Travelbeat Aviation News Update: September 02, 2010 [1 Story] USA Updated Guide For Consumer Air Travellers The Department of Transportation has released its updated version of Fly Rights: A Consumer Guide to air Travel, a handbook that outlines how to make official complaints, choose a loyalty programme and other tips. The guide also includes information on new consumer protections such as the tarmac-delay rule. "We take the rights of airline passengers very seriously," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. "Ensuring that the flying public has access to the best possible resources and consumer information is an important part of our mission, and this new version of 'Fly Rights' will help air travelers better understand their rights as consumers." (U.S. Department of Transportation) Update: September 01, 2010 [6 Stories] Indonesia Three Airlines Considering Bali To Baubau Flights The national news agency Antara said that three Indonesian domestic air carriers are eyeing flight operations between Denpasar (Bali) and Baubau (Southeast Sulawesi). Mz Amirul Tamin, the Mayor or Baubau, said that his office has already established agreements with three airlines: Lion, Wings and Express Air. According to Amirul ... "I have already consulted with several air companies who are eager to fly the route such as Lion, Wings and Express Air. Of course thier goal is to ease the journeys of foreign tourists wishing to come to Baubau." The establishment of a direct air link between Bali and Baubau would reduce travel time, eliminating the need for the current intermediate stop in the Southeast Sulawesi provincial capital of Kendari. Amirul also told the press that the realization of the new air service to Bali will occur at the latest before the end of the current year. Seeking to increase tourism to Baubau, Amirul is aggressively seeking additional air connections to Makassar and Mamuju in addition to current air connections to Surabaya and Ambon. (Bali Discovery Tours) Australia Plane Crash In Papua New Guinea The following Statement was issued by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. On the evening of Tuesday, August 31 the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby was advised a Transair charter plane, carrying three Australians and two New Zealand citizens, had crashed on Misima Island in the southeastern archipelago of Papua New Guinea. Misima Island, in Papua New Guinea’s Milne Bay Province, is about 500 kilometres southeast of Port Moresby. It is with deep regret that I advise Transair has confirmed that four of those on board, including three Australians and one New Zealand citizen, have died. One of the New Zealanders, who is also an Australian permanent resident survived the accident. He received heavy bruising but is conscious and able to talk. Details of the crash itself are still emerging. Reports indicate that the aircraft overshot the Misima runway. Australian officials will travel to Misima Island at the earliest opportunity on September 1 to provide assistance on the ground. Consular officers in Port Moresby and Canberra are working with the airline company and local authorities to contact the families of those affected by the crash. The Government is also in contact with the New Zealand Government. (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) USA AirTran Airways And Atlanta Agree To 7-Year Lease AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc., and the city of Atlanta have announced the completion of a 7-year master lease agreement for facilities at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Specific terms of the deal were not disclosed. AirTran Airways, based in Orlando, Florida, operates the world's largest low-cost carrier hub at Hartsfield-Jackson and has a considerable economic impact on the city, state and region. The low-cost carrier is the 25th largest employer in Atlanta and employs more than 6,000 Crew Members in the state. "Finalizing our long-term lease with the city of Atlanta brings economic certainty to the airline and sets the platform for future growth," said Bob Fornaro, AirTran Airways' chairman, president and chief executive officer. "This agreement is good for the city, AirTran Airways and fans of low fares around the nation." The carrier is the second largest airline at the world's busiest airport serving dozens of destinations around the country and throughout the Caribbean. (AirTran Airways) USA Boeing To Provide Landing Gear Exchange Service To Qantas Boeing will perform landing gear exchange, repair and overhaul services on Qantas Airways' 747-400ER (extended range) jetliners. Qantas, the programme launch customer for the 747-400ER and operator of six of the airplanes, becomes the launch customer for the 747-400ER Landing Gear Overhaul and Exchange Programme. Qantas will use the Boeing Service Center Repair Network for quick, reliable access to landing gear exchanges, repair and replacement around the world, greatly reducing maintenance time. The agreement takes effect in 2011. The launch of the Landing Gear Overhaul and Exchange Programme by Qantas for the 747-400ER family provides a similar opportunity for operators of the 40 747-400ER Freighters currently in service. "We appreciate that a customer such as Qantas is demonstrating their confidence in Boeing to provide them with this important service," said Dale Wilkinson, vice president, Material Services, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "By choosing Boeing's landing gear exchange programme, Qantas will have immediate access to a replacement gear without having to invest in a landing gear asset themselves." Qantas Airways is the latest of more than 70 customers to take advantage of Boeing's Landing Gear Overhaul and Exchange Programme. Boeing coordinates with airlines and global component repair and overhaul suppliers to promptly return airplanes to service. (Boeing Communications) Qatar Qatar Airways Prepares For Major Indian Expansion Qatar Airways has announced further expansion to its Indian network with a 20% increase in frequency covering the cities of Delhi, Cochin and Amritsar. Beginning September 1, the number of flights to the northern Indian city of Amritsar will rise from four- a-week to daily. The expansion comes less than a year since Qatar Airways launched flights to Amritsar. The southern Indian city of Cochin, currently served daily, will get an additional four flights a week - two from September 1 and the other two from November 5. The beginning of the Northern Winter flying programme on October 31 will see the highly popular Doha - Delhi route securing an additional daily flight taking capacity to the Indian capital up to 14 services a week. With a total of 14 additional flights being phased in over a period of 2-months, Qatar Airways’ capacity to India will increase from 74 to 88 services each week. The award-winning Doha-based airline currently flies to 11 cities across India that cover Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Trivandrum, Kozhikode, Ahmedabad, Goa, Delhi, Amritsar, and Cochin. With the new additional flights, each of the 11 Indian destinations will be served daily non-stop, except Delhi and Cochin, which will have a double daily service and 11 flights-a-week, respectively. During a 4-month period from October 2010, the airline’s passenger route network will rise to almost 100 destinations. The additions of Phuket (October 12), Hanoi (November 1), Nice (November 24), Bucharest (January 17), Budapest (January 17) and Brussels (January 31) will provide even more travel options for passengers to and from India. (Sefiani Communications Group) USA Fine for Violating Rules Protecting Disabled Travellers The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has assessed a civil penalty against AirTran Airways for violating rules protecting air travellers with disabilities. The carrier was assessed a civil penalty of $500,000, of which up to $200,000 may be used to improve its service to disabled passengers beyond what is required by law. The Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 requires airlines to provide assistance to passengers with disabilities in boarding and deplaning aircraft, including the use of wheelchairs, ramps, mechanical lifts or service personnel where needed. DOT rules also require carriers to respond within 30-days to written complaints about their treatment of disabled passengers, and to specifically address the issues raised in the complaint. In addition, airlines must submit annual reports to the Department on disability-related complaints from passengers, noting the type of disability and nature of the complaint. An investigation by the Department of Transportation’s Aviation Enforcement Office of disability complaints filed with AirTran and DOT revealed a number of violations of the requirement for boarding assistance. In addition, the carrier’s complaint files showed it frequently did not provide an adequate written response to complaints from passengers. AirTran also failed to properly categorize disability complaints in reports filed with the Department. Of the $500,000 penalty, up to $60,000 may be used to establish a council to help the carrier comply with federal disability rules and hire a manager for disability accommodations. Up to $140,000 may be used to develop and employ an automated wheelchair tracking system at AirTran’s major hub airports within one year that will generate real-time reports of the carrier’s