AirlinesRussia To Roll Out 'Victory' Budget AirlineAeroflot will name its new low-cost airline Pobeda, or Victory, a symbol of defiance against Western sanctions over Ukraine that grounded the budget carrier's predecessor. Aeroflot's previous attempt at a low-cost airline, Dobrolyot (Good Flight), suspended operations in August, just two months after its first flight. Its aircraft lease agreement was cancelled under European Union sanctions because it flies to Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in March.
LinkAir China Q3 Net Profit Down 8.8 PercentAir China reported an 8.8 percent fall in third-quarter profit as a slowing economy hurt business travel. The Beijing-based airline said net profit fell to CNY2.68 billion yuan (USD$438.41 million) in the July-to-September period, from CNY2.94 billion a year earlier, according to a filing with the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
LinkAmerican, US Airways to merge frequent flyer programs in 2015American Airlines and US Airways plan to merge frequent flyer programs next year as the integration process continues. The Dividend Miles loyalty program from US Airways will be folded into the AAdvantage loyalty program from American Airlines. The integration of the programs should be completed by the second quarter of 2015.
LinkFedEx offers "International First" in more countriesFedEx Express is offering its "International First" early delivery service to more countries. The service guarantees arrival in the morning for sensitive shipments. "The service is most often used for business documents, electronic and high tech equipment, medical devices, clinical trials and gear for the entertainment industry -- shipments that require delivery on a tight deadline," FedEx said in a statement.
LinkKLM To Shed 7,500 Jobs - ReportKLM is planning to cut its workforce by 7,500 jobs or 25 percent, largely through outsourcing, according to a Dutch daily newspaper. The measure is expected to be announced at the release of quarterly earnings by parent Air France-KLM on Wednesday, the Algemeen Dagblad said, citing the head of De Unie, the union for airline personnel in the Netherlands.
LinkSouthwest CEO: Schedule tweaks improved on-time performanceSouthwest Airlines has implemented a new schedule to further enhance operational performance. "Well, we've had a little over 60 days I guess with the new schedule, and I would say that it's performing exactly as intended," said Gary Kelly, Southwest chairman and CEO. After the airline reworked its schedule on Aug. 10, on-time performance has climbed to 78.9%.
LinkSouthwest wants business travelers in Grand Rapids, Mich.Southwest Airlines urged business travelers to use the carrier's service from Grand Rapids, Mich. "To be successful, the business community must support Southwest Airlines," said Ron Ricks, an executive with Southwest, in a speech to the Economic Club of Grand Rapids. The airline started service 14 months ago from the the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.
LinkSpirit Airlines reports earnings of $67M for Q3Spirit Airlines reported stronger-than-expected earnings for the third quarter. The Miramar, Florida-based company posted quarterly earnings of $67 million, or $0.91 per share, compared to $61.1 million, $0.84 per share, in the year-ago quarter. Excluding certain items, the company earned $1.01 per share. Its revenue climbed 13.8% to $519.8 million in the quarter. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.97 per share on revenue of $520.77 million.
LinkTUI, TUI Travel Shareholders Back Merger DealShareholders in both German travel and tourism group TUI and British travel group TUI Travel have approved the companies' plans to merge. The two reached an agreement in September on the terms of a EUR€6.5 billion (USD$8.3 billion) merger to create the world's largest leisure tourism group.
LinkUnited Airlines to add seasonal service to Newcastle, U.K.United Airlines will add nonstop service from its hub at Newark to English city of Newcastle, according to British press reports. The seasonal route to the city in northeast England would begin May 23 and run through Sept. 7, according to The Shields Gazette newspaper. United will fly the route five times a week — every day except Tuesday and Wednesday — on 169-seat Boeing 757 aircraft. United's 757s will be configured with 16 flat-bed business-class seats, 45 Economy Plus seats and 108 standard coach seats.
LinkUnited flight to Australia sets new 787 overnight recordThe Boeing 787 has set an overnight record with its longest flight of 15 hours from Los Angeles to Melbourne, Australia. The United Airlines flight on a 787-9 allows nonstop service between the two cities for the first time. "It's exciting for us to see the 787 do exactly what we promised our customers it would do -- open up new routes all over the world," said Randy Tinseth, vice president of marketing for the aircraft manufacturer
LinkVirgin foresees firming 787-9 options and possible -10sVirgin Atlantic intends to exercise its Boeing 787-9 options and is looking at the -10 variant as a potential replacement for leased London Gatwick-based 747s. Firming of the airline's four -9 options would bring its 787 fleet to 21 aircraft by the end of 2018, notes chief executive Craig Kreeger. "We have not exercised those last four options but we are communicating very clearly that we plan to," he says. Kreeger also discloses that a follow-on order for the largest 787 variant, the -10, is being considered as the airline proceeds toward a decision on how to adapt its fleet after leases on seven Gatwick-based 747s expire in 2019.
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