Airline Business articles from November 2006

Airline Business archives from November 2006

Cash injection for Aerolineas.(Aerolineas Argentinas S.A.)(Marsans Group)(Brief article)
November 21, 2006... As relations continue to thaw between Aerolineas Argentinas and the Argentinian government, the Marsans group that owns the airline has agreed to invest $1 billion between now and 2009. This is part of a broader accord in which the government...

Canada plans open skies bonanza.
November 21, 2006... Cannon wants Canada to forge open skies deals with several countriesUnder a new policy proposed by transport minister Lawrence Cannon, Canada would offer to forge open skies agreements with several countries. Given what he calls the "evolving...

FAA funding scheme faces rejection.(Federal Aviation Administration)(Brief article)
November 21, 2006... The Democrats' takeover of the US Congress all but assures the death of ambitious proposals for a user fee system to finance FAA air traffic control.The Democratic victory in the early November mid-term elections means the House Transportation...

Merger moves hit USA.
November 21, 2006... Delta chief executive Jerry Grinstein quickly rebuffed the new unsolicited but not surprising cash-and-stock offer, as he had earlier in the summer after US Airways began privately approaching Delta about a potential merger that would create...

ExpressJet tweaks model.(experimenting business model.)(Brief article)
November 21, 2006... ExpressJet is experimenting with new twists to the typical regional carrier business model.Forced by its former parent's decision a year ago to reject some of its flying, ExpressJet is trying to find new homes for 69 of its 274 Embraer ERJs. It...

AirTran and Frontier link boosts growth.(Frontier Airlines Inc.)(AirTran Airways Inc.)
November 21, 2006... Frontier's new partnership with AirTran could lead to codesharing The agreement lets the two thriving low-cost carriers take advantage of the regional loyalty each has developed. Under the deal, passengers can earn and redeem frequent-flyer...

Mexico poised for consolidation.(airline industry's forecasts)(Industry overview)(Brief article)
November 21, 2006... David Knibb SeattleIn the next several years some of Mexico's 14 airlines are likely to disappear. "Consolidation between airlines appears very probable," warns Jose Luis Garza, director general of InterJet, one of Mexico's low-cost startups....

In brief.(Northwest Airlines Corp terminates agreement with smaller airlines, LAN Airlines, Porter Airlines)
November 21, 2006... Northwest ends 50 interlinesNorthwest Airlines is terminating interline agreements with some 50 smaller airlines worldwide because they cannot offer electronic ticketing. The Northwest action is effective from January. It says 98.7% of its...

Taking it lying down.(latest options for long-haul business class travel)
November 21, 2006... Over the last few weeks a number of airlines (British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines in particular) have either announced or unveiled new offerings for their long-haul business class cabins.At the same time, the third-quarter...

Asia comes under profit pressure.(Association of Asia Pacific Airlines)
November 21, 2006... Asia Pacific airlines will continue to face many "business challenges" in 2007 and beyondThe Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA), which represents 17 major airlines from the region, made the prediction at its annual meeting of member...

Cargo market cheers AAPA.(Association of Asia Pacific Airlines)(Brief article)
November 21, 2006... Passenger traffic growth may have slowed for Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) members over the past six months but the group is hopeful more encouraging signs from the cargo market mean global economic conditions remain healthy. AAPA...

Qantas and ANZ accord ruled out.(Qantas Airways Ltd.)(Air New Zealand)(Australian Competition and Consumer Commission)(Brief article)
November 21, 2006... The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has ruled that ANZ and Qantas may not share codes and jointly regulate their capacity and fares across the Tasman Sea. With the two carriers controlling 80% of the market, the limited...

Strategy shift for Virgin Blue.(Brief article)
November 21, 2006... Virgin Blue is adding Embraer jets to its fleet in a move that could boost its domestic network and bring more competition to Qantas Airways.Virgin Blue has ordered 11 Embraer 190s and three Embraer 170s, with options for six more. Deliveries...

In brief.(Oasis Hong Kong Airlines)(Air New Zealand Ltd.)(Brief article)
November 21, 2006... New routes for ANZAir New Zealand (ANZ) has launched a thrice weekly Auckland-Shanghai and a daily Hong Kong-London service. Chief executive Rob Fyfe says the new routes are the first to be added during a period of expansion which will see...

Korean Air plans for China expansion.(Korean Air Lines Company Ltd.)
November 21, 2006... Nicholas Ionides SingaporeKAL executives outlined their ambitious expansion blueprint at a recent ceremony in Dalian to mark the launch of new services to the Chinese city.They say KAL will "focus its efforts in China and turn it into its...

SriLankan wants to be free to grow.
November 21, 2006... SriLankan Airlines is hoping the country's government will make a decision shortly on whether it wants to extend the carrier's management contract with Dubai-based Emirates.The carrier has had expansion plans in place for two years, but has...