wheelchair assistance performance. (U.S. Department of Transportation) Update: August 31, 2010 [1 Story] Mexico Grupo Mexicana Suspends Airline Operations Grupo Mexicana cited financial problems when it indefinitely suspended operations at its three airlines: Mexicana Airlines, MexicanaLink and MexicanaClick. "Today's decision is a painful one for the 8,000-strong Grupo Mexicana family, but we will continue seeking out ways of securing the company's long-term financial viability, so our passengers can once again enjoy the quality services they are accustomed to," a statement from the airline said. "We hope to be back in the air soon and would like to thank everyone involved in this process for their support and understanding." (American Society of Travel Agents) Update: August 29, 2010 [2 Stories] Australia Strong Demand Continues The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced international scheduled traffic statistics for July which showed continued strengthening of demand for both passenger and cargo traffic. Compared to July 2009, international passenger demand was up 9.2% while international scheduled freight traffic showed a 22.7% improvement. The full story ... Strong Demand Continues (International Air Transport Association) Australia Agenda To Strengthen Australian Aviation The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has outlined an agenda for Australian aviation that addresses infrastructure, training, environment and liberalization. “Aviation contributes 500,000 jobs and A$6.3-billion to the Australian economy. It is critical that the next Australian government has a solid aviation policy to reap the broad economic benefits that aviation can generate,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO in an address to the Australian National Aviation Press Club. The full story ... Agenda To Strengthen Australian Aviation (International Air Transport Association) Update: August 28, 2010 [7 Stories] USA Southwest And Continental Enter Into Slot Lease Southwest Airlines and Continental Airlines have entered into a lease providing Southwest Airlines access to 36 Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) slots which are currently held by Continental. The deal, contingent upon the closing of the Continental and United airlines' merger by November 30, 2010, and certain governmental approvals, would give Southwest Airlines the right to operate up to 18 daily roundtrip flights at Newark, New Jersey, with some flights beginning in March 2011 and a full schedule in place by June 2011. The slots are spread throughout the day and would allow Southwest the ability to integrate Newark service conveniently into its network. "We are excited by the opportunity to initiate service from Newark, New Jersey, and we plan to enable that service starting next March through continued flight schedule optimization using our existing fleet," said Bob Jordan, Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President of Strategy and Planning. "We've seen tremendous demand for Southwest Airlines in the New York City/Newark area in the past year. Adding Newark provides an excellent complement to our LaGuardia and Long Island service, giving Customers one more option for travel to and from the greater New York City/New Jersey area." Southwest is working with the Federal Aviation Administration, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Continental and United Airlines to finalize arrangements for commencing its Newark service in March 2011, including the approval of the acquisition of the necessary airport gates and facilities. "The divestiture of slots at Newark by the combined Continental/United will ensure competition is enhanced, and we appreciate the Department of Justice's role in finding a fair solution," Jordan said. (Southwest Airlines) USA FAA Celebrates Completion of SFO Recovery Act Projects The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) yesterday marked the completion of $14.5-million in runway projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) that will ensure continued safety for flights at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). On Friday, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt marked the completion of the work at an event at San Francisco International Airport. A $5.5-million ARRA grant allowed the Runway 10L/28R project to be completed a year ahead of schedule. Runway 1R/19L was also completed 2-years ahead of schedule thanks to a $9-million ARRA grant. The projects levelled out two runways that tend to settle over time because of ground conditions. The new asphalt concrete resurface also will prevent unexpected runway shutdowns due to pavement breakdown, and will guard against crumbling pavement creating debris that can damage aircraft. The work also included: paving both runways with asphalt concrete; reconstructing sections of the runways; upgrading the runway and taxiway lighting systems; re-painting runway markings; and improving the surrounding drainage system. The Recovery Act funded an additional $22.4-million in upgrades to facilities in and around the San Francisco Bay Area. At Oakland International Airport, $14.9-million in Recovery Act funding is being used in the reconstruction of a large apron area used by airlines and cargo carriers and to reconfigure a taxiway. By replacing old apron pavement, the project will improve efficiency and allow larger aircraft to use the taxiway. In San Jose, a $5.17 million Recovery Act grant is funding the extension a taxiway at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport. This project, which was recommended by an FAA Runway Safety Action Team, will improve safety by eliminating the need for private planes to cross a runway while taxing to an engine run-up area. (U.S. Department of Transportation) Kazakhstan Air Astana Reports Strong First Half Performance Air Astana, the flag carrier of the Republic of Kazakhstan, experienced strong growth during the first half of 2010, with passenger numbers increasing by 14% and revenue jumping 24% to US$245-million compared to the same period in 2009. The carrier performed almost 13,000 scheduled flights, with an average passenger load factor of 66%. This was achieved despite operational disruptions caused by a very severe winter across Kazakhstan and closure of European airspace at the time of the Icelandic volcano explosion. Half yearly profit before tax was a record $33.5-million, up 34% over 2009. Improved aircraft utilisation enabled Air Astana to increase frequencies on domestic trunk routes from both Astana and Almaty, with international service frequencies being increased to Frankfurt, Baku, Urumchi, Beijing and Kuala Lumpur. The continuing growth of Almaty as a hub for Central Asia continued with Urumqui in western China being added to the existing destinations of Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan and Novosibirsk in southern Russia. Services from Almaty to Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan and Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan are scheduled to commence during the second half of 2010. A fleet of new generation Embraer E-190 airliners has been selected to operate on the airline’s expanding Central Asia network, with the first of three leased aircraft scheduled for delivery in early 2011. Air Astana commenced regular flight operations on May 15, 2002 and currently serves 26 domestic and 23 international destinations from its hubs in Almaty, Astana and Atyrau. Air Astana flies an all western fleet of two Boeing 767s, four Boeing 757s, ten Airbus A320s and six Fokker 50 aircraft. Air Astana is a full member of the International Air Transport Association and is the only airline in Kazakhstan with EASA Part 145 aircraft maintenance certification. (Euro Asia Communications) USA Boeing Sets 787 First Delivery Date The Boeing Company has announced that it now expects delivery of the first 787 in the middle of the first quarter 2011. The delivery date revision follows an assessment of the availability of an engine needed for the final phases of flight test this fall. While Boeing works closely with Rolls-Royce to expedite engine availability, flight testing across the test fleet continues as planned. Boeing said last month that the cumulative impact of a series of issues, including supplier workmanship issues related to the horizontal stabilizer and instrumentation delays, could push first delivery of the 787 a few weeks into 2011. The delay in engine availability has extended that estimate to mid-first quarter 2011. The schedule revision will not affect the company's financial guidance. (The Boeing Company) Sweden SAS To Phase Out Its MD-90 Aircraft SAS Group has entered into 5-year leases covering its eight MD-90-30 aircraft with an undisclosed US airline. The eight aircraft will be delivered in a phase out schedule starting in the 3rd-quarter of 2010 and ending in the 2nd-quarter of 2011. The MD-90 has, in terms of number of aircraft, been a niche aircraft in the SAS Group fleet and this transaction fits very well in to SAS initiative to simplify and standardize its fleet and thereby reduce the number of aircraft types used in its total fleet. The average age of the MD- 90's is 13.5 years. (Cision) India Katrina Kaif Signed As Etihad Brand Ambassador Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has signed the internationally acclaimed, multi-award winning actress from India, Katrina Kaif, as the airline’s new brand ambassador. Having won numerous national and international awards, Katrina has greatly contributed to the Indian film industry and is one of India’s most sought-after actresses. Etihad Airways and Katrina Kaif will work on a series of initiatives to promote the airline across India and around the world, including addressing Indian communities in Etihad Airways’ key markets such as the UAE, the USA and the United Kingdom. Etihad recently filmed a internet video with Katrina Kaif dancing in the airline’s First class lounge in Abu Dhabi, under the direction of award winning Indian film director and choreographer, Farah Khan. The video, which has been distributed online across YouTube and various social networking sites, will be used to promote the partnership between Katrina and Etihad Airways throughout the campaign. Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said ... “Our partnership with Katrina Kaif will help build Etihad’s brand name globally and further introduce our world-class products and services across India and to Indian communities around the world. “Katrina represents the best of Indian cinema. By challenging the industry as a highly talented newcomer, she has successfully reached the top of her field in a very short period of time. These values ideally match Etihad’s own ambition to be the best airline in the world.” (Edelman) USA FAA Proposes Civil Penalty Against American Airlines The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a $24.2-million civil penalty against American Airlines Inc. for failing to correctly follow an Airworthiness Directive involving the maintenance of its McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft. This civil penalty is the largest ever proposed by the FAA. The FAA alleges American did not follow steps outlined in a 2006 Airworthiness Directive requiring operators to inspect wire bundles located in the wheel wells of MD-80 aircraft. The purpose of the Directive was to prevent the shorting of wires or arcing at the auxiliary hydraulic pump, which could result in loss of auxiliary hydraulic power or a fire in the wheel well. The Directive also sought to reduce the potential of an ignition source adjacent to the fuel tanks, which, in combination with flammable vapors, could result in a tank explosion. The FAA first detected violations on March 25, 2008, during an inspection of two aircraft. The FAA informed American that the aircraft did not comply with the AD, prompting re-inspections and additional maintenance work that occurred during the following 2-weeks. On March 26, after American performed additional maintenance on its MD-80 fleet, the FAA inspected eight aircraft at American’s Tulsa maintenance base and found seven did not comply with the Directive. On April 7, the FAA inspected another nine MD-80 aircraft at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and found that eight of them still did not comply with the AD. A 10th aircraft inspected by American mechanics also did not comply. The FAA determined that 286 of the airline’s MD-80s operated a combined 14,278 passenger flights while the aircraft were not in compliance with Regulations. American ultimately completed the work required by the 2006 Directive. Over the last year and a half, FAA safety officials have reported progress in working with American Airlines to help improve the airline’s maintenance culture. The FAA is committed to continuing that work. (Federal Aviation Administration) Update: August 27, 2010 [3 Stories] Australia Virgin Blue Group's Major Partnership With Etihad Virgin Blue Holdings Limited and Etihad Airways PJSC today signed an agreement establishing a commercial partnership that will enable Virgin Blue’s international arm, V Australia, to launch direct services to Abu Dhabi in 2011 and the two airlines offer a joint network of more than 100 destinations from October 1, 2010. Together, Etihad and V Australia will move towards a total of 27 weekly services between Abu Dhabi and Australia - including double-daily services between Abu Dhabi and Sydney, daily Melbourne-Abu Dhabi flights and six frequencies per week between Abu Dhabi and Brisbane. V Australia will operate three Sydney-Abu Dhabi services per week from February 2011 and three Brisbane-Abu Dhabi services per week by February 2012, using its new fleet of three-class Boeing 777-300ER and becoming the first Australian carrier to operate to the Middle East since 1991. From October, Virgin Blue Group customers can access Etihad’s network of 65 destinations across North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent. All Virgin Blue services will be available to Etihad customers, opening up 44 destinations in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, and to Asia and Los Angeles. The agreement integrates the Etihad Guest and Velocity frequent flyer programmes, allowing members to earn status / tier points and frequent flyer points immediately along with reciprocal service benefits and lounge access for top tier members. The two airlines will explore further avenues of cooperation, and will lodge an application for authorisation with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to allow them to cooperate across a broad range of commercial functions. (Edelman) USA Enhancing The 777 Passenger Experience Boeing and Vietnam Airlines have teamed on a key initiative to upgrade the level of comfort for Vietnam Airlines' passengers, unveiling the carrier's latest cabin interior modernization on four of the airline's 777-200ERs. Vietnam Airlines will improve its passenger service with an increased focus on the overall passenger experience and comfort while continuing to expand the network and add new destinations. In support of Vietnam Airlines' goals, Boeing Commercial Aviation Services developed a cabin layout that meets the discerning needs of the airline and its passengers, and also provided the engineering services and programme integration as well as managing the worldwide group of suppliers that Vietnam Airlines selected for the programme. Boeing produced the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration-certified service bulletin and kit of parts to accommodate the relocation of business class seats; installation of new deluxe economy and economy class passenger seats; and revisions to the in-flight entertainment system, in-seat power and cabin cooling systems. Boeing also relocated and updated lavatories, galleys, ceilings, sidewalls, lighting, plumbing and the lower lobe attendant crew rest modules to enable the expanded service planned for these 777s. The first aircraft was recently completed and Vietnam Airlines has proudly re-introduced the aircraft into service. (Boeing Commercial Airplanes) USA Hawaiian Begins Ticket Sales for New Seoul Flights Hawaiian Airlines has announced the start of ticket sales for its new nonstop flights between Honolulu and South Korea’s Seoul-Incheon International Airport, which will commence with the inaugural departure from Honolulu on January 12, 2011. The inaugural return flight from Incheon takes place January 14. Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian’s president and chief executive officer, said ... “We look forward to offering travelers from Korea a new and enjoyable flight experience in the tradition of Hawaiian hospitality so they may feel that their Hawaii vacation has started the moment they check in for our flight.” Hawaiian has launched a new Korean-language website at www.HawaiianAirlines.co.kr. Like its English-language site, the new site provides customers with an easy-to-use booking engine to purchase tickets for the Incheon-Honolulu flights, as well as the other destinations that Hawaiian serves in Hawaii, the Western United States, and internationally. Hawaiian has designed its flight schedule so that travellers flying from Incheon would have the convenience of departing for vacation after completing a full day of work, and arriving in time to enjoy their first afternoon in Hawaii and make easy flight connections to the Neighbor Islands. (Asia Pacific Public Relations) Update: August 26, 2010 [1 Story] Mexico Mexicana Appoints A New Head Mexicana has a new head administrator to lead the airline through bankruptcy, but according to Tenedora K - the new investment group that bought 95% of the carrier - it’s still up in the air whether the company will survive. Tenedora K has named Alejandro Rodriguez, a former bank director, as the airline’s new chief administrator, saying he would be responsible for Mexicana’s "possible rescue." The investment group also said that a more thorough review of the airline’s financial records has revealed that the difference in labor costs between Mexicana and U.S. airlines is greater than investors had realized before they gained control of the company August 20. Mexicana had cited high labor costs as one of the reasons for its bankruptcy filing in the U.S. and Mexico earlier this month. Tenedora K and Rodriguez said the pilots, which now own 5% of the carrier, had made a "historic" agreement to help make the acquisition possible. But the flight attendants are making demands that would make Mexicana’s survival "inviable." (Travel Weekly) Update: August 25, 2010 [6 Stories] Australia Qantas Group Increases Domestic Capacity The Qantas Group today announced plans to increase capacity across its domestic route network by 9.6%, including a number of new routes for both Qantas and Jetstar. Qantas CEO, Mr Alan Joyce, said