NEWSAviancaTaca reports 1Q profit of $34.9 million
Bogota-based AviancaTaca Holding (AV), parent of Avianca, TACA, Aerogal and Tampa Cargo, reported a first-quarter net profit of $34.9 million, up 47.3% compared to the year-ago quarter. Operating revenue climbed 22.7% to $1.02 billion. EBITDA increased 18.9% to $96.1 million, while EBITDAR increased 24.3% to $167.6 million.
LinkQantas restructure splits domestic, international operations
The Qantas Group (QF) announced it will split the carrier’s international and domestic operations into two distinct businesses as part of its five-year transformation plan launched in August 2011. “Qantas International and Qantas Domestic—currently combined as ‘Qantas Airlines’—will be formally managed as two distinct businesses,” a QF statement said. “Each will have its own CEO and its own operational and commercial functions with financial results to be reported separately.” The new structure will be effective July 1.
LinkSouthwest to sublease all 88 AirTran 717s aircraft to Delta
Southwest Airlines has reached a tentative agreement with Delta Air Lines and Boeing Capital Corp. to sublease all 88 AirTran Boeing 717 aircraft to Delta, transitioning three aircraft per month over a three-year period beginning in the second half of 2013.
LinkDelta could purchase more regional jets
Delta Air Lines could purchase more regional jets once a contract with pilots is ratified, its pilots union says. Gina Laughlin, a spokeswoman for Delta, said a ratified contract would lead to "productivity gains and additional aircraft flexibility, including an opportunity to accelerate Delta's domestic fleet restructuring strategy, which will result in a better customer travel experience." Bloomberg Businessweek
LinkAir India pilot strike overshadows 787 delivery Indian flag-carrier Air India’s (AI) long-haul flights on international routes continued to be crippled as the pilot strike enters the 15th day, overshadowing the carrier’s Boeing 787 delivery later this month.
LinkSuperJet International: SSJ100 crash ‘does not alter our belief in the aircraft or its safety’Subdued representatives from SuperJet International (told reporters at the Regional Airline Assn. annual convention in Minneapolis Tuesday that the recent crash of a Sukhoi Superjet SSJ100 has not significantly altered plans to manufacture and market the Russian-built regional aircraft.
LinkBrazil’s Passaredo places firm order for 10 ATR 72-600sBrazil’s Passaredo Linhas Aéreas took delivery of its first ATR 72-600 via an Air Lease Corp. (ALC) lease Tuesday, and also announced a contract with ATR to directly purchase 10 72-600s valued at more than $200 million at list prices. Passaredo will take delivery of three more leased ATR 62-700s and the 10 purchased 72-600s over the next 31 months, meaning it will operate 14 of the type by the end of 2014. It also has options on 10 more of the type. The carrier will add two leased ATR 72-500s to its fleet this year.
LinkUS Air Passenger With 'Device' Causes DiversionA passenger who claimed to have a surgically implanted device prompted a US Airways jet to divert to Maine on Tuesday in a security scare that followed a recently foiled bomb plot targeting US-bound aircraft.
LinkUK's OFT To Probe Ryanair's Aer Lingus StakeRyanair faced increased pressure to sell its minority stake in rival Aer Lingus at a loss after a British court on Tuesday gave the competition regulator the green light to investigate whether the stake is curbing competition.
LinkUK Considers Sale Of Aviation Fuel NetworkBritain's Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on Tuesday it was considering selling its 2,500 km long aviation fuel network to generate income for the government looking to reduce its debt burden.
LinkMitsubishi targets 2017-18 to deliver 100-seat MRJ Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. today revealed the 100-seat and third member of its regional jet family should enter service in five or six years. On 25 April, the Japanese airframer postponed entry into service of the 90-seat Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) to the third quarter of 2015. A 70-seat version of the MRJ is expected to deliver a year later, but Mitsubishi had previously not disclosed the timeline for introducing the MRJ100X.
LinkBoeing delivers fifth C-17 to UAE Boeing has delivered a fifth C-17 Globemaster strategic airlifter to the United Arab Emirates. The Middle Eastern nation has ordered six of the four-engined aircraft, the last of which will be delivered either "late June or early July," the company says. Though the company announced the delivery on 22 May, the aircraft was technically delivered earlier in the month. The delay was necessary to complete certain modifications requested by the UAE before the jet was flown home.
LinkUS prices Australian Growler upgrade at $1.7bnThe US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has priced the upgrade of 12 Australian Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft to the EA-18G Growler electronic warfare configuration at $1.7 billion. The proposed deal would be conducted under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) mechanism, the DSCA said in a statement. Its announcement follows a request from the government of Australia.
LinkAustralia’s Lovitt wins Boeing F/A-18 E/F wing work Australian firm Lovitt Technologies has won a A$1 million ($980,000) contract from Boeing to provide wing parts for the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet. "This is an outstanding achievement for Lovitt Technologies and is the result of their hard work and demonstrates their high level of manufacturing capability," says minister for defence materiel Jason Clare.
