Air Transport World articles from March 2008

Air Transport World archives from March 2008

Trends.(briefs)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... JET FUEL PRICES * January 25, 2008 New York 258.10 US Gulf Coast 253.17 Los Angeles 252.10 Rotterdam 257.24 Singapore 242.53 * Spot cash markets (average). Source: US Dept. of Energy ...

Open skies arrives.(EDITORIAL)(Editorial)
March 1, 2008... The open skies treaty between the EU and US that takes effect at the end of this month might better have been called the "Open Heathrow" treaty, since that is where 99% of the action is taking place, with five new entrants set to begin serving...

Dutch environmental tax challenged.(FINANCIAL RESULTS, NEW DEALS, AND REPORTS FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE GLOBE)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... The Netherlands government is facing two lawsuits challenging its plan to levy an environmental ticket tax on passengers departing from Dutch airports from July 1. The tax is [euro]11.25 ($16.35) per passenger for most EU destinations inside...

US consolidation looms.(FINANCIAL RESULTS, NEW DEALS, AND REPORTS FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE GLOBE)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... The US airline industry appeared to be on the verge of significant consolidation as ATW went to press, with Northwest Airlines in talks to merge with Delta Air Lines in an all-stock transaction while United Airlines and Continental Airlines...

MAS aims for more profits, lower costs.(FINANCIAL RESULTS, NEW DEALS, AND REPORTS FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE GLOBE)(Malaysia Airline System Bhd.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Malaysia Airlines unveiled a five-year growth plan dubbed BTP2 (Business Transformation Plan 2) in Kuala Lumpur targeting a minimum full-year net profit of MYR1.5 billion ($463.6 million) by 2012. The winner of ATW's 2008 Phoenix Award appears...

Branson: Virgin to launch Russian airline.(FINANCIAL RESULTS, NEW DEALS, AND REPORTS FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE GLOBE)(Virgin Group Ltd.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Virgin Group is in talks with a potential Russian partner about launching an airline in the country with an announcement expected before summer, Chairman Richard Branson said in Moscow Jan. 31. He is unlikely to partner with an existing airline...

JAL group.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Japan Airlines Company Ltd.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... JAL Group reported net income of [yen]13.1 billion ($122.9 million) for its fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31, reversed from a net loss of [yen]10.8 billion in the prior-year period. It cited "shifting of resources to high-profit routes" and a...

ANA group.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(All Nippon Airways Company Ltd.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... ANA Group net profit for the fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31 climbed 33.9% to [yen]12.4 billion ($115.9 million) from [yen]9.3 billion in the year-ago period. Revenue fell 0.9% to [yen]378.2 billion against a 2% decline in costs to...

Singapore airlines.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
March 1, 2008... Singapore Airlines reported flat net income of S$590 million ($416.1 million) for its fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31 on a 13.2% boost in revenue to S$4.28 billion. Net income rose 50.7%, however, if the S$198 million gain from the sale of...

Korean air.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
March 1, 2008... Korean Air posted 2007 net income of KRW11 billion ($11.7 million), a 97.1% drop from KRW383 billion earned in the prior year that it attributed to high fuel costs and the won's weakness. Operating revenue rose 9.1% to KRW8.8 trillion while...

Jet airways.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
March 1, 2008... Jet Airways reported a INR911 million ($23.1 million) loss for the fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31, reversed from a profit of INR400 million in the year-earlier period. It cited "historical high fuel prices and startup losses on...

China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines signed a cooperation agreement in late January to create a partnership for aircraft purchasing, ground handling services, marketing and sales, network synergies, loyalty programs and other...

Indonesian authorities.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Indonesian authorities brought manslaughter charges against Marwoto Komar, 45, the pilot in command of the Garuda Indonesia 737-400 that crashed on landing at Adisucipto International in Yogyakarta last March, killing 21 (ATW, 1/08, p. 21).

AirAsia, Tiger Airways and Jetstar Asia.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... AirAsia, Tiger Airways and Jetstar Asia on Feb. 1 launched service on the previously protected Singapore-Kuala Lumpur route, propelling the region's commercial aviation industry into a new era of liberalization.

