Air Transport World articles from January 2009

Air Transport World archives from January 2009

Trends.(Statistical table)
January 1, 2009... WORLD AIRLINE TRAFFIC JANUARY-SEPTEMBER 2008 US 2008 2007 % chg RPKs (mil.) 1,009,004 1,011,900 -0.3 ASKs (mil.) 1,259,847 1,254,055 0.5 Pass. (000) 570,400 582,700 -2.1 Pass. LF (%) ...

The war on aviation.(Editorial)
January 1, 2009... The late November seizure of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport by political protesters and the more limited incident by environmentalists at London Stansted in December have again illustrated the air transport industry's extreme...

787 first flight slips again; 747-8, 777F join delayed list.(NewsBriefs)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... The troubled 787 program took another step backward on Dec. 11 as Boeing confirmed that the Dreamliner's first flight will not take place until the 2009 second quarter, with first delivery to launch customer ANA pushed back to the 2010 first...

US Court of Appeals stays New York slot auctions.(NewsBriefs)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Dec. 8 granted the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's motion requesting a stay of the slot auctions at New York JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports that FAA scheduled to...

Airline consolidation advances in Europe.(NewsBriefs)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Consolidation among European airlines accelerated last month as Lufthansa Group announced plans to acquire Austrian Airlines Group and confirmed it was in discussions with Virgin Atlantic over the future of Bmi while Ryanair launched another...

Fresh on its acquisition.(FROM BRUSSELS TO VIENNA)
January 1, 2009... Fresh on its acquisition of a major stake in Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa announced a deal to acquire control of Austrian Airlines Group. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

China's airlines face tough future.(NewsBriefs)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... China's airline industry appeared to be on the verge of significant structural change as carriers struggled with falling traffic and revenue and upside-down fuel hedges that caused massive financial losses. Domestic passenger traffic dropped...

Compagnia Aerea Italia.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Compagnia Aerea Italia investor group officially took control of Alitalia's flight assets Dec. 12, hours after two flight attendant unions reportedly agreed to back the deal and one day after CAI bought Air One. The deals are worth a combined...

Lufthansa.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Lufthansa opted not to wait for a decision on a foreign partner for the restructured Alitalia and will be launching its own subsidiary at Milan Malpensa, called Lufthansa Italia, in February. Six former Germanwings A319s will comprise the...

Air France KLM.(EUROPE Report)(financial news)(Financial report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Air France KLM reported a 96.2% drop in consolidated net income for its fiscal second quarter ended Sept. 30, 2008, to [euro]28 million ($35.4 million) from [euro]736 million in the year-earlier period. The net profit was dragged down by a...

British Airways.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... British Airways will reduce the number of aircraft based at London Gatwick to 37 from 41 next summer and cut more than 100 ground operations positions there.

EasyJet.(EUROPE Report)(easyJet Airline Company Ltd. financial news)(Financial report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... EasyJet's profit for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2008, dropped 45% to [pounds sterling]83.2 million ($123.4 million) from [pounds sterling]152.3 million in FY07 amid an escalating dispute between founder and largest shareholder Stelios...

Star Alliance.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Star Alliance confirmed that Brussels Airlines, which is owned partially by Lufthansa, will join the organization. No timeline was revealed regarding SN's membership. It will become Star's 10th European member. Lufthansa reached agreement to...

Turkish Airlines.(EUROPE Report)
January 1, 2009... Turkish Airlines earned TRY668 million ($405.3 million) through the first nine months of 2008, a 244% year-over-year improvement. Sales increased 24% year-over-year to TRY4.42 billion.

Air Berlin.(EUROPE Report)(financial news)(Financial report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Air Berlin reported a [euro]45.6 million ($57.7 million) third-quarter 2008 profit, up 43.2% from [euro]31.9 million in the year-ago period, on an 8.6% lift in revenue to a company record [euro]1.06 billion. Operating profit rose 57% to...

Spanair.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Spanair said it received approval from national labor authorities to move ahead with a restructuring plan that includes the layoff of 517 employees and conversion of an additional 185 fulltime jobs into part-time positions. The "viability plan"...

