NEWS
LAN posts 1Q net income of $76.1 million
LAN Airlines reported a first-quarter net income of $76.1 million, down 21.8% from a $97.2 million profit in the year-ago period. The airline said the results were “impacted by a 14.7% increase in fuel prices and a more challenging environment in the cargo business, as well as by the ongoing development of LAN Colombia’s operations.”
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Smaller American work groups ratify new labor contracts
While most of American Airlines’ (AA) workers are pledged to supporting a merger with US Airways, a number of the company’s smaller workgroups have ratified new collective bargaining agreements.
The accords will preserve about 1,300 jobs, said AA, which is operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The groups include fleet service workers, dispatch personnel, maintenance control technicians, simulator technicians and ground school and simulator pilot instructors.
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EU: Chinese, Indian airlines fail to comply with ETS
The European Union said Tuesday that there has been “systematic non-reporting” of emissions data by Chinese and Indian airlines, a violation of the carriers’ legal responsibilities under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
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ANA to split, restructure to be competitive
All Nippon Airways (ANA) has announced a company split and said it will restructure as it deals with a more competitive environment, according to a statement. Under the reforms, all business—except that regarding control or supervision of companies in which shares are held—will be transferred to ANA Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary of All Nippon Airways Co. Ltd., according to the statement.
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JetBlue, Turkish form interline agreement
JetBlue Airways (B6) and Turkish Airlines (TK) have announced an interline agreement connecting their networks at New York JFK and Washington Dulles (IAD). "With service from Washington plus three daily flights from JFK to Istanbul and beyond, our new partnership with this respected carrier will allow JetBlue customers to travel virtually anywhere on Earth with a single ticket," B6 CCO Robin Hayes said.
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Republic agrees to operate Q400s under United Express brand
Republic Airways Holdings (RAH) said its Republic Airways (RW) subsidiary has reached a tentative agreement to operate 32 Bombardier Q400 aircraft under the United Express brand. The capacity purchase agreement is expected to become effective in the third quarter and continue for approximately eight years.
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EU airlines: New flight time rules are safe
The 115 European network, regional and leisure airlines—represented by the Assn. of European Airlines (AEA), the European Regions Airline Assn. (ERA), and the International Air Carrier Assn. (IACA)—have joined forces to insist that European flight time regulations are safe.
The three aviation bodies issued a joint statement in response to a pilot and cabin crew demonstration that created “a misleading picture of European aviation safety regulation.”
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Air Berlin wants to extend BER opening until October
Air Berlin said it wants to extend the delayed opening of Berlin Brandenburg International (BER) until the start of the winter schedule by the end of October. “To do it well [the delayed opening] this has to take some time. When the summer travel time is over, all airlines change from summer to winter schedule,” CEO Hartmut Mehdorn said Friday during the opening ceremony of its new 3X-weekly Berlin Tegel–Los Angeles, Calif. service.
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Other News
The Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC) has launched an aircraft finance lease company with Pudong Development Bank and Shanghai International Group.
AAR announced it has received US FAA Supplemental Type Certificate approval for one oxygen system retrofit on a Boeing 747-400 cargo aircraft.
Saab has signed an extended contract with Airbus to continue producing ailerons for the Airbus A320 series. The contract is valued at SEK701 million ($100 million).
Evergreen Aviation Technologies has renewed an airframe maintenance contract with Japanese carrier Skymark Airlines, extending the agreements through until 2017.
Goodrich signed an agreement with Rolls-Royce to provide Boeing 787 nacelle maintenance services for British Airways under Rolls-Royce's Total Care support program. The contract will begin following delivery of the carrier's first 787, slated for 2013.
AVIATION QUOTE
There's a lot of Hollywood bullshit about flying. I mean, look at the movies about test pilots or fighter pilots who face imminent death. The controls are jammed or something really important has fallen off the plane, and these guys are talking like magpies; their lives are flashing past their eyes, and they're flailing around in the cockpit. It just doesn't happen. You don't have time to talk. You're too damn busy trying to get out of the problem you're in to talk or ricochet around the cockpit. Or think about what happened the night after your senior prom.
— Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF
ON THIS DATE
---In 1919... The first transatlantic flight is made in stages by the U.S. Navy’s Curtis N-4 seaplane flown by Lt. Cdr. A. C. Read and his crew.
---In 1929... At the first Academy Award ceremonies in Los Angeles, the Oscar for Best Picture for 1927-1928 goes to the Paramount movie, Wings. This World War I flying epic remains a classic today.
---In 1945…Middle East Airlines is founded.
---In 1958…Cpt W. W. Irwin sets a new airspeed record of 1,404 mph (2,259 km/h) in a F-104 Starfighter, the first record over 2,000 km/h.
---In 1968... A British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) Super VC10 on a routine service from Chicago and Montreal makes the airline’s first fully automatic approach and landing in London.
---In 1969… Venera 5, USSR Venus Atmosphere Probe, (launched January 5, 1969) arrived at Venus. Along with Venera 6, atmospheric data was returned indicating an atmosphere composed of 93-97 carbon dioxide, 2-5 nitrogen, and less than 4 oxygen. The probe returned data down to within 26 kilometers of surface and was then lost - crushed by the pressure on Venus.
---In 1979… New York Airways Sikorsky S-61 tips over while taking on passengers at the Pan Am Building in New York City, killing four. The heliport is permanently closed afterward.
---In 1986…Top Gun (film) opens in theaters in United States.
---In 1992…The 2,000th C-130 Hercules rolls off the production line.
DAILY VIDEO
HUMOR
Naval Truism
"Any ship can be a minesweeper ...... once."
—Admiral Hornblower
TRIVIA
WORLD AIRLINES
1. What is the oldest airline still operating under its original name?
KLM
Northwest Airlines
Deutsche Lufthansa
Qantas
2. What airline carried the most passengers in 2005?
British Airways
American Airlines
United Airlines
Japan Airlines
3. Which of these low-cost airlines is not based in India?
Air Blue
Go Air
SpiceJet
Paramount Airways
4. What colour is associated with EasyJet?
Dark Blue
Purple
Orange
Maroon
5. Which of these is not an international airline?
Continental Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines
Delta Air Lines
6. Which of these European Airlines is not operating?
SABENA
Air Dolomiti
Eurowings
Luxair
7. Which of these is a French airline?
GB Airways
Air Scotland
Brit Air
Aurigny Air Services
8. MALEV the flag-carrier of what country?
Czech Republic
Lithuania
Iceland
Hungary
9. Which of these is not a Japanese Airline?
Skymark Airlines
All Nippon Airways
Asiana Airlines
Hokkaido International Airlines
10. Which of these is a Mexican Airline?
Aero California
Mesaba Airlines
Frontier Airlines
Chautauqua Airlines