over the next 9-months the Group would increase capacity by more than 66,000 seats per week once fully implemented, with the addition of new aircraft to the domestic fleet. “We are seeing improved demand domestically and the introduction of these additional services and aircraft will see the Qantas Group well placed to meet this demand,” he said. “The changes will see around 65 additional return services for Qantas and around 120 return services for Jetstar introduced across selected routes. “Seven additional aircraft will be deployed on the Qantas domestic network this financial year. In July 2010, we added a B767-300 to grow routes including the key east - west market of Sydney to Perth.” Mr Joyce said an A330-300 will be added from January with a further five B737-800s being progressively added to the domestic network from March 2011. Qantas will commence direct Brisbane-Broome services next year, resulting in Broome becoming the 3rd destination behind Perth and Karratha that Queensland passengers can fly to direct from Brisbane. The new services will be seasonal, operating from April-October, to coincide with the Broome dry season. This new service will join Broome-Melbourne and Broome-Sydney services, resulting in passengers from the popular tourist destination being able to fly direct from Broome to three east-coast destinations, as well as Perth. Mr Joyce said Jetstar would also add new routes and increase services to key leisure destinations across Australia. (Qantas Corporate Communication) Australia Premium Economy To Japan And Germany Qantas has announced that it would introduce Premium Economy on its Tokyo and Frankfurt services. Qantas Chief Executive Officer, Mr Alan Joyce, said Qantas would retrofit six two class Boeing 747s to include 40 Premium Economy seats with the new offering to be available on the Tokyo route from October 2010 and the Frankfurt route from February next year. “Qantas first introduced Premium Economy in 2008 and customer feedback for the product has been extremely positive. Our customers enjoy priority check-in, dedicated cabin crew, an additional baggage allowance and priority boarding and disembarkation. “Qantas currently offers Premium Economy on services to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Buenos Aires. Increased demand for this product, particularly from our leisure travellers, means we are now rolling Premium Economy out on another two Qantas routes,” Mr Joyce said. In May this year, Qantas was awarded the World’s Best Premium Economy Class and World’s Best Premium Economy Seat in the 2010 Skytrax World Airline Awards. (Media Monitors Pty. Ltd.) USA AirTran Awarded Prestigious FAA Diamond Award AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc., was on Tuesday presented the Federal Aviation Administration's FAA) prestigious Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) Diamond Award of Excellence for the 14th consecutive year. "Receiving this award is a great distinction for AirTran Airways and a real testament to our more than 400 mechanics, inspectors and technical support Crew Members," said Klaus Goersch, AirTran Airways' executive vice president, operations and customer service. "Their dedication to continuing aviation-related education directly results in the excellent safety record we have built over the years." The AMT programme, established in 1991, honours aviation maintenance personnel and employers who participate in training opportunities that exceed FAA regulatory requirements. The Diamond Award of Excellence is the highest honour the programme awards a company. (AirTran Airways) USA FAA Announces Category 1 Safety Rating For Nigeria The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that Nigeria has achieved a Category 1 rating under the FAA’s International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) programme, which means that Nigeria complies with international safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). ICAO is the United Nations’ technical agency for aviation which establishes international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance. The IASA Category 1 rating is based on the results of a July FAA review of Nigeria’s civil aviation authority. With the IASA Category 1 rating, Nigerian air carriers may now apply to operate to the United States with their own aircraft. An IASA Category 1 rating means a country has the laws and regulations necessary to oversee air carriers in accordance with minimum international standards, and that its civil aviation authority - equivalent to the FAA for aviation safety matters - meets international standards for technical expertise, trained personnel, recordkeeping and inspection procedures. As part of the FAA’s IASA programme, the agency assesses the civil aviation authorities of all countries with air carriers that operate or might be authorized to fly to the United States and makes that information available to the public. The assessments determine whether or not foreign civil aviation authorities are meeting ICAO safety standards, not FAA regulations. IASA information is available at www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/iasa/ (U..S. Department of Transportation) USA Delta To Increase Flight Attendant Numbers With traffic on the rise, Delta Air Lines says it will recall flight attendants furloughed during the downturn as well as add an unspecified number of new workers. "We need lots of folks with language skills, given the extensive nature of our international network and the need to be able to communicate with passengers in their own language," CEO Richard Anderson said in a recorded message to employees. Training probably will begin in January, he said. (Aviation International) USA Airport Scanners: Privacy Not The Main Concern As more frequent fliers experience full-body scanners for the first time, the main complaints appear to center on time and cost instead of privacy. Some travellers say the technology seems to require greater Transportation Security Administration manpower - and the agency's 2011 budget does call for roughly a 10% hiring boost related to the scanners. Time is another big concern, with unfamiliar procedures adding to the greater duration of the scan itself. Still, most frequent fliers say they are willing to make the trade-off if security is enhanced by the technology. (The Star-Ledger - Newark, N.J.) Update: August 21, 2010 [1 Story] USA Regulators, Airlines Seek To Accommodate Bumped Fliers With commercial airline flights fuller than ever, bumped passengers may face long waits or circuitous routes to reach their destination. Denied boarding remains extremely rare, however, and experts say volunteers can be found about 90% of the time to give up their seats in return for compensation. In those few cases where no volunteers step forward, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood wants to raise the cap on compensation for passengers who are denied boarding against their will - from $800 to $1,300. The Air Transport Association says it will not challenge the higher limits. (USA Today) Update: August 18, 2010 [6 Stories] USA June Passenger Airline Employment Data U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 2.4% fewer workers in June 2010 than in June 2009, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) has reported. This is the 24th consecutive decrease in full-time equivalent employee (FTE) levels for the scheduled passenger carriers from the same month of the previous year. FTE calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee. BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the June FTE total of 378,300 for the scheduled passenger carriers was 9,400 below that of June 2009. However, the June FTE number was the highest since January 2010. Five network airlines decreased employment from June 2009 to June 2010. Delta Air Lines, after completing its merger with Northwest Airlines, is reporting combined employment numbers in 2010 and reported 5.9% more FTEs in June 2010 than the combined totals of both carriers for June 2009. Network airlines operate a significant portion of their flights using at least one hub where connections are made for flights to down-line destinations or spoke cities. Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways were the only low-cost carriers to report a decrease in employees from June 2009. Regional carriers Comair, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Pinnacle Airlines, Horizon Air, Mesa Airlines, Air Wisconsin Airlines, Mesaba Airlines, Shuttle America Airlines, and Lynx Airlines also reported reduced employment levels compared to last year. Scheduled passenger airline categories include network, low-cost, regional and other airlines. The six network airlines employed 256,600 FTEs in June, 67.8% of the passenger airline total, while low-cost carriers employed 16.9% and regional carriers employed 13.8%. (U.S. Department of Transportation) Indonesia Garuda Adds 23,700 Seats For Lebaran Garuda Indonesia is adding as many as 23,700 seats on selected routes during the period September 10-16, 2010, to handle the seasonal peak in domestic and regional travel over the Islamic Lebaran holiday period. Among the air routes to benefit from larger aircraft or additional flights include Jakarta-Denpasar with 11,718 more seats; Jakarta-Padang with 2,950 seats; Jakarta-Yogyakarta with 2,696 seats; Jakarta-Solo with 1,192 seats; Surabaya-Denpasar with 1,944 seats; Jakarta-Medan with 966 seats; and Jakarta-Surabaya with 2,220 more seats. Quoted in bisnis.com, the spokesman for Garuda, Pudjobroto, reminded the public ... "For safety and comfort, Garuda urges passengers to make their travel plans at the earliest opportunity and avoid any last minute changes in the reservations." (Bali Discovery Tours) Singapore SIA Operating Results For July In July 2010, Singapore Airlines achieved 3.6% year-on-year growth in systemwide passenger carriage (measured in revenue passenger kilometres), against a slight increase in capacity (measured in available seat kilometres) of 0.3%. This led to an improvement in the passenger load factor of 2.7 percentage points to 82.4%. The number of passengers carried rose by 1.2% over the same month last year to 1.5-million. The year-on-year increase in capacity arose from the injection of additional frequencies to Americas (Newark and Houston), South West Pacific (Brisbane), North Asia (Hong Kong, Beijing and Incheon), West Asia and Africa (Mumbai, Delhi, Dhaka, Male and Colombo), and the introduction of new services to Munich. Overall cargo traffic (measured in freight tonne kilometres) improved by 8.2% while cargo capacity increased by 7.6%. Consequently, cargo load factor improved by 0.4 percentage point. A general improvement in the economic environment continued to contribute to the higher passenger and cargo load factors across most regions. (Weber Shandwick) Australia Boeing Appoints Communications Director Boeing has announced that Allison Bone has been appointed to the role of Communications Director Australia-New Zealand. Ms Bone succeeds Ken Morton who has assumed responsibility for Boeing communications across the Asia-Pacific. Ms Bone, who will also be based in Sydney head office of Boeing Australia, most recently worked as Communications Director with Kathy Jones & Associates, a Sydney company providing communications and project management services. She brings more than 20-years' communications experience to Boeing, having previously worked as Manager Corporate Communications for Qantas, Director of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement for the Hunter New England area health service and as deputy Chief of Staff and senior media advisor within the NSW State Government. "Australia represents Boeing's largest footprint outside of the US and is an important part of our global operation, just as Boeing is an integral part of the Australia aerospace industry," said Charlie Miller, Vice President of International Corporate Communications for Boeing. "Boeing has had a strong communications presence across Australia and New Zealand for the past decade and Ms Bone will continue to drive this function." (Boeing Australia) England Birmingham Strives To Become London's Newest Airport The U.K. government is blocking expansion at London's major airports -- Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. The situation has prompted the Birmingham airport to promote itself as "the solution" to a lack of capacity. "Regional airports are part of an integrated transport solution," said Paul Kehoe, CEO at Birmingham Airport. "I hope that any forthcoming aviation review will recognize the capacity that can be released through their efficient use as part of a networked 'bigger picture'. "Airports need to work better with other transport modes -- and not just be bigger." (The Telegraph) Australia Qantas Aims To Expand Capacity On International Routes Qantas Airways CEO Alan Joyce said the Australian carrier is striving to expand capacity on its international routes amid a recovery of demand. "We're seeing an improvement in the U.S. route," he said. "When we see the market returning -- which it is starting to return, as I said, in the last quarter we started seeing positive signs seeing positive signs there -- we will look at growing international markets, as we have in domestic." (Aviation International) Update: August 17, 2010 [1 Story] USA At Least One Dead In Colombian Plane Crash AccuWeather.com reports lightning is believed to be a factor in a Colombian plane crash that killed at least one person early Monday morning. AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist Henry Margusity said it appears that the pilot was attempting to land during a severe thunderstorm. AccuWeather.com meteorologists found evidence of multiple lightning strikes all around the island, including one strike that occurred at 1:42am local time, which Margusity said could be the strike that contributed to the crash. He said that the strike that occurred at 1:42am hit the eastern side of the runway. Generally, planes are protected from lightning strikes, which is why Margusity believes other weather factors, including wind shear and poor visibility caused by rain could also be contributing factors in the crash. Reports of the number injured vary. Different news organizations are reporting that the plane, a Boeing 737, was carrying between 121 and 131 passengers. The number of injuries swung widely between six and 114 people as of 9:20am EDT. CNN reported that the plane was attempting to land on the island of San Andres, Colombia. The flight between Bogota, Colombia, and Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport on San Andres was believed to have been struck by lightning while attempting to land just before 4:00am EDT, around 1:49am local time. The lightning strike reportedly broke the plane into three pieces. Margusity said it looked like the plane hit the runway hard, and The Aviation Herald was reporting that the plane touched down nearly 260ft (80m) short of the runway. (AccuWeather.com) Update: August 14, 2010 [3 Stories] Chile LAN And TAM Announce Intention To Combine LAN Airlines S.A. and TAM S.A. (TAM) today announced that they have entered into a non-binding MOU that outlines their intentions to combine their holdings under a single parent entity. The group, to be known as LATAM Airlines Group, would include Lan Airlines and its affiliates in Peru, Argentina and Ecuador; Lan Cargo and affiliates; TAMLineas Aereas S.A.; TAM Mercosur and all other holdings of LAN and TAM. The transaction is subject to both parties entering into a binding definitive agreement and satisfaction of conditions, including corporate and shareholder approvals and actions and regulatory approvals. Each of the airlines in the group would continue to operate under their existing operating certificates and brands. The all-stock transaction would consolidate the economic interests of LAN and TAM under a single parent entity while satisfying the foreign ownership and control requirements of each country where they operate. In connection with the transaction, LAN Airlines S.A. would be renamed LATAM Airlines Group S.A. (LATAM) and would serve as a parent company that will align activities for all group holdings. TAM shareholders would be offered 0.90 shares of common stock of LATAM for each share of TAM. LATAM would retain its listing in the Santiago stock exchange and its ADR listing in the New York Stock Exchange and plans to list its shares, via BDRs, in the Bovespa in Brazil. Within the group, TAM would continue to operate as a Brazilian company with its own structure. The current holdings of LAN Airlines S.A. would operate as an independent business unit within the group (and be referred to as LAN Airlines). Each airline within the group would maintain its current headquarters and governance structure. (Asia Pacific Public Relations) USA FAA Announces Recovery Act Projects for Atlanta The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration has announced more than $9-million in upgrades funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) that will make flights at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport safer, more efficient and more reliable. On Friday, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt marked the beginning of a $5-million ARRA project to install a new approach lighting system for Runway 27L. The new lighting system will provide visual information to pilots as they approach the runway in bad weather. It will improve airport capacity, operational capability and safety. The Recovery Act also funded an additional $4.2-million in upgrades to aviation facilities around the Atlanta area. More than $1.5-million in ARRA funds went to install a new engine generator system for the FAA’s airport traffic control tower. The tower now has two engine generator systems, which will ensure essential back-up power for air traffic control operations at the world’s busiest airport. The system will provide highly reliable on-site power if both commercial power sources feeding the air traffic control tower fail during severe weather in Atlanta. The tower can operate all air traffic equipment at full capacity and with high reliability on the engine generator. ARRA also funded a $2.6-million power distribution system for the National Network Control Center (NNCC) in Hampton, Ga., which processes pilot flight plans. The new power system is comprised of two commercial power feeds, a standby generator, two uninterruptible power systems with battery back-ups and a power distribution system. Maintaining a fully-functioning NNCC is critical to efficient operation of the national airspace system. (U.S. Department of Transportation) USA Hawaiian Accelerates New A330 Delivery Date On the heels of its announcements of new international routes to Asia, Hawaiian Airlines is accelerating the scheduled delivery of a new Airbus A330-200 aircraft by nearly 2-years to 4th quarter 2011 from its original delivery date in 2nd quarter 2013. Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian’s president and CEO, said ... “Having recently announced new service to Asia and recognizing that further opportunities for new flights may develop in the next year, we have been fortunate to be able to accelerate the delivery of one of our A330s on very short notice.” Hawaiian’s A330s are the newest, best-equipped aircraft serving Hawaii from the West Coast. Along with the spacious interior of a wide-body, twin-aisle aircraft, their new seats offer more personal space and a state-of-the-art entertainment system for each passenger. Hawaiian’s new A330s comfortably carry 294 passengers - 30 more passengers per aircraft than its fleet of twin-aisle Boeing 767-300ER aircraft - in a 2-class configuration (18 in First Class, 276 in Coach Class) and have a longer operating range that would allow Hawaiian to fly nonstop between Hawaii and points throughout all of North America and eastern Asia. Hawaiian has firm commitments to acquire 10 new A330s (including two aircraft already in service) over the next 4-years and purchase rights for five additional aircraft. Hawaiian’s first two A330s joined the fleet this past June and are being used on the popular Honolulu-Los Angeles route. (Asia Pacific Public Relations) Update: August 12, 2010 [2 Stories] Australia Lucky Linda knows Her Hawaiian Linda van Bergen, of STA Travel Pacific Fair on Queensland’s Gold Coast, is off to beautiful Hawaii after winning two return Economy Class tickets through a joint Hawaiian Airlines and Hot Airfares competition. Linda proved herself a true Hawaiian Airlines devotee by correctly answering questions about the airline in the Hot Airfares newsletter, and is thrilled to be taking her daughter for a double celebration - the competition win and her daughter’s approaching 18th birthday. Pictured at STA Pacific Fair are Hawaiian Airlines Queensland Account Manager Cris Cali and competition winner Linda van Bergen. (Asia Pacific Public Relations) Canada WestJet Announces New Non-stop To Orlando Calgary-based WestJet has announced it will fly non-stop between Edmonton and Orlando on a weekly basis starting December 18, 2010. "The addition of weekly non-stop service to Orlando further solidifies WestJet as the carrier offering the most non-stop destinations from the Edmonton International Airport," said Hugh Dunleavy, WestJet Executive Vice-President, Strategy and Planning. "From Maui to Montego Bay, WestJet is flying Edmontonians to the destinations that they want to visit." In addition to Orlando, WestJet also operates non-stop service from Edmonton to many sun destinations on a seasonal or year-round basis, including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Palm Springs, Maui, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Montego Bay. "Orlando is one of our most-requested route additions," said Reg Milley, President and CEO, Edmonton International Airport. "We're excited to welcome this key leisure destination to EIA's growing family of more than 50 non-stop cities. "Now it's up to Edmontonians to ensure the success of the new route. It's important to choose non-stops like Orlando or one of WestJet's other U.S. non-stop destinations to ensure our great U.S. service is maintained." (WestJet) Update: August 11, 2010 [6 Stories] USA Long Tarmac Delays in June Down Dramatically The nation’s largest airlines reported only three flights in June with tarmac delays of more than three hours compared to 268 flights in June 2009 and with no increase in the rate of cancelled flights, according to the Air Travel Consumer Report released by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). According to information filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), the only tarmac delays longer than 3-hours reported in June by the 18 airlines who file on-time performance with DOT involved three United Airlines flights departing Chicago’s O’Hare airport on June 18, a day in which the Chicago area experienced a severe thunderstorm. None of the tarmac delays exceeded the 3-hour limit by more than 5-minutes. June was the second full month of data since the new aviation consumer rule went into effect on April 29. In May, the first full month, there were five reported tarmac times of more than 3-hours, down from 34 in May 2009. A subsequent investigation determined four of the five May flights were misreported by the airline. The carriers canceled 1.5% of their scheduled domestic flights in June, equal to the 1.5% cancellation rate of June 2009. They posted a 1.2% cancellation rate in May 2010. The new rule prohibits U.S. airlines operating domestic flights from permitting an aircraft to remain on the tarmac for more than 3-hours without deplaning passengers, with exceptions allowed only for safety or security or if air traffic control advises the pilot in command that returning to the terminal would disrupt airport operations. The Department will investigate tarmac delays that exceed this limit. (U.S. Department of Transportation) China Air China Is Only Strategic Partner Of The CIFIT Air China has become the only airline partner of the 14th, 15th and 16th China International Fair for Investment and Trade. From 2010 to 2012, Air China will provide sponsor resources, the value of which will exceed 10-million RMB, and will include cash and free tickets for international/domestic Air China flights. The China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT), approved by the State Council of the People's Republic of China, takes place on September 8-11 every year in Xiamen, China. CIFIT features a focus on national and international issues, investment negotiation and investment policy promotion, coordinated development of national and regional economies, and economic and trade exchanges across the Taiwan Strait. CIFIT is currently China's only international investment promotion event aimed at facilitating bilateral investment. It is also the largest ever global investment event approved by UFI. The 14th CIFIT will be staged simultaneously with the 2nd World Investment Forum, and include 18 project matchmaking symposia and 30 forums and seminars. With its strong network and quality service, Air China will provide airline carrier service to the 50,000 domestic and foreign merchants who will come from over 120 countries and regions, as well as 1,300 journalists from over 300 media. Air China deputy director of the business department, Mr Zhu Songyan, said ... "As China's only flag carrier, Air China will help to promote economic and trade exchanges around the world, with our first-class network and services." (Ogilvy PR Worldwide) Australia SAA Has Best On Time Performance In 10-years South African Airways experienced its best on-time-performance in 10-years in the month of July 2010 according to Thevan Krishna, SAA’s Head of Australasia. “With the Football World Cup in South Africa over the first half of July this is a great result for the airline,” Thevan said. “Despite the very heavy passenger loads and the extra demands on the airline and its operational staff, the result of 87.27% of all domestic and international flights leaving on time is an exceptional outcome,” he said. “Our last best result was 88% in 1999, so we are delighted with this achievement.” “We had the opening of the new King Shaka Airport at Durban with many parking issues as well as a fire in the catering kitchen in London to deal with as well. "Despite all of this and the pressures of one of the world’s major sporting events, we came through with flying colours!” “It proves that with a concerted effort and all our operational functions working closely together, we can continue to achieve outstanding outcomes like this, a great sign for the future,” Thevan concluded. (Jarvis Public Relations) Sweden Mats Jansson To Leave SAS This Fall The President and CEO of SAS, Mats Jansson, has decided to leave SAS this fall after 4-years with the company. The company's Board of Directors will now look for a suitable successor. "Next year, I turn 60 and that is also when my contract expires. I believe that I have done my share for SAS," said Mats Jansson. "There are still great challenges to come for SAS, but the platform is in place. "The Core SAS strategy, including extensive cost-savings, has been established, the financial platform has been secured through the latest rights issue, SAS has gained strength in terms of our products, and customer satisfaction has increased. "The company is now well positioned to face the future," said Mats Jansson. "The time therefore feels right for a new President and CEO to take over and continue to further strengthen SAS' competitiveness and secure its profitable growth," he said. "My decision to leave the company was not easy. It has been four exciting and demanding years to run a company in such a dynamic sector, where no 2-days are the same. I have received strong support from the Board, the management team and, in particular, from all SAS employees, who do a fantastic job and who have truly given their all to SAS during this highly critical and financially difficult situation." Chairman Fritz Schur, heads the Board's efforts to identify a successor to Mats Jansson. (SAS Group HR & Communications) Chile LAN Airlines Monthly Stats Reports For July LAN Airlines S.A. and its subsidiaries, one of the leading airlines in Latin