LinkAFSOC MC-130J crews start training in new full-motion simsThe US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) aircrews have started training on full-motion simulators for the MC-130J version of the Lockheed Martin Hercules tactical transport aircraft at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. The USAF recently started receiving the new MC-130Js for which the USAF must start training new crews. Lockheed delivered the courseware and curriculum for the new aircraft to Air Education and Training Command (AETC) in February, says Vic Torla, the company's director for the aircrew training and rehearsal support (ATARS) program.
LinkHawaiian Airlines sees growth in passenger traffic for AprilHawaiian Airlines has reported a 6.2% increase in passenger traffic in April on a year-over-year basis. Hawaiian carried 720,747 passengers in April, with a load factor of 82.1% for the month. During the first four months of 2012, Hawaiian transported more than 2.9 million passengers.
LinkLast year was safest year on record for air travel, report saysDuring 2011, there were 25 fatal airline accidents worldwide, making the year the safest on record for air travel, a report shows. The fatal accident rate of one per 1.52 million flights marks a 17% improvement from 2010. Over the past two decades, the fatal accident rate has been halved.
LinkLaser incidents climbed 26% in 2011, FAA saysThe number of incidents involving lasers pointed at commercial aircraft rose 26% in 2011, to 3,592, the Federal Aviation Administration says. The agency began tracking laser incidents in 2005. "We will pursue the toughest penalties against anyone caught putting the safety of the flying public at risk," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said.
LinkFAA launches website on in-flight child safetyThe Federal Aviation Administration has launched a website on child safety on airline flights. The website urges parents to bring child-safety seats on flights and buckle children into the seats. The safety seats are a better option than having children sit on a parent's lap, the FAA says.
LinkMore travelers turn to checkpoint-friendly accessoriesUltra-light carry-on bags and checkpoint-friendly laptop cases are just some of the accessories aimed at helping travelers pass through airport security. "These new categories have literally mushroomed because they're removing all the pain points associated with travel," says Lopo Rego, an associate professor of marketing at Indiana University. The Transportation Security Administration does not endorse specific products, but it does recognize items that meet certain criteria, such as laptop bags and locks.
LinkAirlines are adding seating optionsGroup fliers are finding it difficult to stay together on flights if they choose not to pay for seat reservations on their planes. While frequent fliers are praising the added options, airlines say gate agents attempt to help families sit together, especially families with small children. "Airlines have to be careful. They can only push this so far before they risk incurring the wrath of customers or the government," said Henry Harteveldt, co-founder of Atmosphere Research Group.
LinkIowa airport sees effect of Southwest Airlines before service startsDes Moines may already be seeing indications of the Southwest effect, says airport executive director Don Smithey. Southwest Airlines lands in Des Moines Sept. 30, when it begins flights to Chicago’s Midway Airport. Southwest purchased AirTran last year. Smithey said he believes other airlines are preparing for the new competition by lowering prices in some instances. He’s seen flights to Denver, where Southwest flies, for as low as $177, and he said to watch rates to Chicago, which have been as much as $850.
LinkNATO signs deal with Northrop for 5 Global HawksNATO has signed a $1.7 billion deal to buy five Global Hawk drones from Northrop Grumman. The alliance isn't saying where it will deploy the spy planes but in last year's missions in Libya, it relied heavily on intelligence gathered by such drones.
LinkNATO, U.S. move forward with European missile shieldThe U.S. Navy will put a ship armed with anti-missile technology in the Mediterranean and NATO will command a radar station in Turkey under the first phase of a European missile shield agreed upon by NATO and the U.S. this week. At its annual conference held in Chicago this week, NATO decided to move forward with the shield plan.
LinkSenate investigation: China leads in fake military electronicsChina is a key source of counterfeit military electronics that are found in the U.S. military supply system, a Senate investigation has found. A U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee report found 1,800 cases of counterfeiting involving about 1 million parts and in a closer look at a select number of cases found China was the source for 70% of the fakes.
LinkEmbraer keeps 2018 target date for regional-jet updatesEmbraer plans to stick to its schedule of updating its E-170/190 family of regional jets by 2018. Embraer CEO Frederico Fleury Curado said the date "looks like the right time." Embraer rivals such as Mitsubishi have announced plans to delay their regional jets.
LinkSpace station's partners face budget pressure to realize R&D goalsPartners in the International Space Station are coming under pressure to justify budget reductions in research and development. The space station was funded by the U.S., Russia, Europe, Canada and Japan. However, NASA spent less than $200 million on life and physical sciences research at the space station in 2010.
LinkTSA hopes up to 75% of travelers participate in PreCheckThe Transportation Security Administration hopes that up to 75% of the traveling public is eventually enrolled it its PreCheck program. "We're going to have to get to the general population," TSA Associate Administrator Doug Hofsass said Monday. The TSA's effort to expand PreCheck participation is part of its shift away from "one-size-fits-all" screening.
LinkAmadeus secures €200 million R&D loan from the EIB Madrid-based Amadeus IT Group has secured a loan for €200 million ($255 million) from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to finance research and development for a variety of IT projects for airlines, airports, hotels, and rail between 2012 and 2014.
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