Airline Business articles from March 2003

Airline Business archives from March 2003

Air Canada sells assets to cut debt.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... "Air Canada's year-end liquidation sale", quips a Canadian columnist. It certainly looks that way as the airline puts more assets on the block. Its impetus is clear. Air Canada has revealed another annual loss, this one preliminarily at...

ExpressJet slows Embraerdeliveries.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Regional jet growth has taken its first major stumble with the decision by ExpressJet, the Continental Airlines feeder, to slow its deliveries of Embraer ERJ-145XRs. The carrier will take 36 Embraers this year instead of 48, and 21 in 2004...

In brief.(America West drops Columbus)
March 1, 2003... America West drops Columbus America West will abandon its unprofitable Columbus, Ohio, mini-hub in June, prompted by Midwestern economic woes. America West Express flights operated by Chautauqua Airlines regional jets had provided about...

In brief.(airline performance)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Delays down US airline performance improved in 2002, as the percentage of flights nationwide arriving on time rose to 82.1% from 77.4% in 2001, according to the Department of Transportation. A reduction of nearly 20% in flight volume since...

Confusion remains over cargo security measures.
March 1, 2003... Air cargo security is at last moving up the agenda in the USA, but airlines and forwarders remain unsure about what measures may be to follow and confused about who is in charge. The industry held its collective breath in late January when...

Delta sings the low-cost tune again.(Delta Air Lines will use the name Song for its response to its start-up low-cost rivals)
March 1, 2003... The long-planned low-fares unit from Delta Air Lines will use the name Song for its response to its start-up low-cost rivals. Delta intends the project to hit back at JetBlue and AirTran Airways on routes between the north-east USA and Florida....

USAirways ready to exit Chapter 11.
March 1, 2003... US Airways has stayed on course to get out of the bankruptcy courts in March as a lower-cost carrier, and when it does, federal backing is waiting for it. The Air Transportation Stabilization Board has given formal approval to guarantee...

TAM and Varig sign merger deal.
March 1, 2003... Brazil's two largest airlines TAM and Varig have agreed to create by mid-year a new jointly owned company, although it remains unclear what form the partnership will take. It will either be a holding company with both airlines operating as...

From worst to just bad.(airlines finance)
March 1, 2003... Although some USmajors posted terrible results in the fourth quarter, a few are starting to show some hints of having seen the worst, reports David Field. The year's final quarter was dismal for the USmajors, but it could have been worse....

Where is the USA now?(airlines finance)
March 1, 2003... Stability has yet to return to the USmarket and the threat of war still looms. Chris Tarry looks beneath the current confusion at economic drivers. Any discussion of long-term traffic trends may seem a little academic in a US market...

The struggle to recover.(airlines)
March 1, 2003... Airlines generally struggled to gain any momentum in 2002, although capacity cuts more than matched the fall in traffic numbers and Asia bucked the trend with healthy increases in traffic and capacity. Year-end traffic figures demonstrate...

MASresumes growth with new aircraft and routes.(Malaysia Airlines)
March 1, 2003... Malaysia Airlines (MAS), which is now in recovery mode following the government renationalisation two years ago, has announced an aggressive expansion of its fleet and route network. More is promised as the carrier emerges from years of...

Temporary reprieve for Air Niugini.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Airlines from Papua New Guinea (PNG) gained a temporary reprieve in January when Australia agreed to extend their operating licences through April, but PNG must address underlying problems or those licences face expiration again. Canberra...

Cathay and Dragonair in fight over rights to China.
March 1, 2003... Long-time allies Cathay Pacific Airways and Dragonair have formally become enemies, after a public row broke out in Hong Kong over rights to serve China - the fastest-growing aviation market in the world. The first signs of a spat came in...

Indian carriers approach fleet expansion decisions.(Air India)(Indian Airlines)
March 1, 2003... State-owned Air India and Indian Airlines are finally moving forward with long-delayed and badly needed modernisations that will help them expand after years of slow growth. International operator Air India has confirmed its intention to...

In brief.(Biman Bangladesh Airlines has wet-leased two Boeing 737-300s from Singapore Technologies Aerospace)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Biman takes STAero 737s Biman Bangladesh Airlines has wet-leased two Boeing 737-300s from Singapore Technologies Aerospace (STAero). The one-year deal involves leasing the aircraft, insurance, maintenance, and the provision of pilots and...

