NEWSRyanair Makes Fresh Bid For Aer Lingus
Ryanair launched a third bid to take over Irish rival Aer Lingus on Tuesday, offering shareholders a 38 percent premium to the market in a deal that would require regulators to drop opposition to a merger. Europe's largest budget carrier, which already owns just under 30 percent of Aer Lingus, said in a statement after markets closed that it would offer 1.30 euros per share in a bid to secure at least 50 percent.
LinkDiscussionBombardier C-Series On Track, Timetable TightThe remaining few months before the first flight of Bombardier's new C-Series jet will be crammed with a barrage of final assembly and safety tests, but development is still on schedule, company executives said on Tuesday.
LinkAir France explores options for CityJet
Air France (AF) insists that “all options remain open” for its Irish subsidiary CityJet (WX), which is not covered by the French carrier’s Transform 2015 restructuring project.
LinkSource: Delta's fleet plan could make Comair "unviable"
Delta Air Lines is nearing the end of a plan to reduce its fleet of 50-seat regional jets. The shift to larger regional jets that seat 76 people has some observers questioning whether Delta plans to shut down its regional subsidiary Comair. "If [Comair's] 50-seaters are parked and either the CRJ900s or CRJ700s are used in two-for-one deal with other contract carriers, Comair could be unviable as a carrier," says a source. Delta did not offer a comment on Comair's future.
LinkColumn: Delta Air Lines focuses on customers
Columnist A. I. Houriani praises Delta Air Lines for trying to improve the customer experience. "Delta Air Lines realized something much more quickly than its competitors had: Customer experience is always key," writes Houriani. "It's true that customers are extremely price sensitive to airfares, but it's also true that they love on-flight entertainment, especially for frequent fliers who practically live in planes."
LinkGOL names Audi executive as new CEOLatin American low-cost carrier GOL (G3) has named Audi Brazil president Paulo Sergio Kakinoff as its new CEO, effective July 2. Long-standing CEO Constantino de Oliveira Jr., who has headed the company since July 2000, will be elected chairman July 6 as part of the management revamp.
LinkIridium, NAV Canada to partner on satellite-based air traffic surveillanceIridium Communications and NAV Canada on Tuesday announced a planned joint venture to build a space-based air traffic tracking system that the companies said will cover the entire planet, including oceans and remote regions. Financial details of the JV, called Aireon, were not revealed at a press conference in Washington DC. But Iridium and NAV Canada did outline the JV’s plans, which call for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) receivers to be built into each of the 66 satellites making up Iridium NEXT, the satellite communications company’s next generation of satellites set to be put in orbit from 2015 to 2017.
LinkInvestors Eyeing Bankia's Stake In IAGIAG CEO Willie Walsh said investors were interested in buying the 12 percent stake in the airline group owned by troubled Spanish lender Bankia.
LinkUruguay seeks new investor for Pluna after Leadgate's withdrawal The government of Uruguay has reassumed control of Pluna, the nation's principal airline, after the carrier's controlling shareholder Leadgate announced that it will withdrawal from the ownership structure of the company. After several weeks of growing tensions between the Uruguayan government and Leadgate over the urgent need to recapitalise the Montevideo-based airline, Pluna CEO Matias Campiani finally announced his resignation last Friday after it became clear that Leadgate would not inject further funds into the company.
LinkAvianca-Taca converts three 787 optionsLatin American airline Avianca-Taca has converted three Boeing 787-8 options, taking its total order of the aircraft type to 15. The carrier converted the options last month, its chief financial officer Gerardo Grajales Lopez said. Avianca-Taca will receive its first 787 in April 2014, he adds. The airline had initially expected the first aircraft in the second half of 2010 but delays to the 787 program have since pushed this back.
LinkEASA certificates ATR 42-600European regulators have certificated the ATR 42-600, the smaller member of the airframer's new -600 series turboprop family. ATR expects the 46- to 50-seat type to enter service this summer. Its customers include Air Tahiti, Tanzania's Precision Air and Russia's NordStar.
LinkUnited gives tour of Chicago operations center
United Airlines gave a tour Monday of its operations center on 12 floors of Willis Tower, formerly known as Sears Tower, in downtown Chicago. The center employs thousands of workers who manage 5,600 daily United and United Express flights worldwide. "It's all about safety and serving our customers better," said Peter McDonald, vice president and chief operations officer for United Continental Holdings. The center started full operations on May 31.
LinkAirlines cater to corporate travelers with premium options
Airlines are increasingly catering more to corporate and premium travelers, who are more likely to pay more for add-ons and premium options such as lie-flat beds, additional legroom and Wi-Fi. While such fliers may not represent a majority of the consumer population, they do spend and generate a greater amount of revenue for airlines. Chris Kelly Singley, a spokeswoman for Delta Air Lines, says, "You have to continue to really invest in the product that's bringing those customers to you in the first place."
LinkFedEx reports drop in fiscal Q4 earnings
FedEx Corp. has reported fiscal fourth-quarter earnings of $550 million, compared with $558 million for the same period last year. The Memphis, Tenn.-based company, the second-largest package-delivery firm in the world, also released a lower full-year guidance than expected by Wall Street.
Link3 American Airlines unions support merger with US AirwaysThe three largest unions at American Airlines support a merger with US Airways. AMR Corp., the parent company of American, filed for bankruptcy in November. "We believe we have an idea here that can create a stronger airline, take care of all of the employees and also take care of the creditors of American Airlines than a stand-alone airline can," said Doug Parker, CEO of US Airways.
LinkICAO aims for March deadline for global emissions proposalThe International Civil Aviation Organization says it will have a proposal ready on global emissions by March 2013. ICAO, the United Nations body that oversees global aviation, had previously said it would have a proposal by the end of 2012. "I believe that the turning point will be in March next year, when we will put one option on the table, if all goes well," said Secretary General Raymond Benjamin.
LinkAirbus, Air Canada launch North America's first "perfect flight"
Airbus and Air Canada have joined forces to launch North America's first "perfect flight," from Toronto to Mexico City. The Airbus A319 is said to be the most efficient aircraft in the air, utilizing biofuel and lightweight cabin features to cut fuel costs and carbon emissions. Airbus CEO Fabrice Bregier said that "political will" is needed to "foster incentives" for making "perfect flights" a daily commercial routine.
LinkOrlando, Fla., airport gets tentative TSA approval for private screenersThe Transportation Security Administration has tentatively approved a plan for Orlando Sanford International Airport in Florida to switch to private screeners. The TSA says it will ultimately approve a plan only if the plan does not weaken security or raise costs. The agency said there would "be no immediate change to operations or the federal workforce" at the airport. Sixteen U.S. airports already use private screeners.
LinkPreCheck expands to Boston's Logan airportThe Transportation Security Administration is launching its PreCheck program this week at Boston's Logan International Airport. The program allows pre-screened travelers to pass through security checkpoints without removing their shoes or belts. The TSA estimates that once the program is in place across the U.S., up to 70% of travelers could use it.
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