Air Transport World articles from June 2008

Air Transport World archives from June 2008

World airline traffic January-February 2008.(TRENDS)(Statistical table)
June 1, 2008... US 2008 2007 % chg. RPKs (mil.) 198,100 191,149 3.6 ASKs (mil.) 265,807 257,601 3.2 Pass. (000) 113,200 111,200 1.8 Pass. LF (%) 74.5 74.2 0.3 pts....

Look beyond the shores.(EDITORIAL)(proposed merger between Delta Air Lines Inc. and Northwest Airlines Corp.)(Editorial)
June 1, 2008... The proposed merger between Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines may be the first comprehensive US airline restructuring since United Airlines purchased Pan American's Pacific Division in 1985 in which the international implications of the...

Airbus scales back A380 delivery rate.(NewsBriefs)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... FINANCIAL RESULTS, NEW DEALS, AND REPORTS FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE GLOBE Airbus last month announced the fourth delay to the A380 program, stating that the "steep ramp-up" envisioned for later this year will take more "time and resources,"...

Aviation leaders sign green declaration.(NewsBriefs)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Leaders from 13 commercial aviation organizations on Earth Day April 22 signed a declaration intended "to lead towards carbon neutral growth and a totally sustainable future" for the aviation industry. The declaration states: "We agree on...

Airbus, JetBlue in biofuel effort.(NewsBriefs)(Airbus S.A.S. and JetBlue Airways Corp.)
June 1, 2008... Airbus, JetBlue Airways, IAE, Honeywell Aerospace and Honeywell's UOP subsidiary have formed a partnership "to pursue development of a sustainable second-generation biofuel for use in commercial aircraft." The new venture is focused on...

Pratt to test Geared Turbofan on A340.(NewsBriefs)(Airbus S.A.S. contracts with Pratt and Whitney)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... In a rare development, Airbus and Pratt & Whitney announced an agreement to flight test Pratt's Geared Turbofan engine on Airbus's A340 testbed, although the engine does not have an application on an Airbus airframe. Testing will occur...

UK authority opens door for BAA breakup.(NewsBriefs)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... BAA's common ownership of seven UK airports including London's Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted may not be serving the interests of either airlines or passengers, the UK Competition Commission said in an interim report released in late April,...

Airbus said it will deliver.(LATE ARRIVAL)
June 1, 2008... Caption: Airbus said it will deliver up to 17 fewer A380s in 2008-2010 owing to challenges in transitioning to fullscale production. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

China moved.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China )(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... China moved one step closer to achieving its "dream" of manufacturing "jumbo aircraft" by establishing Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China in Shanghai May 12 (ATW, 5/08, p. 56). The company is charged with building civil aircraft, with a...

Japan airlines group.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(financial news)(Financial report)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Japan Airlines Group announced a significant earnings turnaround to a net profit of [yen]16.9 billion ($162.1 million) for the fiscal year ended March 31 from a loss of [yen]16.2 billion the previous year on the back of premium strategies on...

ANA group.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(financial news)(Financial report)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... ANA Group catapulted to a record [yen]64.1 billion ($616 million) net profit for the fiscal year ended March 31 from a [yen]32.6 billion profit in the prior year boosted by the sale of its hotel assets last June. It credited "a strong...

Former qantas VP.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Former Qantas VP Freight-Americas Bruce McCaffrey agreed to plead guilty to criminal charges in the US related to fixing air cargo shipment rates and will serve eight months in jail, the US Dept. of Justice announced last month. DOJ and...

Singapore airlines.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
June 1, 2008... Singapore Airlines parent SIA Group reported a net profit of S$2.05 billion ($1.5 billion) for its fiscal year ended March 31, down 3.8% from S$2.13 billion earned in the prior year, but noted that the 2007 results benefited from "one-off gains...

Korean air's.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
June 1, 2008... Korean Air's first-quarter operating income dropped 87.1% to KRW19.6 billion ($19.5 million) "owing to the huge pressure from surging fuel costs." Revenue increased 11.5% to KRW2.27 trillion as international passenger revenue rose 10.1% and...

Air China.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
June 1, 2008... Air China posted a net profit of CNY1.04 billion ($149.2 million) in the first quarter, up 147% from CNY422.7 million earned in the year-ago quarter, on a 21% lift in operating revenue to CNY12.76 billion. Operating expenses jumped 15.43% to...

