News
Air France reports €957 million 9-month net loss
Air France-KLM (AF-KLM) reported a nine-month net loss of €957 million ($1.2 billion), widened 74% against a €550 million loss for the comparable period in 2011, due primarily to restructuring charges. The Franco-Dutch carrier group blamed a €536 million hit in non-current and non-cash charges for the sharp decline in net profits, including a €348 million charge for voluntary redundancies.
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ANA’s fiscal 1H net profit increases 62%
All Nippon Airways (ANA) reported net income of ¥36.9 billion ($463.4 million) for the first half of its 2012 fiscal year started April 1, up 61.6% over a net profit of ¥22.8 billion in the first six months of FY2011, as revenue lifted 6.9% to ¥753.2 billion. Operating income of ¥75.3 billion, up 50.2% year-over-year, was ANA’s highest ever for the first half of a fiscal year. “ANA steadily captured solid business and leisure demand during the first half, resulting in a significant increase in revenue compared to the same period last year,” the company said in a statement. It added that continuing “reconstruction demand” in the aftermath of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami has bolstered the Japanese economy in recent months. It noted, however, that “the global economy slowed and conditions remain uncertain due to the … economic environment in Europe and China.”
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JFK, Newark To Reopen, LaGuardia Closed
As the US Northeast recovers from Hurricane Sandy, here is a list of service updates for New York, New Jersey and the District of Columbia.
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Sandy's impact on airline financials too early to tell
The jury remains out on the impact of superstorm Sandy on the financials for airlines, as operations creep back to normal. Airlines had cancelled 18,445 flights in North America since 27 October through this morning due to Sandy, according to FlightStats.com. The website says that an additional 2,664 flights were cancelled today as of 05:30.
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American Airlines, Sabre Settle Legal Dispute
American Airlines and GDS operator Sabre said on Wednesday they have settled a dispute over alleged anti-competitive business practices.
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Honda Starts Making Small Jets In US
Honda Motor has begun making its unconventionally designed small passenger jet in the United States, aiming to create a "Civic of the Sky" that could make it a major competitor among the world's aircraft manufacturers.
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China Sovereign Fund Buys Heathrow Stake
An arm of China's sovereign wealth fund has taken a 10 percent stake in the holding company controlling Britain's largest airport London Heathrow, Spanish infrastructure company Ferrovial said on Wednesday.
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Government Report Critical Of UK Aviation Policy
UK Government ministerial uncertainty over aviation is criticised in a government-commissioned review on economic policy published on Wednesday.
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"Progress is being made" in AMR pilot negotiations, union says
AMR and representatives of the Allied Pilots Association continue to negotiate a labor agreement, and a recent statement from the APA said that "progress is being made" toward a deal. "There is potential for an agreement with AMR in the days ahead," the statement said.
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Hawaiian Airlines begins service to Sapporo, Japan
Hawaiian Airlines began service to its fourth Japanese destination, Sapporo, on Tuesday. "Hawaiian's entry into the Hokkaido market provides an additional port of departure from Japan, and more ports of departure from Japan gets into our strategic priority of expanding service from Japan," Hawaii Tourism Authority CEO Mike McCartney said. "This is a significant move forward."
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Storm-related flight cancellations continue
Airlines have been forced to cancel some Thursday flights in light of the damage caused by the superstorm Sandy this week. Airport closures in New York and New Jersey and limited service in other affected major regions continue to affect airline schedules.
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South Korea receives final AEW&C 737
Boeing delivered its last of four 737-based airborne early warning and control system aircraft to South Korea's air force on 24 October. The airframer and its Peace Eye program partners have also already handed over all the contracted elements of mission crew and maintenance training systems, plus ground support equipment for the airborne surveillance/battle management program.
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Other News
Spirit Airlines (NK) reported net income of $30.9 million for the third quarter, up 11.7% from the $27.7 million earned in the third quarter 2011. Revenues jumped 18.6% to $342.3 million on a 19.9% increase in operating expenses to $292.6 million. Expenses for the quarter included an 85.3% jump in depreciation and amortization fees, a 29.1% increase in maintenance costs, a 36.5% increase in landing fees and a 28.5% increase in aircraft rent. Fuel costs jumped 16.2% year-over-year. The LCC said expenses were partially offset by a gain associated with the sale of four air carrier slots at Washington-National Airport to Southwest Airlines.
