TRAFFIC SLOWDOWN
According to IATA, international passenger demand growth in August 2008 slowed to 1.3% after a slow growth of 1.9% in July. Passenger load factor was down to 79.2%, much lower than the 81% figure reported a year ago. International freight traffic had a 2.7% decline.
AVIATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EU AND INDIA
The European Union and India have signed a significant civil aviation agreement making legal 26 separate deals of India with EU states. It is expected that this agreement will make it easier for airlines to operate between India and the EU countries.
FEWER PASSENGERS FOR BA
According to the latest figures announced by British Airways, the airline carried 5.6% fewer passengers in September 2008 compared to the same month a year ago. Its aircraft were 74% full while in September 2007, they were 78.3% full. Finally, first and business class passenger numbers fell 8.6% and in economy class, the passengers were 4.1% fewer compared to the same period a year ago.
LESS TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY FOR AA
American Airlines announced that in September 2008, its mainline traffic was 9.1% less than a year ago while capacity decreased 7%.
UNITED TO CANCEL AIRBUS ORDER
United Airlines announced that it will forfeit a US$91 million deposit to Airbus for 23 A319s and 19 A320s. There is increased speculation that the order will be cancelled.
SLOW GROWTH FOR SOUTHWEST FLEET
Southwest Airlines announced that its 2009 fleet will grow by up to 10 Boeing 737-700s and orders for 4 aircraft have already been deferred for delivery from 2009 to 2016.
MORE AIRCRAFT FOR PINNACLE
Pinnacle Airlines will lease seven additional CRJ900s from Delta until its five new aircraft are delivered. Pinnacle’s total fleet will be 18 aircraft.
ASIANA ORDERS AIRBUS
Asiana Airlines is the third customer of Airbus for the A350-1000. The other airlines that have ordered this new 350-seat aircraft are Emirates Airline and Qatar Airways. This is the largest version of the A350-XWB.
V AUSTRALIA LAUNCH DELAYED
V Australia of Virgin Blue Airlines Group announced that the December 15, 2008 launch of its long haul schedule had to be delayed because of the Boeing strike. The three 777-300ERs of the new airline are at the Boeing plant but their delivery will now be postponed.
NEW CARGO CARRIER IN GREECE
Airgo Airlines has launched operations from Athens International Airport with a BAE ATP freighter sub-leased from West Air Sweden.
THOMAS COOK IN MERGER DISCUSSIONS
Thomas Cook is currently in discussions with Lufthansa and TUI Travel over the possible merger of subsidiary airlines Condor, Germanwings and TUIfly.
SAS TO SELL AIRBALTIC STAKE
SAS Scandinavian Airlines is considering selling its 47.2% stake in the Latvian airBaltic. The reason is the Latvian government’s decision to continue to own 52.6% of the airline which makes it difficult for SAS to achieve full privatisation. airBaltic currently offers flights to 47 destinations and on October 24, it will operate a new service to Dubai with its new Boeing 757-200s.
JAT AIRWAYS TO BE PRIVATISED
JAT Airways will be privatised by the Serbian government which is willing to sell up to 70% shareholding of the company to a foreign investor. Aeroflot is one of the potential bidders.
APIK AIR ORDERS AIRBUS
Nigeria’s Apik Air, ordered three A340-500s to be delivered by the end of November 2008 for its new routes to London, New York and Houston.
DREAMLINER DELAYS
ILFC has confirmed that deliveries of its B787 Dreamliners will be delayed by up to two and a half years.
BAHRAIN TO BECOME MAJOR MAINTENANCE HUB
Gulf Air and Edamah signed an agreement to build a new hangar at Bahrain International Airport. The new facility will be able to accommodate three wide-body aircraft.
SMALL AIRSTRIPS IN INDIA
ETA Star Ascon, the UAE based company that set up Star Aviation in India to charter out business jets, is planning to construct small airstrips in India in order to meet the increasing demand for such facilities in remote towns.
BUSINESS JET PRODUCTION FORECAST
According to a report published by Forecast International, annual business jet production will be around 1,400 aircraft by the end of 2008 and in 2009, more than 1,600 units will be produced. Growth is expected to slow down for three years but in 2013 it will recover. 15,936 business jets worth US$223 billion including 5,600 Very Light Jets are expected to be produced by the end of this year.
EMBRAER EXECUTIVE JET CENTRES IN THE US
Embraer will open a third facility for executive jets in the US. This Executive Jet Service Centre will be based in Fort Lauderdale and the manufacturer’s investment is worth more than US$100 million. Two more centres are already operational in Windsor Locks, CT and Mesa, AZ.
ECLIPSE AVIATION EXPANDS TO CANADA
Eclipse Aviation announced that the first Designated Service Centre for the Eclipse 500 in Canada will be Harbour Air which will provide MRO support. Harbour Air’s facility is located at the Vancouver International Airport. ETIRC Aviation oversees two similar centres in Europe, JetSupport in Amsterdam and Aerlyper in Madrid.
HONDA SELECTS KORRY
Honda Aircraft has selected Korry to supply cockpit control panels for the new HondaJet.
Forthcoming Events
Very Light Jets – Latin America & The Caribbean
10-11 November 2008
Miami, USA
www.miuevents.com/vlj-lac-08
Indian Business Aviation Expo (IBAE)
1-2 December 2008
Mumbai, India
www.miuevents.com/ibae2008 |