SkyEurope Airlines.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... SkyEurope Airlines was granted a [euro]10 million ($13.4 million) bridge loan by Longstock SAPO, a joint venture between the Athens-based luxury transport services provider and Longstock Financial of Lisbon. The LCC said the loan was "in light...

Aer Lingus.(EUROPE Report)(Aer Lingus Group PLC)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Aer Lingus said that a "sufficient" number of SIPTU employees accepted voluntary leave at Dublin, Cork and Shannon to deliver the carrier's targeted savings of [euro]25 million ($31.7 million), which also will include work rule and pay changes...

The EU.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... The EU announced a far-reaching air services agreement with Canada that includes liberalized investment rules. Under terms of the accord expected to be signed soon, all EU airlines will be able to operate direct flights to Canada from anywhere...

CSA Czech Airlines.(EUROPE Report)(Ceskoslovenske Aerolinie's financial news)(Financial report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... CSA Czech Airlines reported a pre-tax profit through the first nine months of 2008 of $22.1 million, more than double the $9.8 million earned in the year-ago period. Operating profit increased one-third to $39.2 million. Revenue rose 28.3% to...

Rosavia.(EUROPE Report)
January 1, 2009... Rosavia is the official name of the new state-owned, Moscow-based airline comprising 10 regional carriers, including the remnants of the AiRUnion alliance.

S7 Airlines.(EUROPE Report)
January 1, 2009... S7 Airlines reported a 2008 nine-month profit of RUB157 million ($5.7 million), nearly double the year-ago result, according to RIA Novosti. Revenue climbed 44% year-over-year to RUB31.93 billion.

Russia Federal Antimonopoly Service.(EUROPE Report)(acquisition)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Russia Federal Antimonopoly Service said it will attempt to block Aeroflot's effort to acquire the state's 25.5% stake in S7 Airlines. The Ministry of Transport has said it supports SU's bid.

Icelandair Group.(EUROPE Report)(financial news)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Icelandair Group had a third-quarter 2008 net profit of ISK4.39 billion ($30.5 million), up 65% on a pro forma basis from ISK2.66 billion in 2007, but warned that "the future outlook is uncertain" because of the slowing global economy. Revenue...

Denmark's Cimber Air.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Denmark's Cimber Air acquired bankrupt Sterling Airlines' operating certificate, slots and brand and plans to relaunch the carrier. Cimber plans to put two 737s back into service in January and 6-8 in the long term.

Airbus parent EADS.(EUROPE Report)(EADS Airbus GmbH financial news)(Financial report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Airbus parent EADS earned [euro]679 million ($848.4 million) in the third quarter of 2008, reversed from a [euro]776 million loss in the year-earlier period. Group revenue climbed 6% to [euro]9.7 billion and EBIT swung to an [euro]860 million...

Rolls-Royce.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Rolls-Royce said it plans to cut 140 jobs at its Derby Assembly and Test Facility. The proposed job reductions are "the first stage" of a larger downsizing that could see 1,500-2,000 workers laid off on a worldwide basis in response to the...

Moog's Aircraft Group.(EUROPE Report)(contracts)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Moog's Aircraft Group was selected by Airbus to supply flight control actuation for the A350 XWB's high-lift system. Its trailing edge actuation system will include the power control unit, inboard and outboard geared rotary actuators, gearboxes...

Teledyne Controls.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Teledyne Controls won a contract with Wizz Air to provide its Flight Data Interface Management Unit for installation on 70 A320s and possibly 25 more. Wizz also selected Teledyne's Application Generation Software to enhance aircraft condition...

Thales.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Thales was selected by Airbus to supply the head-up display for the A350 XWB as a customer option. Thales said it is introducing an all-digital TopSeries IFE system for single-aisle aircraft and regional jets. Thales' TopSeries IFE system was...

Panasonic Avionics.(EUROPE Report)
January 1, 2009... Panasonic Avionics reached a deal with Norwegian to supply its Digital MPES inflight entertainment system on 45 737-800s the LCC has on order.

