AirlinesAir Canada Third Quarter Profit UpAir Canada reported a jump in third-quarter earnings thanks to a firmer handle on costs, and the company forecast a significant increase in capacity next year. Net income rose to CAD$323 million (USD$283.4 million) in the third quarter, from CAD$299 million a year earlier. Adjusted earnings rose to CAD$457 million from C$365 million. Revenue rose 9.2 percent to C$3.8 billion. Cost per available seat mile fell 2.6 percent from a year earlier, to 15.4 cents, more than offsetting a slight decline in yield.
LinkAtlasjet In USD$3 Bln Provisional Airbus DealTurkey's Atlasjet has reached a preliminary deal with Airbus to buy around 30 aircraft worth USD$3 billion at list prices as it expands in eastern Europe and central Asia, two people familiar with the matter said. The tentative agreement covers current-generation A321ceo aircraft, but the number of units and other details have still to be agreed, the people said, asking not to be identified because the talks are confidential. Atlasjet declined comment. A spokesman for Airbus said: "We do not comment on confidential discussions that we may or may not be having with potential customers". Chief executive Orhan Coskun said last month the airline was in the final stage of talks to buy up to 50 planes and would make an announcement soon.
LinkHawaiian tops US airlines at on-time arrivalsHere are the government's rankings of the leading airlines and their on-time performance for September. Some airlines, including Spirit and Allegiant, are not included because they operate fewer flights. The federal government counts a flight as on-time if it arrives within 14 minutes of schedule. 1. Hawaiian Airlines, 90.8 percent, 2. Alaska Airlines, 87.2 percent, 3. JetBlue Airways, 86.1 percent, 4. AirTran Airways, 86.0 percent, 5. Delta Air Lines, 85.7 percent
LinkJetBlue unveils T5i at JFKNew York-based JetBlue Airways today unveiled an extension to its terminal at New York John F Kennedy airport that will handle the airline’s international flights from 12 November. The extension, dubbed T5i, is equipped with six international gates and immigrations and customs facilities. This will allow JetBlue passengers arriving on international flights and connecting to domestic flights to arrive and depart from the same terminal. Currently, JetBlue customers on international flights arrive at terminal four and go to terminal five to transfer to a domestic departure.
LinkVerizon expands partnership with JetBlue AirwaysThe global communications and technology giant Verizon has inked a new five-year deal with JetBlue Airways that will expand the services Verizon offers. The new agreement will build on a 2009 agreement between the two companies and will help JetBlue expand its mobile and communications offerings for passengers. "Our strategic collaboration with Verizon continues to be a major driver in supporting our targets for growth, innovation and leading the industry in delivering a customer experience that is specifically designed for today's 21st century customer," said Eash Sundaram, executive vice president and CIO at JetBlue.
LinkSouth African Airways, JetBlue ink deal for frequent flyer programJetBlue Airways announced that its TrueBlue loyalty program has partnered with South African Airways. Members of the JetBlue TrueBlue program can now earn points when traveling on South African Airways-operated flights. JetBlue and South African Airways are already codeshare partners, with JetBlue’s code placed on South African flights between the United States and both Johannesburg and Dakar, Senegal, as well as on flights between Johannesburg and Cape Town, Durban, East London, and Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
LinkSouthwest continues with AirTran integrationSouthwest Airlines is proceeding with its integration of AirTran Airways. The AirTran website now directs customers to Southwest Airlines, and AirTran loyalty members have been enrolled in Southwest's Rapid Rewards programs. The last AirTran flight is scheduled for Dec. 28
LinkSpiceJet hits buffalo during take-offAn Indian aircraft hit a stray buffalo during take-off from the western city of Surat, but no passengers or crew were injured. The Delhi-bound SpiceJet plane, carrying 146 passengers and crew, was grounded on Thursday because of the damage sustained in the accident. SpiceJet said the buffalo, which was killed in the crash, was "essentially invisible against a black background". SpiceJet is India's fourth-biggest airline by market share. The airline said in a statement that the Boeing 737-800 aircraft hit the buffalo on "take-off roll" at Surat airport. Passengers on the plane were transferred to another aircraft.
LinkUnited could buy Bombardier, Embraer jetsUnited Airlines is looking at purchasing Embraer E-Jets and/or Bombardier CSeries narrow-body jets. The jets will replace United's fleet of 50-seat regional jets. "We're talking to all the manufacturers," said Megan McCarthy, a spokeswoman for the carrier.
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