News
Norwegian reports ‘best ever’ earnings in Q3
Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY) reported a pre-tax profit of NOK873 million ($152 million) for the third quarter, up 27.3% from the NOK686 million earned on a similar basis in prior-year quarter. This was, the airline said in a statement, its “best ever” result. DY CEO Bjørn Kjos said the results “show that the growth has been well adapted to the market demand.
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Scoot to consider a mixed 787 fleet
Long-haul low-cost carrier Scoot could take a mix of Boeing 787s instead of all 20 of the -9 variants ordered by its parent Singapore Airlines. Details are being worked out with Boeing and Scoot would ideally like to have a mix of aircraft, say company sources. This could include both the -8 and the prospective -10 variants. The airline declines to comment on the possible mix and will only confirm that the order, as it stands, is for 20 -9 variants.
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EasyJet beats Virgin Atlantic in fight for Moscow access
EasyJet has succeeded in convincing the UK's Civil Aviation Authority that it should be awarded a certificate to operate flights to Russia. The low-cost carrier had been competing with Virgin Atlantic for access to Russia in the wake of the closure of BMI, which along with British Airways had been one of just two UK carriers permitted to operate Moscow flights. Two Russian carriers - Aeroflot and Transaero - are also permitted to fly between the UK and Russia under the existing bilateral arrangement.
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UK reveals Hermes UAV crash rate in Afghanistan
British Army operations involving leased Elbit Systems Hermes 450 tactical unmanned air vehicles have recorded 11 crashes in the past five years, armed forces minister Andrew Robathan has revealed. "Since 2007 there have been 11 Hermes 450 crashes in Afghanistan," Robathan said in response to a parliamentary question on 24 October. No accidents involving the type occurred in the UK during the same time period, he added.
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Air Canada Gets Union Backing On Pensions
The Canadian Auto Workers union said it would back Air Canada's request to the Canadian government for further relief on funding its deep pension deficit, becoming the final union at the airline to give its approval to the proposal.
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Airbus Targets 60 Pct Of Narrow-body Market
Airbus intends to keep a market share of 60 percent of narrow-body jet orders after a two-year, seesaw battle with Boeing in the largest segment of the global aircraft market, the European plane maker's sales chief said on Thursday.
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Kingfisher Staff Agree To Resume Work
Employees of India's grounded Kingfisher Airlines, unpaid since March, agreed on Thursday to return to work although the debt-strapped carrier must still convince the aviation regulator to reinstate its license.
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JetBlue posts higher Q3 net income
JetBlue Airways Corp. has reported a 29% rise in third-quarter net income, which it attributes to expansion in Boston and the Caribbean and offsetting lower fares. The company posted earnings of $45 million, compared with $35 million over the same period a year ago.
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Revenue up, expenses down for Alaska Air
Alaska Air Group Inc., the parent company of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, saw its third-quarter profits more than double. The company posted profits at $163.4 million, compared with $77.5 million, over the same period a year earlier. The company attributes the strong revenue growth to a rise in traffic and passenger revenue, while expenses fell.
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United posts lower profit
According to United Airlines' parent company, third-quarter profits were down due to fewer people traveling. United Continental Holdings Inc. reported $6 million in earnings, compared with $653 million a year earlier.
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Air Canada, United partnership is approved
Air Canada and United Continental have been given the go-ahead to forge a joint venture to "protect consumers and preserve competition" on 14 popular routes between the U.S. and Canada. The deal means that the airlines can organize prices, expenses and revenue; and share sensitive information. In short, it "will ensure that passengers do not face higher prices and less choice on high-demand routes between Canada and the U.S.," according to John Pecman, interim commissioner at Canada's Competition Bureau.
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To expand global routes, American Airlines will add 2,500 pilots
American Airlines CEO Thomas Horton says the company will hire about 2,500 pilots over the next five years. The move comes as the airline, which is in bankruptcy, aims to boost international flights. They include Texas to Lima; Texas to Seoul; Chicago to Dusseldorf, Germany; and New York to Dublin.
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Delta's refinery gives quick payback
The oil refinery facility in Trainer, Pa., that Delta Air Lines acquired this spring and converted to produce aviation fuel is expected to break even or become cash-positive in the fourth quarter, according to the company's chief financial officer, Paul Jacobson. The unprecedented purchase of a refinery by an airline is expected to reduce the airline's costs by $300 million annually once it reaches full production capacity.
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Other News
Rolls-Royce secured a $2.6 billion order, at list prices, from Singapore Airlines (SIA) for Trent engines to power the order announced Wednesday for 20 Airbus A350-900s and five Airbus A380s. The deal includes Rolls-Royce’s long-term TotalCare service support. Rolls-Royce chief commercial officer-civil aerospace Nick Devall said, “This order further demonstrates the airline’s commitment to both Trent XWB and Trent 900 technology and our comprehensive TotalCare support services.”
