Airline Business articles from March 2007

Airline Business archives from March 2007

Ecuadorian carriers eye USA.(Briefing)(Empresa Ecuatoriana de Aviacion)(Brief article)
March 19, 2007... Byline: David Knibb Seattle Ecuadorian carriers Icaro and AeroGal are seeking rights to launch flights to the USA, made possible by the FAA's decision last year to upgrade Ecuador under its safety assessment programme. Both carriers...

JetBlue's feeling blue...(Briefing)
March 19, 2007... Byline: David Field Washington JetBlue Airways, long a darling of Wall Street and a passenger favourite, is enmeshed in a series of problems that threaten its brand name and passenger reputation. A major operational foul-up during a...

LAN and TAM may buy New Varig.(Briefing)
March 19, 2007... Byline: David Knibb Seattle LAN's interest in Brazil's New Varig has spawned a broader proposal to take over the struggling airline. TAM and LAN may both take stakes in New Varig TAM senior officials and members of the Amaro family...

Briefing.(LAN boosts Argentina stake)(VivaAerobus launches services from Mexico to Texas)(Brief article)
March 19, 2007... In brief LAN boosts Argentina stake LAN now owns 70% of LAN Argentina following several capital contributions in which the Argentine shareholders did not participate. The increased capitalisation diluted their stakes in LAN Argentina...

...and fighting for passenger rights.(Briefing)
March 19, 2007... The introduction by JetBlue Airways of its passenger bill of rights is being seen as a potential voluntary alternative to a congressionally-mandated bill. Republican Mike Thompson is proposing a passenger rights bill in the House and...

Los Angeles fee fight.(Briefing)
March 19, 2007... Byline: David Field Washington A group of 32 carriers are protesting against a plan by Los Angeles International Airport to finance expansion by increasing fees. American, Continental and United Airlines have filed a lawsuit against...

US Airways eyes ultra long haul.(Briefing)
March 19, 2007... US Airways is considering expanding its international network to include transpacific services from Philadelphia and transatlantic services from Phoenix. The carrier is seeking rights to launch flights next year from its Philadelphia hub...

In brief.(Briefing)
March 19, 2007... FAA predicts traffic surge The FAA predicts that US carriers, already fighting delays that slow 20% of all flights, will confront a 31% surge in passenger traffic within eight years. Enplanements will grow by 4% this year to 768.4 million...

In brief.(Briefing)
March 19, 2007... UPS cancels A380 order United Parcel Service has cancelled its order for 10 Airbus A380 freighters. Airbus says it will still offer the freighter variant of the A380 although it now does not have any orders. FedEx earlier cancelled its...

Performing under pressure.(Analysis)
March 19, 2007... Byline: Report by Nicholas Ionides in Singapore Traffic growth may have slowed in 2006, but nearly all major Asia-Pacific airlines are reporting improved earnings as demand remains robust, fuel prices ease off and restructuring efforts...

A time for cautious optimism.(Analysis)
March 19, 2007... Byline: Report by Julian Moxon in London Last year saw the financial health of European airlines improving, although for some restructuring and fuel costs put the brakes on a full recovery Full-year financials reflect solid growth...

Industry snapshot.(Analysis)
March 19, 2007... The recent Geneva Aircraft Finance Forum provided a first-class opportunity to harvest the views of the 550 delegates from more than 40 countries on their view of the future based on what is happening today. The forum represented all facets...

Old Bangkok airport reopens.(Briefing)
March 19, 2007... Six months after Bangkok's Don Muang airport shut to commercial flights and was replaced as Thailand's main gateway by the new Suvarnabhumi airport, the old facility is being reopened. Thailand's Cabinet approved in February the reopening...

Oneworld bides its time in India.(Briefing)
March 19, 2007... Byline: Nicholas Ionides TOKYO AND Singapore It may be one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets but oneworld alliance carriers will continue adopting a "wait-and-see" attitude to recruiting a member from among India's carriers....

MAS back in expansion mode.(Briefing)
March 19, 2007... "MAS is considering increasing its capacity by purchasing and leasing new aircraft" Malaysia Airlines Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is looking to grow its operations again next year after two years of downsizing. Government-owned MAS...

Key market opens up.(Briefing)(Malaysia-Singapore market )(Brief article)
March 19, 2007... The restrictive Malaysia-Singapore market finally looks set to be liberalised, with transport officials from both countries promising to negotiate changes to allow for more airline services. Transport ministers from the two countries met in...

Qantas deal clears hurdles.(Briefing)
March 19, 2007... Byline: David Knibb Seattle The proposed takeover of Qantas Airways has taken a major step forward having cleared its two major obstacles with the Australian government. The first was the issue, raised by the competition commission, of...

Virgin Blue studies lower-cost option.(Briefing)
March 19, 2007... Brett Godfrey, Virgin Blue's chief executive, says the Australian low-cost carrier is considering whether to create an ultra-low-cost carrier in addition to the long-haul unit it plans to launch for flights to the USA. "We think it's quite...

