Air Transport World articles from March 2009

Air Transport World archives from March 2009

Trends.(airline traffic)(Statistical table)
March 1, 2009... WORLD AIRLINE TRAFFIC JANUARY-NOVEMBER 2008 US 2008 2007 % chg RPKs (mil.) 1,204,658 1,227,184 -1.8 ASKs (mil.) 1,512,782 1,529,033 -1.1 Pass. (000) 684,100 708,800 -3.5 Pass. LF (%) ...

Silence means agreement.(Editorial)
March 1, 2009... A year ago we expressed concern over a growing tendency on the part of certain environmental organizations to "move the goal posts" as soon as the airline industry came close to scoring a green goal. Unfortunately, that habit was fully...

Airline heavyweights look to lead on emissions.(NewsBriefs)(Air France KLM S.A.)(British Airways PLC)(Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Air France KLM, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Virgin Atlantic Airways and UK airports operator BAA announced formation of the Aviation Global Deal Group, which expressed its support for inclusion of carbon dioxide emissions in a "new...

EC has 'doubts' on Austrian-LH deal.(NewsBriefs)(European Commission)(Deutsche Lufthansa AG's acquisition of Austrian Airlines)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... The European Commission opened its formal investigation into the privatization and restructuring of Austrian Airlines Group, including its sale to Lufthansa, expressing "doubts that the price to be paid by Lufthansa reflects the market price...

Aircraft deferrals, cancellations rise.(NewsBriefs)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... The industry downturn and credit crunch are nibbling into manufacturers' record backlogs and causing them to ponder production cuts. Boeing has lost orders for at least 31 787s so far in 2009, while Airbus reported 12 cancellations for A320...

UK ponders limiting leisure flying.(NewsBriefs)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... The UK's so-called "environment czar" in February raised the possibility of rationing air travel, limiting UK citizens to just "a few vacation trips" abroad by air per year in order to reduce CO2 emissions. Adair Turner, chairman of the...

Alliances draw concern in Congress.(NewsBriefs)(James Oberstar's airline legislation )(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Stating that he was "increasingly concerned with the decline of competition in international markets," US House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) last month introduced legislation...

First 777-300ER.(FIRST DELIVERY, LAUNCH TO FOLLOW)(V Australia Airlines' contract with International Lease Finance Corp.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... First 777-300ER for V Australia Airlines was delivered in early February. It is leased from ILFC. V Australia was set to launch service between Sydney and Los Angeles Feb. 27. (see Waypoints, p. 21) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Japan Airlines.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Japan Airlines parent JAL Group reported a net loss of [yen]38.5 billion ($428 million) for its fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31, reversed from a [yen]13.1 billion net profit in the year-ago period, citing a "downward slide" in demand driven...

ANA.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(All Nippon Airways Company Ltd.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... ANA suffered a [yen]12.6 billion ($140 million) loss in the same quarter, reversed from a [yen]12.4 billion profit in the year-ago period. Revenue fell 6.4% to [yen]354 billion while costs climbed 3.5% to [yen]363.5 billion. Operating result...

Singapore Airlines Group.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Singapore Airlines Group stayed profitable in its fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31, earning S$337.2 million ($225.5 million), down 43% from the S$590 million earned in the year-earlier period. Revenue fell 2.6% to $4.16 billion while a S$125...

Qantas.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
March 1, 2009... Qantas reported a A$216 million ($138 million) profit for the half-year ended Dec. 31, down 65% from A$618 million earned in the year-ago semester, and announced a A$500 million share placement designed to "enhance financial flexibility." The...

Korean Air.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
March 1, 2009... Korean Air reported a full-year 2008 net loss of KRW1.96 trillion ($1.4 billion), reversed from a net profit of KRW11.1 billion in 2007, citing the weak won as the biggest contributor to the heavy deficit. KE's full-year revenue rose 15.9% to...

Jet Airways.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
March 1, 2009... Jet Airways posted a INR2.14 billion ($42.8 million) loss in its third fiscal quarter ended Dec. 31, widened from a INR911.2 million deficit in the year-ago period, and said it will maintain focus on "domestic market consolidation" and "cost...

