreements)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... ATA Airlines selected Southwest Airlines' $117 million bid for certain of its assets at Chicago Midway over a broader but less valuable agreement it had struck with AirTran Airways when it filed for Chapter 11 protection last Oct. Bankruptcy...

Air Canada parent ACE Aviation Holdings.(North America Report)(company earnings)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Air Canada parent ACE Aviation Holdings lost C$81 million ($67.5 million) in the three months ended Sept. 30, its last quarter before emerging from bankruptcy protection on Oct. 1. This compared to a loss of C$263 million in the 2003 quarter....

Delta Air Lines.(North America Report)(agreements)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Delta Air Lines at the end of Nov. reached "definitive agreements" with aircraft lessors and lenders under which it expects to save $57 million annually between 2005 and 2009. In exchange, it issued approximately 4.35 million shares of common...

Northwest Airlines.(North America Report)(restructuring)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Northwest Airlines completed the restructuring of its $975 million revolving bank credit facility, satisfying the final condition of its new pilot agreement that will result in annual pilot savings of $265 million, with a further $25 million...

US President George W. Bush.(North America Report)(appointment)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... US President George W. Bush asked Norman Mineta to remain as Secretary of Transportation during his second administration.

Sabre Airline Solutions.(North America Report)(agreements)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Sabre Airline Solutions reached an agreement with AirTran Airways for resource management technology "that will enable the carrier to implement faster staffing solutions for dynamic airport operations," according to Sabre.

Goodrich Corp., Honeywell, Matsushita Avionics Systems and Bridgestone.(North America Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Goodrich Corp., Honeywell, Matsushita Avionics Systems and Bridgestone were selected by Boeing to provide products and systems for the 7E7 program. Goodrich and Honeywell will furnish exterior lighting packages while Goodrich also will supply...

Air Canada Technical Services.(North America Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Air Canada Technical Services secured a five-year agreement with ILFC that calls for ACTS to provide technical support for ILFC-owned 737s, 767s, A320 family aircraft, A330s, A340s and engine support on CFM 56-SA/5Bs for the A320 family.

GE Engine Services.(North America Report)(agreements)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... GE Engine Services and Alaska Airlines entered into a 10-year, $300 million-plus maintenance cost per hour agreement covering 85 CFM56-3s powering Alaska's 737-400s.

AAR.(North America Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... AAR said it received FAA repair station certification for its new airframe maintenance operation located at the Indianapolis Maintenance Center in facilities formerly owned and operated by United Airlines. The certification covers A320 and 737...

Jeppesen and navAero.(North America Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Jeppesen and navAero formed a partnership that will offer turnkey Class 1 and 2 Electronic Flight Bag solutions to airlines. Separately, Jeppesen moved its Atlanta office into Alteon's Atlanta Training Center.

Carmen Systems AB.(North America Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Carmen Systems AB said Delta Air Lines signed a long-term agreement for the use of Carmen's Crew Planning solutions.

WestJet.(North America Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Westlet selected Kinetics, a subsidiary of NCR Corp., as its supplier of self-service hardware and software solutions for its new Check n' Go passenger check-in program, including both airport- and Internet-based check-in technologies.

Avianca.(Latin America/Caribbean Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Avianca emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Dec. 10 after a 21-month reorganization process that saw the company, with the aid of the Seabury Group as financial adviser, restructure $238 million in financial obligations and reduce its...

Aerolineas del Sur.(Latin America/Caribbean Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Aerolineas del Sur, a Chilean new entrant, took off in early Dec. operating between Santiago and Punta Arenas. The airline plans to add three cities from Santiago this month and 10 more by July. It aims to carve a 25% share of the domestic...

A380 power on a 747.(North America Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Engine Alliance's GP7200 for the A380 made its first flight Dec. 3 on GE's Boeing 747 testbed. Engine certification is targeted for the third quarter of 2005, [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

First A318 in Latin America.(Latin America/Caribbean Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Mexicana took delivery of the first of 10 CFM56powered A318s, the first Latin airline with the type. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

LAN.(Latin America/Caribbean Report)(airlines marketing agreement)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... LAN announced a marketing agreement with Korean Air covering passenger and cargo traffic between South America and South Korea to be implemented in the first half of 2005. LAN plans to launch daily services between Santiago and both New Zealand...

GE Engine Services.(Latin America/Caribbean Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... GE Engine Services received a five-year engine maintenance contract from LAN Airlines for the carrier's CF6-8OC2s powering its 767-300s.

Emirates Group.(Africa/Middle East Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Emirates Group reported a net profit of $236 million for the fiscal first half ended Sept. 30, a 41% increase compared to a net profit of $167 million in the equivalent 2003 period and the group's best financial results for any six-month...

El Al.(Africa/Middle East Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... El Al's net profit for the third quarter ended Sept. 30 tumbled 22% to $47.4 million from $61 million in the prior-year period on a 10.5% rise in revenues to $413.7 million. Operating profit fell 19% to $51 million as operating profit margin...

Qantas and Thailand-based CTI Holding.(Cargo)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Qantas and Thailand-based CTI Holding signed a joint venture agreement establishing Thai Air Cargo, a new airline that will be based in Bangkok and expects to take off in mid-2005. The carrier, which will be owned 51% by CTI and 49% by Qantas,...

EADS EFW and Emirates SkyCargo.(Cargo)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... EADS EFW and Emirates SkyCargo signed a contract for the conversion of three ex-Aeroflot A310-300s into freighters. The A3 10-300Fs are expected to enter Emirates' fleet from the middle of this year.

Tampa Cargo.(Cargo)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Tampa Cargo last month took delivery of its second 767-200 Special Freighter converted from passenger configuration by Israel Aircraft Industries' Bedek Aviation division. Two more 767s are being converted for the Colombian carrier, one by IAI...

Singapore Technologies Aerospace and Boeing.(Cargo)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Singapore Technologies Aerospace and Boeing redelivered the first of five MD-11s to Lufthansa Cargo following conversion from passenger to freighter configuration. The remaining four are undergoing conversion at SASCO and the final aircraft is...