Indian merger nears completion.(Briefing)
March 19, 2007... "Formalities for merging the two airlines will begin immediately" Praful Patel Indian civil aviation minister The proposed merger of government-owned Air-India and Indian Airlines is close to being a done deal, after important...

In brief.(Cover)
March 19, 2007... Gateway debate grows Melbourne and Brisbane airports want the Australian government to open Australian routes to foreign airlines willing to serve gateways other than Sydney. They argue that Sydney receives most of the new flights operated...

In brief.(Briefing)(China Southern Airlines expands)(AirAsia X delays launch)(Thai Airways International stops service to Los Angeles and New York )
March 19, 2007... AirAsia X delays launch A lack of widebody aircraft in the leasing market has prompted Malaysian long-haul low-cost start-up carrier AirAsia X to delay its planned launch. Shareholder Tony Fernandes, who is also chief executive of...

JetBlue Airways.(Forum)
March 19, 2007... Chew lured by JetBlue Just weeks after saying he was joining Hawaiian Airlines, Russell Chew has changed his mind and instead joined JetBlue Airways. After almost four years trying to make the FAA's Air Traffic Organisation operate...

Vietnam Airlines.(Forum)
March 19, 2007... Hung adds Vietnam Air role Vietnam Airlines chairman Nguyen Sy Hung has taken on the additional role of president - the first time the state-owned carrier has had the same person in both positions. Hung, 58, replaced Nguyen Xuan Hien,...

Forum.
March 19, 2007... In brief KLM chief executive Leo van Wijk (pictured) is to become the first permanent chairman of SkyTeam when he steps down at the Dutch carrier in April. The move reflects the growing need to have a figurehead responsible for the...

SkyWest Airlines.(Forum)
March 19, 2007... Childs promoted SkyWest Airlines, the Utah-based regional that flies for several US majors, has announced key executive changes. Ron Reber, who had served as president and chief operating officer during the carrier's rapid growth and...

Cathay Pacific Airways.(Forum)
March 19, 2007... Tyler lands Cathay's top job A surprise top-management shakeup has been unveiled at Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways that will see chief executive Philip Chen moving to parent company Swire Pacific and chief operating officer Tony Tyler...

Burying Bermuda (II).(Comment)
March 19, 2007... After years of wrangling, European and US negotiators seem to have crafted a deal on transatlantic Open Skies that, while far from perfect, could reshape the air service landscape between the two blocs, and relegate the role of Bermuda to a...

Forum.
March 19, 2007... April 2007 16-18 IATA Airline Insurance and Risk Management 2007 Montreal, Canada Contact Philippe Guertin Tel +1 514 874 0203 x3495 Website www.iata.org 16-18 IATA Ops Forum 2007 Montreal, Canada Contact...

In brief.(Briefing)
March 19, 2007... VLM adds jets Dutch regional carrier VLM Airlines will place into service its first jet aircraft, a 92-seat BAe 146, in April. The regional jet will be used to add capacity between London City and Rotterdam. VLM, which now operates 19...

IACA attacks Cypriot airports.(Briefing)
March 19, 2007... The International Air Carrier Association (IACA) is stepping up its campaign against an increase in airport charges at two Cypriot airports. IACA says the manager of Larnaca and Phapos airports, Hermes, plans to increase charges by 70% per...

Flybe now Europe's largest regional.(Briefing)
March 19, 2007... "The acquisition of BA Connect brings our growth plans forward by two years" Jim French chief executive, Flybe UK-based regional low-cost carrier Flybe has completed the purchase of former loss-making British Airways subsidiary BA...

Warnings sound over Single Skies.(Briefing)
March 19, 2007... The first report into the Single European Sky (SES) air traffic control initiative warns that unless changes are made to the project there are no guarantees of improved efficiency. The report, which was published in March by the region's...

TAP eyes more expansion.(Briefing)
March 19, 2007... Byline: Brendan Sobie London TAP Portugal is plotting further long-haul expansion, to be supported in part by new feed from future subsidiary Portugalia. Chief executive Fernando Pinto says TAP plans to add at least three second-hand...

Malev sale could spur on CSA and LOT.(Briefing)
March 19, 2007... Byline: Colin Baker Edinburgh The planned sale of Malev to a group of investors affiliated to Russia's AirUnion has rekindled hopes that the stalled airline privatisation process in Eastern Europe may spring back to life. "Governments...

In brief.(Briefing)
March 19, 2007... New base for Germanwings Germanwings has selected Dortmund as its newest base. The German low-cost carrier will base an Airbus A319 at Dortmund from late June and launch services to Faro, Ibiza, Istanbul, Palma de Mallorca and Vienna. ...

In brief.(Briefing)
March 19, 2007... Cyprus Airways restructures Cyprus has secured European Commission approval to loan its ailing flag carrier another C[pounds sterling]55 million ($125 million) to fund a new restructuring plan. Cyprus Airways also has raised C[pounds...

Franchise option meets cool reception.(Briefing)
March 19, 2007... Byline: Colin Baker Edinburgh The prospect of establishing franchise operations in the USA, which is part of the latest EU-US Open Skies package, has received a muted reaction from European carriers so far. The US offer of a franchise...