China Southern airlines.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
June 1, 2008... China Southern Airlines cited strong domestic demand and yuan appreciation as its full-year earnings soared nearly tenfold in 2007 to CNY1.871 billion ($267.1 million) from CNY188 million the previous year. Revenue climbed 18.2% to CNY55.87...

China Eastern airlines.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
June 1, 2008... China Eastern Airlines enjoyed a turnaround in 2007, posting a net profit of CNY269 million ($38.4 million) that represented a reversal from the CNY3.3 billion loss suffered in 2006. Operating revenue rose 13% to CNY42.52 billion while expenses...

Shanghai airlines.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
June 1, 2008... Shanghai Airlines was unable to reap the benefits related to rising demand and yuan appreciation as it reported a CNY497.6 million ($70.9 million) net loss for 2007 that widened considerably from a CNY6.5 million deficit the year before,...

Hainan airlines'.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
June 1, 2008... Hainan Airlines' first-quarter earnings rose fivefold to CNY286.7 million from CNY51.2 million in the year-ago period. Operating revenue grew 3.5% to CNY3.57 billion against a 0.9% rise in operating costs to CNY2.74 billion.

Shandong airlines.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Shandong Airlines posted net income of CNY51.7 million in the first quarter, reversing a net loss of CNY58.8 million in the year-ago period. Operating revenue lifted 31.8% to CNY1.23 billion.

Pakistan International Airlines.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
June 1, 2008... Pakistan International Airlines concluded an "exceptionally difficult" 2007, during which it was blacklisted by the EU, with a PKR13.4 billion ($207.5 million) loss, widened slightly from the PKR12.76 billion loss suffered in 2006. PIA said it...

China airlines and EVA Air.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
June 1, 2008... China Airlines and EVA Air reported first-quarter losses of TWD2.97 billion ($97.4 million) and TWD2.29 billion respectively. The Taiwanese carriers, which reported the results in filings with the Taiwan Stock Exchange cited by Bloomberg News,...

SriLankan airlines.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
June 1, 2008... SriLankan Airlines named Head of Worldwide Sales Manoj Gunawardena as its new CEO. He has been with the airline for more than 25 years.

Lufthansa Technik.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Lufthansa Technik to take a 50% stake in Qantas Airways Ltd. under a 10-year deal )(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Lufthansa Technik will take a 50% stake in Qantas's Jet Turbine Services under a 10-year deal that will see LHT support GE and CFM56-7 engines powering the carrier's 737, 767, 747 and A330 aircraft. Melbourne-based JTS has a workforce of 140....

SIA engineering.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
June 1, 2008... SIA Engineering signed a five-year, S$90 million ($66.4 million) fleet management program agreement with V Australia for maintenance of seven 777-300ERs.

Sabre travel network.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
June 1, 2008... Sabre Travel Network reached a multiyear distribution deal with V Australia extending the carrier's fares and inventory to Sabre-connected travel agents worldwide.

Mxi technologies.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
June 1, 2008... Mxi Technologies said Qantas will implement its Maintenix management software across its fleet.

Navitaire.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
June 1, 2008... Navitaire reached a deal with Cebu Pacific Air for provision of its New Skies hosted reservation services and SkyPrice revenue management system.

Incheon international.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Incheon International this month will open a second passenger terminal, a 4,000-m. runway that will accommodate the A380 and an automated passenger transport system, all built at a cost of approximately $4 billion.

Asiana ordered two 777-200ERs.(BAKER'S DOZEN OF 777s)
June 1, 2008... Asiana ordered two 777-200ERs, bringing its total commitment to 13, of which nine have been delivered. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

European commission.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... European Commission gave Italian officials until May 19 to respond to its request for more information on the [euro]300 million ($473.6 million) emergency bridge loan the outgoing government awarded Alitalia in April. Under EU rules, AZ is not...

Lufthansa.(EUROPE Report)(sales and earnings of Deutsche Lufthansa AG)(Financial report)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Lufthansa posted a [euro]57 million ($90.9 million) first-quarter profit that compared favorably to the [euro]55 million it reported in the year-ago quarter minus a [euro]449 million book gain on the sale of its stake in Thomas Cook. Group...

