NewsEasyJet Backs Chairman In Battle With Founder
EasyJet has urged shareholders to reject an attempt by the budget airline's founder and largest investor Stelios Haji-Ioannou to oust chairman Mike Rake because of his increasing commitments to Barclays, where he is deputy chairman.
LinkIndia Tax Office Mulling Kingfisher Legal Action 
India's Kingfisher Airlines has service tax dues of INR500 million rupees (USD$9.1 million), and tax authorities are working to take "legal action" against the debt-laden carrier, a senior tax official said on Wednesday.
LinkLATAM Airlines Eyes Wider Use Of SatNav 
Latin America's biggest airline plans to use an efficiency-boosting navigational system for all its routes in coming years, LATAM Airlines said on Wednesday.
LinkAer Lingus claims Ryanair bid is not 'credible' 
Aer Lingus has recommended its shareholders reject Ryanair's takeover bid, claiming the offer of €1.30 per share "fundamentally undervalues" the flag carrier. In a statement, Aer Lingus describes Ryanair's offer as not "credible", not least that the European Commission is likely to block the deal.
LinkKorean Air orders 2 Boeing 777-300ERs 
Korean Air has placed an order for two Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in a deal worth won (W) 640.5 million ($560 million) at list price. Both aircraft are scheduled to be delivered by late 2014, says an airline spokeswoman.
LinkUS Airways offer for American not good "forever": Parker 
A US Airways offer to merge with American Airlines is not guaranteed forever, says US Airways chief executive Doug Parker today during a speech at the National Press Club in Washington DC. "US Airways is here now and ready to get this done and there is no guarantee that will be the case forever," he says. "The best course is a merger during bankruptcy." Fort Worth, Texas-based American announced that it would begin to evaluate merger options with US Airways, as well as with Alaska Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Frontier Airlines and Virgin America, last week. It maintains that, if it merges, it would prefer a deal after it completes the bankruptcy process.
LinkUS Airways prefers smaller 50-seat RJ fleet 
US Airways would like to swap some of its 50-seat regional jets for larger RJs at its regional contract carriers, says Doug Parker, chief executive of the airline. "If we could tear them [our capacity purchase agreements] up and start over we wouldn't have as many 50-seaters," he says on the contracts that were signed by US Airways prior to its merger with America West Airlines in 2005, in a speech at the National Press Club in Washington DC today.
LinkFirst UK F-35 delivery marks milestone in bilateral security relationship US secretary of defense Leon Panetta says that the delivery of the UK's first Lockheed Martin F-35B Joint Strike Fighter 19 July at the company's Fort Worth, Texas, plant marks an important milestone in the two countries' security relationship. The event will mark the first time an international partner has taken delivery of the stealthy fifth-generation fighter. It is also marks the first time a stealth aircraft has been exported by the United States.
LinkTime to deliver on SES implementation, MEPs tell EU member states Air traffic control in Europe urgently needs modernizing to reduce congestion, boost safety, reduce flight times, delays and fares, create jobs and cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, according to a resolution adopted by transport and tourism committee Members of the European Parliament (MEP).
LinkBolivia’s AeroSur loses AOC 
Bolivian authorities have withdrawn the air operators certificate (AOC) for AeroSur (5L) after the carrier, which had been grounded since May 18, failed to fulfill requirements to have its temporary AOC reinstated. The carrier had been granted a temporary permit June 12, minister of public works, housing and services Vladimir Sanchez Escobar told local media.
LinkAMR reports quarterly loss of $241MAMR, the parent company of American Airlines, has reported a loss of $241 million for the second quarter. AMR, which filed for bankruptcy in November, attributed $230 million of the loss to costs associated with the bankruptcy process. CEO Thomas Horton said the quarter represented "a time of exceptional improvement."
LinkConsolidation benefits global airline industry, IAG's CEO saysThe CEO of International Airlines Group, which is the parent company of British Airways and Iberia, says he supports consolidation in the global airline industry. A merger between US Airways and American Airlines, an IAG partner through the oneworld alliance, could also have benefits. "I see it, and I've always seen it, as a great opportunity for IAG and for oneworld because, without question, American will be stronger and will be better," Willie Walsh said.
LinkColumn: Hawaiian Holdings stock is ready to move upwardShares of Hawaiian Holdings, the parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, are poised for growth, columnist Adam Levine-Weinberg says. "I expect Hawaiian's shares to continue outperforming the market for the time being, with upside as high as $15 in the next year," he writes. Hawaiian Airlines has announced expanded routes to Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
LinkBoeing will strengthen 737 MAX fuselageBoeing plans to strengthen the fuselage of its 737 MAX. Boeing spokeswoman Lauren Penning says the changes will include upgrading the rear of the fuselage. The 737 MAX has heavier engines, which increases the need for thicker fuselage, Boeing says.
LinkGlitch disrupts transactions on United Airlines' websiteUnited Airlines shut down its website Tuesday over a glitch that affected reservations-related transactions on the site. The airline put the site back online after 90 minutes, but not before users voiced their frustrations over the disruption. The event follows another disturbance Sunday, when United mistakenly offered round-trip tickets amounting to nearly $20,000 for only four miles plus taxes on its website.
LinkDFW airport sets sights on international expansionDallas/Fort Worth International Airport plans to add a significant number of international flights over the next five years, officials say. Airport CEO Jeff Fegan envisions adding 18 to 26 direct flights to cities that include Beijing, Shanghai, Istanbul, Abu Dhabi, Barcelona, Istanbul, Lima, Quito and Bogota. "These are all markets that we've had discussions with, or we've had indications from airlines, or from our outside experts that these are markets that can be supported," Fegan said.
LinkCustomer service is at heart of American Airlines' Twitter strategyDealing with American Airlines via Twitter can be downright enjoyable, Darren Booth writes. The company uses the microblogging site to disseminate information and answer customers' questions, and it does so with a refreshingly "sincere and human approach," he writes. Jonathan Pierce, the airline's director of social media communications, said, "Our team is empowered by relating to customers, finding connections and being authentic in every response. We make sure there's a face and voice behind each post."
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