Australian Consumer and Competition Commission.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Australian Consumer and Competition Commission finalized its preliminary ruling to reject plans by Air New Zealand and Air Canada to codeshare between Sydney and Vancouver and Auckland and Vancouver.

Shanghai-based.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Spring Airlines and Juneyao Airlines financial news)(Financial report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Shanghai-based Spring Airlines and Juneyao Airlines stood out among China's struggling privately held carriers and reported a profitable 2008. Spring posted a CNY21 million ($3.1 million) net profit, down 70% from the more than CNY70 million...

Okay Airways.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Okay Airways, the Tianjin-based carrier that was grounded in December following a dispute between management and shareholders, was approved by CAAC to resume most flying operations Feb. 1.

AVIC.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(Aviation Industries of China I)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... AVIC launched its commercial engine company in Shanghai on Jan. 18. It holds 40% and Shanghai Electric Group and Shanghai Guosheng Group each hold 15%. The remaining 30% is up for bid. AVIC President Lin Zuoming said the venture is expected to...

Airbus.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(contract with Chinese industrial partners )(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Airbus finalized an agreement with a group of Chinese industrial partners to establish the Harbin Hafei Airbus Composite Manufacturing Centre to produce composite parts and components for A350 XWBs and A320s.

CFM International.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
March 1, 2009... CFM International signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International to collaborate on developing a CFM56 maintenance training center.

Rockwell Collins.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
March 1, 2009... Rockwell Collins will provide Hainan Airlines with communication, navigation and surveillance avionics for 13 A320s. Deliveries will begin in 2010.

SITA.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
March 1, 2009... SITA said Singapore Airlines launched its upgraded AirportHub solution.

Naverus.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)
March 1, 2009... Naverus said it will develop Required Navigation Performance procedures for China Eastern Airlines for operating into Lhasa, Tibet, with 737NG and A319 aircraft.

Airports of Thailand.(ASIA/PACIFIC Report)(price cuts)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Airports of Thailand will cut landing and parking fees by 20% from Feb. 1 to Sept. 30 in an effort to boost tourism, President Serirat Prasutanont said recently, according to Reuters.

British Airways.(EUROPE Report)
March 1, 2009... British Airways lost [pounds sterling]127 million ($286 million) in the nine months ended Dec. 31 compared to a [pounds sterling]642 million profit in the year-earlier period, implying a net loss of [pounds sterling]85 million in its third...

Lufthansa Italia.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Lufthansa Italia launched scheduled service Feb. 2 with thrice-daily flights from Milan Malpensa to Paris Charles de Gaulle and Barcelona using two A319s. It will add further destinations this month as four more A319s arrive.

Iberia.(EUROPE Report)(Iberia Lineas Aereas de Espana S.A.)(Financial report)
March 1, 2009... Iberia was set to report net income of [euro]32 million ($42.2 million) for 2008 when full-year results were announced Feb. 27, a 90% plunge from the prior year. It said it would suffer a [euro]79 million operating loss on a 1.3% decline in...

Ryanair.(EUROPE Report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Ryanair reported a [euro]118.8 million ($152.1 million) net loss for the fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31, a sharp reversal from the [euro]47.2 million earned in the year-earlier period, owing primarily to a 71% increase in fuel costs and a...

SAS Group.(EUROPE Report)(Scandinavian Airlines System)(Financial report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... SAS Group suffered a SEK6.32 billion ($754.7 million) full-year loss, reversed from a SEK636 million profit in 2007, and unveiled a new restructuring initiative dubbed Core SAS that will include a SEK6 billion rights issue and approximately...

Finnair.(EUROPE Report)
March 1, 2009... Finnair lost [euro]42 million ($54.4 million) in 2008, down from a [euro]101.6 million profit in 2007. Revenue rose 3.8% to [euro]2.26 billion and operating result reversed to a [euro]52.1 million loss from a [euro]141.5 million profit....

Thomas Cook Group.(EUROPE Report)(Thomas Cook Airlines UK Ltd's investment in Condor Airlines)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Thomas Cook Group announced that it plans to acquire Lufthansa's 24.9% stake in its Condor Airlines subsidiary for [euro]77.2 million ($99.9 million) under options granted in 2007. Condor transported just under 7 million passengers last year....

