AirlinesPoor flight planning led to fatal DC-3 terrain collisionColombian investigators believe a Douglas DC-3 crew’s failure to verify minimum safe altitudes during an unscheduled commercial domestic flight led to a fatal collision with high terrain. Neither the two crew members nor the three other occupants of the Aerolineas Andinas aircraft (HK-4700) survived after it struck a mountain at an altitude of 6,500ft.
LinkA330 emerges in Air Serbia coloursAir Serbia has shown off the first Airbus A330 to be painted in the Balkan carrier’s colours, ahead of its initiation of long-haul services. The Belgrade-based carrier has pictured the aircraft (YU-ARA) parked in a hangar, in full livery. Air Serbia is preparing to open services between its hub and New York JFK this summer.
LinkAmerican 1Q net profit falls 25% in challenging revenue environmentAmerican Airlines reported a first-quarter net profit of $700 million, down 24.9% from net income of $932 million in the 2015 March quarter, as revenue fell 4% year-over-year to $9.44 billion. American’s first-quarter mainline PRASM dropped 8.9% year-over-year to 11.4 cents, and president Scott Kirby said “we expect the revenue environment to remain challenging throughout 2016.” Speaking to analysts and reporters, he said a return to positive unit revenue growth is not expected until 2017.
LinkObject involved in BA A320 collision unconfirmed: ministerDoubts have emerged over the nature of the object which apparently collided with a British Airways Airbus A320 near London Heathrow. Minister of state for transport Robert Goodwill told European Union internal market sub-committee, within the upper house of the UK Parliament, that inquiries have yet to support the initial claim of a drone strike.
LinkFinnair Secured Financing for Its Fourth A350 AircraftFinnair has secured financing for its fourth Airbus A350-900 XWB, delivered in March 2016. The transaction amounts to approximately EUR 115 million, implemented using a Japanese Operating Lease with Call Option (JOLCO) structure arranged by Credit Agricole. The transaction relates to Finnair’s ongoing long-haul fleet renewal program, which currently consists of 19 new Airbus A350-900 XWB aircraft delivered between 2015 and 2023.
LinkHawaiian Airlines reports $51.5 million 1Q net profitHawaiian Airlines parent Hawaiian Holdings reported a $51.5 million net profit for the 2016 first quarter, nearly doubling its 1Q 2015 $25.9 million net income. First-quarter revenue grew 2% year-over-year (YOY) to $551.2 million, while expenses were down 2.1% YOY to $459.3 million, producing an operating income of $91.9 million, up 29.1% year-over-year.
LinkLufthansa Seeks Deal With Thomas Cook's CondorLufthansa is seeking a partnership with, or a complete takeover, of leisure airline Condor to further expand its low-cost Eurowings business. Talks with Condor parent Thomas Cook have been going on since at least January, Reuters reported. Lufthansa, Condor and Thomas Cook all declined to comment.
LinkMeridiana CEO resigns ahead of Qatar deal finalizationThe CEO of Italy’s Meridiana has announced he is stepping down after less than 18 months in the post. The news of Richard Creagh’s impending departure comes as the loss-making Meridiana attempts to get into shape in advance of a deal in which Qatar Airways is seeking to take a substantial minority stake in the Italian carrier.
LinkNorwegian widens losses in 1Q as expansion continuesLow-cost carrier (LCC) Norwegian has reported a first-quarter net loss of NOK800 million ($96 million), widened from a net loss of NOK538.3 million a year ago. Revenue for the period was up 23% at NOK4.96 billion, compared to NOK4.03 billion last time. Fast-expanding Norwegian, which has a large European short-haul network and an increasing number of long-haul—primarily transatlantic—sectors saw ASKs rise 17% in 1Q to 11.8 billion. However, passenger numbers more than kept pace, with RPKs up 20% at 10 billion.
LinkSWISS to start Bombardier CS100 operations July 15Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) expects to put its first Bombardier CSeries aircraft—a CS100—into service July 15 on its first commercial flight: LX638 from Zurich to Paris Charles de Gaulle. The Lufthansa subsidiary and Switzerland flag carrier will take delivery of the CS100 in June, becoming the launch operator for the new aircraft type. The much-delayed CSeries aircraft was originally supposed to enter service in late 2013.
LinkUnited CEO expresses confidence in new board of directorsUnited Continental CEO Oscar Munoz said the carrier's new board of directors will offer leadership. "We've really reconstituted the board with some great experience across technology, innovation, certainly the airline experience, that's important," he said.
LinkUTair passenger traffic up 17.8% in 1QRussia’s UTair Airline carried 1.2 million passengers in 1Q 2016, up 17.8% year-over-year. Flight hours increased 27.5% to 37,229 hours and cargo carried was up 11.6% to 3,563 tonnes year-over-year. In March, the airline carried 459,408 passengers, up 33.7%. Last year, UTair had to cut its fleet and personnel to reduce costs after passengers carried fell 25.3% in 2015.
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