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Featured Articles

Recession Regression

By Sandra Arnoult

Bigger Orders After Downturn

By Aaron Karp

Regional aircraft manufacturers grind through slowdown, look to long-term demand for larger aircraft to maintain growth.

T-Rex

By Geoffrey Thomas

Regional Express grows to dominate Australia's regional industry with a formula of adding service and cutting fares.

Hiring and training pilots: New regulations considered in aftermath of Colgan Q400 crash

By Aaron Karp

The investigation into the February crash of a Colgan Air Q400 in Buffalo that killed 50 people has cast a harsh light on pilot screening and training, leading both the US Congress and FAA to consider revising regulations, particularly in regard to regional airlines that fly an increasing percentage of US mainline carriers' domestic routes. The Air Line Pilots Assn. last week released a white paper on the issue, arguing that "many pilots in the current pool of applicants lack the level of experience that generations of pilots ahead of them had when they came into the airlines."

Southwest's RNP investment: Is $175 million pledge too far ahead of US government, industry?

By Aaron Karp

Southwest Airlines has committed boldly to investing $175 million to implement Required Navigation Performance fleetwide, an endeavor that includes retrofitting at least 115 737 Classics' cockpits, ensuring its more than 320 737-700s are equipped to be RNP-capable, training its pilots and working with US FAA to develop RNP procedures for the more than 65 airports into which it operates. But will the US government and other airlines similarly move forward, or will SWA within the next 2-3 years have aircraft and pilots capable of operating at a level of efficiency that FAA and much of the rest of the US industry is unable to reach for the foreseeable future?

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ATW Daily News

Gol swings to $504 million 2009 profit with reoriented network

Monday March 15, 2010

Gol reported net income of BRL890.8 million ($504.2 million) for 2009, reversed from a BRL1.2 billion deficit in 2008, attributing its profitability to "synergies" created by the merger of Gol's and Varig's operations at the end of 2008 and its transformation into an efficient 737NG operator organized around a short-haul South American network that it believes appeals to Brazil's growing middle class. [more]

US regional growth could hinge on major airline labor negotiations

Thursday March 11, 2010

The current round of pilot negotiations at US major network airlines "will be the most important since deregulation" and could determine the future growth path for the regional airline segment, according to William Swelbar, a research engineer at MIT's International Center for Air Transportation. [more]

Thursday March 11, 2010

Wizz Air introduced Wizz Flex, a €10 ($13.59) supplement available for purchase during the booking process that will allow the customer to alter the date, time and routing of a flight up to 3 hr. prior to departure with no change fee (although any difference in fare must be paid.)

Allegiant to add second aircraft type as Hawaii beckons

Tuesday March 9, 2010

Allegiant Air parent Allegiant Travel Co. will add six 757-200s to a fleet currently comprised entirely of MD-80s in order to "expand its leisure travel strategy" with nonstop flights to Hawaii. [more]

Tuesday March 9, 2010

WestJet yesterday launched a frequent flyer program in partnership with RBC and MasterCard, offering passengers for the first time the opportunity "to earn and accumulate WestJet dollars," the Calgary-based LCC said. "Every WestJet dollar can be used as cash toward the purchase of any flight on any date to any destination. . .There are no points, redemption grids, advance booking, blackouts or seat restrictions--just dollars off flights and vacation packages." VP-Marketing Lauri Feser added that the program will "be simple, open and transparent. . .For the frequent business traveler, our research indicates there is strong appeal for the rewards offered by this type of program."

Tuesday March 9, 2010

Jazz Air, Air Canada's regional partner, announced a tentative labor agreement with dispatchers represented by the Canadian Air Line Dispatchers Assn. No terms were revealed. The airline said that negotiations with the Air Line Pilots Assn. and Canadian Flight Attendants Union "are ongoing."

Snow costs Southwest $15 million

Monday March 8, 2010

Southwest Airlines said the February snowstorms cost it an estimated $15 million in lost revenue but boosted passenger RASM by 16%-17% year-over-year as a result of the reduced capacity. SWA flew 4.99 billion RPMs in February, down 2.3% year-over-year, and capacity was down 8.7% to 6.75 billion ASMs. Load factor rose 4.8 points to 73.9%.

Ryanair to open Malta base, angles for Prague expansion

Friday March 5, 2010

Ryanair will open a base at Malta International in May with one 737. It will launch six new routes from the airport, boosting the total number of destinations to 19 and the number of weekly flights to more than 120. It plans to serve 800,000 passengers per year at MLA. New service will be to Billund, Bologna, Krakow, Marseille, Seville and Valencia.

Separately, Ryanair said it has presented Prague Ruzyne with a proposal to base six aircraft and operate 33 routes to "fill any void left by a collapse of CSA [Czech Airlines]." Last month CSA put its entire fleet up as collateral against bank loans required to maintain operations (ATWOnline, Feb. 25). The commitment would require PRG to reduce its "high airport charges to become more competitive with other, lower cost, destinations," Ryanair said.

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