CommercialRussia Seeks To Soothe Sochi Security JittersRussia said on Thursday its Sochi Winter Olympics were as safe as any place in the West from militant attacks after Washington issued a warning to airports and some airlines that tooth paste tubes could be used to make a bomb on a Russia-bound plane. Russian forces are on high alert over threats by Islamist militant groups based in the nearby north Caucasus to attack the games, which begin on Friday. Twin suicide bombings killed at least 34 people in December in Volgograd, about 700 km (400 miles) northeast of Sochi.
LinkAirbus Considering A380 Upgrade To Lift SalesAirbus is exploring new ways to improve sales of the world's largest passenger jet after receiving a potentially crucial signal of support from at least one of its engine makers, industry sources said. Faced with patchy demand for the A380 superjumbo, Rolls-Royce has indicated it may be willing to upgrade its Trent 900 engines to help Airbus, the sources said, asking not to be named. However, no decision has been taken and Airbus has said its first priority is to keep carrying out gradual improvements to the 525-seat aircraft, which entered service in 2007.
LinkSingapore Air Q3 Profit Rises, Warns On CapacitySingapore Airlines reported a 15.3 percent rise in third-quarter operating profit on Thursday but warned of capacity cuts and lower yields as it struggles with weak demand. It reported an operating profit of SGD$151 million (USD$119 million) for the quarter ended December 31. Net profit dropped to SGD$50.1 million from SGD$142.5 million, hit by losses from associated companies and one-off items.
LinkSpirit Aero Reports Q4 Loss Due To 787 ChargeSpirit reported a net loss of USD$587 million for the fourth quarter, compared with a profit of USD$61 million a year earlier. Quarterly revenue rose 5 percent to USD$1.49 billion. The surprise loss was a setback as Spirit has a history of past stumbles with cost overruns on aircraft programmes that have hurt its profitability. During its earnings conference call, the company tried to reassure analysts that it was taking steps to stem the tide of big earnings charges.
LinkEtihad Strategy Faces New Test With Alitalia MoveA potential deal to buy a stake in Alitalia could be the biggest test yet for Abu Dhabi-based Etihad's strategy of using stakes in ailing airlines as an easy way to expand its global footprint. Etihad's collection of minority airline stakes stretches from the Seychelles to Ireland and Australia, and dates back to the purchase of an almost 30 percent stake in Air Berlin at the end of 2011. What Etihad calls its "airline equity alliance" strategy differs from that of larger regional rivals Emirates, which is striking out on its own, and Qatar Airways, which in a surprise move, turned to the oneworld airline alliance last year to boost its network coverage.
LinkTUI trims first-quarter lossTUI made a £166 million ($270 million) pre-tax loss in its first quarter ended 31 December 2013, an improvement on the same period of 2012, when it incurred a £181 million loss. Revenue was flat at £2.7 billion. Across the group, only the accommodation and destinations segment was profitable, generating £6 million.
LinkAmerican, US Airways announce near-completion of code-share networkAmerican Airlines and U.S. Airways have now linked most of their global network through code-sharing that will become effective to travelers who book travel starting Thursday. The airlines began offering partial code-sharing in January as part of their gradual merger process. During the first two weeks of codesharing, the carriers booked more than 70,000 codeshare tickets. American Airlines President Scott Kirby called the additional codesharing "another milestone for American Airlines as we successfully implement the world's largest codeshare, providing our customers convenient access to the best network in the business."
LinkAlaska Air Group reports 3.4% uptick in Jan. trafficAlaska Air Group, the parent company of Alaska Airlines and Horizon Airlines, reported a 3.4% increase in traffic for January on a year-over-year basis. Alaska Air Group also boosted capacity for January by 3.9% compared to the same month last year.
LinkJetBlue: Overbooking is not part of company cultureJetBlue Airways says overselling flights is not part of its company culture. "Our traditional mission is to bring humanity back to air travel, and we feel that customers that purchase a seat should get a seat," said JetBlue spokeswoman Tamara Young. Some analysts say the carrier should consider changing its policy.
LinkSouthwest Airlines reports uptick in traffic for Jan.Southwest Airlines reported a 2.2% increase in passenger traffic for January on a year-over-year basis. Passenger revenue per available seat mile rose around 5% for the month.
LinkTour Delta's operation center in AtlantaCBS News took an inside look at Delta Air Lines' operation center in Atlanta during a winter storm. The center monitors flight cancellations and rebookings for flights, and the social media division tracks passengers posting about flight disruptions.
LinkAirlines waive change fees for customers due to winter weatherOn Wednesday, severe winter weather prompted additional delays and flight cancellations in parts of the country, including the Midwest and Northeast. United Airlines and other carriers are waiving fees for customers who wish to rebook flights.
LinkIndia airline to order $3.9B of 737 Max jets, sources saySpiceJet Ltd., a low-cost carrier based in India, is poised to order 38 Boeing 737 Max jets, according to unidentified sources. The order could be worth up to $3.9 billion at list prices. A spokesman for Boeing declined to comment.
LinkLAX opens play area for children in Tom Bradley terminalLos Angeles International Airport has opened a $350,000 play space for children ages 2 to 8 in its Tom Bradley International terminal. The play space, dubbed LAX Beach, offers 971 square feet of play equipment and beach-themed foam sculptures. "With the opening of LAX Beach, we are going to see more happy children on our international flights. It's another step LAX has taken to improve the traveling experience for every passenger — no matter how young," said Los Angeles World Airports Executive Director Gina Marie Lindsey.
LinkReport: American VIP service available at the most airportsAccording to a report from IdeaWorks Company, American Airlines 5 Star Service earned top honors for the most VIP service offered at airports. The program includes such perks as priority check-in and escorts through the airport.
Link 