Thai branches into freight.(Brief article)
November 21, 2006... Thai Airways International is finally taking its first steps into the dedicated freight market, with a view to eventually operating freighters of its own.The carrier is being guarded over its freight plans, but confirms that during October it...

Vietnam Airlines to double fleet.(Brief article)
November 21, 2006... Vietnam Airlines is seeking government approval for major expansion initiatives that should see it more than doubling the size of its fleet over the next nine years. The airline's expansion proposals come as the Vietnamese government is...

Cathay Pacific Airways.(Philip Chen appointed in Air China)(Brief article)
November 21, 2006... Chen joins boardCathay Pacific Airways chief executive Philip Chen is to join the board of Air China, after the Hong Kong-based carrier increased its stake in the Chinese flag carrier. Cathay chairman Christopher Pratt is already on the Air...

LOT Polish Airlines.(appointed Tomasz Dembski)(Brief article)
November 21, 2006... LOT dismisses KapisPolish flag-carrier LOT's supervisory board has dismissed the airline's president, Krzysztof Kapis, just eight months after he was appointed to the post.Kapis has been replaced by Tomasz Dembski who will serve as acting...

Thai Airways.(appointments)(Brief article)
November 21, 2006... New board for Thai Thailand's recent change in government following a military coup has led to the replacement of more than one third of the directors of Thai Airways International and the appointment of a new chairman.Five of its 14 board...

Mango.(appointed Nico Bezuidenhout)(Brief article)
November 21, 2006... First chief for MangoSouth African Airways (SAA) has appointed Nico Bezuidenhout the chief executive of its new low-cost subsidiary Mango.Before overseeing Mango's launch in mid-November, Bezuidenhout was SAA's head of direct sales channels,...

Varig.(appointed Guilherme Laager)(Brief article)
November 21, 2006... First president for new VarigGuilherme Laager, a respected Brazilian businessman, is to become the first president of "new Varig". His appointment was announced by Marco Antonio Audi, chairman of VarigLog, which bought Varig in July as part of...

Forum.(JetBlue Airways appointed Trey Urbahn)(SAS Group named Ola Strand)(AirPlus International appointed Dale Moss)(Brief article)
November 21, 2006... In briefSAS Braathens, the Norwegian carrier division of the SAS Group, has named Ola Strand as its new managing director, succeeding acting chief Johnny Skoglund. Strand was formerly the head of Scandinavian Ground Services.JetBlue Airways has...

Merger mania.(airlines)
November 21, 2006... Doug Parker is a persistent man. And, if he had his way, he would be a serial consolidator. The US Airways chief executive wrote to Gerald Grinstein, his counterpart at Delta Air Lines, on 29 September proposing an $8 billion merger between his...

Forum.(airline companies's conferences)
November 21, 2006... December 20065-6 IATA Cargo In Emerging Markets Series - IndiaNew Delhi, IndiaContact Philippe GuertinTel +1 514 874 0203 x3495Websitewww.iata.orgFebruary 200711-13 IATA Legal SymposiumIstanbul, TurkeyContact Wayne ChaifTel +1 514 390...

EC emission limits could curtail growth.(European Commission)
November 21, 2006... "It means there will be no growth from 2006 unless everyone changes to a more efficient fleet"Koen Vermeirdirector aero political and industry affairs, IACAThe draft proposals suggest the EC is seeking to cap aircraft CO2 emissions at average...

Flybe feasts on BA's regional arm.(British Airways)
November 21, 2006... Just six months into a bid to turn around its regional airline business British Airways has forged a deal to sell virtually the entire operation to fast-growing flybe. BA Connect has not made a profit in the last five years, says BA chief...

Ground handling reforms delayed.(Brief article)
November 21, 2006... The European Commission (EC) has decided not to revise at least for now its directive covering access to Europe's ground handling market.The EC has been promising to revise the directive, originally introduced in 1996, since 2001. It was to be...

Icelandair parent and XL Group get new owners.
November 21, 2006... Five Icelandic carriers and three European charter carriers have changed owners as part of deals involving the sale of assets at Iceland's two largest investment groups. The FL Group has sold its entire shareholding in the Icelandair Group,...

In brief.(Transportes Aeros Portugueses EP acquires Grupo Espirito Santo)(Brief article)
November 21, 2006... TAP buys Portugalia TAP Portugal has completed a deal to acquire rival Portugalia for ?140 million ($179 million) from Portuguese company Grupo Espirito Santo. TAP says if the acquisition is approved by Portuguese authorities as expected...

Team.(COPA airline's revenue)
November 21, 2006... playerAsk Pedro Heilbron to talk about his airline, Copa, and he'll say no. That is, not unless the rest of his management team is with him. That shows how much Heilbron believes in the teamwork that has made the Panamanian carrier into one of...

