Airline Business articles from January 2004

Airline Business archives from January 2004

Three's a.
January 1, 2004... crowd Argentina's economic crisis has left it with only two major airlines, but other Latin players have their eye on a state-owned start-up that the government promises to sell Argentina is starting to recover from the worst economic...

Domestic.
January 1, 2004... union The merger of JAL and JAS in 2002 to form the world's second-largest carrier has given the merged group some much-needed balance Late in the spring of 2001, Hiromi Funabiki, then chief executive at Japan Air System (JAS)...

The big.
January 1, 2004... sleep Concorde has left the scene and major international airlines have been investing heavily to convince well-heeled passengers that they can still receive luxury service, but without a supersonic price tag For your main course -...

Atlas Air falls short.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... There was more bad news for air cargo lessor Atlas Air in December when it admitted its revenue for the September quarter and first nine months had fallen "significantly below" projections. The news has put back an agreement with creditors...

Bidders vie for Air Canada.
January 1, 2004... Air Canada's restructuring became a battlefield in December as rival bidders fought each other in a contest for ownership and control of the airline. A month earlier, Air Canada's board had approved the C$650 million ($495 million) equity...

ACIstrikes back at IATA.(Airports Council International, International Air Transport Association)
January 1, 2004... After a year of continuous pressure from IATA over airport charges, the Airports Council International (ACI) has made its most forthright rebuttal yet of airline claims over the issue. It also demands that IATA"call off the disinformation...

United plots bankruptcy exit with financing deals.
January 1, 2004... United Airlines has won significant private sector funding, and is working on government backing, to successfully leave court bankruptcy protection by mid-2004. United Airlines has secured $2 billion in financing from JPMorgan and...

Peace boost for SriLankan.
January 1, 2004... SriLankan Airlines is entering a major growth programme as peace holds in its home country, with an expansion of international operations and the launch of its first domestic flights. The expansion includes the addition of seven aircraft to...

UK-HK sign bilateral deal.
January 1, 2004... The UK and Hong Kong government's have agreed a bilateral that would provide Cathay Pacific with fifth-freedom rights from London to New York, in return for Virgin Atlantic getting similar rights on the Hong Kong-Sydney route. However, the...

Star shows its sharing side.
January 1, 2004... As it presses ahead with major advances in IT integration, the Star Alliance is looking to increase commercial joint ventures in other areas such as the buying of jet fuel. Star chief information officer Mike Stagl says the alliance...

UK highlights need for more runways.
January 1, 2004... The UK government's long-awaited proposal on future airport development has recommended a second runway for London Stansted and left open the possibility of a third runway at London Heathrow in the 2015-20 period. The UK government has...

Single Sky set for lift off.
January 1, 2004... Europe's Single Sky initiative to reform air traffic management (ATM) is set to go ahead after transport ministers and the European Parliament agreed a common position. Although the European Commission's (EC)initial outline for the project...

SIA launches into low-cost.(Singapore Airlines to launch low-fare airline Tiger Airways)
January 1, 2004... Singapore Airlines (SIA) is to enter the low-fare market in partnership with foreign investors including the founder of Europe's Ryanair Tony Ryan and David Bonderman. Tiger Airways is due to launch in the second half of 2004 from...

Economy.(the economics of aircraft cabin design)
January 1, 2004... makeover While the industry pumps investment into premium products, manufacturers are working on more comfortable and cheaper economy seats The major issue faced by designers in the economy cabin is straightforward: lack of real...

No more.(inflight catering trends)
January 1, 2004... free lunches US carriers are taking a new approach to in-flight catering, with many charging passengers for better quality refreshments in economy Over the years, US airlines have grown used to criticism for cutting back service, but...

That's.(inflight entertainment forecast)
January 1, 2004... entertainment The in-flight entertainment market is gathering pace once more with three main suppliers keen to capture a share Airline spending on in-flight entertainment (IFE) appears to have grown in 2003, representing the first rise...

In brief.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Virgin Blue goes public Virgin Blue's initial public offer raised A$660 million ($488 million) capital in Australia's biggest public float of 2003. Shares were 10 times oversubscribed, prompting the Virgin Group to sell down its stake to...

Down to business.
January 1, 2004... Periodic reorganisations of the cumbersome USFAA are often flagged as major initiatives, but achieve little. The latest looks a little different The announcement of yet another FAA reorganisation usually wins plenty of yawns and shrugs....

Special report.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Services As traffic starts to return, the industry is beginning to renew investment in the in-flight product, with moves to differentiate the premium cabin gaining fresh momentum. New thinking on seats, menus and in-flight systems are...

Amadeus answers airlines with two-tier value pricing.
January 1, 2004... Global distribution provider Amadeus has responded to growing demands from airlines to reduce booking fees by introducing a two-tier pricing structure based on "value" to the airline. The move comes as the pricing power of global...

Three Thai carriers sound no-frills fanfare for Asia.
January 1, 2004... Thailand is fast establishing itself as the hotbed of activity on the fledgling low-fare airline front in Asia, with at least three players getting into the market. Privately owned Orient Thai Airlines was the first to do so, launching its...