Virgin Atlantic Airways.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Virgin Atlantic Airways confirmed that it has commenced consultation with staff and union representatives about the possibility of cutting 600 jobs from its 8,500-person workforce, saying it is seeking to avoid layoffs but cannot rule them out....

Malev.(EUROPE Report)(Malev Hungarian Airlines acquire with Vneshekonombank)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Malev, which had been owned by the AirBridge consortium led by Russian investor Boris Abramovich, will be taken over by Russia's state-owned Vneshekonombank owing to the "previous owner's weak management and the global financial crisis,"...

Czech Republic and Singapore.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Czech Republic and Singapore signed an open skies agreement on Jan. 19. There currently are no direct services between the countries. Singapore and Iceland concluded an open skies agreement that includes 7th freedom rights.

Cimber Air.(EUROPE Report)
March 1, 2009... Cimber Air, which acquired bankrupt Sterling Airlines' assets in December, will relaunch the carrier at Copenhagen as Cimber Sterling.

Olympic Airlines.(EUROPE Report)
March 1, 2009... Olympic Airlines privatization effort failed. Development Minister Costis Hatzidakis told reporters in early February that "the bids that were submitted do not meet our demands."

FlyLAL Lithuanian Airlines.(EUROPE Report)
March 1, 2009... FlyLAL Lithuanian Airlines ceased operations and filed for bankruptcy in January after its expected acquisition by SCH Swiss Capital Holdings fell through.

Airbus.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Airbus issued a Safety Bulletin to A320 operators relating to the importance of protecting all aerodynamic data sensors during painting and MRO and performing low-speed tests at safe altitudes. The warnings came during the continuing...

Alliant Techsystems.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Alliant Techsystems won a contract with Rolls-Royce to produce composite aft fan cases for the Trent XWB that will power the A350. Contract is valued at more than $200 million.

Lufthansa Technik.(EUROPE Report)
March 1, 2009... Lufthansa Technik signed a 10-year Total Technical Support contract with AeroLogic to provide maintenance services on 11 777 freighters.

SR Technics.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... SR Technics is closing its operation at Dublin Airport, citing contract losses from major load customers, current business projections and high costs. It is in consultations with unions representing 1,135 employees affected by the decision. ...

Air France Industries and KLM Engineering & Maintenance.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Air France Industries and KLM Engineering & Maintenance signed a six-year contract to maintain the CF6-50C2 engines on Kelowna Flightcraft's DC-10-30Fs. AFI, KLM E&M and Aviation Repair Technologies Services formed a joint venture, Turbine...

Turkish Technic.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Turkish Technic provided C checks on Istanbul-based Onur Air's A300-600s. It will conduct C checks on A320s operated by Air Via of Bulgaria and maintenance services for two Somon Air 737-800s and two Iraqi Airways 737-700s.

ACSS.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... ACSS said it was selected by Air Berlin "to launch a collaborative program to implement and certify its SafeRoute Merging & Spacing function in the European airspace."

Lufthansa Systems.(EUROPE Report)
March 1, 2009... Lufthansa Systems reached a three-year extension on its contract with KLM cityhopper to use its NetLine/ Crew, NetLine/Ops and NetLine/Ops Maintenance Control technologies.

SITA.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... SITA announced that S7 Airlines will implement SITA Marketplace-Air, enabling sales agents, partner travel agents and customers booking on S7's website to access last-seat availability on 530 airlines through SITA Reservations.

IntraPoint.(EUROPE Report)
March 1, 2009... IntraPoint signed an agreement with Icelandair Group to implement its Crisis Manager Web-based software solution for handling incidents and crises.

Fraport.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Fraport in January received approval from the Hessen state court to begin construction of the fourth runway and third terminal at Frankfurt Airport. Fraport sold its unprofitable 65% stake in Frankfurt-Hahn to the State of...

Schiphol Group.(EUROPE Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Schiphol Group, operator of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, plans to cut 10%-25% of its 2,200-person workforce by year end. It cited a "strong decline in traffic and increasing international competition."