Iberia.(EUROPE Report)
January 1, 2009... Iberia said it renovated its La Munoza maintenance hangar near Madrid Barajas to improve and extend its painting services for new and overhauled aircraft.

Turkish Aerospace Industries.(EUROPE Report)
January 1, 2009... Turkish Aerospace Industries reached a $500 million deal with Airbus to produce parts for A350s.

Lufthansa Technik.(EUROPE Report)
January 1, 2009... Lufthansa Technik opened a 15,000-sq.-m., [euro]50 million ($68.3 million) engine MRO shop in Hamburg focused on CFM56 overhaul.

PAS Technologies Ireland.(EUROPE Report)
January 1, 2009... PAS Technologies Ireland received US FAA and EASA Part 145 approval to conduct aircraft maintenance services at its Cork repair station.

Travelport GDS.(EUROPE Report)(GDS contract with TAP Portugal )(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Travelport GDS concluded a full-content, multiyear agreement with TAP Portugal providing all Galileo- and Worldspan-connected travel agents with access to TAP's published fares and inventory, including Web-only fares.

Deutsche Post.(EUROPE Report)(contract)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Deutsche Post's DHL Exel Supply Chain unit won a 10-year, multimillion-dollar deal with British Airways to provide inflight catering services for domestic and short-haul flights from London Heathrow.

Aeroports de Paris and Schiphol Group.(EUROPE Report)(acquisitions)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Aeroports de Paris and Schiphol Group obtained all approvals and authorizations required to complete the 8% cross-shareholding announced in October. Schiphol acquired an 8% stake in ADP from the French government for [euro]530 million ($671...

UK government.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... UK government delayed until this month its decision on building a third runway at London Heathrow, which would lift yearly aircraft movements to more than 700,000 from 480,000. The consultation process closed Nov. 9 and a decision was expected...

Airbus.(A320 GETS A LIFT)
January 1, 2009... Airbus has begun flight-testing of Blended Winglet devices developed by Aviation Partners on an A320. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

European airline traffic November 2008.(FACT FILE)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Airline RPKs % ASKs % Load (billions) chg. (billions) chg. factor 2007 2007 2007 (%) Aer 1.15 -8.9 1.59 -3.9...

United Airlines.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... United Airlines said 1,190 of the 7,000 workers it plans to cut by the end of 2009 will be laid off early this year. It did not break down the cuts, but the Chicago Tribune reported that 700 mechanics and 490 customer service representatives...

Delta Air Lines.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Delta Air Lines said that systemwide capacity for both itself and new subsidiary Northwest Airlines will be down 6%-8% in 2009, comprising a 3%-5% international cut and an 8%-10% domestic reduction. DL said it will begin offering a voluntary...

Southwest Airlines.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Southwest Airlines won US Bankruptcy Court approval to purchase ATA Airlines' 14 slots at New York LaGuardia for $7.5 million. Sale will be finalized when ATA's bankruptcy plan is approved. Southwest Airlines Pilots' Assn. President Carl...

ACE Aviation Holdings.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... ACE Aviation Holdings, which was created in 2004 as part of Air Canada's restructuring and still holds a 75% stake in AC, revealed plans to use C$811 million ($644 million) in cash reserves to purchase all of its outstanding convertible shares...

Continental Airlines.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Continental Airlines will carry out a biofuel demonstration flight on Jan. 7 in conjunction with Boeing, CFM International and Honeywell, the first of its kind by a US airline. A 737-800 carrying no passengers "will be powered by a special fuel...

Alaska Air Group.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(appointment of Brad Tilden, Bill Ayer and Glenn Johnson)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Alaska Air Group promoted Executive VP-Finance and Planning and CFO Brad Tilden to president. Bill Ayer remains chairman and CEO. Executive VP-Customer Service Glenn Johnson will succeed Tilden in his current position.

US Dept. of Transportation.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... US Dept. of Transportation task force comprising representatives from airlines, airports, consumer groups and DOT issued recommendations for treating passengers during extended tarmac delays, calling for better communication and improved...

Delta Air Lines and Alaska Air Group.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Delta Air Lines and Alaska Air Group, parent of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, expanded their marketing services agreement to give AS passengers more access to DL's international flights and DL passengers more access to AS's and Horizon's...

