AirlinesAir Canada 3Q net profit up 76%; 3Q capacity up 21%Montreal-based Air Canada reported a third-quarter 2016 net profit of C$768 million ($586.6 million), up 75.7% over net income of C$437 million in the 2015 September quarter, as the carrier continues to aggressively grow. While global US airlines—American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines—competing with Air Canada have largely halted growth, Air Canada increased third-quarter capacity by 20.9% year-over-year.
LinkCargojet posts $3.7 million 3Q net lossCanadian scheduled air freight carrier Cargojet reported a C$4.8 million ($3.7 million) net loss for the 2016 third quarter, widened from the company’s C$2.2 million net loss in 3Q 2015. Total revenue for the quarter was C$80.7 million, up 7.2% year-over-year (YOY), as expenses fell 7.3% YOY to C$59.9 million, bringing the airline’s third-quarter operating profit to C$20.8 million, nearly doubled from C$10.7 million in 3Q 2015.
LinkGoldstar Air sets sights on BaltimoreNew Ghanaian carrier Goldstar Air plans to start services to Baltimore Washington International (BWI) in 1Q 2017, according to CEO Eric Bannerman. The small West African nation has lacked a national long-haul carrier since Ghana Airways, one of Africa’s oldest airlines, ceased flying in December 2015.
LinkJetBlue to launch Fort Lauderdale-Long Beach service in 2017In May, JetBlue will commence service connecting Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Long Beach, Calif., aboard its Airbus A320 aircraft, which boasts 42 seats in its premium economy lite section and 108 seats in coach.
LinkLOT Polish Airlines to acquire 49% in Nordica’s Regional Jet LOT Polish Airlines has agreed to acquire a 49% stake in Estonian flag carrier Nordica’s Regional Jet subsidiary as the Polish flag carrier aims to strengthen its presence in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Both carriers would preserve their national identities.
LinkBrazil Regulator Appeals LATAM, IAG DealBrazilian regulator CADE said a joint business agreement between LATAM Airlines and IAG carriers British Airways and Iberia “has the potential to generate competition issues.” The regulator said the “potential to cause harmful effects on competition prompted the General Superintendence to challenge the operation.”
LinkRyanair interim net profit up 7%Irish low-cost carrier (LCC) Ryanair reported a first-half net income of €1.17 billion ($1.3 billion), up 7% from a €1.09 billion profit in the year-ago period. The net profit figure excludes a €317.5 million gain from Ryanair selling its 29.8% shareholding in Aer Lingus in September 2016.
LinkSouthwest pilots ratify new labor contract after 4+ years of talksSouthwest Airlines pilots have voted by an 84%-16% margin to ratify a new labor contract, ending more than four years of sometimes contentious negotiations. The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA), which represents the carrier’s 8,400 pilots, said 96.3% of eligible flight deck crew participated in the vote. The new contract will run through August 2020.
LinkUnited Airlines posts 100% completion rate by regional partnersOn Nov. 1, United Airlines made a breakthrough in on-time performance when 100% of the 2,445 scheduled flights on regional carriers were completed. "This is a fantastic accomplishment. I appreciate the focus and energy it takes to produce these results," said United Express Senior Vice President Brad Rich.
LinkUzbekistan Airways to order three more Boeing 787sUzbekistan Airways will order three additional Boeing 787s, the carrier said Nov. 5 while taking delivery of a second 787-8 from a previous contract. The new order is for 787-9s. According to the Tashkent-based carrier, the agreement for additional aircraft was reached in September during a visit from Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Raymond Conner.
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