Singapore.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Singapore announced the conclusion of bilateral open skies agreements with Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The agreements provide for "unlimited hubbing rights" for cargo carriers as well as conventional open skies conditions.

Qantas's.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Qantas Airways Ltd.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Qantas's long-running dispute with its engineers was resolved with a four-year "in principle" Enterprise Bargaining Agreement with the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Assn. that provides for a 3% raise. The pact is subject to a...

China Southern airlines.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(China Southern Airlines Company Ltd.)(Servair)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... China Southern Airlines signed a memorandum to sell a 20% stake in its Nanlian Air Catering Co. to Air France subsidiary Servair for [euro]7.3 million ($10.8 million).

CAAC.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(China. General Administration of Civil Aviation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... CAAC was to introduce a new airport charging policy March 1 intended to eliminate the discrepancy between fees paid by domestic airlines and their foreign counterparts. Chinese carriers will see an increase in the fees they pay to operate...

GoAir.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
March 1, 2008... GoAir appointed Edgardo Badiali as CEO. He joins the Indian LCC from Italian lowcost airline MyAir, where he was CEO.

India's government.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... India's government relaxed certain foreign investment rules and now will allow non-Indian investors to hold 100% of MRO and training organizations dedicated to civil aviation activities. Foreign direct investment in commercial airlines will...

Air India, Jupiter aviation and Airbus.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Air India, Jupiter Aviation and Airbus signed an MOU to establish a three-way joint venture MRO facility in India to perform work on all types of Airbus aircraft operated by AI and other Indian airlines.

PAS Technologies.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
March 1, 2008... PAS Technologies reached a two-year deal with Air India to provide repair services on selected PW4056 engine components.

SITA.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
March 1, 2008... SITA will help Chhatrapati Shivaji International transition to CUSS kiosks and CUTE check-in systems under a five-year deal.

CAE.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Briefs)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... CAE reached agreement with the Indian government to become the managing partner of its flight school, Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi. It also entered into a JV with the Airport Authority of India to develop the Rajiv Gandhi National...

Boeing.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
March 1, 2008... Boeing said India-based TAL Manufacturing Solutions agreed to produce structural components for the 787.

Radixx international.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
March 1, 2008... Radixx International said Cosmic Air of Nepal selected its reservations and distribution management technology Radixx Air Enterprise Edition.

Airbus operated an A380.(ALTERNATIVE FLIGHTPATH)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Caption: Airbus operated an A380 test flight Feb. 1 with one of the four Rolls-Royce Trent 900s fed with a mix of gas to liquid fuel and standard jet fuel. It touted it as the first-ever flight by a commercial aircraft that was partially...

Quoted briefly.(Quotation)
March 1, 2008... "Now is the time for Virgin to come to Russia." --Virgin Group Chairman Richard Branson announcing plans to launch a Russian airline.

China Airlines.(EXTRA WIDE BOOST FOR A350)
March 1, 2008... Caption: China Airlines ordered 14 A350-900s with options on six more. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Alitalia board.(EUROPE Report)(Linee Aeree Italiane S.p.A.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Alitalia board at the end of January said it wanted to raise about [euro]750 million ($1.1 billion) over the next five months in order to maintain Alitalia's cash in hand "at adequate operating levels" as speculation swirled in Italy about the...

British airways.(EUROPE Report)
March 1, 2008... British Airways intends to launch transatlantic service from London City Airport to New York next year using A318s configured for just 32 business-class passengers. BA made the announcement as it reported a 27.1% year-over-year profit increase...

SAS group.(EUROPE Report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... SAS Group reported net income of SEK636 million ($98.6 million) for 2007, significantly lower than a SEK4.74 billion profit in 2006 that was attributable mostly to that year's sale of its 65% holding in the Rezidor Hotel Group. Excluding the...

EasyJet.(EUROPE Report)(easyJet Airline Company Ltd.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... EasyJet reported revenue of [pounds sterling]418 million ($820.1 million) in the fiscal first quarter ended Dec. 31, up 14.1% from the year-ago period, as it maintained its full-year guidance of a 20% increase in pre-tax earnings.