Vietnam signs two historic pacts.
January 1, 2004... Vietnam Airlines is stepping up its preparations to launch services to the USA, after an historic air services agreement was signed between the US and Vietnamese governments. In another deal, Vietnam has signed a multilateral accord with...

Peace reigns at Aerolineas.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Argentina's government has stopped its six-month bashing of Aerolineas Argentinas and awarded the airline a new route to China. This turnaround follows a sustained campaign against Aerolineas that started shortly after President Nestor...

In brief.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Aeropostal leads alliance trend Plans by Venezuela's Aeropostal to form a non-equity alliance with Ecuador's Aerogal are part of a growing trend. Aeropostal already has an alliance with Colombia's Aerorepublica, in which it holds a...

Hidden.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... lift Already the world's leading passenger wetlease operator, Air Atlanta is moving into cargo Air Atlanta Icelandic may not be the industry's best-known brand, but it is certainly becoming more visible to residents of its home base...

Volga-Dnepr targets China.
January 1, 2004... The imminent launch of a new low-cost cargo operator between Europe and China is causing concern to other freighter operators on the route. Air Bridge Cargo will be the first conventional Boeing 747 freighter airline in Russia and is the...

Qantas fights its corner.
January 1, 2004... Qantas Airways has successfully lobbied to stop Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific gaining fifth freedom rights beyond Australia as new bilateral deals keep its rivals off routes to the USA. At the same time it is appealing over the decision...

Jetstar takes shape for May start.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Qantas Airways has named its domestic discount unit Jetstar and unveiled plans for the new carrier to start flying in May. Jetstar will be based in Melbourne and focus on leisure routes. It will begin selling seats in February. Jetstar...

Air Do edges into profit.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Independent Japanese carrier Air Do is reporting significant progress in restructuring, with its first profits since it launched operations. The carrier, formally known as Hokkaido International Airlines, turned a pre-tax profit of [acute...

Breaking.
January 1, 2004... new ground Network and low-cost carriers are busy transforming their ground and passenger services using outsourcing, new technology and shared facilities Nobody said it would happen overnight, but a reinvention of ground and...

Ryanair opens two bases.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... With the opening of new bases at Rome Ciampino and Girona Barcelona airports early this year, Ryanair is taking to 11 its total number of European stations. The move comes after Ryanair announced a batch of new routes across its network as well...

BA and Iberia grow closer as alliance is approved.
January 1, 2004... The British Airways/Iberia relationship has tightened further following the approval by Brussels of their alliance on UK-Spain routes. British Airways, Iberia and BA's franchise partner GBAirways have been given approval by the European...

Africa changes the guard.
January 1, 2004... The African airline industry is changing rapidly with governments ceasing to protect their national carriers against competition as new airlines emerge and some traditional carriers disappear. The transition was reflected at the annual...

Delta Air Lines.
January 1, 2004... Grinstein succeeds Mullin Delta Air Lines chairman and chief executive Leo Mullin has retired after more than six years at the helm of the world's third-largest airline, handing over his duties to long-time Delta director Gerald Grinstein....

Airport security money dries up.
January 1, 2004... The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has told US airports to expect little more in fiscal support in 2004 to cover security improvements. Deputy TSA administrator Stephen McHale said although the agency was sympathetic to their...

Mesa's takeover chase.(Mesa Air Group Inc.)(Midway Airlines Inc.)
January 1, 2004... As its takeover bid for Atlantic Coast Airlines continues, Mesa Air Group will pay $9.15 million for the assets of liquidated Midway Airlines after emerging as a last-minute bidder for the regional. A bankruptcy court approved the move as...

In brief.
January 1, 2004... Northwest pilots mull cuts Northwest Airlines pilots made their first moves toward granting management the pay cuts and work-rule changes that the carrier says it must have to compete. But pilots say any interim concessionary agreement...

New Year message.(need for changes in airline industry)
January 1, 2004... As a new year begins, the first glimmers of hope appear to be showing through, but this is no time to let up pressure on costs, warns Chris Tarry of CTAIRA. Now is the traditional time to look back over the year just gone, and ahead to the...

Climb the.(airline industry management training )
January 1, 2004... ladder Even with uncertainty surrounding any career in the airline industry, demand for management training courses remains strong, with providers changing their offerings to fit the new era For an industry in which career survival has...

Internet travel battle rages.(disputes of airlines, online travel sites)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Competition between airlines and online travel sites is heating up as disputes between the travel portals themselves continue to go public. In the most recent spat, US Airways pulled its flight listings from Expedia.com after the site...

In brief.
January 1, 2004... 7E7 gets go-ahead Boeing's board has sanctioned a proposal to offer the concept 7E7 aircraft for sale to the world's airlines. Final assembly will take place at the manufacturer's Everett site. "The board's decision validates the 7E7's...

Feedback.
January 1, 2004... The management prize draw Five lucky winners are now ready to take their place on one of the management training courses offered in the prize draw run jointly by Airline Business and IATA Aviation Training and Development Institute. ...

Daring to dream.(Boeing Co. 7E7 Dreamliner)
January 1, 2004... Boeing's market launch for the 7E7 was widely expected. What could not have been predicted, is that the launch would take place against the backdrop of an ethical scandal that has made it even more pressing for Boeing to reclaim its roots as an...