Best of the Airline Business Blogs.
November 21, 2006... Ryanair's gamble? A press event with Ryanair's Michael O'Leary always promises to be interesting, and yesterday's event in London was no exception. Wearing his everyman check shirt and at times trying extremely hard not to swear...

Touching Tampa.(Tampa International Airport)
November 21, 2006... A broad customer base, a strong home market and growth potential are three sound business requirements for any company. Tampa International airport has all three.Situated on the west coast of Florida, the region around the state's third largest...

Airports mean business.
November 21, 2006... When the average traveller is asked about air transport today, his first response may be to recount an annoying travel experience - a slow passage through security checkpoints, an overbooking, a missed connection, a delayed arrival, a lost bag...

In brief.(Brief article)
November 21, 2006... French airlines uniteAirlines from four French overseas territories have formed a federation to co-operate on common issues. Called FADECOM, the group is comprised of Air Austral (Reunion, Indian Ocean), Air Caraibes (Caribbean), Air Caledonie...

Capacity shortfall hampers Qatar.(Qatar Airways)
November 21, 2006... A shortfall in capacity, following a failure to negotiate acceptable terms for aircraft orders with either Airbus or Boeing at the end of 2005, has put Qatar Airways back by 14-15 months in its business plan, says Akbar Al Baker, the carrier's...

Fourth UAE flag carrier plans launch.
November 21, 2006... David Kaminski-Morrow LondonRas Al Khaimah, the northernmost of the seven United Arab Emirates, is intending to capitalise on its burgeoning development by offering flights on its own flag carrier from the first quarter of next year.RAK Airways...

In brief.(Etihad Airways improves its services)(Brief article)
November 21, 2006... Etihad grows up fastAbu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways says it will carry three million passengers this year, with 4 million anticipated in 2007. Its cargo division will transport 100,000t of freight in 2006 with double that amount forecast next...

Restricted retail.(restriction on liquids in hand luggage and its effect on duty free sales)
November 21, 2006... Airports may have to scramble to find new sources of revenues to make up for an expected reduction in duty free sales caused by a European Commission (EC) restriction on liquids in hand luggage.The restriction, which came into effect in early...

Timereflection.
November 21, 2006... Although the slanging matches of the past have subsided somewhat, airport charges continue to exercise the minds of the world's airlines. IATA's aggressive public campaign against what it sees as excessive charges from airports in a monopoly...

Privatepersuasion.(privatisation of airports)
November 21, 2006... The privatisation of airports has come a long way since 1987 when the flotation of shares in BAA effectively kick-started a process that has since spread to most world markets. The one hold out is the USA where airports remain largely...

UK CAA enters ownership debate.(Civil Aviation Authority)
November 21, 2006... The battle is still being fought over restrictions on ownership and control that are vital elements of a totally liberalised industry, despite it being generally agreed that open skies is the future.So says the UK's Civil Aviation Authority...

Belgium's new flag carrier emerges.(Brussels Airlines)
November 21, 2006... The new Brussels Airlines brand will take off in MarchThere has been intense speculation over recent months that the arrival of the merged carrier would herald a return of the name of the bankrupt Belgian flag carrier. However, at a launch in...

Bmi in for the medium-haul.(BMI British Midland)(Brief article)
November 21, 2006... Bmi has made its first foray into the medium-haul market, launching a daily service between London Heathrow and Moscow Domodedovo Airport with Russian carrier Transaero as its new codeshare partner.The service heralds the introduction of bmi's...

In briefSurvivaltestIn brief.(forecasts of Airlink arlines)
November 21, 2006... Partner for Air BotswanaSouth African regional carrier Airlink is the preferred partner in the privatisation of Air Botswana. Airlink beat Lobair Botswana and African World Airlines. First Africa Consortium, led by First Africa Bank, advised...

Groupstrategy.(forecasts and services of TUI AG)
November 21, 2006... The German aviation market is an intensively competitive environment that is being shaped by three principal developments. Overcapacity, which is expected to stay at 2% above growth at least until 2008 an ongoing shift from charter to low-cost...

Localconflict.(forecasts of airlines)(Industry overview)
November 21, 2006... This year saw Spain emerge as a magnet for low-cost airlines. The usual suspects, easyJet and Ryanair, have boosted their presence in the market and turned up the pressure on Spanish newcomers Click?air and Vueling, as well as on the country's...

Airbus loses FedEx A380 order.(FedEx Express )
November 21, 2006... A FedEx Express decision to cancel its order for the Airbus A380 has shaken the troubled airframer. FedEx had been a launch customer for the aircraft with an order for 10 A380 freighters. Instead, the US parcel carrier has ordered 15 Boeing...

Open Skies mired in US slow lane.
November 21, 2006... Of most significance is the rise of Democrat Jim Oberstar to chairman of the key Transportation Committee in Congress. Oberstar is a staunch ally of labour and thus an opponent of the Bush administration proposal to encourage foreign investment...