European Airline traffic January 2009.(FACT FILE)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... European Airline traffic January 2009 RPKs % chg. ASKs % chg. Load Airline (billions) 2008 (billions) 2008 factor (%) 2008 Aer Lingus 1.01 -5.6 1.56 -6.1 ...

Singapore Airlines.(A FIRST FOR SINGAPORE)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Singapore Airlines took delivery of the first of 19 Rolls-Royce Trent 700-powered A330-300s. Aircraft is being leased from AWAS. Heretofore, SIA has not operated the type. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Airbus got a boost.(BOOSTING THE BACKLOG)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Airbus got a boost to its A380 backlog when Korean Air placed orders for two more A380s, bringing its firm commitment to 10. The additional A380s arrive in May and June 2014. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

United Airlines and Aer Lingus.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... United Airlines and Aer Lingus announced a transatlantic codesharing venture intended to "capitalize on the growth opportunities presented by the [EU-US] open skies agreement" beginning with a daily Madrid-Washington Dulles service launching in...

Delta Air Lines and subsidiary Northwest Airlines.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Delta Air Lines and subsidiary Northwest Airlines will stop using about 170 gates at airports throughout the US as the merged carriers consolidate operations. The Metropolitan Airports Commission, which manages Minneapolis-St. Paul...

US National Transportation Safety Board.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... US National Transportation Safety Board confirmed that the birds ingested in the CFM56-5B/P engines of the US Airways A320 that successfully ditched in the Hudson River on Jan. 15 were Canada Geese, which "typically" range in size from 5.8 to...

Air Canada.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Air Canada will lay off or furlough 345 flight attendants starting in March on top of the 600-plus flight attendant positions it cut last year. Layoffs are expected to be temporary and could be rescinded if demand increases during the summer,...

Southwest Airlines.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Southwest Airlines, after more than two years of negotiations, reached a tentative five-year deal with its pilot union that will run through Aug. 31, 2011, if approved by the union's board and membership. SWA also announced that the Aircraft...

American Airlines.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... American Airlines mechanics and technical specialists represented by the Transport Workers Union filed for US federal mediation in late January following 14 months of negotiations. AA's negotiations with the Allied Pilots Assn. and Assn. of...

US Airways.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(promotion of Derek Kerr and Brad Jensen )(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... US Airways told employees it will lay off 233 ramp workers and gate/ticket agents in 10 cities owing to capacity cuts and the loss of contracts to provide ground services to other airlines at affected airports. US promoted Senior VP and...

WestJet.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
March 1, 2009... WestJet reported 2008 net income of C$178.1 million ($145.2 million), down 7.6% from C$192.8 million in 2007, hailing the performance in a "roller coaster year" in which nearly all North American airlines posted losses. Fourth-quarter net...

Sabre.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Sabre announced that WestJet chose SabreSonic Customer Sales and Service as its new reservations system, bringing an end to a search that began with its 2003 decision to replace Navitaire's Open Skies and included a two-year detour with aiRES.

Alaska Airlines.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Alaska Airlines and the Assn. of Flight Attendants-CWA announced a tentative two-year contract extension covering AS's 2,830 cabin crew. Deal is subject to ratification by union members and would extend the current contract through April 2012.

JetBlue Airways pilots.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
March 1, 2009... JetBlue Airways pilots failed to form a union, with only 33.4% of the approximately 1,937 pilots voting in favor of empowering the JetBlue Pilots Assn.

Allegiant Air.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Allegiant Travel Co's revenue)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Allegiant Air parent Allegiant Travel Co. earned $35.4 million last year, up 12.4% from $31.5 million earned in 2007, as it benefited from plunging fuel prices. Revenue climbed 39.8% to $504 million. Operating income rose 26.8% to $55.8...

Virgin America.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Virgin America suffered a $175.4 million loss in the first three quarters of 2008. Nine-month revenue came to $259.6 million with a load factor of 77.6%.

Sun Country Airlines.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
March 1, 2009... Sun Country Airlines lost $21.4 million in 2008, narrowed from a $35 million deficit in 2007.

US government.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
March 1, 2009... US government will release up to $25 million in funding for research and development of biofuels, including aviation biofuels.