In brief.(multiple industry briefs)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... ANZleases Air Malta 737 Air New Zealand (ANZ) has temporarily wet-leased a Boeing 737-300 from Air Malta to help cope with a capacity shortfall. This was caused by an engine failure in December on one of its Boeing 767s on take-off that...

United retreat challenges ANZ/Qantas alliance.
March 1, 2003... United Airlines has not helped approval ratings for the proposed alliance of Air New Zealand (ANZ) and Qantas Airways by quitting the Auckland-Los Angeles route. Withdrawing from New Zealand at the end of March as part of its Chapter 11...

Dedicated cargo takes hold in China.(Yangtze River Express)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Another dedicated cargo airline has started operating in China to take advantage of the rapid growth in demand for freight carriage. Yangtze River Express, which was established by fast-expanding Hainan Airlines just over a year ago, has...

In brief.(airline industry appointments and resignations)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) president Jorgen Lindegaard has relinquished his interim chief operating officer role to Soren Belin as he finalises an almost entirely new executive management team. Belin has been working at SAS as a consultant...

Mixed signals.(Continental, Delta and Northwest Airlines)(Departments of Justice and Transportation)
March 1, 2003... The alliance proposal from Continental, Delta and Northwest Airlines was always destined to raise some controversial competition issues. In the event the response has been far from clear, with the Departments of Justice and Transportation...

AEA/ACI agree joint war approach.(Association of European Airlines)(Europeanairports association)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Europe's airlines and airports have agreed a common position on security and insurance issues in the run up to a possible war in the Middle East. The Association of European Airlines (AEA) and ACI Europe, the Europeanairports association,...

Ryanair snaps up Buzz.
March 1, 2003... After snapping up Buzz for a bargain price, Ryanair has warned staff that it plans to impose its own aggressive low-cost business model on the smaller rival. Ryanair claims to have paid KLM a net figure of c5 million ($5.4 million), given...

Air Lib slots up for grabs.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The demise of Air Lib, which came after a last-ditch rescue attempt failed to save the French independent, has set the stage for a battle to obtain the carrier's Paris Orly slots. As many as 20,000 annual slots will go back into the slot...

Delays climb after hitting five-year low.(European air traffic delays hit a five-year low during 2002)
March 1, 2003... European air traffic delays hit a five-year low during 2002, but showed worrying signs of climbing through the second half of the year as traffic levels started to pick up. Official figures for 2002 show that just under 20% of...

Golden suitor jilts Olympic Airways.(Golden Aviation)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The Greek government appears to be in no hurry to present a new strategy for Olympic Airways after talks with a potential buyer collapsed in early February. The Golden Aviation consortium, led by the Greek shipping group Restis, pulled out...

Alitalia mulls low-cost options with Volare tie-up.(Volare Airlines)(Alitalia)
March 1, 2003... Italian leisure carrier Volare Airlines is starting the country's first home-grown low-cost operation and is talking to Alitalia about a possible partnership. Europe's low-cost boom has clearly reached Italy. Ryanair has opened itsfirst...

In brief.(multiple industry briefs)
March 1, 2003... Five alive for Amsterdam Amsterdam Schiphol's fifth runway opened for business in the middle of February. Initially it will be restricted to night flights, but day flights will commence in July and the airport will be fully operational in...

Sky's the.(SkyTeam alliance)
March 1, 2003... limit The SkyTeam alliance is making the most of its tight-knit membership while seeking breadth through the establishment of a second tier of carriers SkyTeam may have been the last of the three major global alliances to emerge, but...

Cost in.(American Airlines)(employee cuts)
March 1, 2003... focus Airline management is demonstrating renewed determination to achieve a radical shake-up of labour costs, with pay cuts and changes to working conditions on the agenda In early February, American Airlines became the largest US...

Feedback.(transatlantic open skies agreement)
March 1, 2003... The benefits of open skies Dorothy Robyn, senior consultant at the Washington-based Brattle Group, spells out the benefits to both consumers and airlines of a transatlantic open skies agreement Although the USA has negotiated so-called...

