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Commercial

United Continental Swings To Q4 Profit
United Continental on Thursday reported a quarterly profit that easily topped Wall Street expectations, helped by an increase in passenger travel, higher ticket prices and lower fuel costs. The parent of United Airlines said fourth-quarter unit revenue increased 3.2 percent from last year, while a measure of passenger miles traveled also rose 2.7 percent. For the fourth quarter, the company earned USD$298 million, compared with a loss of USD$190 million last year. Taking into account merger-related charges, the company earned USD$140 million. Revenue rose 7 percent to USD$9.3 billion. United said it expects unit revenue for the current quarter to be flat to up 2 percent over last year and said consolidated capacity is expected to be up 0.3 - 1.3 percent.
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Southwest Reports Stronger Q4 Profit
Southwest Airlines posted a stronger profit in the fourth quarter, aided by higher fares and lower costs for fuel and aircraft maintenance. Net income rose to USD$212 million in the fourth quarter, from USD$78 million a year earlier. Quarterly revenue increased 6 percent to USD$4.43 billion. The average airfare rose 5 percent to USD$156.05. Operating expenses fell 1 percent, with fuel and oil costs down 9 percent. Expenses for maintenance materials and repairs dropped about 12 percent. The carrier cited strong demand and forecast that unit revenue, or passenger revenue per available seat mile, would rise in the current quarter.
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Lower Fuels Costs Help Alaska Air Boost Profits
Alaska Air reported a higher fourth-quarter profit on Thursday, aided by lower fuel costs. Net income was USD$78 million, up 77 percent from USD$44 million a year earlier. Fourth-quarter revenue rose 7 percent to USD$1.2 billion. Operating expenses were up 2 percent, but fuel costs fell 5 percent.
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EU Court Adviser Backs Vueling Baggage Charges
An adviser to Europe's top court has backed a key element of budget airlines' business model, saying extra charges levied by Spanish carrier Vueling for checking in baggage are in line with European Union rules. Budget airlines generate a hefty chunk of their revenues from supplementary fees related to check-in, luggage and boarding passes, which for some carriers could be two-fifths of their turnover. Ultra low-cost US carrier Spirit Airlines, for example, makes around 40 percent of its revenue from extra costs such as bag fees and seat selection, and its CFO Ted Christie told a conference in Dublin this week he would like to see more. "We try not to put a ceiling on it, but we would love to get at least parity between ticket and non-ticket," Christie said.
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Airbus confirms A350 for Singapore Airshow
The Airbus A350-900 aircraft will make its Asian debut at the Singapore Airshow in February, marking the aircraft’s first full display at an international trade show. The test aircraft bearing registration MSN 003 will appear in the static display from 11-12 February, and will also be performing in the flying display on both days, says Airbus in a statement. The 11th and 12th are the first two trade days of the show, which runs through Sunday 16 February. The 15th and 16th are public days.
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Airlines report fourth quarter 2013 profits
Alaska Air Group, Southwest Airlines and United Continental today announced fourth quarter 2013 financial results. Alaska Air Group announced net income of $78 million, or $1.11 a diluted share, an increase of 77% from the prior year, when the carrier reported a profit of $44 million, or 61 cents a share. Southwest Airlines posted net income of $212 million for the fourth quarter, or 30 cents per share. In the fourth quarter of 2012, the carrier reported $78 million net income, or 11 cents per share. United Continental reported $140 million in net income for the fourth quarter, or 37 cents per share compared to the same period last year when the carrier reported a loss of $620 million, or $1.87 per share.
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United offers jobs to furloughed flight attendants
United Airlines plans to offer flight attendants who were scheduled for furlough in April a chance to work for Continental Airlines. The airlines, which merged in 2010, still operate with separate flight crews. "Allowing flight attendants who wish to work the opportunity to do so is definitely the right thing," Sam Risoli, United's vice president for inflight services
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Japan Airlines executive expresses confidence in 787s
Japan Airlines expressed confidence in the Boeing 787 and does not anticipate further issues with its fleet. "There will be no problem in operating our 787s going forward," said Yoshiharu Ueki, JAL president.
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AEA to buy 60 new planes, keep at least 170 aircraft in fleet with new contract
Pedro Fábregas, president of American Eagle Airlines (AEA), pledged to keep a minimum of 170 aircraft in the carrier's fleet in proposed pilot agreement. "We are now providing a guarantee that with the new contract, our fleet will not have fewer than 170 aircraft for the next 10 years," Fábregas said. American Eagle also plans to buy 60 new Embraer 175 regional jets, which seat 76 passengers each.
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Southwest installs gadget to help mitigate bad weather
Southwest Airlines has installed a gadget on the side of planes that measures water vapor and other weather conditions, which helps the airline detect storms. "We're in the business of getting people from Point A to Point B safely," said Rick Curtis, a Southwest meteorologist. "And if this helps, that's why we're here."
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TSA considers cell phones for agents
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is considering a policy change to let airport security screeners carry mobile phones in response to the November incident at Los Angeles International Airport, which would allow them to make calls in the event of an emergency.
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Travelers' favorite airports
Travelers' favorite airports to spend their time between flights include Charlotte Douglas International Airport, which features comfortable rocking chairs, and London Heathrow Airport, which has a supervised play area for children. Yoga rooms are also available at Burlington International Airport in Vermont, Chicago O'Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth Airport and San Francisco International. San Francisco is also opening its second yoga space on Jan. 28, which will be located in the new Boarding Area E for United Airlines. Other amenities that travelers enjoy include adjoining hotels, art exhibits and restaurants.
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IATA: Premium air travel grew in November 2013
A new International Air Transport Association report finds that premium air travel in November 2013 increased internationally by 5.4% year over year. The biggest growth was on routes between South America and North America, which were up 9.3%. Traffic on Europe-Far East routes increased 9% while routes between Europe and the Middle East were up 8.7%.
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Corporate Aviation