Swiss International Air Lines.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Swiss International Air Lines and Kuoni Travel Holding will launch a comprehensive partnership under which Swiss will acquire Kuoni's leisure carrier, Edelweiss Air, reportedly for CHF75 million ($68.2 million), while Kuoni will offer a range...

German travel conglomerate TUI.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... German travel conglomerate TUI signed an MOU with Lufthansa at the end of January to combine their LCC subsidiaries under one "joint and independent holding company." TUI owns TUIfly, the combination of Hapag-Lloyd Flug and Hapag-Lloyd Express,...

Lufthansa.(EUROPE Report)(Deutsche Lufthansa AG)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Lufthansa said it will increase fares [euro]15 one way and [euro]30 roundtrip for flights departing Germany and Austria that are booked through GDSs beginning July 1. It will continue to offer its pre-hike fares through its website, call...

Ryanair's.(EUROPE Report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Ryanair's net income for the fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31 slipped 1.2% to [euro]47.2 million ($69.8 million) from [euro]47.7 million in the year-ago period. Revenue increased 15.6% to [euro]569.4 million but expenses climbed 20.6% to...

Finnair.(EUROPE Report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Finnair earned [euro]101.6 million ($150.5 million) for 2007, reversing a net loss of [euro]13.6 million in 2006, on a 9.6% lift in revenue to [euro]2.18 billion. President and CEO Jukka Hienonen said one-time restructuring costs were "evident"...

Aeroflot.(EUROPE Report)(Aeroflot Russian Airlines)(Financial report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Aeroflot said its net profit through the first nine months of 2007 nearly doubled to $357.3 million according to International Financial Reporting Standards, from $186.3 million in the year-ago period. Consolidated revenue climbed 31.9%...

Airberlin.(EUROPE Report)
March 1, 2008... Airberlin said Saudi Arabian investor Kamal Abdullah purchased 3.1% of the carrier through Moab Investments. Vatas is AB's largest shareholder at close to 18.6%.

Austrian Airlines group.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Austrian Airlines Group announced that Saudi investor Mohamed bin Iassa Al-Jaber is in talks with airline management about a plan to invest [euro]150 million ($221.7 million) in the flag carrier. Separately, Austrian said that CFO Thomas...

Malev Hungarian Airlines.(EUROPE Report)
March 1, 2008... Malev Hungarian Airlines will shift its Moscow operation to Domodedovo from Sheremetyevo from March 30.

CSA Czech Airlines.(EUROPE Report)
March 1, 2008... CSA Czech Airlines approved the sale of its Air Czech Catering subsidiary to Alpha Overseas Holdings.

Estonian Air.(EUROPE Report)
March 1, 2008... Estonian Air said it reached a labor agreement with the Estonian Transport and Road Workers Union that will include a 12.1% salary increase this year.

Thales.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Thales will provide a package of avionics and cockpit systems for the A350 XWB including the Integrated Modular Avionics Suite, Interactive Control and Display system and Air Data and inertial reference unit. Contract is expected to generate up...

Alenia Aeronautica and Sukhoi Civil Aircraft.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Alenia Aeronautica and Sukhoi Civil Aircraft announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin signed off on the Italian firm's acquisition of a 25%-plus-one-share stake in the Russian OEM in January. Sukhoi is designing and producing the...

Lufthansa Technik AG.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Lufthansa Technik AG is investing [euro]50 million ($73.2 million) to expand its engine maintenance business in Hamburg. The new 15,000-sq.-m. facility will start operations early next year and should increase annual engine maintenance from 320...

Iberia Maintenance.(EUROPE Report)
March 1, 2008... Iberia Maintenance reached a five-year deal with Eurofly and Meridiana for maintenance of 20 CFM56-5B engines powering eight A320s and two A319s.

Lufthansa Systems.(EUROPE Report)(Silverjet )(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Lufthansa Systems signed an eight-year contract with Rossiya for the ProfitLine/ Yield revenue management solution and ProfitLine/Price pricing solution. Silverjet selected LHS's Lido Operations Center flight planning application...

STAR Capital Partners.(EUROPE Report)(Oxford Aviation Academy)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... STAR Capital Partners combined its flight training organizations under the Oxford Aviation Academy name. Oxford predecessor companies are GCAT Flight Academy (formed through the combination of GE Commercial Aviation Training and SAS Flight...