SAS group.(EUROPE Report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... SAS Group said it will cut capacity 6%-7% this fall, cancel a 12th A340 set to enter service this year and eliminate 1,000 fulltime-equivalent positions as it seeks to generate SEK1.05-SEK1.15 billion in efficiencies to offset soaring fuel...

British airways.(EUROPE Report)(British Airways PLC to shift long-haul flights to London Heathrow's Terminal)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... British Airways will begin shifting long-haul flights to London Heathrow's Terminal 5 next month, it said in a joint statement with airports operator BAA. The move will be phased, in contrast to the short-haul transfer that coincided with the...

Iberia group.(EUROPE Report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Iberia Group said its first-quarter results were "dulled" by sharp hikes in the price of fuel, resulting in a net loss of [euro]441,000 ($684,000), reversed from a profit of [euro]12.3 million in the year-ago period. It noted that net income...

Finnair.(EUROPE Report)
June 1, 2008... Finnair reported a first-quarter profit of [euro]5.5 million ($8.6 million), down 40.9% from the [euro]9.9 million earned in the year-ago period, and warned that "difficult terrain" is ahead for the remainder of the year owing to high fuel...

Austrian airlines group.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Austrian Airlines Group's talks with potential investor Mohamed bin Iassa Al Jaber collapsed, with Al Jaber saying he no longer has any interest in investing in AAG. In a deal announced in March, Al Jaber said he would take a 20% stake at...

EasyJet.(EUROPE Report)(sales and earnings of easyJet PLC)(Financial report)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... EasyJet more than trebled its net loss for the six months ended March 31 to [pounds sterling]43.3 million ($85.4 million) from [pounds sterling]12.7 million in the year-ago period owing largely to higher fuel costs and the integration of GB...

Sterling airlines.(EUROPE Report)(sales and earnings of Sterling Airways Inc.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Sterling Airlines managed to reduce its full-year net loss drastically to DKK34 million ($7.2 million) in 2007 from the DKK166 million deficit it posted in the prior year. Revenue decreased 0.8% to DKK3.89 billion.

Russia's S7 airlines.(EUROPE Report)
June 1, 2008... Russia's S7 Airlines reported an 80% jump in full-year profit to RUB109.7 million ($4.7 million) according to Russian accounting standards as 2007 revenue increased 25% to RUB31.12 billion.

Norwegian.(EUROPE Report)(sales and earnings of Norwegian Air Shuttle A/S)(Financial report)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Norwegian posted a consolidated net loss of NOK210.8 million ($42.4 million) in the first quarter, a sharp deterioration from the NOK14.9 million loss suffered in the year-ago period, owing to increased seasonality, introduction of new...

Air Berlin.(EUROPE Report)
June 1, 2008... Air Berlin said it reached a 10-year salary agreement with AB, LTU and dba pilots represented by Cockpit.

Tarom and skyTeam.(EUROPE Report)
June 1, 2008... Tarom and SkyTeam announced an Alliance Associate Adherence Agreement, paving the way for the Romanian carrier to join the group as an associate.

Wizz air.(EUROPE Report)
June 1, 2008... Wizz Air will open a base at Kiev Boryspil and launch service to seven destinations on July 11.

EC VP-transport.(EUROPE Report)(Jacques Barrot)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... EC VP-Transport Jacques Barrot in a May 2 statement signaled the body's "acceptance of secondary trading of airport slots." Barrot said the EC "will keep a close eye on the situation across Europe and ensure that secondary trading works to the...

EADS.(EUROPE Report)
June 1, 2008... EADS posted a [euro]285 million ($441.9 million) profit in the first quarter, reversed from a [euro]10 million loss in the first three months of 2007. Group revenue climbed 10% to [euro]9.85 billion and operating profit soared to [euro]769...

Rockwell collins.(EUROPE Report )(Rockwell Collins Inc. wins deal from Airbus S.A.S.)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Rockwell Collins won deals from Airbus to provide its Communication Global Work package, Avionics Data Network and landing systems technology for the A350 XWB. The communication package includes VHF and HF systems, ARINC 781 satellite capacity,...