JetBlue pilots Assn.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
January 1, 2009... JetBlue Pilots Assn. filed a petition with the US National Mediation Board seeking to become the bargaining agent for the carrier's nearly 2,000 pilots.

US FAA.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... US FAA initiated the rollout of the NextGen satellite-based air traffic control system with the commissioning of the installation of 11 ADS-B ground stations in Florida. It hopes to have 794 nationwide ADS-B ground stations by 2013.

Boeing.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Boeing engineering and technical employees represented by the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace ratified two four-year collective bargaining agreements covering nearly 21,000 employees, the manufacturer announced.

Goodrich.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
January 1, 2009... Goodrich reached agreement with Airbus to supply wheels and carbon brakes for A350 XWBs. Contract is expected to generate $3 billion over the program life.

STG Aerospace.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
January 1, 2009... STG Aerospace won US FAA STC approval for its WEPPS emergency power system on 767s. Approval follows WEPPS certification on 737NGs.

Sabre Travel Network.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Sabre Holdings Corp. Sabre Travel Network contract)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Sabre Travel Network won a two-year extension through 2013 on its contract with United Airlines to provide full content of published fares and inventory via its GDS.

Los Angeles International Airport.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Los Angeles International Airport will modernize its Bradley International Terminal in a $2 billion project that will replace existing remote gates with new terminal gates capable of handling A380s and 787s.

US majors traffic November 2008.(FACT FILE)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... US Majors Traffic November 2008 * RPMs % chg ASMs % chg. LF chg. Airline (bil.) 2007 (bil.) 2007 (%) 2007 AirTran 1.33 -6.6 1.76 -7.1 75.8 0.4 Alaska 1.40 -6.9 ...

Boeing.(PASSING GRADE)
January 1, 2009... Boeing recently completed destructive testing on a full-scale composite wing box of the 787 Dreamliner. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Bangkok.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports were forced to shut down for eight days (Nov. 25-Dec. 3) after antigovernment demonstrators from the People's Alliance for Democracy successfully seized the airports, stranding an estimated...

Qantas.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Qantas Airways Ltd.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Qantas warned that its full-year pre-tax profit may fall 64% from its previous guidance of A$1.4 billion ($888.1 million) to A$500 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, nearly halving the A$970 million earned in the 12 months ended...

Korean Air.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Korean Air Lines Company Ltd. financial news)(Financial report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Korean Air suffered its largest single-quarter loss in 14 years, a KRW684.1 billion ($492.8 million) third-quarter 2008 deficit, representing a reversal from a KRW129.6 billion profit in the year-ago period that it attributed to the collapse in...

Cathay Pacific Airways.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Cathay Pacific Airways said it is scaling back capacity growth and grounding two freighters in light of the "serious downturn in business as a result of the global financial crisis." Passenger capacity, which was projected to grow 6%-7% in...

Malaysia Airlines.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Malaysia Airline System Bhd.'s financial news)(Financial report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Malaysia Airlines said it "proved its resilience" with a MYR38.6 million ($10.3 million) third-quarter 2008 profit that, while representing an 89.4% plunge from the MYR364.6 million profit reported in the 2007 period, was the ninth straight...

AirAsia.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(AirAsia Sdn. Bhd. financial news)(Financial report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... AirAsia cited a MYR215 million loss related to the unwinding of its fuel hedges and a MYR213 million currency loss for its first quarterly deficit since going public in 2004, a MYR465.5 million ($128.2 million) third-quarter 2008 loss that...

China Eastern Airlines.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(China Eastern Airlines Corporation Ltd.)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... China Eastern Airlines launched Shanghai-Taipei service Dec. 15, opening the era of truly direct scheduled flights across the Taiwan Strait. Previously, flights had to transit Hong Kong airspace rather than flying directly across the Taiwan...

Air New Zealand.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Air New Zealand in November announced that up to 200 employees will be laid off. Half the redundancies, the "majority" of which ANZ expects to be voluntary, will come from long-haul flight attendants. CEO Rob Fyfe said the carrier will save...

