CommercialILFC becomes largest customer for 787-9ILFC confirms that is has recently converted firm orders for eight Boeing 787-8s to the larger 787-9 model, making the lessor the single largest customer of the type. The adjustment was revealed on 8 May in Boeing’s monthly update of the 787-9 order backlog. ILFC placed multiple orders for the 787 from 2005 to 2007, resulting in orders for 74 aircraft overall that were previously split between 41 787-9 and 33 787-8s. But Boeing’s latest update shows that ILFC’s 787-9 order has increased to 49 and the 787-8 order has declined to 25 aircraft.
LinkSingapore Airlines Hit By Q4 Operating LossOperating losses at Singapore Airlines widened in the fourth-quarter as it cited persistently weak pricing power and flagged a challenging outlook. Singapore Air said operating loss widened to SGD$60.3 million (USD$48.3 million) in the quarter ended March from SGD$44.2 million a year earlier. The airline, 56-percent owned by state investor Temasek Holdings, said the operating environment was challenging and the cargo sector was suffering from overcapacity.
LinkEmirates' 2013 Profit Jumps On Higher SalesEmirates reported a 43 percent jump in 2013 net profit, helped by higher revenue and lower fuel costs. Emirates posted a profit of AED3.3 billion dirhams (USD$898.4 million) for the year to March 31 up from AED2.3 billion a year earlier, it said in a statement. It said profit for the wider Emirates Group, which includes airline services arm Dnata, rose 32 percent to AED4.1 billion dirhams. "It's been a good year. There was growth in our business all round and fuel costs fell by about 4 percent last year, which helped," Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of Emirates, told a news conference.
LinkSaudi Arabia Plans New Pilgrimage Airport At TaifSaudi Arabia is planning to build a new airport to serve pilgrims to Mecca in the nearby city of Taif, its General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) said on Thursday. GACA is preparing a tender and will ask consortia of local and international companies to bid to develop the airport, and aims to award a contract in the first half of 2015, a spokesman said. He said it will be developed on a build-operate-transfer basis, in which a developer finances the construction and recoups its investment by operating the airport.
LinkSAS Trims Outlook, Blames Weak Q2 YieldSAS on Thursday trimmed its forecast for the full year, blaming competition in its home Scandinavian markets for pushing down yields. SAS said rival airlines had shifted capacity to Scandinavia in the last six months and that meant that unit revenues had been weaker than expected during the second quarter.
LinkQantas To Cut Debt By More Than AUD$1 BlnAustralia's Qantas Airways said on Thursday it plans to cut debt by over AUD$1 billion (USD$935 million) by fiscal 2015 to achieve positive free cash flow. Qantas, which has been hit by fierce competition, plans to reduce debt by simplifying its fleet, scaling back investment and selling assets.
LinkAmerican reports record operations results for AprilScott Kirby, the president of American Airlines, said the newly merged carrier posted record operations results in April. "The month of April is arguable the best operating month at legacy American Airlines," Kirby said. The carrier's mainline completion factor of 99.7% was its best ever, while mainline on-time departures improved to the best level in seven years.
LinkUnited Airlines to debut Embraer 175 this monthUnited Airlines plans to retire its 50-seat regional jets as it rolls out a fleet of 76-seat Embraer 175s. Charles Hobart, a United spokesman, said the Embraer jets offer "more personal space and wider seats and aisles than other regional jets." The 175s also feature a first-class cabin and more spacious overhead bins. The first 175 will start service on May 17.
LinkHawaiian carried 1.7% more passengers in AprilHawaiian Airlines transported 1.7% more passengers in April on a year-over-year basis. The carrier flew 785,254 passengers for the month, compared to 772,346 passengers in the same month of the prior year. Meanwhile, Hawaiian's load factor and capacity both dipped 1.1% in April.
LinkJetBlue upgrades premium seating options with MintJetBlue's new Mint cabin section -- the airline's first effort in differentiated seating -- will serve up tapas and Wi-Fi when the new premium service debuts next month. "Mint is a product that is clearly designed to really focus on two markets in particular with terrific paid premium demand," said Mark Powers, JetBlue's chief financial officer.
LinkBoeing 777X improvements start with enginesThe Boeing 777X features several design improvements from the 777 model. The 777X uses GE9X engines, which boast a 10% lower rate of fuel consumption. The 777X also uses composites for the wing design, and focuses on the passenger experience with larger windows and a more comfortable interior.
LinkAirbus reports net orders for 142 aircraft through AprilAirbus said it received net orders for 142 aircraft so far this year through the end of April, trailing Boeing's net orders for 288 aircraft in the same period. American Airlines converted 30 of its orders for Airbus from the A321neo to the A321ceo. The conversion is part of an order the carrier placed in 2011 for 260 Airbus aircraft.
LinkDallas city manager to award Love Field gates this weekDallas officials will decide this week which airline should get two Love Field gates American Airlines relinquished when it merged with US Airways. Southwest Airlines, the dominant carrier at Love Field, says it will create more jobs if awarded the gates, citing a study by L.E.K. Consultants. "We agree with the consultant's study that we would bring the most benefit in terms of flights, low fares, customers and economic benefits for the city of Dallas," said Southwest CEO Gary Kelly.
Link 
