Air Transport World articles from January 2006

Air Transport World archives from January 2006

Jet fuel prices *.(TRENDS)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
January 1, 2006... JET FUEL PRICES * Nov. 18, 2005 New York 169.65 US Gulf Coast 165.88 Los Angeles 171.38 Rotterdam 166.20 Singapore 157.00 * Spot cash markets (average). Source: US Dept. of Energy

Top 20 airlines system traffic: January-November 2005.(TRENDS)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
January 1, 2006... TOP 20 AIRLINES SYSTEM TRAFFIC JANUARY-NOVEMBER 2005 RANK AIRLINE RPKs (000) 1 American 203,922,963 2 Delta * 178,335,854 3 Air France/KLM 170,113,000 4 ...

Top 20 airlines international traffic: January-November 2005.(TRENDS)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
January 1, 2006... TOP 20 AIRLINES INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC JANUARY-NOVEMBER 2005 RANK AIRLINE RPKs (000) 1 Air France/KLM 159,136,705 2 Lufthansa 99,794,105 3 British Airways 98,547,603 4...

Bi-cycle.(EDITORIAL)(economic cycle)(Editorial)
January 1, 2006... Airlines cannot avoid "the cycle," his much is clear. Being captives of world economics, carriers' fortunes rise and fall with the economic tides that flow around the globe. But are they doomed forever to fall into such deep financial holes...

One for the record books.(Boeing)(Cathay Pacific, Emirates and Qantas )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... A record year for large transport orders ended with a flurry, with November and December probably ranking as the busiest months in the history of civil transport. Beginning around the start of the Dubai Air Show in mid-November and over the...

EU transport ministers cautious on open skies.(European Union. European Commission contract with United States government)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... European transport ministers responded with caution to the tentative open skies agreement reached between negotiators of the European Commission and the US government in November that will, if finalized, provide US and EU airlines open access...

IATA mulls airport boycott.(International Air Transport Association)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Soaring airport charges are pushing airlines to consider taking drastic steps such as ending service to particularly egregious offenders, IATA Chairman Robert Milton said in Montreal last month. Milton, who is also chairman and CEO of Air...

LAX scraps massive expansion plan.(Los Angeles International Airport )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Plans to expand and update Los Angeles International Airport were scrapped last month as part of a settlement with local civic groups and neighbors who have fought for years to stop the development. After spending 10 years and $150 million...

UK Lords upholds airline victory in DVT case.(Deep vein thrombosis)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... In a major legal victory for the airline industry, the UK House of Lords ruled Dec. 7 that deep vein thrombosis cannot be characterized as an "accident" under the terms of the Warsaw Convention and thus concluded that passengers suffering from...

ICAO recommends wider spacing for A380.(International Civil Aviation Organization)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... A380 wake vortex may be a more serious issue than previously understood, according to a Nov. 10 letter from ICAO that states that initial tests and modeling undertaken by both European and US authorities have "raised concerns about horizontal...

Star Alliance chooses GNEs.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Star Alliance took a major step forward last month in its campaign to reduce the ticket distribution costs of its members with the signing of umbrella contracts with G2 SwitchWorks and ITA Software providing Alternative Content Access Platforms...

Europe approves safety blacklist.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... The European Union is set to introduce a publicly available EU-wide blacklist this year of airlines that do not meet safety requirements after the European Parliament approved legislation to that effect. Carriers will be blacklisted "if there...

Korean Air.(ASIA/PACIFIC: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Korean Air's third-quarter profit rose 80.6% to KRW154.2 billion ($148.1 million) compared to KRW85.4 billion in the year-ago period. Operating revenue for the three months to Sept. 30 grew 6.8% to KRW2.12 trillion. Operating profit was up...

New plane, new airline.(PSA Airlines Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Jetstar International will take some of the 787s recently ordered by Qantas.

Thai Airways.(ASIA/PACIFIC: Report)(profits)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Thai Airways reported a net profit of THB6.78 billion ($164.3 million) for its fiscal year ended Sept. 30, down 32.7% from a year-ago profit of THB10.08 billion, a decline it attributed to fuel costs and a drop in tourism resulting from "unrest...

