ATW Daily News

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Friday November 20, 2009

US FAA yesterday issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making "to put limits on airlines and other operators hiring FAA safety inspectors and their managers for two years after those employees leave the agency." It said the proposed rule "would prohibit air carriers, flight schools, repair stations and other certificated organizations from employing or contracting with former FAA inspectors and managers to represent them in agency matters if the former employee had any direct oversight of the certificate holder in the preceding two years."

The proposal is in line with a recent decision by FAA to stop referring to airlines it regulates as "customers" and follows more than a year of scrutiny from US lawmakers who accused agency inspectors of being too "cozy" with airlines (ATWOnline, Sept. 18). "We're committed to making sure operators don't hire their former FAA inspectors and create even a perception of inappropriate activities," Administrator Randy Babbitt said. "The 'cooling off' period we're proposing actually exceeds the restrictions applicable to most businesses that hire former federal employees." Public comments on the NPRM will be accepted through Feb. 19.

Air Berlin officials yesterday touted their strong third-quarter results, first reported Wednesday (ATWOnline, Nov. 18), with CFO Ulf Huettmayer telling analysts and reporters that the more than doubling of its net income to €95.2 million ($142.4 million) "distances ourselves from other carriers" struggling through the economic downturn. CEO Joachim Hunold said AB's results "would be better by €10 million. . .if we hadn't been faced with a strike, some terror attacks in Mallorca and swine flu." Huettmayer said the carrier has €450 million in available cash and predicted that full-year earnings before interest and tax will surpass the 2008 figure even with fourth-quarter yields expected to be slightly lower. He added that slightly increased demand will help make up for the dip in yields.

by Kurt Hofmann

SR Technics' contract with Etihad Airways announced earlier this week in Dubai is worth up to $250 million. Under the 10-year Integrated Component Services contract, SRT will handle component exchange, MRO, engineering and logistics services, access to SRT's components pool and component management for Etihad's current Airbus fleet of more than 40 A320s, A330s and A340s as well as future deliveries.

EY's separate agreement with International Aero Engines is potentially worth $200 million. The deal covers comprehensive engine overhaul and repair service for V2500s powering the carrier's existing Airbus single-aisle fleet, a total of 30 engines (including two spares) for 12 A320s and two A319s.

American Eagle yesterday launched service from Miami to Charleston (daily using an ERJ-145, increasing to twice-daily April 6), Knoxville (daily, ERJ-145), Eleuthera (thrice-weekly using an ATR 72) and Treasure Cay (four-times-weekly, ATR 72) and today will begin four-times-weekly MIA-Governor's Harbour service aboard an ATR 72.

JetBlue Airways launched daily San Francisco-Fort Lauderdale service aboard an A320.

Finnair will operate five-times-weekly Helsinki-Toronto service June 6-Sept. 9.

Midwest Airlines will launch daily Milwaukee-San Francisco service from April 19 aboard an A319 and twice-daily MKE-Raleigh Durham flights April 1 aboard an E-170.

Wizz Air will begin thrice-weekly Budapest-Forli Bologna service March 30.

Turkish Airlines will launch daily Istanbul Ataturk-Bologna service March 1.

Etihad Airways will increase its 10-times-weekly Abu Dhabi-Frankfurt service to 13-times-weekly Dec. 12 and to twice-daily March 28.

GECAS delivered one new 737-700 to Aerolineas Argentinas and one new A320-200 to Tiger Airways as part of sale/leaseback deals.

Avia Solutions Group received one ex-British Airways 737-300; it plans to acquire three more this year.

BOC Aviation delivered one new 737-800 on long-term lease to Skymark Airlines of Japan, its first delivery to a Japanese carrier.

ARINC renewed its contract with Korean Air to continue to provide GLOBALink data and voice communications and AviNet wide-area network service. Terms were not disclosed.

Lufthansa Systems won a five-year contract extension with Germanwings to continue to provide its Lido RouteManual navigation charts and will begin providing its electronic version, Lido eRouteManual.

Travelport announced a new multiyear full-content GDS agreement with JetBlue Airways. Deal includes an upgrade to e-ticketing, interactive sell and interactive seats during the first quarter of 2010.