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NEWS

Transaero reportedly committing to A380s
Transaero Airlines (UN), Russia’s second-largest carrier, is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Airbus Friday for A380s, ATW learned from a well-placed source. If the MOU is signed, it would make UN the first carrier in Russia and the CIS to order the A380. Deliveries are expected to start no earlier than 2015.
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Discussion

UCH 3Q profit dips 23% to $653 million
United Continental Holdings (UCH), parent of merger partners United Airlines (UA) and Continental Airlines (CO), posted a third-quarter net profit of $653 million, down 23% from $852 million in pro-forma net income in the year-ago period. It plans to keep capacity flat in 2012.
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Air China’s 3Q earnings down by 26%
Air China (CA) reported a third-quarter net income of CNY3.8 billion ($597 million), down by 26.5%, compared to CNY5.17 billion in the year-ago quarter.
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ANA eyes US West Coast for 787 destination
All Nippon Airways (ANA) is examining the US West Coast as a potential destination for its new Boeing 787 routes. ANA has received two of the 55 787s it has on order. A total of 20 aircraft are scheduled to be delivered by the end of the airline’s 2012 fiscal year on March 31, 2013.
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Economic Gloom Curbs Lufthansa Growth Plan
Lufthansa cut its plans to expand capacity next year, indicating dim prospects for a recovery of the air travel industry. "The outlook for the world economy has become much gloomier over the course of the year," Europe's biggest airline by market value said on Thursday as it published weaker than expected third-quarter results.
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Boeing self-funds F-15E production in anticipation of Saudi deal
Boeing is self-funding production of F-15E strike fighters in the expectation that Saudi Arabia may sign a contract at some point before November 2012, said chairman, president and chief executive Jim McNerney. McNerney's comments provide some insight into the status of an opportunity to sell 84 F-15SA fighters to Saudi Arabia, along with radar and weapon upgrades for the country's existing F-15 fleet.
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Composite repairs raise US government monitor’s concerns
US Federal Aviation Administration regulators are taking action to address four safety-related concerns linked to the repair and maintenance of largely composite aircraft such as the Boeing 787, after the issues were highlighted by a US government monitor. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) studied how the FAA and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certificated the 787 - approval for which was granted in August 2011.
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Airbus Military's 'Grizzly' nears civil certification
Flight test activities with the Airbus Military A400M ­transport remain on track for completion by the end of 2012, with fixes having recently been agreed to ­resolve two separate ­engine issues which affected the program earlier this year. Updating the progress made using four "Grizzly" development aircraft for the first time since the type's restricted appearance at the Paris air show in June, Airbus head of flight operations Fernando Alonso said the fleet had logged 784 flights and 2,380 flight hours by 20 October.
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HondaJet picks up flight testing with modified HF120 engines
The GE Honda Aero Engines team has shipped two HF120 turbofan engines with modified fan blisks for Honda's F2 flight test aircraft in North Carolina following a redesign of the titanium components after icing tests earlier this year. The aircraft is expected to join the test program in November.
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American Airlines, union reach tentative agreement
American Airlines and the Transport Workers Union have reached a tentative agreement, the company announced. The long-awaited agreement concerns a four-year contract for baggage handlers and ramp workers. The agreement "is a significant step in our efforts to achieve competitive costs that are critical to our future success," said Missy Cousino, an American spokeswoman.
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Blog: American Airlines has strengths despite Q3 loss
AMR Corp., the parent of American Airlines, reported a loss of $162 million for the third quarter. However, analysts say Latin America flying revenue and trans-Atlantic joint ventures will be bright spots for the U.S. carrier.
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United Continental reports smaller Q3 profit on fuel, merger costs
United Continental Holdings reported a profit of $653 million for the third quarter, compared with $852 million in the same quarter last year. The merged carrier faced higher fuel costs for the quarter, as well as expenses from its 2010 merger.
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JetBlue sees no evidence of "slowdown in demand," CFO says
JetBlue Airways says demand should continue to be strong as the carrier plans to boosts capacity on some routes in the fourth quarter. "Despite negative economic headlines, we're not seeing evidence of a slowdown in demand," said Mark Powers, interim CFO. JetBlue plans to increase capacity on routes serving its Boston hub, the Caribbean and Latin America.
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Republic Airways Studies Selling Jets, Flight Slots for $113 Million Boost
Republic Airways Holdings Inc. (RJET) is studying whether to sell planes and airport landing rights in Washington to help raise about $113 million in a second round of restructuring at its unprofitable Frontier Airlines unit. The plan includes removing a lavatory to make room for three more seats on some of Airbus SAS jets and indefinitely deferring some Embraer SA (EMBR3) aircraft purchases, Chief Executive Officer Bryan Bedford told employees in a memo obtained by Bloomberg News. The shares surged the most in four months.
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Boeing reports Q3 profit of $1.1 billion
Boeing posted net income of $1.1 billion for the third quarter, compared with $837 million in the same quarter of last year. The company also raised its full-year earnings forecast to up to $4.40 earnings per share. Chairman and CEO Jim McNerney said the company's outlook is "strongly positive." However, the company scaled back its delivery plan of 787s to 15 to 20 this year.
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Letter: Why does government subsidize Amtrak but tax airlines?
Nicholas Calio, president and CEO of the Air Transport Association, questions the government's financial support of passenger trains when commercial airlines face additional taxes. "It is wrong to ask American taxpayers to subsidize a failing business like Amtrak," writes Calio in a letter to the editor. "But it is even worse to penalize a vital but struggling business like airlines with job-killing tax increases."
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Canadian agency is at odds with nonresident pilots over taxes
Air Canada pilots who have taken up residence in other countries are fighting a tax on their income earned while flying over Canadian airspace. A judge who ruled on a recent case called on the Canada Revenue Agency to come up with simpler rules for taxation. Nicole Eva Pigeon, a spokeswoman for the agency, said it is reviewing the decision and is "considering our next steps."
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Other News