Malaysia Airlines.(ASIA/PACIFIC: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Malaysia Airlines posted a net loss of MYR367.7 million ($97.3 million) in the fiscal second quarter ended Sept. 30, reversing earnings of MYR132.7 million in the year-ago quarter. While operating revenues rose 9.7% to MYR2.98 billion, expenses...

Virgin Blue.(ASIA/PACIFIC: Report)(sales and earnings)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Virgin Blue reported a net profit of A$105.2 million ($77.2 million) for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, down 33.1% compared to income of A$157 million in FY04. The company also declared a A$0.25 per share dividend, which will provide...

Cathay Pacific Airways.(ASIA/PACIFIC: Report)(David Turnbull resigns)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Cathay Pacific Airways Chairman David Turnbull, also chairman of John Swire & Sons (HK) and Cathay's largest shareholder Swire Pacific, will depart Swire Group at the end of January after three decades, including 20 months as chairman of Cathay...

Air Paradise International.(ASIA/PACIFIC: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Air Paradise International of Indonesia shut down in November owing to the "devastating effects" of the recent Bali terrorist attacks. It operated two A300s and two A310s.

Pratt & Whitney.(ASIA/PACIFIC: Report)(Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. enters into a contract with Pratt & Whitney for PW4000-94-powered 747-400s)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Pratt & Whitney signed a 10-year, $300 million fleet management contract with Cathay Pacific for MRO on the carrier's PW4000-94-powered 747-400s.

China Airlines.(ASIA/PACIFIC: Report)(China Airlines acquires 20 percent of China Aircraft Services Ltd. )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... China Airlines purchased 20% of China Aircraft Services Ltd. of Hong Kong and said it will switch its Hong Kong MRO and ground service from HAECO to CASL in January.

SR Technics.(ASIA/PACIFIC: Report)(joint venture with Okay Airways )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... SR Technics and Chinese startup Okay Airways signed an MOU calling for creation of a maintenance joint venture in Tianjin.

ARINC.(ASIA/PACIFIC: Report)(contracts)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... ARINC said that Korean Air chose its Graphic/Text Weather Service.

US and Canada reached a full open skies agreement in November "that removes all economic restrictions on air services to, from and beyond the other's territory by the airlines of both countries.".(economic restrictions )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... US and Canada reached a full open skies agreement in November "that removes all economic restrictions on air services to, from and beyond the other's territory by the airlines of both countries." The agreement is expected to take effect in...

Delta Air Lines.(NORTH AMERICA: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Delta Air Lines and its approximately 6,500 pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Assn., announced a tentative agreement Dec. 12. The accord, which was subject to union ratification by Dec. 28, suspends US Bankruptcy Court hearings on...

Northwest Airlines.(NORTH AMERICA: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Northwest Airlines in mid-November received bankruptcy court approval to impose temporary wage and benefit reductions valued at $114 million per year on its ground workers represented by the International Assn. of Machinists. Separately, its...

Richard Branson's long-delayed plans to launch a US discount airline moved closer to fruition after Virgin America announced last month that it has secured $177.3 million in committed funding and filed an application for certification with US DOT with startup planned later this year.(Richard Branson)(VAI Partners LLC)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Richard Branson's long-delayed plans to launch a US discount airline moved closer to fruition after Virgin America announced last month that it has secured $177.3 million in committed funding and filed an application for certification with US...

Southwest Airlines.(NORTH AMERICA: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Southwest Airlines experienced its first accident-related fatality Dec. 8 when one of its 737-700s overran runway 31C at Chicago Midway after landing in snowy weather and crashed through an airport boundary fence and into an intersection where...

Continental Airlines.(NORTH AMERICA: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Continental Airlines and its flight attendants, represented by the International Assn. of Machinists, reached agreement on a new four-year contract. Terms were not disclosed by CO but it had been seeking $72 million in savings from the group.

Aloha Airlines.(NORTH AMERICA: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Aloha Airlines' reorganization plan was confirmed by the US Bankruptcy Court, clearing the way for the Honolulu-based carrier to exit Chapter 11 protection last month. Aloha sought bankruptcy on Dec. 30, 2004. it said it trimmed costs by $75...

