NewsAmerican CEO Parker defends US airline industry growthAmerican Airlines chairman and CEO Doug Parker vigorously defended the carrier’s plans to grow system capacity 2.5% year-over-year (YOY) in 2018 and encouraged investors to distinguish between different kinds of airline growth.
LinkSouthwest’s RASM positive in 2017; earns 45th straight annual profitSouthwest Airlines “turned the corner” on unit revenue growth in 2017, edging into positive territory for the full year, and expects RASM momentum to continue in 2018 with 1%-2% year-over-year (YOY) growth in the first quarter, chairman and CEO Gary Kelly said.
LinkTax reform gain boosts JetBlue to $1.1 billion 2017 net profitA one-time non-cash gain related to the recent US tax reforms helped to lift JetBlue Airways to a $1.1 billion net profit in 2017, the New York-based carrier said Jan. 25.
LinkAfrican Open Skies to become effective Jan. 28The long-awaited opening of the intra-African air transport market is slated to become a reality on Jan. 28, when the African Union (AU) signs off the final rule-making after a renewed push for liberalization. The single African air transport market (SAATM) was meant to happen nearly two decades ago, following the adoption of the 1999 Yamoussoukro Decision. After years of false starts, the AU started a fresh push to open the market in January 2015, but the deadline was also missed because of a legal technicality.
LinkRyanair continues to introduce new travel initiativesIrish LCC Ryanair has launched its latest tool to drive ancillary revenues, Travel Credit, an incentive scheme that gives customers 10% credit to spend on flights if they book their hotel room through the recently upgraded Ryanair Rooms website.
LinkTUIfly appoints former NIKI CEO as COOFormer NIKI CEO Oliver Lackmann has been appointed COO of German leisure carrier TUIfly. “I will take over this position starting March 1,” he confirmed. Lackmann follows Jochen Büntgen, who is stepping down after nearly 30 years.
LinkChinese lessors coping with stresses of growth New, fast-growing Chinese leasing companies are experiencing rapid changes as they cope with the scale of growth, several executives from the region said at the Annual Global Airfinance Conference in Dublin.
LinkLufthansa to operate A320neos across subsidiariesLufthansa Group plans to harmonize specifications for all Airbus A320neos and A321neos for all of its airlines. Common-standard aircraft are to be delivered beginning in 2019. They initially will be operated by Lufthansa and Swiss International Air Lines, the two carriers that will take the types next year. Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings will follow, but the exact schedule has not been determined.
LinkDedicated freighters making a comebackCargo airlines and lessors see a recovery in the all-freighter market and expect additional types to be converted in larger numbers.
LinkAmerican considers A330neo and 787 among A350 optionsAmerican Airlines is considering the Airbus A330-900neo and Boeing 787-9 as alternatives to its Airbus A350 order, says chief financial officer Derek Kerr. "Our options are to take the A350, turn that into an A330-900, or another option is to take the 787-9," he says during a quarterly earnings call today.
LinkBAe 125 struck trees after crew mis-set altimeterPilots of an executive jet failed to set their altimeter to the correct pressure level before the aircraft descended low enough to collide with trees, investigators in Russia have determined. The crew allowed the BAe 125-800 to continue descending despite automated warnings and the aircraft suffered substantial damage from the collision – some 18km from the airport – before the pilots aborted the approach.
LinkUK government expects 'open, liberal' aviation deal post-BrexitUK transport secretary Chris Grayling has expressed his confidence that the country can get a "good deal" on aviation after Bexit. In the text of a 24 January speech, shared by the government, he says his optimism stems from knowing that it is in the best interests of all European countries to seek an "open, liberal arrangement for aviation" following the UK's departure from the bloc.
LinkPilot unions take issue with Ryanair negotiating strategyPilot representatives across Europe have jointly written to Ryanair calling for changes to how the airline approaches pay and union-recognition talks, and urging it to attend a meeting to discuss their concerns. In a letter addressed to Ryanair's chief operating officer Peter Bellew and chief people officer Eddie Wilson, and seen by FlightGlobal, 11 unions – including BALPA, ANPAC, FPU and SNPL – identify seven areas for review if the budget carrier is to make their pledge to recognise unions "credible".
LinkITC rejects Bombardier's request to review Embraer rangeThe US International Trade Commission has rejected Bombardier's final request to have the commission's record reopened to include new information about the range of the Embraer 190-E2. Bombardier submitted the request on 23 January, four business days after the ITC closed its record. The company claimed that new range information cited in a FlightGlobal story proved that the E190-E2 should be part of the class of aircraft that the ITC is investigating.
Link CFM sets new engine delivery record despite Leap shortfallCFM International delivered a total of 459 Leap engines to three manufacturers in 2017, but the joint venture struggled to keep pace with demand while coping with parts shortages and teething problems in service, executives said on 25 January.
LinkFlagship Detroit Foundation restores, preserves 1937 airlinerThe Flagship Detroit Foundation, made up of volunteer American Airlines workers and others, has restored and continue to maintain and fly a 1937 DC-3 airliner. "Everybody is just happy to do anything. One minute we may be changing a tire, the next minute we're maybe washing windows -- whatever it takes to get it done," said Jim Gentry of American Airlines.
LinkJetBlue marks a decade of service in St. MaartenJetBlue Airways on Jan. 17 celebrated 10 years of service in St. Maarten. The service started in 2008 with daily flights from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, and has since grown to include eight weekly flights from New York and seasonal service from Boston.
LinkUS Army cleared to buy UH-72As, ending three-year lawsuitAn appellate judge has cleared the US Army to buy a new batch of UH-72As from Airbus, ending a three-year-long battle launched by Leonardo over a decision to award the contract without a competition. The decision by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on 23 January throws a lifeline to Airbus’s final assembly plant for the UH-72A helicopter in Colombus, Mississippi.
LinkLeonardo plant delivers first F-35B assembled in ItalyA Leonardo-operated facility in Italy has delivered the first F-35B assembled outside of Lockheed Martin’s main fighter plant in Fort Worth, Texas, the US manufacturer announced on 25 January. The F-35B becomes the 10th Lightning II fighter to be delivered from the final assembly and check out (FACO) facility in Cameri, Italy, including nine previous F-35As delivered since December 2015, Lockheed says.
Link USAF plans to re-open A-10 re-winging contractThe US Air Force plans to re-open a contract to produce new wings for the Fairchild Republic A-10 and preserve at least some of the three squadrons of fighters now facing early retirement in the absence of the structural upgrade, a top commander says.
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