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
January 1, 2009... Australian Competition and Consumer Commission rejected a transpacific ANZ/Air Canada codeshare pact on AC's Sydney-Vancouver services and ANZ's Auckland-Vancouver flights, stating it would lessen competition.

Jet Airways.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Jet Airways said that all employees earning a gross salary of more than INR75,000 ($1,473.15) per month will take a "graduated wage cut" over the next 12 months as part of an effort "to cover the challenges faced... due to the current economic...

Okay Airways.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Okay Airways' passenger operation was shut down by CAAC for one month beginning Dec. 15 following a dispute between the chairman of Okay Airways' controlling shareholder Juneyao Group, Wang Junjin, and airline management. Okay's cargo...

GE Aviation.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
January 1, 2009... GE Aviation signed a contract with Singapore Airlines to launch its OnPoint solutions covering systems content and capabilities for 777s.

Panasonic Avionics Corp.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
January 1, 2009... Panasonic Avionics Corp. will provide China Southern Airlines with its eX2 IFE system on five A380-800s.

SITA.(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... SITA said Malaysia Airlines selected its in-house reservations system as part of a $130 million, 10-year deal. Separately, SITA reached a deal with Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Computer Informatics Service Center to offer its...

Gol and Varig.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN Report)(Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes's financial news)(Financial report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Gol and Varig parent Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes suffered a BRL294.3 million ($131.1 million) loss in the third quarter, reversed from a BRL45.5 million profit in the year-ago period, as special charges including a BRL261.8 million noncash...

Copa Holdings.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN Report)(financial news)(Financial report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Copa Holdings, parent of Copa Airlines and AeroRepublica, reported third-quarter 2008 net income of $30.3 million, down 35.6% from a $46.8 million profit in the year-earlier period, a drop it attributed almost entirely to a $15.5 million...

Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras, David Neeleman's new Brazilian airline, commenced operations Dec. 15, flying twice-daily service between Campinas and Salvador and between Campinas and Porto Alegre using a mix of five E-190s and E-195s. Service...

Chamber of Deputies.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of the Argentine Congress, approved a bill Dec. 3 to expropriate Aerolineas Argentinas from owner Grupo Marsans, calling it a "public utility." The measure was expected to be passed by the Senate as well....

TAM.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN Report)(TAM Brazil)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... TAM's Technological Center in Sao Carlos received EASA 145 certification for MRO services including C and D checks on A321s and A330s. The center also has been approved for A319s, A320s and F100s.

Volga-Dnepr Airlines.(OPEN WIDE)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Volga-Dnepr Airlines transported this 98-ton hydro turbine motor wheel from Russia to Kyrgyzstan aboard one of its An-124-100s using a special hook system designed by the airline to secure heavy, single pieces of air cargo. [ILLUSTRATION...

El Al.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST Report)(El Al Israel Airlines Ltd.'s financial news)(Financial report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... El Al reported a third-quarter net profit of $30.4 million, down 25.3% from $40.7 million in the 2007 period, a result President Haim Romano called "remarkably gratifying in light of the difficult business situation and the signs of...

Saudi Arabian LCC Sama.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST Report)(appointment of Bruce Ashby )(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Saudi Arabian LCC Sama named Bruce Ashby CEO, replacing Andrew Cowen. Ashby formerly was president and CEO of IndiGo and US Airways executive VP-marketing and planning.

Syrian Arab Airlines.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST Report)
January 1, 2009... Syrian Arab Airlines earned its IOSA certificate.

Abu Dhabi Aviation.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST Report)
January 1, 2009... Abu Dhabi Aviation announced the acquisition of a 95% stake in Maximus Air Cargo, which flies eight freighters on charter and ACMI operations.

Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST Report)
January 1, 2009... Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies will provide Dubai-based Silver Air with MRO services on three 737-200s and a 737-300 under a Total Care Solution agreement.

Volvo Aero Services.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST Report)
January 1, 2009... Volvo Aero Services reached a five-year preferred supplier agreement with Ethiopian Airlines to position more than $20 million in engine material to support MRO activities.