US federal air marshals shot and killed a man Dec. 6 on the airbridge connecting Miami International Airport and an American Airlines 757 upon which he had just arrived from Medellin.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... US federal air marshals shot and killed a man Dec. 6 on the airbridge connecting Miami International Airport and an American Airlines 757 upon which he had just arrived from Medellin. After the shooting, air marshals claimed the man had said he...

Cathay orders big.(Cathay Pacific)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Cathay Pacific ordered up to 36 777-300ERs.

Quoted briefly.
January 1, 2006... "The agreement as approved would authorize/allow every EU and US airline to fly between every city in the EU and every city in the US." --US Dep. Ass't. Secretary of State for Transportation Affairs John Byerly

Panasonic Avionics Corp.(NORTH AMERICA: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Panasonic Avionics Corp. joined Thales as a recommended IFE provider for the 787, Boeing said. Panasonic will offer a wireless version of its X-Series platform.

US-based Flight Safety Foundation and the Aviation Safety Alliance merged their organizations.(NORTH AMERICA: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... US-based Flight Safety Foundation and the Aviation Safety Alliance merged their organizations under the FSF name effective Dec. 31.

Aviation Partners Boeing.(NORTH AMERICA: Report)(Mike Marino appointed)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Aviation Partners Boeing said CEO Mike Marino resigned "to pursue other interests."

ARINC.(NORTH AMERICA: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... ARINC announced a contract renewal with Frontier Airlines for its OpCenter Messenger Service.

Goodrich.(NORTH AMERICA: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Goodrich will provide exclusive long-term maintenance for the Goodrich components on JetBlue's A320 fleet.

Innovative Solutions & Support and ABX Air teamed up.(NORTH AMERICA: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Innovative Solutions & Support and ABX Air teamed up to offer operators of 757s and 767s a flat panel display retrofit.

Heico Aerospace Holdings.(NORTH AMERICA: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Heico Aerospace Holdings acquired a 51% interest in New York-based Seal Dynamics. Price was not disclosed.

Timco Aviation Services.(NORTH AMERICA: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Timco Aviation Services chose a former US Airways facility in Pittsburgh as the site for its new CFM56 engine MRO center that is scheduled to start operations this year.

Pemco World Air Services.(NORTH AMERICA: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Pemco World Air Services was chosen by Southwest Airlines to provide MRO for its 737s.

B/E Aerospace.(NORTH AMERICA: Report)(Robert Khoury retired)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... B/E Aerospace President and CEO Robert Khoury retired at year end. Senior VP and GM-Commercial Aircraft Segment Michael Baughan was promoted to president and COO. Founder and Executive Chairman Amin Khoury assumes the role of CEO.

European Union.(EUROPE: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... European Union environment ministers last month reaffirmed their conclusion that aircraft emissions are "a serious and growing problem" and supported the European Commission's recommendation to include the industry in the EU Emissions Trading...

European Commission.(EUROPE: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... European Commission in mid-November adopted "a major proposal" to extend the mandate of the European Aviation Safety Agency "to rulemaking and control in the field of air operations, qualifications and licenses of pilots, and oversight of third...

French Parliament.(EUROPE: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... French Parliament last month passed President Jacques Chirac's tax for development aid on international airline tickets. The levy will be introduced July 1 and will vary from 1 [euro] ($1.17) to 40 [euro] depending on destination and class of...

Air France-KLM.(EUROPE: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Air France-KLM's net earnings nearly quadrupled in the fiscal second quarter ended Sept. 30, soaring to 717 million [euro] ($846.8 million) from 195 million [euro] in the year-ago period as traffic rose and the sale of the company's stake in...

British Airways.(EUROPE: Report)(downsizing)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... British Airways CEO Willie Walsh announced plans to cut management staff by 35%-597 out of a total of 1,715 positions--by March 2008. The move should save the carrier 50 million [pounds sterling] ($85.6 million) annually out of a goal to...

Turkish Airlines.(EUROPE: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Turkish Airlines reported "strong growth" in net earnings to $96 million during the third quarter ended Sept. 30, up 28% over the year-ago period, as revenues jumped 27% to $716 million on a 15% increase in passenger numbers to 4.3 million. For...