Alitalia Group reported a third-quarter consolidated net income of €69 million ($95.9 million), up 76.9% compared to €39 million in the year-ago quarter. The group called its P&L figures “particularly satisfactory.” Operating profit rose 60.7% to €90 million. Total operating revenue rose 12% to €1.08 billion during the quarter on a 7.3% increase in passengers carried to 7.6 million. Load factor improved 1.6 points to 77.5% year-over-year.

JetBlue Airways (B6) reported a third-quarter net income of $35 million, down 40.7% year-over-year from $59 million. B6 cited higher fuel expenses of $162 million year-over-year and “challenging economic conditions and severe weather” for the results, B6 president and CEO Dave Barger told analysts and reporters.

Allegiant Travel Co. reported net income of $9.5 million, down 27.9% from $13.8 million in the year-ago quarter, owing mainly to higher fuel prices. Allegiant chairman and CEO Maurice Gallagher Jr. told reporters and analysts that this year’s elevated fuel prices led the company to restrict capacity and increase fares by 21% in the third quarter.

Qantas (QF) has warned the three unions at the center of the airline’s industrial turmoil to accept the shareholders’ vote at Friday’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) and stop trashing the airline. Police, guard dogs and metal detectors will be used to protect executives who have received death threats for what is expected to be a highly charged AGM at the University of New South Wales (NSW).

AerCap Holdings said Monday it has signed a $400 million, 10-year credit facility to finance the purchase and leaseback of 12 Boeing 737-800s to American Airlines (AA). The aircraft are part of AerCap's previously announced sale/leaseback deal with AA covering 35 737-800s.

American Airlines (AA) and its fleet and ground service workers, represented by Transport Workers Union (TWU), have reached a tentative agreement in principle, AA said. The agreement gives workers increased compensation and other enhancements such as additional holidays, sick time and vacation. It also gives AA additional productivity and better aligns AA's work rules with all other airlines through outsourcing, AA said. The employees currently performing these jobs will be reassigned to other duties.

Scandinavian Airlines will launch 2X-weekly Manchester-Bergen service Jan. 6, replacing its London Gatwick-Bergen service, which will cease Nov. 1.

US Airways will discontinue 2X-daily seasonal Phoenix-Telluride, Colo. service.

Aer Arann Regional will suspend services at Galway Airport for the winter season beginning Oct. 31. The suspended routes include service to London Southend, London Luton, Manchester, Edinburgh and Waterford.

Cebu Pacific launched 3X-weekly Iloilo-Cagayan de Oro Airbus A319 service and daily Zamboanga-Tawi-Tawi A319 service.



AVIATION QUOTE

Hey - what's happening here?

— Captain Robert Loft, Eastern Air Lines flight 401, 29 December 1972, last recorded words before crashing into the Florida everglades.



ON THIS DATE

October 28th

---In 1952…First flight of the Douglas XA3D-1

---In 1972…First Flight of the Airbus A300.

---In 1974…First flight of the Dassault Super Étendard.

---In 1982…The last Air France Boeing 707 service, from Tunis to Paris.

---In 1982…The final Douglas DC-9 is delivered.



DAILY VIDEO





EDITOR’S CHOICE





HUMOR

You know you are a freight pilot when

1) On the tarmac, the ground personnel rolls the red carpet AWAY from your plane ;

2) The plane you are flying was getting old when you were born ;

3) You haven't done a daylight landing for 6 months ;

4) The ATC tells you there is smoother air at another FL and you don't care ;

5) You call for transportation to the hotel and they can't find you on the airport ;

6) Your uniform has not been ironed for two weeks and nobody cares ;

7) You fly through a terrible storm and you can hear the thunder (instead of the passengers);

You have to get your own coffee ;

9) Nobody is afraid when you use the toilet ;

10) Upon approaching, you call ATC and decline your company's name and ATC replies "Who?" ;



TRIVIA

Google Airports

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8.


9.


10.

I suck at airport trivia, but even on the phone I can identify #9 as GUA

I'm glad I'm not the only one.

I look three times today . . .

I said, well, "prolly been been ton one or two of 'em, but I'm stumped".

At least there's more than one of me out there.