International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC) has reached an agreement with Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Spirit Airlines for the lease of five Airbus A320neo aircraft. ILFC has 100 A320neo family aircraft on order with purchase rights for 50 more (ATW Daily News, April 27, 2011). This is the first lease deal it has secured for neos.
Lufthansa will operate weekly Dusseldorf-Cardiff service May 4-Oct. 5.
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 Airbus A320 service. It will also launch SGN service to Hue (Nov. 22), Vinh (Nov. 15), Phu Quoc (Dec. 20) and Hanoi-Dalat (Dec. 7).
TAM Airlines launched daily Orlando-Rio de Janeiro service Oct. 29.
Nippon Cargo Airlines will launch 2X-weekly Tokyo Narita (NRT)-Chicago O’Hare-Dallas-Anchorage-NRT Boeing 747-400F service Nov. 5.
Aviation Quote
Only the spirit of attack borne in a brave heart will bring success to any fighter aircraft, no matter how highly developed it may be.
— General Adolf Galland, Luftwaffe.
On This Date
---In 1923…Finnair is founded at Helsinki airport.
---In 1944... The International Civil Aviation Conference opens in Chicago.
---In 1977…The Tupolev Tu-144 enters service with Aeroflot.
---In 1980… British Airways terminates Concorde services to Bahrain and Singapore.
---In 1982…Manx Airlines founded.
---In 1984…British Airways and some other international airlines begin relief flights carrying food and supplies to Ethiopia. British Airways and some other international airlines begin relief flights carrying food and supplies to Ethiopia.
---In 1984…American Eagle Airlines began operations.
Daily Video
Editor’s Choice
Humor
Blackbird
SR-71 Blackbird pilot Brian Shul tells of the following exchange: "One day as Walt (my back-seater) and I were screaming across Southern California 13 miles high, we were monitoring various radio transmissions from other aircraft as we entered Los Angeles airspace. Although they didn't really control us, they did monitor our movement across their scope. I heard a Cessna ask for a readout of its ground speed.
'90 knots,' Center replied.
Moments later, a twin engine Beech requested the same.
'120 knots,' Center answered.
We weren't the only ones proud of our ground speed that day as almost instantly an F-18 smugly transmitted, 'Uh, Center, Dusty 52 requests ground speed readout.'
There was a slight pause, then the response, 'Dusty 52, 525 knots on the ground.'
Then came another silent pause. Just as I was thinking to myself how ripe the situation was, I heard the crackle of our radio as Walt transmitted 'Center, Aspen 20, you got a ground speed readout for us?'
There was a longer than normal pause. 'Aspen 20, I show you at 1,742 knots.'
No further speed inquiries were made after that."
Another one for good measure:
In another popular SR-71 story, Los Angeles Center reported receiving a request for clearance to flight level 600 (60,000 feet). The incredulous controller, with some disdain in his voice, asked, "How do you plan to get up to 60,000 feet?"
The SR-71 pilot responded, "We don't plan to go up to it, we plan to go down to it!"
Trivia
General Trivia
1. Talton Higbee _______ and John Paul _______ began a Waco dealership in 1925 and in 1927 were awarded a contract to carry the mail using Wacos. After a series of mergers and acquisitions, their company eventually became part of what is now American Airlines. What current, well-known organization bears their names?
2. How did FIDO help to bring home British bomber crews during World War II?
3. How is it possible for four airplanes to fly in formation so that the distance between any one of these airplanes and any of the other three is the same?
4. What is the difference between Victor airways, T-routes, and Q-routes?
5. What airport was first in the world to have an airline passenger terminal and first to have an airport hotel?
6. Most are familiar with the Royal Air Force’s Lancaster and Mosquito bombers. What were the RAF’s Washington bombers?