Ryanair.(EUROPE: Report)(appointment of Michael O'Leary )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary said he will step down in 2008. The LCC's outspoken chief executive told the Irish Independent in November that it would be time to go once the "outstanding issues" of a new terminal in Dublin and a new runway at...

EasyJet.(EUROPE: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... EasyJet intends to cut 10% of its approximately 500-member management and administrative staff, according to an internal memo circulated by departing CEO Ray Webster and reported in the Times of London. The move came days after the carrier...

US majors traffic November 2005 *.(FACT FILE)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
January 1, 2006... US Majors Traffic November 2005 * RPMs % chg. ASMs % chg. Lf chg. Airline (bil.) 2004 (bil.) 2004 (%) 2004 AirTran 0.98 30.2 1.37 25.9 71.4 2.3...

ATW contributing editor Tong Yongfu died Nov. 11 in Beijing.(Air Transport Wolrd)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
January 1, 2006... ATW Contributing Editor Tong Yongfu died Nov. 11 in Beijing. She was 69 and had been ill for some time. although she continued to report regularly, Tong contributed feature articles and news about China's civil aviation market to ATW for more...

Lufthansa.(EUROPE: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Lufthansa notified EU competition authorities of its agreement to acquire controlling voting interest in Eurowings the carrier that includes LCC Germanwings. LH holds 49% of Eurowings and Albrecht Knauf, the airline's chairman, owns 51%. Under...

Finnair.(EUROPE: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Finnair reported a net profit of 26.4 million [euro] ($30.86 million) for the quarter ended Sept. 30, up nearly 200% over year-ago profits of 9 million [euro]. Expenses rose just 9% as turnover increased 13.4% from 415.6 million [euro] to 471.2...

SkyEurope Holding AG.(EUROPE: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... SkyEurope Holding AG, parent of the Bratisiava-based LCC, reported an annual loss for its fiscal year ended Sept. 30 of 28.6 million [euro] ($33.5 million), or 26.8 million [euro] adjusted to reflect the phase-out of its Brasilias. This...

Malev.(EUROPE: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Malev formally accepted an invitation to join oneworld but the bid remains subject to its continued progress toward profitability in 2007 and the conclusion of bilateral agreements with existing partners.

Scandinavian Airlines Group.(EUROPE: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Scandinavian Airlines Group agreed to sell its holding in Jetpak Group, a same-day door-to-door delivery service, to Denmark-based Polaris Private Equity for SEK490 million ($61.2 million), resulting in a capital gain of approximately SEK410...

Norwegian.(EUROPE: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Norwegian earned NOK43.8 million ($6.6 million) in the September quarter compared to a loss of NOK11.2 million last year. Operating revenue surged 77.8% to NOK589.9 million. Nine-month profit was NOK24.4 million compared to a loss of NOK78.7...

A340-600.(EUROPE: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... A340-600 high gross weight version made its first flight Nov. 18, initiating a six-month certification program for the Trent 500-powered aircraft prior to delivery to first customer Qatar Airways this summer. Airbus said the 380-ton jet will...

Lufthansa Systems Group.(EUROPE: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Lufthansa Systems Group will be converted into a stock corporation effective Jan. 1. It will remain a wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa

Lufthansa Flight Training.(EUROPE: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Lufthansa Flight Training will provide a comprehensive training package for Martinair with the introduction of the 747-400 Freighter to the latter's fleet. Value of the deal is more than 2 million [euro] ($2.3 million). Florian Hamm became...

British Airways.(EUROPE: Report)
January 1, 2006... British Airways signed a 10-year, 1.5 billion [pounds sterling] ($2.6 billion) maintenance agreement with GE Engine Services under which GEES is responsible for MRO on BA's RB211-524s and CFM56s powering its 57 747s, 21 767s, 32 737s and 10 of...

SAS Ground Services.(EUROPE: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... SAS Ground Services said that Britannia Airways AB renewed its contract for ground handling services for three years at Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen.

BAA.(EUROPE: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... BAA announced plans for a 2.7 billion [pounds sterling] ($4.69 billion) development project that would add a new runway at London Stansted and expand the terminal. The proposal also calls for construction of parallel taxiways and...

ARINC.(EUROPE: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... ARINC won a contract to install its iMUSE check-in and boarding system and its common-use kiosk solution at Zagreb

Martinair.(EUROPE: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Martinair ordered CTT Systems' Zonal Drying System to be installed on three A320s.

