ATW Daily News

Notice to Readers

Friday July 4, 2008

In observance of the Independence Day holiday in the US, the next edition of Daily News will appear on Tuesday, July 8. [ more ]

BA, AA, Iberia reportedly pursuing antitrust immunity

Friday July 4, 2008

American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia are close to applying for antitrust immunity to form a transatlantic revenue- and profit-sharing joint venture, the Financial Times reported yesterday, citing executives at the carriers. [ more ]

AMR tells employees 8% of workforce will be cut by year end

Friday July 4, 2008

American Airlines parent AMR Corp. told its employees this week that more than 6,700 of them will be cut by year end, representing about 8% of the company's total workforce. [ more ]

Continental employees, former Concorde officials to stand trial in Paris crash

Friday July 4, 2008

Eight years to the month after the crash of an Air France Concorde began the countdown to the end of the age of supersonic air travel, a French judge ruled that five individuals as well as Continental Airlines should stand trial for manslaughter in the disaster. [ more ]

Today's Other Headlines

Friday July 4, 2008

BA consolidates premium transatlantic market with acquisition of L'Avion

Thursday July 3, 2008

British Airways reached an agreement to acquire French all-business-class operator L'Avion for £54 million ($107.7 million) and will integrate the company into its new premium transatlantic subsidiary OpenSkies. [ more ]

American to take $1.1-$1.2 billion impairment charge, furlough 900 flight attendants

Thursday July 3, 2008

American Airlines parent AMR Corp. informed the US Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday that it will record a noncash impairment charge of $1.1-$1.2 billion in the second quarter related to the capacity reductions announced in May (ATWOnline, May 22). [ more ]

China Southern set to inaugurate cross-strait operations Friday

Thursday July 3, 2008

Guangzhou-based China Southern Airlines is expected to be the first Chinese mainland carrier to operate a charter flight across the Taiwan Strait Friday, with Taiwan's China Airlines following suit later that day from Taipei to Shanghai. [ more ]

DOT IG alleges lax FAA oversight let Southwest violate ADs repeatedly

Thursday July 3, 2008

US FAA was guilty of "serious lapses" in its regulatory oversight of Southwest Airlines, allowing airworthiness directive "noncompliance issues within WN's maintenance program to go undetected for years," leading to repeated violations, the US Dept. of Transportation Inspector General alleged in a scathing report released yesterday. [ more ]

Today's Other Headlines

Thursday July 3, 2008

Alenia completes 787 horizontal stabilizer destructive testing

Wednesday July 2, 2008

Alenia Aeronautica said yesterday that it successfully completed destructive testing on the 787's horizontal stabilizer in Naples with Boeing engineers and US FAA and EASA representatives on hand. [ more ]

Alitalia waits for recommendations as 'last chance' nears

Wednesday July 2, 2008

Alitalia is facing its "last chance" for survival and needs a "complete break" from its past, Chairman Aristide Police told shareholders at the ailing flag carrier's annual meeting last week. [ more ]

Qantas overhauls loyalty program

Wednesday July 2, 2008

Qantas Group unveiled an overhauled Qantas Frequent Flyer program, offering its more than 5 million members the option of using points to book any seat on any Qantas or Jetstar Airways flight. [ more ]

Lufthansa, Swiss remain keen on Americas

Wednesday July 2, 2008

Lufthansa, including its Swiss International Air Lines subsidiary, has become continental Europe's biggest North Atlantic carrier despite its reluctance to take quick advantage of open skies, flying 22 nonstop routes between Germany/Switzerland and North America. [ more ]

Today's Other Headlines

Wednesday July 2, 2008

US, Europe sign aviation safety agreement

Tuesday July 1, 2008

US FAA Acting Administrator Bobby Sturgell and European Commission VP-Transport Antonio Tajani yesterday signed a safety agreement that "broadens and deepens the regulatory collaboration between the FAA and its European counterparts in EASA and national authorities," FAA said in a statement. [ more ]

Mesa negotiates hurdles, returns to profit

Tuesday July 1, 2008

A fiscal second quarter during which it faced a legal challenge from Hawaiian Airlines, moved forward on the closure of its Air Midwest operation and received notification that Delta Air Lines would terminate its capacity purchase agreement still ended positively for Mesa Air Group, which reported a $9.4 million profit compared to a $24 million loss suffered in the three months ended March 31, 2007. [ more ]

GE names insider to lead engine business

Tuesday July 1, 2008

General Electric appointed David Joyce, 51, as president and CEO of GE Aviation yesterday succeeding Scott Donnelly, who was named COO of Textron. [ more ]

Airbus names Kuehne+Nagel, DHL as 'lead' logistics, transport providers

Tuesday July 1, 2008

Airbus yesterday said it has selected Kuehne+Nagel as its "lead logistics provider" and DHL as its "lead transport provider." [ more ]

Today's Other Headlines

Tuesday July 1, 2008

European Parliament reaches ETS agreement, includes non-EU airlines from 2012

Monday June 30, 2008

The European Parliament announced Friday that its members reached a compromise agreement with the Council Presidency on the inclusion of aviation, including airlines from outside the EU, in the body's emissions trading system beginning in 2012. [ more ]

MAS prepares to face 'frightening' future

Monday June 30, 2008

Malaysia Airlines is prepared to "take the lead" in increasing fuel surcharges and perhaps raising fares by as much as 50% in order to negotiate a "frightening" economic environment, MD and CEO Idris Jala wrote in an open letter last week. [ more ]

KE/Sinotrans cargo JV named Grandstar, launches to Frankfurt

Monday June 30, 2008

Grandstar Cargo International Airlines, the Korean Air/Sinotrans joint venture airfreight carrier based in Tianjin, operated its inaugural flight Friday to Frankfurt using a 747-400 freighter. [ more ]

East Star faces 'financial crisis,' loses route authority

Monday June 30, 2008

Struggling Wuhan-based East Star Airlines, which claimed it is in "financial crisis," last week was dealt a further blow by CAAC, which decided to suspend its right to fly to Guangzhou and Shenzhen from July 7. [ more ]

Today's Other Headlines

Monday June 30, 2008