AirlinesAir Canada beats first-quarter profit forecastsAir Canada, Canada's largest airline, is reporting better-than-expected profits in the first quarter. The airline credits lower-than-expected fuel and operating costs with the beat.
LinkAlaska, JetBlue, receive high marks for customer satisfactionJetBlue Airways and Alaska Airlines both received top grades for customer satisfaction, according to the J.D. Power customer service satisfaction survey. JetBlue received 801 points out of 1,000 in the low-cost carrier category, while Alaska notched 719 points in the traditional carrier category.
LinkAmerican, US Airways to merge reservations systemsAmerican Airlines will begin a 90-day phase-out of the US Airways brand as early as July, according to Chief Information Officer Maya Leibman. The phase-out is the next step in the 2013 integration of the two airlines. American also announced they will begin merging reservation systems this summer.
LinkAmerican Airlines to expand wireless in-flight entertainment programAmerican Airlines has announced that it will be adding its wireless in-flight entertainment system to 200 more of its domestic mainline aircraft. The service allows video streaming to a personal device or a seat-back screen
LinkCrashed Asiana A320 drifted below glidepath in low visibilityJapanese investigators have indicated that an Asiana Airlines Airbus A320 began to deviate from its descent path shortly after its autopilot was disengaged, before it collided with the localiser antenna at Hiroshima. The A320 had been conducting the area navigation (RNAV) approach to runway 28 on 14 April. It hit an approach light at a height of 4m before carving through the antenna. Flight OZ162 subsequently veered off the runway, suffering substantial airframe damage. Preliminary findings by the Japan Transport Safety Board show that weather conditions were not ideal, with light rain and fog reducing visibility on the runway to 300m in places.
LinkDelta to boost quarterly dividend by 50%, president saysDelta Air Lines announced a plan to repurchase $5 billion of stock, as well as a plan to increase its quarterly dividend by 50%. "We continue to pay down debt and reduce the leverage on the balance sheet, and we're also investing actively in our product and our services and our employees," said Ed Bastian, president of Delta.
LinkDelta opposes FAA's controversial slot rule for New York area airportsDelta is opposing a new Federal Aviation Administration slot proposal at New York Area airports, saying that the new rules "would constrain carrier scheduling flexibility, increase delays and congestion and drive up costs, all with no identifiable consumer benefit." Delta also noted it has invested almost $2 billion over the past six years in New York City's airports, including $1.5 billion at John F. Kennedy International, and an update of two terminals at LaGuardia.
LinkEmirates Could Use European Hubs To Expand In AmericasEmirates could expand its route network by using European hubs to fly into North and South American cities, a move that could anger US carriers which accuse it of competing unfairly through state subsidies. Emirates is considering plans to open new routes to US cities from Dubai, as well as flying new routes from European airports under "fifth freedom" rights linked to Open Skies agreements with US authorities, Tim Clark told The National newspaper.
LinkJetBlue Airways sees increased trafficJetBlue reported a 9% increase in traffic for April as the carrier's revenue passenger miles climbed to 3.46 billion. Capacity has also increased 6.6% year over year.
LinkCourt Rules For Lufthansa In Austrian State Aid CaseThe European Commission was right to approve an aid scheme for Austrian Airlines, Europe's second-highest court ruled, striking down a complaint by low-cost competitor Niki. The Austrian state sold its 41.56 percent stake in Austrian Airlines to Lufthansa in 2008, the latter paying a "negative price" because of the EUR€500 million (USD$565.6 million) the state put in to compensate for the high level of debt.
LinkQantas on track for cost-cutting programQantas Airways says it is on track to reduce debt by A$1 billion ($798.1 million) in its 2015 financial year, as part of its transformation program. In an investor presentation, the Oneworld carrier says all targets set have so far been met or exceeded. The airline's A$2 billion cost-cutting programme will deliver more than A$875 million in savings by June, with three quarters of its planned 5,000 redundancies completed by the same time. It adds that A$600 million in cost cuts are already in the implementation phase.
LinkSkyTeam alliance gains EU approvalThe SkyTeam alliance -- Delta Air Lines, Air France, and Alitalia -- was given the "all clear" by the European Commission. The agreement reached between the carriers and the EU will remain in effect for 10 years.
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