America, has reported its preliminary monthly traffic statistics and punctuality indicators for July 2010. System passenger traffic for July increased 14.5% as capacity rose 9.9%. As a result, the Company’s load factor increased 3.2 points to 79.2%. International passenger traffic accounted for approximately 70% of total passenger traffic. Domestic passenger traffic in Chile, Argentina, Peru and Ecuador rose 17.6% as capacity increased 8.9%. As a consequence, the domestic load factor for the month increased 5.8 points to 78.9%. International passenger traffic for July grew 13.3%, while capacity increased 10.3%. Accordingly, the international passenger load factor for the month increased 2.1 points to 79.4%. During July, international capacity was mainly driven by an increase in operations on routes to the United States, as well as certain Regional routes. During July, cargo traffic increased 20.7%. This increase was mainly due to the recovery in imports to Latin America driven by Brazil and the increase in operations to Europe with the B777-200 freighter fleet. (Asia Pacific Public Relations) Abu Dhabi Etihad To Launch 'All Economy' Service In October Etihad Airways, the Abu Dhabi-based national airline of the UAE, will introduce its first ‘all economy’ class aircraft into its fleet in October 2010. The two Airbus A320s will be configured to carry 162 economy class passengers, an increase of 42 from the current economy capacity. The all economy cabin aircraft will operate to short haul Etihad destinations, which have high demand for economy traffic and low demand for premium traffic. Initially these will be Alexandria, Calicut, Colombo, Damascus, Doha and Thiruvananthapuram. Plans are in place to expand the all economy fleet to ten A320 aircraft which will enable the airline to launch new short haul destinations which have low demand for premium travel and also to existing Etihad destinations. James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ Chief Executive Officer, said .. “Etihad has grown at a remarkable pace during the past 6½-years. We have built a strong brand and a robust business, and it is the right time to challenge the way we serve our various markets and segments. “Our all economy aircraft will allow us to offer a more competitive product in key point-to-point markets in Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and the Indian Subcontinent, while maintaining the high standards of service we have become known for.” Etihad currently has 15 A320 aircraft within its fleet and 35 aircraft are on order from Airbus. (Edelman) Update: August 10, 2010 [1 Story] Qatar Qatar Airways Ramps Up Frequency To Egypt Qatar Airways has expanded its operations to Egypt, with additional flights to both Alexandria and Luxor to commence over a 4-week period from August. Daily services to popular holiday destination Alexandria began on August 2 and daily flights to Luxor begin on September 1, both up from four weekly services. The additional services will see Qatar Airways operate a total of 21 flights a week to Egypt, with the airline already operating daily to Egypt’s capital city of Cairo. Qatar Airways’ capacity increases to both cities is expected to provide passengers with greater access to Egypt, as well as provide increased connectivity to a number of key business and leisure destinations via the airline’s Doha hub. Alternating flight departure and arrival times offer flexible connections to a variety of destinations in the GCC, Europe, the Far East, and cities on the airline’s network as far away as Melbourne in Australia. The Alexandria and Luxor routes utilise Airbus A320 aircraft, with a total of 144 seats, including 12 seats in First Class and 132 in Economy Class. During a 4-month period starting in October 2010, Qatar Airways will expand its international route network further with six new routes, operating scheduled flights from Doha to Phuket, Hanoi, Nice, Bucharest, Budapest and Brussels. By 2013, Qatar Airways plans to serve 120 key business and leisure destinations worldwide with a fleet of 120 aircraft. Today, the airline’s fleet stands at 86 aircraft, flying to destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and North and South America. (Sefiani Communications Group) Update: August 07, 2010 [3 Stories] USA Southwest Airlines Reports July Traffic Southwest Airlines Co. has announced that the company flew 7.5-billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in July 2010, a 3.4% increase from the 7.2-billion RPMs flown in July 2009. Available seat miles (ASMs) increased 1.4% to 8.8-billion from the July 2009 level of 8.7-billion. The load factor for the month was 84.9%, a record monthly load factor performance for the company. For July 2010, passenger revenue per ASM is estimated to have increased in the 17 to 18% range as compared to July 2009. For the 7-months ended July 31, 2010, Southwest flew 44.9-billion RPMs, compared to 43.8-billion RPMs flown for the same period in 2009, an increase of 2.4%. Available seat miles decreased 2.6% to 56.9-billion from the 2009 level of 58.4-billion. The year-to-date load factor was 78.8%, compared to 75.0% for the same period last year. (Southwest Airliness Co.) Australia Air Niugini Appoints World Aviation Systems As GSA Air Niugini, the National Airline of Papua New Guinea, has announced the appointment of World Aviation Systems in Australia as its General Sales Agent (GSA) for Air Niugini passenger services in Western Australia. In making the announcement, Mr Wasantha Kumarasiri, the Air Niugini Chief Executive Officer, advised that Air Nuigini is keen to expand its presence on the West Coast and explore the growing interest, both from the leisure and corporate market segments, in the unique and unspoiled beauty that is Papua New Guinea. Air Nuigini operates direct services to the capital Port Moresby, from Brisbane and Cairns daily and twice a week from Sydney - Mondays and Saturdays. Air Nuigini also operates an extensive domestic network within Papua New Guinea as well as international services to Manila, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Honiara and Nadi. (S2i Communications) Sweden SAS Is Europe's Most Punctual Airline SAS Scandinavian Airlines was Europe's most punctual airline in 2009, and this summer SAS is once again Europe's most punctual airline. In July, SAS was even the world's most punctual airline amongst all major airlines. For May, June and July, SAS' punctuality was superior to any other major airline in Europe. In July, SAS' punctuality was 90.35%, resulting in 14,312 of 15,840 flights being on time. In June the punctuality was 90.62% and in May 91.30%. SAS' punctuality was thereby superior amongst all Europe's major airlines. Second most punctual major airline in July was KLM with 84.50%. Other airlines included Norwegian (83.25%), Air Berlin (72.58%), Ryanair (69.18%), EasyJet (52.45%) och Iberia (45.92%). These on-time performance reports for worldwide carriers and airports are generated from FlightStats Analytics. Flightstats track the performance of over 150,000 flights per day, archive the data for analysis and publication, and provide real time flight status to millions of travelers world wide each day. (Cision) Update: August 06, 2010 [2 Stories] Canada WestJet Reports An 18% Increase In July Traffic WestJet has announced July 2010 traffic results with a load factor of 80.7%, up 4.3 points year over year. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs), or traffic, increased 18.2% year over year. Capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 11.9% over the same period. "We are very encouraged with our 5th straight month of double-digit traffic increases and the year-over-year load factor improvement given the capacity increase," said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky. "New strategic initiatives, such as our WestJet Frequent Guest Programme and WestJet RBC MasterCard are contributing nicely to growth." "An additional 161,000 guests flew WestJet compared to July 2009. This increase is a testament to our people-driven brand," said Gregg Saretsky. "My thanks go to all WestJetters for taking care of our guests every time they fly with us and creating the world-class guest experience we're known for." (WestJet) Canada WestJet Reports Jump In 2nd Quarter Net Earnings Calgary-based WestJet has reported 2nd quarter 2010 net earnings of $21-million, or 14 cents per diluted share, which marks its 21st consecutive quarter of profitability and a 130% increase in net earnings, year-over-year. Excluding the impact of a one-time special item related to revised estimates for provincial income tax allocation calculations in the 2nd quarter of 2010, WestJet's adjusted 2nd quarter net earnings for 2010 were $23.4-million or 16 cents per diluted share. WestJet reported an operating margin of 6.6%, compared to 6.9% in the 2nd quarter of 2009. WestJet's 2nd quarter 2010 pre-tax margin was 5.4%, compared to 2.6% in the same 2009 period. "We are pleased to deliver our 21st consecutive quarter of profitability," said WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky. "It is WestJetters' unrelenting focus on friendly service and great value that allows our dedicated and talented team to continue producing solid results, quarter after quarter, year in and year out." "The improving demand and traffic results experienced during the quarter enabled us to increase our revenue by 15.2% and our RASM by 4.0%, compared to the prior