Allegiant Travel Company, the parent of low-cost leisure carrier Allegiant Air (G4), reported third-quarter net income of $16.9 million, up 78% from a $9.5 million profit in the year-ago period. The airline said ancillary air-related revenue per passenger has grown to $37.05 in the third quarter 2012, a $4.66 increase since the first quarter, and an increase of 22% over third quarter 2011. The third quarter is the 39th consecutive profitable quarter for Allegiant. “The third quarter is typically our weakest quarter of the year, and yet we were able to produce the highest third-quarter earnings per share in the company’s history. This is particularly noteworthy to have done this in a quarter with the average oil price at $92 per barrel and in a demand environment that has been slightly weaker than historical norms,” Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr., chairman and CEO, said.
Serbian government is considering launching a new carrier to replace the state-owned, loss-making JAT Airways (JU). The plans were announced by minister of finance and economy Mladjan Dinkic after a visit to UAE. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways was named as a possible partner in the new startup. Dinkic told local media that 12 new Airbus aircraft will be leased for the carrier and the company would receive $140 million worth of guarantees. Serbian officials last month said they would hold talks with Malaysia’s low-cost carrier AirAsia (AK) regarding the financially troubled JU, but AK denied it would purchase a carrier in Europe.
Emirates will increase 2X-daily Dubai-Manila 777-300ER service to 3X-daily Jan. 2.
Lufthansa will operate weekly Dusseldorf-Cardiff service May 4-Oct. 5, 2013.
Monarch launched weekly Birmingham-Sharm El Sheikh, increasing to 2X-weekly Oct. 30.
Adria Airways will operate Ljubljana service to Amsterdam (4X-weekly), Brussels (daily), Belgrade (5X-weekly), Istanbul (daily), Vienna Schwechat (daily), Frankfurt (FRA) (daily), Copenhagen (3X-weekly), Moscow Sheremetyevo (daily), Munich (MUC) (daily), Podgorica (3X-weekly), Pristina (PRN) (daily), Sarajevo (6X-weekly), Skopje (daily), Tirana (daily) and Zurich (daily) as well as PRN service to FRA (6X-weekly), MUC (5X-weekly) and Verona (2X-weekly) Oct. 28-March 30.
Wizz Air will launch 3X-weekly Budapest-Geneva service Dec. 14.
Vueling will operate new Barcelona El Prat service to Dresden, Rennes, Fez, Rhodes and Kos for the summer season beginning March 2013.
VietJetAir launched daily Ho Chi Minh City (SGN)-Hai Phong A320 service. It will also launch SGN service to Hue (Nov. 22), Vinh (Nov. 15), Phu Quoc (Dec. 20) and Hanoi-Dalat (Dec. 7).
Aviation Quote
A speck of dirt on your windscreen could turn into an enemy fighter in the time it took to look round and back again. A little smear on your goggles might hide the plane that was coming in to kill you.
— Derek Robinson, Piece of Cake, 1983
On This Date
---In 1940…The North American P-51 Mustang long-range fighter makes its maiden flight. Fast and durable, it would help assure Allied air dominance in World War II.
---In 1958…Pan Am inaugurates the first jet service by a U.S. carrier, flying from New York’s Idlewild Airport (now known as John F. Kennedy International Airport) to Paris Orly using a Boeing 707. The airline flew a commemorative flight on the 25th anniversary in 1983.
---In 1962…The last B-52 Stratofortress off the production line, serial number 61-0040, is delivered to the US Air Force. As of last check, the plane nicknamed the “Spirit of Minot” is still in service with the 5th Bomb Wing, 23d Bomb Squadron stationed at Minot Air Force Base, South Dakota.
---In 1967…First flight of the BAC Stikemaster.
---In 1968...First flight of the Embraer EMB-110 Banderiante.
---In 1972…Helicopter pioneer Igor Sikorsky dies at the age of 83.
---In 1977…A Pan Am Boeing 747SP takes off on a flight to circumnavigate the globe over both poles.
---In 1983…Pan Am celebrates the 25th anniversary of their first Boeing 707 with a 707 flight from JFK International Airport to Paris.
---In 1993…ValuJet commences operations.
Daily Video
Editor’s Choice
Humor
Trains and Planes
A large, two-engined train was making it's way across America. While crossing the Western mountains, one of the engines broke down. “No problem, we can make it to Denver and get a replacement engine there.” the engineer thought, and carried on at half power. Farther on down the line, (if you didn't guess) the other engine broke down, and the train came to a standstill in the middle of nowhere.
The engineer needed to inform the passengers about why the train had stopped, and always trying to look on the bright side of things, made the following announcement: “Ladies and Gentlemen, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that both engines have failed, and we will be stuck here for some time until the additional engines arrive. The good news is that you didn't take this trip in a plane!”
Trivia
Airports, Google Earth
Google Airports
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miamiair wrote:In 1962…The last B-52 Stratofortress off the production line, serial number 61-0040, is delivered to the US Air Force.