Boeing.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
March 1, 2009... Boeing's 2008 net profit plunged 34% to $2.7 billion from $4.1 billion in 2007. Results were impacted by the machinist strike and delays in aircraft programs. The company said it will cut 5,500 additional jobs this year, bringing announced job...

Pratt & Whitney.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(contract with Evergreen International Airlines Inc.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Pratt & Whitney said it completed "flawless" ground and flight testing of the PurePower PW1000G demonstrator engine, including more than 75 hr. of flight testing on an A340-600 testbed in Toulouse in cooperation with Airbus. Pratt reached...

Goodrich Corp.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(contract with Airbus S.A.S.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Goodrich Corp. reached a five-year flight-hr. agreement with Airbus to provide MRO and asset management services on Goodrich components as part of an Airbus Total Support Package for Singapore Airlines' 19 leased A330s.

Jeppesen and Continental Airlines.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
March 1, 2009... Jeppesen and Continental Airlines are working together to define "a multiyear Required Navigation Performance program" for CO under a recently signed letter of intent.

Aveos Fleet Performance.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
March 1, 2009... Aveos Fleet Performance extended its agreement with Air Canada for maintenance services on CFM56-5As and -5Bs through 2018.

AerCap Holdings.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(AeroTurbine's contract with Aveos )(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... AerCap Holdings subsidiary AeroTurbine will supply Aveos with engine and airframe components under a five-year lease agreement. Under a separate five-year deal, Aveos will provide AeroTurbine with MRO on CFM56-2s, -3s and -5s.

Mxi Technologies.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
March 1, 2009... Mxi Technologies will provide Pratt & Whitney with its Maintenix aftermarket software to support the OEM's power-by-the-hour contracts.

STG Aerospace.(NORTH AMERICA Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... STG Aerospace said US FAA amended its STC approval for its Wireless Emergency Primary Power System to include 737-300, -400 and -500 aircraft in addition to 737NGs already certified.

Nav Canada.(NORTH AMERICA Report)
March 1, 2009... Nav Canada introduced ADS-B coverage over the Hudson Bay in January, eliminating "an 850,000-sq.-km. gap in Canada's radar coverage."

US Majors Traffic January 2009.(FACT FILE)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... US Majors Traffic January 2009 * RPMs (bil.) % chg 2008 ASMs % chg. 2008 LF (%) chg. Airline (bil.) 2008 AirTran 1.27 4.5 1.74 ...

LAN Airlines.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN Report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... LAN Airlines reported a 2008 profit of $335.7 million, up 8.9% from the $308.3 million earned in 2007. It credited the positive performance to its "solid and flexible business model and the leadership position it has established in the markets...

Air Jamaica.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Air Jamaica released a 2009 business plan designed to "quickly stem the substantial cash losses at the company." It includes a reduction of the fleet to nine aircraft and cancellation of flights to six US and Caribbean cities.

Bandeirante.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN Report)(Manaus Aerotaxi's Bandeirante met with an accident)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Bandeirante operated by Brazil's Manaus Aerotaxi crashed in the Manacapuru River Feb. 7 while en route to the Amazon city of Coari, killing both pilots and 22 of the 26 passengers onboard. The aircraft was certified to carry a maximum of 19...

Agreement of Facilitation of Aerial Transport in Central America.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN Report)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Agreement of Facilitation of Aerial Transport in Central America, creating a unified regulatory body and domestic Central American market, was adopted by the governments of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua. It "will facilitate the...

Gol.(LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN Report)
March 1, 2009... Gol named commercial foresting executive Leonardo Pereira as executive VP and CFO, succeeding Richard Lark.

South African Airways.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST Report)(South African Airways' Khaya Ngqula )(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... South African Airways CEO Khaya Ngqula was placed on leave in mid-February after the carrier's board commissioned an independent investigation of alleged improprieties, particularly concerning a catering contract that was awarded to a...

Kuwait Airways.(AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST Report)(Kuwait Airways Corp. to receive $300 million from the Iraqi government as compensation )(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Kuwait Airways will receive $300 million from the Iraqi government in compensation for damage incurred during the 1990 invasion. A government spokesperson told the Associated Press that the cabinet "approved a final and comprehensive...