ATW Daily News

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Friday October 30, 2009

European Commission adopted a proposal establishing new rules that aim to improve accident investigation coordination, asserting that the current 15-year-old system "functions below optimum efficiency." The new regulation also strengthens victims' rights and increases access to information and the right to assistance.

The EC opted not to establish a European Civil Aviation Safety Board, the option preferred by the industry (especially OEMs) but one that was "controversial" among member states that insisted on maintaining their oversight over accident investigation. Instead, it opted for a so-called European Network of Civil Aviation Safety Investigation based on the existing voluntary cooperation among the national authorities comprising the Council of European Aviation Safety Investigation Authorities. The Network is charged with strengthening cooperation among member states, the EC and EASA and implementing initiatives such as coordination of training activities and sharing of investigation resources. To address the drawbacks inherent in the Network's voluntary framework, the EC's proposal contains legal obligations on some principles, including the protection of sensitive safety information, mutual rights and obligations of national authorities and EASA and implementation of safety recommendations.

Airbus yesterday said it is "quite optimistic" that the A330-200 freighter is on track for first flight next month, US FAA/EASA certification next spring and EIS in the 2010 summer. "We've done a lot of testing in the laboratory. . .so we are very ready to have a clean flight test program," A330-200F Project Manager Jens Knaack said during a conference call. The -200F is targeted to carry "at least" 64.5 tonnes over 4,000 nm. (7,400 km.) or 69.5 tonnes up to 3,200 nm. (5,930 km.). Knaack described it as a "general freight, high-utilization" aircraft. Airbus said that Etihad Crystal Cargo will be one of the first two customers taking deliveries in July/August 2010; it did not identify the other customer. In January 2007 it had announced India's Flyington Freighters and US lessor Intrepid Leasing as the A330-200F launch customers (ATWOnline, Jan. 17, 2007). It said it has agreed to reschedule Flyington's delivieries and declined to comment on Intrepid. Most recent order was placed last month by MNG Airlines (ATWOnline, Sept. 28). Airbus said it has firm orders for 67 from nine customers.

Hungarian government is preparing to provide financing or purchase a stake in Malev Hungarian Airlines, the Finance Ministry said yesterday. Minister Peter Oszko met in Moscow with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov, according to press reports, after which the Hungarian Finance Ministry said, "Hungary indicated that in order to ensure continued operation of the company it is ready to take an ownership or financing role in the national airline." Russia's Vneshekonombank holds 49% of Malev owner AirBridge. "The Russian government welcomed this position on the Hungarian side. The parties will hold further consultations," Hungary said. Malev said it posted a 13% year-over-year growth in September passenger traffic and an 80% load factor.

Pakistan International Airlines lost PKR5.38 billion ($64.5 million) in the third quarter, narrowed from a PKR20.4 billion loss in the year-ago period, according to a stock exchange filing cited by Bloomberg News. Revenue dropped 3.5% to PKR22 billion. PIA said the rupee's improved standing against the US dollar buffeted its bottom line. Nine-month loss of PKR10.8 billion compared to a deficit of PKR38.4 billion last year.

Transaero Airlines said it raised RUB3 billion ($102.5 million) through the issue of a corporate bond.

AirAsia is deferring delivery of an additional eight A320s, lifting the number of delayed aircraft to 24. According to a regulatory filing cited by Malaysia's Bernama news agency, the LCC will push eight more 2011 deliveries back to 2014-15. It now plans to take 15 aircraft in 2011, 24 in 2014 and two in 2015 (ATWOnline, Oct. 6).

China Southern Airlines intends to expand its international network as it faces potentially damaging competition from the expansion of high-speed rail within China. "Most of China's big cities and secondary cities will be connected by high-speed rail by 2020, which will have a big impact on domestic carriers," CZ Chairman Si Xianmin was quoted as saying. The Guangzhou-based airline is expected to be hit hardest by the rail expansion, as domestic routes account for 80% of its total. "Cost control and service level will be the two key factors deciding whether we can win out over high-speed rail in the domestic market or not," Si said. CZ reported a CNY284 million ($41.5 million) third-quarter profit, but Si remains pessimistic about the industry's future. "I think the road ahead will be quite bumpy as the economic prospect is still bleak," he told reporters. "So we have to make an in-depth study of the global economic situation and the external operating environment so that we can be fully prepared for it."

Air Mauritius this week took delivery of a second A330-200 powered by GE CF6-80E engines. It seats 24 in business class and 251 in economy. The airline now operates the two -200s as well as four A340-300s, two A340-300Es, two A319-100s and two ATR 72-500s.

Ryanair will launch service from Bordeaux to Brussels South Charleroi (thrice-weekly on Dec. 17) and plans to serve Edinburgh, Bologna (each four-times-weekly) and Porto (thrice-weekly) beginning next March.

JetBlue Airways announced a 30% increase in Boston service by next summer, when it will offer 78 daily flights to 33 destinations. Yesterday it announced additional service to Chicago O'Hare, Raleigh/Durham, Baltimore, Charlotte, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, San Diego, San Francisco, Washington Dulles and Santo Domingo, plus a new weekly service to Montego Bay, with "more to come."

Ryanair transported 6.1 million passengers in September, up 17% from the year-ago month. Load factor rose 1 point to 85%.

EasyJet transported 4.4 million passengers in September, up 5.3% year-over-year, while load factor rose 1.2 points to 88.1%.

Finnair flew 1.6 billion RPKs in September, down 13.7% year-over-year, against a 12.2% cut in capacity to 2.09 billion ASKs. Load factor slipped 1.3 points to 76.6%.

Norwegian's September yield fell 4% year-over-year to NOK0.68 (11.97 cents) while RASK was down 5% to NOK0.53. It flew 927 million RPKs, up 17%, against an 18% rise in capacity to 1.2 billion ASKs. Load factor fell 1 point to 77%.

Aer Lingus flew 1.44 billion RPKs in September, down 4.5% year-over-year. Capacity was down 7.6% to 1.85 billion ASKs and load factor rose 2.5 points to 77.5%.

Qantas named Air New Zealand GM-Technical Operations Chris Nassenstein as its new executive manager-Qantas Engineering, effective next February.