AJ Walter Leasing.(EUROPE Report)
March 1, 2008... AJ Walter Leasing signed a six-year, $6 million deal with Alitalia to provide A321 spare parts.

SITA.(EUROPE Report)
March 1, 2008... SITA announced creation of a Geneva-based technology research facility, SITA Lab, focused on driving innovation for the air transport industry.

AD Aerospace.(EUROPE Report)
March 1, 2008... AD Aerospace said airBaltic selected its CabinVu-123 Cockpit Door Monitoring System for 737s and 757s.

Copenhagen Airports.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Copenhagen Airports supervisory board said it plans to invest DKK1 billion ($196.1 million) in 2008 to improve check-in facilities, gates, aircraft stands, baggage facilities and security, among others. It will add 150 employees this year.

European Airline traffic January 2008.(Fact file)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Load [+ or -] RPKs % chg. ASKs % chg. factor 2007 Airline (billions) 2007 (billions) 2007 (%) Aer Lingus 1.07 16.4 1.67 ...

Blue Air Transport Aerian.(BOUND FOR BUCHAREST)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Caption: Blue Air Transport Aerian of Romania, which started operations in 2004 as the country's first low-cost carrier, ordered two 737-800s and optioned two more. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Air Canada.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
March 1, 2008... Air Canada reported net income of C$429 million ($426.3 million) for 2007, significantly improved from a net loss of C$74 million in 2006, crediting "an unrelenting focus on cost reduction" and the strength of the Canadian dollar that...

JetBlue Airways and Lufthansa.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(JetBlue Airways Corp.)(Deutsche Lufthansa AG)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... JetBlue Airways and Lufthansa completed their stock purchase agreement under which LH took a 19% stake in the New York JFK-based LCC. The carriers said they intend to "begin exploring innovative commercial arrangements designed to benefit both...

United Airlines.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... United Airlines will charge economy passengers traveling on discounted fares on its North American network $25 to check a second bag beginning May 5. The fee will apply to passengers buying nonrefundable economy tickets who do not have status...

Frontier Airlines holdings.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Frontier Airlines Holdings, parent of Frontier Airlines and Lynx Aviation, lost $32.5 million in its fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31, widened from a loss of $14.4 million in the year-ago period. Revenue rose 23.1% to $333.9 million but...

Allegiant Air.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(financial report of Allegiant Air L.L.C.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Allegiant Air parent Allegiant Travel Co.'s 2007 net income more than tripled to $31.5 million from $8.7 million in 2006. Operating revenue soared 48.2% to $360.6 million, expenses climbed 43.4% and operating profit nearly doubled to $44.1...

Continental Airlines.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Continental Airlines Inc. offers wireless connectivity under an agreement with JetBlue Airways Corp.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Continental Airlines will offer live television and wireless connectivity on its domestic 737NGs and 757-300s beginning in January 2009 under an agreement with JetBlue Airways subsidiary LiveTV (see article, p. 48).

US FAA.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(United States. Federal Aviation Administration)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... US FAA Acting Administrator Bobby Sturgell's nomination to a five-year term to lead the agency is unlikely as two Democratic Senators have placed a "hold" on the nomination, citing primarily FAA's contentious relations with its controllers...

UPS.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(UPS Airlines introduces revenue flights)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... UPS in January for the first time operated two revenue flights simultaneously using Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems' ADS-B-based SafeRoute program aboard 757-200Fs and plans to conduct such flights about once a week through the...

Boeing.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
March 1, 2008... Boeing recorded a bumper year in 2007 with an 84% increase in net income to $4.1 billion on revenues that rose 8% to $66.4 billion as backlog reached a record $327 billion, up 31% on 2006. Boeing Commercial Airplanes' full-year operating...

Kaman Aerospace.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Boeing Co. signed an agreement with Kaman Aerospace Corp. for aircrafts)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Kaman Aerospace said its Aerostructures Division signed a seven-year follow-on contract with Boeing for wing fixed trailing edge assemblies on 777 and 767 aircraft. Contract covers components for 777 and 767 configurations at Boeing annual...