Sinkorswim.(Features)(Haruka Nishimatsu cuts salary to revive Japan Airlines )
March 19, 2007... Byline: Report by Nicholas Ionides in Tokyo**Photography by Kevin Phillips Haruka Nishimatsu is challenging the corporate culture at Japan Airlines, as he attempts to bring the troubled carrier back from the brink "If we don't achieve...

Traffic magnets.(Features)
March 19, 2007... Byline: Report by Mark Pilling, David Field and Brendan Sobie in St Petersburg, Florida Fuelled by strong traffic growth, the mood at the seventh annual Network route planning event, held in St Petersburg in early March, was upbeat, with...

Best of the Airline Business Blogs.(Forum)
March 19, 2007... Randy's retiring from Boeing a1/4 Now not all of the 39,000 plus hits on Google when you type Randy Baseler into its search box are of the Boeing variety, but I'm guessing most of them are. For Mr Baseler has been a Boeing quote fixture...

Privatise South Africa.(Forum)
March 19, 2007... It is time the South African government followed the example of its global counterparts and left the aviation business to private airlines, says Gidon Novick, joint chief executive of South Africa's Comair "Not only does South African...

Break in Open Skies.(Briefing)
March 19, 2007... Byline: Mark Pilling London and David Field Washington After years of trying, European and US negotiators appear to have forged a two-stage transatlantic Open Skies deal that despite heavy criticism will get the green light. The...

In brief.(Briefing)
March 19, 2007... Connexion successor emerges A group of companies have teamed up to form a new venture in a bid to fill the void left by the closure last year of Boeing's Connexion broadband internet service. Washington DC-based AirStellar is offering to...

The surcharges debate.(Insight)(fuel surcharges)
March 19, 2007... Byline: Nicholas Ionides Singapore Initially brought in as a temporary measure to help airlines weather high oil prices, fuel surcharges have become an industry fixture. "We have got to the point where fuel surcharges seem to be a...

Forum.(interline agreements between low cost airlines)(Letter to the editor)
March 19, 2007... Can low-cost interlining work? The article "Worth the effort?", published in the February issue of Airline Business, sparked several readers to get in touch with their thoughts on partnerships between low-cost carriers To indicate that...

Oman Air goes long-haul.(Briefing)
March 19, 2007... Byline: David Kaminski-Morrow London Oman Air plans to re-enter the long-haul market, after shareholders approved a recapitalisation which will hand the Omani government a majority stake in the carrier. The capital increase from...

UAE start-up postpones launch.(Briefing)(RAK Airways delays launch)(Brief article)
March 19, 2007... United Arab Emirates start-up carrier RAK Airways is delaying its launch after the sudden departure of chief executive Jack Romero. Former Airports Authority of India board member Kishu Teckchandani took over at the helm of the start-up,...

In brief.(Briefing)
March 19, 2007... Qatar to launch US flights Qatar Airways plans to launch flights in June to New York, its first US destination. The carrier will initially operate four flights per week to New York JFK. It plans to add a daily service to Washington Dulles...

Special Report.
March 19, 2007... Some airlines argue new-generation narrowbody aircraft should cost less to acquire than the current generation in addition to costing significantly less to operate. "Airline industry customer yields have been in decline since the launch of...

Mainline aircraft orders.(Special Report)
March 19, 2007... Byline: Analysis by Linda Moore Flight Insight These tables are for mainline jet aircraft only, excluding regional types and corporate jet variants, based on manufacturer and ACAS data for year-end 2006. The aircraft values shown are only...

Heading skywards.(Special Report)
March 19, 2007... Byline: Report by Colin Baker in Edinburgh While it often sits in the shadows of the dominant passenger market, the cargo market is attracting interest from the leasing community The recently launched Airbus A330-200F has attracted the...

Thinking.(Special Report)
March 19, 2007... Byline: Report by Brendan Sobie in London and Toulouse Over the past two years, airlines have placed very few orders for large widebody passenger aircraft. Is there really much of a market for new aircraft with more than 400 seats? ...

Playing.(Special Report)
March 19, 2007... Byline: Report by Brendan Sobie in London and Toulouse The revamped Airbus A350 finally gives airlines a real alternative to the Boeing 787 and gives the 777 a new competitor. But is it too little, too late for Airbus? "One of the...

Underpressure.(Special Report)
March 19, 2007... Byline: Report by Brendan Sobie and Mark Pilling in London and David Field in Washington Airlines are pushing Airbus and Boeing to launch new narrowbodies that are at least 15% more efficient than the current generation, according to...

Special Report.
March 19, 2007... Airline Business asked carriers what they thought is holding Airbus and Boeing back in launching a new narrowbody generation. Nearly all of the 22 carriers which responded to the survey cited the record number of outstanding orders for A320s...

Topping out.(Special Report)
March 19, 2007... Byline: Report by Colin Baker in Edinburgh Aircraft lease rates are rocketing as airlines try to meet market demands, but there is a large disconnect between lease rates and values, suggesting something has to give "We are seeing huge...