Smiths Aerospace.(EUROPE: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Smiths Aerospace opened a $44 million, 128,000-sq.-ft. turbine engine components facility in West Jefferson, N.C.

TRAX USA.(EUROPE: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... TRAX USA was selected by Air Plus Comet to implement the TRAX maintenance software.

Cintra.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Cintra, the state holding company for AeroMexico and Mexicana, said Mexicana will be sold to the Grupo Posadas hotel company for $165 million plus the assumption of $294 million in debt and $997 million in aircraft lease obligations in the...

Lufthansa LCC proxy.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Germanwings confirmed a recent commitment for 18 A319s plus 12 options.

European Airline Traffic November 2005.(FACT FILE)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
January 1, 2006... FACT FILE European Airline Traffic November 2005 % RPKs change ASKs Airline (billions) 2004 (billions) AF-KLM 14.93 12.9 18.99...

Varig.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Varig bankruptcy reorganization took a new twist last month after conglomerate Docas Investimentos reached agreement with the Rubem Berta Foundation that controls the airline to purchase a 25% stake and "rent" a further 42% stake, giving it...

Synergy Group.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Synergy Group became the exclusive and only stakeholder of Avianca in late November, paying $23 million for the 25% share held by the Colombian Coffee Growers Confederation. Shortly before the announcement, Synergy CEO German Efromovich, a...

Aerolineas Argentinas.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Aerolineas Argentinas and its staff agreed on a 90-day truce that ended a nine-day strike by some 2,180 employees in late November/early December that cost an estimated $12 million. Some 600 flights were cancelled, affecting 94,818 passengers.

LAN Airlines.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... LAN Airlines will roll out in March a new premium business class service across its 767300 fleet that combines its existing first and business class cabins and features lie-flat seats with a full 180-deg. recline and 74-in. pitch. IFE will be...

EI AI.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... EI AI earned $52.2 million for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, up 10.1% over $47.4 million netted in the year-ago period. Revenues rose 17% to $485.2 million. The strong quarterly performance pushed nine-month earnings to $63 million, the...

Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo ordered the grounding of Chanchangi Airlines and Sosoliso Airlines on Dec. 13, three days after a 32-year-old Sosoliso Airlines DC-9 crashed in Port Harcourt, killing 107 people.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo ordered the grounding of Chanchangi Airlines and Sosoliso Airlines on Dec. 13, three days after a 32-year-old Sosoliso Airlines DC-9 crashed in Port Harcourt, killing 107 people. It was the fifth Nigerian...

Dubai's new Jebel Ali Airport will measure 140 sq. km., 10 times the area of Dubai International, according to plans released at the Dubai Air Show in November.(Jebel All Airport )(Dubai Air Show )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Dubai's new Jebel All Airport will measure 140 sq. kin., 10 times the area of Dubai International, according to plans released at the Dubai Air Show in November. Jebel All ultimately will have six runways and move 120 million passengers and 12...

Jeddah-based National Air Services.(to introduce low cost airline)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Jeddah-based National Air Services announced plans for a low-cost airline, the first privately owned carrier in Saudi Arabia. NAS started premium services three months ago between Jeddah and Riyadh using A320s and now wants to tap the thrifty...

Lufthansa Technik.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST: Report Hawker Pacific Inc. contract.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Lufthansa Technik inked a deal through its Hawker Pacific division for exchange, overhaul and support for the airline's 777s.

Hong Kong Aero Engine Services Ltd. and Singapore Aero Engine Services Ltd. will provide maintenance on Emirates' Trent.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST: Report Emirates Airline)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Hong Kong Aero Engine Services Ltd. and Singapore Aero Engine Services Ltd. will provide maintenance on Emirates' Trent 500/700/800s under a threeyear deal valued at up to $600 million.

Boeing.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST: Report)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Boeing said that EgyptAir ordered Class 3 electronic flight bags for six 737-800s for installation in July.

CasaAero.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST: Report)(pilot training facility )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... CasaAero, a joint venture between Alteon and Royal Air Maroc, opened its pilot training facility at Aeroport Casa Anfa. It will house two 737 simulators.