GKN aerospace.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
March 1, 2008... GKN Aerospace announced delivery of the first blended winglet for 737-300/-500 aircraft ahead of schedule.

EDS.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
March 1, 2008... EDS reached agreement with Continental Airlines to provide its fare quote solution Electronic Fares Services aimed at streamlining access to "accurate and dependable" airfares.

STG Aerospace.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Boeing Co. extends its contract with STG Aerospace Ltd.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... STG Aerospace said Boeing will extend its SafTGlo deal for five more years. Valued at $1.5 million, the contract will increase production for 737NGs to more than 30 aircraft per month during 2008.

Parker Aerospace.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
March 1, 2008... Parker Aerospace won a $2 billion contract from Airbus to provide fuel and hydraulic systems for the A350 XWB.

Telair International.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
March 1, 2008... Telair International reached agreement with Boeing to supply the cargo-handling system for the 747-8. Contract covers main deck and lower hold systems.

ARINC.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
March 1, 2008... ARINC won US FAA certification for issuing aircraft STCs and performing related service and modification work under the new Organization Designation Authorization program.

ASIG.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
March 1, 2008... ASIG won a seven-year deal to provide full ground handling services to the 16 airlines operating at New York JFK's Terminal 1.

US majors traffic January 2008.(FACT FILE)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... US Majors traffic January 2008 * [+ or -] RPMs % chg ASMs % chg. LF chg. Air line (bil.) 2007 (bil.) 2007 (%) 2007 Air Tran 1.22...

LAN.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN Report)(LAN Airlines S.A.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... LAN reported net income of $308 million for 2007, a 27.8% increase over $241 million earned in 2006, as it was rewarded for its ongoing rapid expansion. Revenue rose 16.2% to $3.53 billion while expenses escalated 13.9% to $3.11 billion,...

VEM.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN Report)
March 1, 2008... VEM was contracted by Aerolineas Sudamericanas to provide corrosion prevention and control program services for 727s. TAT on the first 727 was under eight days.

Iridium Satellite.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Iridium Satellite said Avianca Airlines selected Avionica's Iridium-based satLINK Communications Module for its 14 757s and 767s. Technology offers voice and data capabilities to complement radio cockpit communications.

El Al.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST Report)(El Al Israel Airlines)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... El Al will receive a significant financial boost from the Israeli government to cover rising security expenses while smaller rivals Arkia Israel Airlines and Israir Airlines will get access to previously monopolized long-haul routes, according...

Emirates.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST Report)(Emirates Airline)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Emirates Chairman and CEO Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum confirmed the airline's intention to float a 20%-30% stake in an interview with Emirates Business 24/7 in which he also said EK continues to target a $1 billion profit for the fiscal year...

Lufthansa.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST Report)(Deutsche Lufthansa AG will operate A319LR aircraft from june 1)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Lufthansa will start operating a wet-leased PrivatAir A319LR outfitted with an all-businessclass cabin on a Munich-Dubai flight from June 1, creating a year round service that will supplement LH's winter flights aboard a three-class A340300,...

India and Saudi Arabia.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... India and Saudi Arabia signed an air services agreement that will more than double the number of available seats per week between the countries to 20,000 from 8,500. Saudi carriers now can fly to Bangalore, Lucknow and Calicut in addition to...

Boeing Commercial Aviation Services.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST Report)(Boeing Co. signed an agreement with El Al Israel Airlines)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Boeing Commercial Aviation Services reached agreement with El Al to provide landing gear MRO services for the carrier's 777s. Contract features a landing gear exchange program.

Sabre Airline Solutions.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST Report)(Saudi Arabian Airlines Corp. signed an agreement with Sabre Holdings Corp. Sabre Airline Solutions for network management software,ground handling and cargo revenue management software)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Sabre Airline Solutions said Saudi Arabian Airlines signed agreements for network management, operations, ground handling and cargo revenue management solutions. Separately, Sabre said Etihad Crystal Cargo will use Sabre's CargoMax Revenue...

Swissport South Africa.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST Report)
March 1, 2008... Swissport South Africa reached agreement with South African Airways to provide airport ramp handling in South Africa from Feb. 1.