AirlinesAir Arabia Sees Further Fuel Hedging CostsLow-cost carrier Air Arabia may see a further impact on earnings from fuel hedges put in place prior to the steep drop in oil prices. Air Arabia's profits have declined for two of the last three quarters, with its 2014 fourth-quarter profit dropping 30 percent and its second-quarter earnings this year declining 14 percent.
LinkAir China Launches Nonstop Service between Beijing and Montreal Dignitaries and top government officials led by the Chinese ambassador to Canada, His Excellency Luo Zhaohui and Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre welcomed the arrival of Air China’s inaugural flight, CA 879, from Beijing today. Quebec’s Minister of Trade and Commerce and his delegation returned to Montreal from their trade mission on board the first Beijing-Montreal flight. Minister Jacques Daoust also spoke at the press conference. Operated by Air China’s new-generation B777-300ER, the new thrice weekly nonstop service connects Montreal not only to Beijing but also to the rest of Asia.
LinkAir France nears decision on cutsAir France and its trade unions will reach a deadline Sept. 30 on whether cuts to its long-haul services can be averted. The loss-making airline said Sept. 8 that it could drop 10% of its long-haul services and proceed with redundancies if it does not reach an agreement with all its unions over implementing its Perform 2020 turnaround plan.
LinkAllegiant Launches g4pilots.comAllegiant Travel Company (ALGT) today launched a new website, g4pilots.com to provide up-to-date information about ongoing negotiations with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), the union representing the company's pilots. The site provides information about the progress of the negotiations, background on Allegiant's operations and answers to frequently asked questions for pilots, employees and the public. The site will be continuously updated by the Company with developments in the negotiation process. Additionally, the site offers a pay calculator function, allowing pilots and others to determine future pilot pay rates if Allegiant's current proposal is accepted by the IBT.
LinkAmerican Airlines adds baggage tracking capabilities for passengersAmerican Airlines has rolled out real-time tracking for checked baggage. Customers can access the free service on the American Airlines website. "It's something our customers have been asking for, and we're excited to make this available to them," said Laura Nedbal, a spokeswoman for American Airlines.
LinkAmerican to offer service from DFW to Merida, MexicoAmerican Airlines announced that it will begin new service between Dallas and Merida, Mexico on March 3, 2016. The carrier will operate the service five times a week. Flights are scheduled to depart Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport at 12:30 p.m. and arrive at Manuel Crescencio Rejon International Airport in Merida at 2:50 p.m. From Merida, flights will depart at 3:50 p.m. and arrive in Dallas/Fort Worth at 6:20 p.m.
LinkAmerican Airlines, Rolls-Royce to close Texas Aero Engine ServicesTexas Aero Engine Services (TAESL), the 50-50 joint venture (JV) between American Airlines and Rolls-Royce, will be dissolved by January 2016. The JV was launched in 1998 to perform maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) work on Rolls engines operated by American. But work has declined at the facility and the demand decline is expected to continue with American continuing to retire Rolls RB211-powered Boeing 757s.
LinkCargolux May Buy 5 Boeing 747-8FsCargolux is in talks with Boeing to buy five more 747-8F freighters, a deal valued at USD$1.9 billion at list prices. The aircraft would serve a planned joint venture between Cargolux and its 35 percent shareholder Henan Civil Aviation Development & Investment (HNCA) to be based in Zhengzhou, north central China.
LinkCathay takes its 70th Boeing 777Cathay Pacific has taken delivery of its 70th Boeing 777 aircraft, making it the largest Asian operator of the widebody type. The aircraft is the airline’s 53rd and last 777-300ER on confirmed order, says Boeing. It received the first 777-300ER in September 2007.
LinkDelta to utilize larger aircraft from NYC to IrelandDelta Air Lines plans to deploy a Boeing 767-300 from the US to Ireland's Shannon Airport in 2016. The aircraft will offer a 25% boost in capacity from John F. Kennedy airport in New York.
LinkGaruda Indonesia opens narrowbody MRO hangar at JakartaGaruda Indonesia’s MRO subsidiary, GMF AeroAsia, has opened a new MRO facility at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. The new 721,000 sq. ft. hangar, Hangar IV—which can house 16 narrowbody aircraft—could help GMF “become an international player in the MRO business,” according to Indonesia’s Minister of State Owned Enterprises Rini Soemarno. GMF said the new hangar will allow it to boost overall aircraft project handling per year from 167 to 313 projects, and will give an 87% increase in overall MRO capacity by 2018. This will allow GMF to increase its projected revenues from MRO business 150% by 2018, GMF CEO Richard Budihadianto said.
LinkSouthwest pilots to vote on contract by Nov. 4Southwest Airlines pilots are currently weighing a contract offer from the company that includes 17.6 percent in pay raises over the four-year term of the contract. Last week, I spoke with the president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, Capt. Paul Jackson about the contract offer and why the union board did not endorse or reject the tentative agreement. The 8,000 pilots have until November 4 to cast their votes on the deal.
LinkTransaero to move Moscow flights to Vnukovo airportRussia’s Transaero Airlines will transfer all its Moscow flights from Domodedovo International to Vnukovo International airport from Oct. 25. Transaero said the reason for the move is so it can use commercial and logistic advantages from one airport concentration. Transaero announced plans to transfer some of its flights to Vnukovo in February 2012 due to Domodedovo’s development rates, which were slower than the carrier’s fleet expansion. It has been the only big Russian airline to operate from all Moscow airports—Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo and Vnukovo—at the same time.
LinkUPS promotes Atlanta for Trans-Pacific Partnership siteUPS is welcoming the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations to its hometown of Atlanta. "UPS has been a strong proponent in advocating for Atlanta to serve as a site for a negotiating round," said Leslie Griffin, senior vice president for international public policy for UPS. "Atlanta is an important global market."
LinkWizz Air Raises Forecast On Strong DemandWizz Air has raised its profit forecast for the year, citing strong summer performance and an expanded network. The airline, however, cautioned on lower unit revenues continuing through the second half of the year ending March 2016, as lower fuel prices led to reduced air fares. The company joins easyJet and Ryanair in raising forecasts as airlines experience strong demand for beach holidays across Europe and lower oil prices.
LinkATSB highlights risks in training scenarios during landingThe Australian Transport Safety Bureau has highlighted the risks of introducing theoretical training scenarios during periods of high workload in a report into an incident involving a Jetstar Airbus A320 aircraft. On 25 June 2013, the crew operating the A320, registered VH-JQG, was conducting an instrument landing approach to Sydney airport.
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