Iberia and consorci zona Franca.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Iberia and Consorci Zona Franca of Barcelona launched construction of a 12,100-sq.-m. widebody hangar at El Prat capable of handling two A340s or four A320s. Investment is put at [euro]24 million ($38.2 million), with IB positioned to control...

CAE.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... CAE won Level D certification from US FAA and EASA for its A380 FFS, the industry's first. Airbus will use the simulator to offer initial training to A380 customers.

Sabena technics.(EUROPE Report)
June 1, 2008... Sabena Technics signed a 10-year base maintenance contract with Aer Lingus to perform C checks and structural checks on its A320 family and A330 aircraft.

Amadeus.(EUROPE Report)
June 1, 2008... Amadeus said TAP Portugal selected its Star Alliance Common IT Platform. Migration is expected to be completed by 2010.

ARINC.(EUROPE Report)
June 1, 2008... ARINC said it completed installation of 64 SelfServ check-in kiosks for Flybe at 13 UK regional airports.

Lufthansa systems.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Lufthansa Systems will provide Swiss International Air Lines with its Lido eRouteManual electronic navigation charts under a five-year deal. LHS won a five-year deal with UTair for provision of its ProfitLine/ Yield Rembrandt revenue management...

SITA.(EUROPE Report)
June 1, 2008... SITA will provide Scandinavian Airlines with telecommunication services covering 800 users in 40 locations across 23 countries at an expected savings of $3.6 million.

Gate gourmet.(EUROPE Report)
June 1, 2008... Gate Gourmet will purchase catering units in Dusseldorf, Cologne/Bonn, Munster/ Osnabruck, Leipzig/Halle and Paderborn from Air Berlin and SCK Sky Catering Kitchen.

Aviareps.(EUROPE Report)
June 1, 2008... Aviareps will represent Russia's Orenair in Germany under a GSA agreement.

The sukhoi superjet 100.(SUPERJET FLIES)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... The Sukhoi Superjet 100 made its first flight May 19, at Komsomolsk-on-Amur. The flight lasted 65 minutes, during which the SSJ 100 climbed to 1,200 m. and flew four circuits of the airfield at various altitudes. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

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

First 777 freighter.(ALMOST READY)
June 1, 2008... First 777 freighter left the factory at the end of April for the paint hangar and flight tests this summer. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Continental airlines.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Continental Airlines partnership with United Airlines)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Continental Airlines in late April said it will not merge with another airline, squelching speculation that it was interested in a tie-up with United Airlines, which conversely said that it would "pursue all options" and reportedly is in talks...

Air Canada.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
June 1, 2008... Air Canada reported a first-quarter net loss of C$288 million ($287 million), a substantial increase over a C$34 million loss in the year-ago period, blaming high fuel costs and a special provision of C$125 million set aside in response to...

WestJet.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(WestJet Airlines Ltd. financial news)(Financial report)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... WestJet reported first-quarter net income of C$52.5 million ($53.1 million), up 75.9% over C$29.9 million earned in the year-ago quarter, on a 27.3% boost in revenue to C$599.3 million. President and CEO Sean Durfy credited the LCC's strategy...

Northwest airlines.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Neal Cohen will leave from Northwest Airlines)
June 1, 2008... Northwest Airlines Executive VP-Strategy, International and CEO-Regional Airlines Neal Cohen will leave the company effective June 16. Cohen is the highest-level NWA official to announce his departure since the proposed merger with Delta Air...

United airlines.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
June 1, 2008... United Airlines appointed COO Pete McDonald to the new role of chief administrative officer and moved Chief Revenue Officer John Tague to the COO position.

Continental airlines.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Jeff Misner retired from Continental Airlines)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Continental Airlines Executive VP and CFO Jeff Misner will retire effective Aug. 31 to be replaced by Senior VP-Network Strategy Zane Rowe. Misner served as CFO since 2001.

Allegiant air.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(financial news)(Financial report)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Allegiant Air parent Allegiant Travel Co. bucked the first-quarter trend, posting a $9.7 million profit that slipped just 0.8% from the year-ago result. Operating revenue soared 57.8% to $133.1 million, driven by a 112.6% rise in ancillary...