G650 backlog doesn't worry Gulfstream parent
Gulfstream’s next available slot for its flagship ultra-long range G650 business jet is almost four years away, according to the airframer’s parent company. Speaking on a fourth-quarter earnings call on 20 January, Phebe Novakovic, chairman and chief executive of General Dynamics, said the backlog for the aircraft is so extensive that the next available production slot is “in the 45 month range”. The backlog for the smaller products in its catalogue – the super-midsize G280 and large-cabin G450 and G550 – is also high, with manufacturing availability around nine to 12 months out.
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Rotary Wing

Texas medical center gets a new helicopter
An Agusta 109 helicopter will be stationed at Lake Whitney Medical Center in Whitney, Texas. The helicopter will serve three surrounding counties, and it will be outfitted with special trauma equipment and have a certified flight nurse on board.
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Military

F-35 awaits capability boost from Block 4 software
Testing will soon begin on the next-generation Block 4 software expected to provide a significant capability boost to Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. On 16 January, the US Navy announced – via a posting on the federal government's procurement website – that the F-35’s joint programme office intends to award multiple contracts to Lockheed Martin to develop Block 4 software, with the first contract expected to be awarded in October 2014. The contracts will include “assessments and evaluations” to ensure Block 4-equipped aircraft meet “future operational requirements”, it says.
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Dassult completes first test flights of new 'heavily armed' Rafale
Dassault has completed the first test flights of its Rafale combat type in what it describes as a "heavily armed" configuration, featuring a number of new weapons and larger fuel tanks. During the preliminary evaluation sorties, the aircraft carried six Sagem AASM Hammer air-to-surface missiles, four medium- and long-range MBDA MICA air-to-air missiles and a pair of Meteor beyond-visual-range munitions on 12 of its 14 its external hard points. Additionally the aircraft was equipped with three 2,000 litre fuel tanks.
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Aviation Quote

Not to have an adequate air force in the present state of the world is to compromise the foundations of national freedom and independence.

— Winston Churchill, House of Commons, 14 March 1933.

On This Date

---In 1932... French pilots Paul Codos and Henri Robida land in Paris after flying from Hanoi in French Indochina in a record time of 3 days 4 hours.

---In 1950…First flight of the North American YF-93.

---In 1961…A US Air Force B-52G on a 24-hour alert mission breaks up and crashes near Goldsboro, North Carolina. The crew safely ejects, but the plane manages to drop both of its Mark 39 nuclear bombs in the process. One of the warheads manages to complete 5 of the 6 steps needed to detonate, but thankfully does not. The other hits the ground at high speed and disintegrates, with the radioactive core burying itself deep underground to the point that it cannot be recovered. The USAF purchased the surrounding land to prevent theft.

---In 1962… Two United States Navy F-4 Phantom IIs are seconded to the United States Air Force as the Air Force plans to adopt the type.

---In 1966…Air India Flight 101, a Boeing 707 (reg VT-DMN, Katchenjunga) enroute to New York from Bombay via Delhi, Beirut and Geneva, crashes into Mont Blanc on the France/Italy border, killing all 106 passengers and 11 crew. While on approach to Geneva, air traffic controllers instructed the crew to begin their descent after passing Mont Blanc. Unfortunately, the captain began descending too soon, believing they had already flown over the 15,781ft peak. The plane impacted the southwest face of the mountain near the top, at 15,585 feet. TRIVIA: AI uses Flight 101 today to designate their Delhi-New York service.

---In 1966…First flight of the Learjet 24.

---In 1968...First A-12 flight over North Korea to observe the USS Pueblo. Pilot Frank Murray. The ship had been seized the day before (23 JAN 68). (Q)

---In 1975…First flight of the Aerospatiale SA 365 Dauphin F-WVKE.

---In 1978…Kosmos 954, a nuclear-powered Soviet reconnaissance satellite, falls out of orbit and breaks up, scattering bits of its nuclear reactor along a 300-mile swath of northern Canada. A U.S.-Canada task force manages to recover only 12 pieces and 1% of the nuclear fuel after searching a 48,000 sq. mi. area, for which the USSR is mailed a bill for $6,041,174.70.

---In 1986…The American spacecraft Voyager 2 makes its closest approach to Uranus, passing within 50,600 miles.

---In 2010…A Taban Air Tu-154 carrying 157 people crash-lands and catches fire at Mashhad International Airport in northeastern Iran, injuring 46 people.

---In 2002…BMIbaby is founded.

Daily Video

Editor’s Choice

Humor

An elderly gentleman....

Had serious hearing problems for a number of years. He went to the doctor and the doctor was able to have him fitted for a set of hearing aids that allowed the gentleman to hear 100% .

The elderly gentleman went back in a month to the doctor and the doctor said, 'Your hearing is perfect... Your family must be really pleased that you can hear again.'

The gentleman replied, 'Oh, I haven't told my family yet.

I just sit around and listen to the conversations. I've changed my will three times!'

Trivia

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