period," said Gregg Saretsky. "In June, we introduced our everyday low pricing structure to provide great fares year-round across our entire schedule and reduce the volatility in pricing. We are encouraged by the early booking trends and the improved mix of fares we are selling." Third quarter RASM estimates are anticipated to be positive again on a year-over-year basis. (WestJet) Update: August 05, 2010 [3 Stories] Australia Changes To JetStar Management Qantas Chief Executive Officer, Mr Alan Joyce, today announced changes to the management of the Qantas Group’s low fares carrier, Jetstar, to position the organisation for future growth. “I am pleased to announce Jetstar Chief Executive Officer, Bruce Buchanan, will become the Group Chief Executive Officer for Jetstar," Mr Joyce said. "Bruce has played a key role in the expansion of Jetstar in recent years. In this new role, he will continue to oversee the Jetstar brands, with a focus on driving expansion into new markets.” A number of new roles will be created in the Jetstar structure to position the business for continued strong growth throughout the Asia Pacific region, including the role of Chief Executive Officer, Jetstar Australia and New Zealand. David Hall, currently Group Executive Corporate Services and Technology at Qantas, has been appointed to this position, which will report to Bruce Buchanan as Jetstar Group CEO. Jetstar Group Chief Executive Officer, Bruce Buchanan said the changes were important for future growth of the airline. “David brings a depth of aviation experience to the new role and, as Jetstar’s former Chief Financial Officer, will hit the ground running to drive continued success for Jetstar in these markets,” Mr Buchanan said. As CEO of Jetstar Australia and New Zealand, David Hall will be responsible for flying operations, airports, pilots, cabin crew, engineering, safety and technical programs, including the introduction of the B787 Dreamliner to the fleet. The Chief Executive Officer of Jetstar Asia, Chong Phit Lian, will have her role expanded to include responsibility for Jetstar investments and businesses in Asia, which includes responsibility for building its Singapore long haul flying hub. (Media Monitors Pty Ltd) Qatar Qatar Airways Honoured With Key Environment Award Qatar Airways has been honoured by leading aviation industry figures for its wide-ranging global environmental initiatives. The Doha-based carrier’s well documented move into the research of alternative jet fuel as part of an overall mission to secure a cleaner and environmentally friendly future, helped win it the Environment accolade at the annual Airline Strategy Awards held in London. The airline earned recognition among an illustrious judging panel made up of chief executives, aviation consultants, leading analysts and academics drawn from across the industry. Now in their 9th year, the awards which are run by the leading monthly aviation magazine Airline Business. Success criteria for the award included demonstrating the creation and implementation of a company-wide environmental strategy; the creation, development and implementation of measures that produce environmental benefits; and the support of industry-wide initiatives through research. The airline was acknowledged for its leadership in pioneering the use of alternative jet fuel having operated the world’s first commercial passenger flight powered by a fuel made from natural gas. The flight from London Gatwick to Doha in October 2009 made headlines around the world. Otherwise known as gas-to-liquids (GTL) fuel, the milestone flight was also seen as the first step in helping make the alternative synthetic fuel available to all airlines in the future. Over the past 2-years, Qatar Airways has been instrumental in driving a number of environmentally-friendly projects designed to find ways to maximise fuel saving efficiency and explore the use of cleaner jet fuels. (Sefiani Communications Group) USA Airline Capacity Rises For First Time Since 2007 In the first year-over-year increase in 3-years, North American airlines are adding seating capacity to their planes this month. The 1% increase compared with August 2009 is the first increase since 2007, and seating capacity to and from North America is even higher - 4%. But those flights account for only a quarter of the capacity of airlines in North America. Capacity on U.S. airlines dropped in 2008 when jet fuel prices soared, and they stayed low as business travel slumped amid the recession. (American Society of Travel Agents) Update: August 04, 2010 [3 Stories] Mexico Business As Usual For Mexicana Mexicana's position in the oneworld® alliance is unaffected by Tuesday's announcement that the airline has filed for insolvency proceedings in Mexico and bankruptcy protection in the USA to enable it to restructure into line with market conditions. Mexicana has stressed that it will continue to operate normally, in line with Mexican legislation covering such restructurings. Its schedule is being maintained - though with some network and frequency changes - and it continues to take bookings and offer its full range of services. So the airline continues to offer full oneworld services and benefits, and tickets for flights on Mexicana and its frequent flyer arrangements are unaffected. Its affiliates MexicanaClick and MexicanaLink, which are also part of oneworld, operate independently of Mexicana itself and are not affected by the mainline airline's reorganisation process. (oneworld) Brazil Pantanal Expands Route Network And Cities Served Pantanal Linhas Aéreas has expanded its service network and, starting August 23, will increase the number of cities served in Brazil from six to 15, while also increasing its flight and seat offerings. The new route network will have 44 flights, of which 21 will be from Congonhas airport in São Paulo, the other 21 will be from Guarulhos airport in São Paulo, and two from Brasília. The new flights were authorized by the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) and tickets are available for sale. The routes operated using the 45­seater ATR 42 aircraft will fly to and from the Guarulhos airport, while those flying to andfrom Congonhas and Brasília will use three Airbus aircraft, two A319 (144 ­seats) and one A320 (174 ­seats). The three Airbus aircraft, which have been leased by TAM Linhas Aéreas to Pantanal for 6-months, were in redelivery process, as their leasing agreements were close to expire, and were extended until Pantanal defines the expansion and renewal of its own fleet. “With the new network, Pantanal will increase its weekly offering of Available Seat Kilometers (ASK) by 660%,” said Líbano Barroso, head of airlines operations, which includes TAM Linhas Aéreas, Pantanal and TAM Airlines, based in Assunção, Paraguay. “This substantial increase in supply is due to the inclusion of new routes and destinations, combined with the utilization of aircraft equipped with more seats. “With the new network, Pantanal will operate 379 flights per week, 72.3% more than the 220 flights currently operated.” The increase is even higher during weekends: 135% on Saturdays and Sundays. (Aviation And Tourism International) Singapore SIA Announces Trial To Go Paperless In its latest move towards more environmentally-friendly operations, with the ultimate aim of a paperless cabin, Singapore Airlines will progressively introduce an electronic version of magazines on its award-winning KrisWorld inflight entertainment system. As a first step, the Airline will offer in electronic format its three inflight magazines - SilverKris, KrisShop and KrisWorld - as part of a trial with a privately held Singapore-based company, SmarttPapers Aviation Pte Ltd. SilverKris, SIA’s travel magazine; KrisShop, the Airline’s inflight sales catalogue; and KrisWorld, SIA’s inflight entertainment guide; will be the first publications featured as part of the inflight entertainment system offerings. The SmarttPapers™ application uses a patented file compression technology to compress and transform magazines and newspaper contents into a digital format for integration into the inflight entertainment system. In line with efforts to reduce the amount of paper carried on board, thus reducing weight and saving fuel, the Airline aims to extend this initiative to other publications at a later date, including menu cards and the more than 100 international and local magazines currently carried systemwide. The plan is also to introduce e-newspapers and e-books on board using the same technology. Singapore Airlines will be the first in the world to have this unique feature on its aircraft fleet equipped with the latest Panasonic eX2™ inflight entertainment system (IFE), starting with two Boeing 777-300ERs from July 31, followed by two Airbus A380s. (Webel Shandwick) Update: August 03, 2010 [1 Story] USA Support For A Pedestrian Bridge To Tijuana Airport A group of private investors is proposing a 525ft pedestrian bridge linking San Diego to Rodriguez International Airport in Tijuana, Mexico. The bridge project would include parking, retail shops and Customs and Border Protection facilities, allowing up to 17,000 travellers each day to avoid the congested border crossing. Local aviation officials have said they support the effort, and a review by the U.S. State Department found the bridge would provide "a more convenient, cost-effective, reliable and secure crossing." (American Society of Travel Agents) Back to Front Page