Eos airlines.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Eos Airlines shut down April 27 after an anticipated investment fell through. It was the fourth US-based carrier to declare bankruptcy this spring and the third to stop flying. Eos operated six 757-200s in a 48-seat all-business-class...

Hawaiian airlines.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
June 1, 2008... Hawaiian Airlines parent Hawaiian Holdings reported a $19.9 million loss in the first quarter, widened from an $11.9 million deficit in the year-ago period. Shutdown of both Aloha Airlines and ATA Airlines, as well as the $52.5 million...

Air transport assn.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(International Air Transport Association)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Air Transport Assn. and IATA are protesting a new US government proposal that airlines be made responsible for collecting fingerprint data from foreign nationals exiting the US, with IATA saying that "airline counter staff are not a substitute...

Aloha airlines'.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Saltchuk Resources)(Aloha Air Cargo)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Aloha Airlines' cargo operation, which employs 300 and transports 85% of goods moving by air among the Hawaiian Islands aboard six 737-200Fs, reached agreement to be purchased by Seattle-based Saltchuk Resources for an undisclosed sum. The...

Air transport assn.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Air Transport Assn. of Canada announced that Air Canada, WestJet, Air Canada Jazz and Air Transat withdrew from the organization citing a desire to form a smaller entity more closely focused on large airline concerns. The four carriers...

FAA in late April.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Federal Aviation Administration)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... FAA in late April removed two senior Dallas-area ATC managers from their positions following revelations in a government report that Dallas-Fort Worth Terminal Approach Control management "routinely and intentionally" misclassified ATC...

Boeing.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
June 1, 2008... Boeing announced record first-quarter earnings of $1.21 billion, up 38% from $877 million in the year-ago period, on a 4% increase in sales to $15.99 billion. Despite problems in the 787 program, Chairman, President and CEO Jim McNerney said...

EDS and microsoft.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
June 1, 2008... EDS and Microsoft will team up under a comprehensive eight-year alliance announced last month that calls for EDS to use "selected Microsoft tools in the modernization and operation" of EDS's airline solutions including reservations, flight...

Goodrich.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Goodrich selected by Pratt & Whitney)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Goodrich was selected by Pratt & Whitney to be the exclusive provider of the complete nacelle systems for the Geared Turbofan on both the Mitsubishi Regional Jet and CSeries. Goodrich said the contract is expected to generate more than $5...

Pratt & whitney Canada.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
June 1, 2008... Pratt & Whitney Canada will open a 49,987-sq.-m. flight test operations center at Montreal Mirabel.

Panasonic avionics.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
June 1, 2008... Panasonic Avionics reached a deal with Boeing for provision of its Cabin Services System on the 747-8.

ARINC and ATH group.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... ARINC and ATH Group launched the AirPlan enRoute Service aimed at reducing fuel costs. Technology is based on the Attila arrival management system. ARINC announced a partnership with Gate Gourmet to market onboard sales programs for airlines...

AeroTech services.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... AeroTech Services of Reno announced the availability of its wing modification for the 737 Classic family, which it claims "reduces fuel consumption by up to 4%" by increasing lift-to-drag ratio.

Delta techOps.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(contracts)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Delta TechOps extended maintenance agreements with Air Berlin, Gol and ABX Air totaling a projected $800 million. Separately, DTO reached a five-year, $45 million deal with Asiana Airlines for MRO on CFM56-3s.

Mxi technologies.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
June 1, 2008... Mxi Technologies said that Air Canada agreed to implement its Maintenix management software throughout its fleet.

Menzies aviation.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(John Menzies PLC. Menzies Aviation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Menzies Aviation will provide ground handling services to JetBlue Airways at Austin. Separately, Menzies said it won a three-year contract extension with Thai Airways for cargo handling at London Heathrow.

US majors traffic April 2008 *.(FACT FILE)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... US Majors Traffic April 2008 * +/- RPMs % chg ASMs % chg. LF chg. Airline (bil.) 2007 (bil.) 2007 (%) 2007 AirTran 1.51 5.7 ...

Airstream international group.(LEASING & FINANCE BRIEFS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Airstream International Group arranged the sale and leaseback of two F70s and a related spare Tay 620-15 engine. Aircraft and spare engine were purchased by Gladiator Leasing and are operated by Malev.