SITAopens up reservation system.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... SITA has outlined plans to move its Gabriel reservation system, currently used by 160 smaller carriers, on to a new web-based Unisys Aircore platform. A partnership agreement was signed in February with Unisys which should now see SITAbecome...

Aer Lingus reacts to low-cost threat.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... After being just weeks from running out of cash in late 2001, Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus is back in profit and reinventing itself as a lower-fare operator. Aer Lingus is forecasting an operating profit in excess of c45 million ($48...

Report spells out open skies benefits.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... In the run up to a meeting of European transport ministers at the end of March which is expected to produce the framework for a transatlantic open skies deal, Brussels has commissioned a report showing the benefits of such an agreement. ...

In brief.(Qatar Airways)(Akbar Al Baker)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Global Time push ICAO and IATA continue to push ahead with their efforts at getting Global Time - the proposed government-backed fund for third-party liability war insurance - instituted. Global Time has stalled at 43% of ICAO membership...

Network survival.(American Airlines finance)(United Airlines finance)
March 1, 2003... United is already in bankruptcy and analysts are worried by American as the USresults just keep getting worse So dismal is the year's final tally for the major US airlines that the uncertainty of war in the Gulf seems just an added insult...

Gulf.(Gulf Air)
March 1, 2003... challenge James Hogan, the Australian brought in to reinvent Gulf Air has already wrought major changes in Bahrain. And even with the threat of war looming, he still aims to achieve profitability by 2005 Once one of the world's...

Special report.(airplane engines finance)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Engines These are challenging times for the world's major engine manufacturers. As the annual survey shows, the battle for market share continues, but against the backdrop of a severe downturn. Environmental pressures too are mounting to...

Freedom.(leasing of airplane engines)
March 1, 2003... to HEADLINE: flexible As airlines seek to free up cash, the engine leasing business is forging ahead. Manufacturers, maintenance operations and lessors are all in the game The leasing of spare engines has gone from a...

Trial.(airplane engines)
March 1, 2003... period Engine manufacturers are trying to weather the continuing downturn, while also preparing for the big competition ahead The past year has not been kind to the commercial engine makers. And the consensus is that the market in the...

A new.(airplane engines emission standards)
March 1, 2003... thrust The regulatory framework for engine manufactures is becoming increasingly tough as the issue of emissions joins noise as a key pressure point Until now, noise has taken centre stage in the environmental debate, reaching a peak...

Balancing.(air cargo services more profitable than passenger service)
March 1, 2003... act Reducing reliance on the core passenger business looks increasingly attractive to mainline carriers struggling in a volatile market. But while it offers rewards, managing a portfolio of different businesses and products poses...

Selective.
March 1, 2003... customers A few big forwarders control nearly half of the air freight business. Now they are increasingly seeking to give that business only to a few selected airlines One of the big differences between the passenger and cargo side of...

Executive appointments.(SITA)
March 1, 2003... SITA SITA searches for new leadership split When John Watson steps down as SITA director general at the end of June, his job is due to be split three ways as the organisation moves to a new group structure which could allow it to float...

development Radhakrishna Rao / Bangalore ; India to launch improved GSLV booster by 2009; Vehicle will be able to place 4,000kg satellite into geostationary transfer orbit.(India to launch new satellite communication vehicles)
March 25, 2003... India plans to have the increased-performance MkIII version of its Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) ready for launch in 2009. The GSLV-III is being developed to launch a 4,000kg (8,800lb) satellite into geostationary transfer...

Space missions; Power trip for ISS crew.(International Space Station astronauts to provide addtional services)(Brief Article)
March 25, 2003... International Space Station (ISS) Expedition Crew 6 astronauts, commander Ken Bowersox and science officer Don Pettit, will make a 6.5h spacewalk on 7 or 8 April to install a back-up power supply on one of four gyroscopes which has experienced...

Straight & Level roger.bacon@flightinternational.com.(product instructions for airlines industry)
March 25, 2003... Ye olde F-35 As part of efforts to harmonise transatlantic industrial relations and to avoid the sort of metric/imperial snafu that resulted in the recent loss of a Mars probe, our very own Monty Orangeball and Stewart Sidewinder have...