Airline News

FedEx Express said it plans to begin operating regular flights using its own aircraft into Central Japan International Airport outside Nagoya when the facility opens in Feb. This will be the third Japanese airport the company serves following Narita and Kansai. Jul 1, 2004

Finnair and Aeroflot will begin codesharing on each other's daily flights between Helsinki and Moscow at the beginning of this month under a new agreement. Jul 1, 2004

As part of its strategy to acquire "the best possible fleet for its feeder traffic," Finnair signed an agreement with Embraer for 12 170s to replace its MD-80s and ATR 72s that are being retired. The airline took options on eight additional aircraft, which may be converted to Embraer 175s or 190s. The 170s will be configured with 76 seats in a one-class layout and deliveries will begin in Sept. 2005 and continue through May 2007. The value of the firm order at list prices totals $306 million and the contract has a potential value of $510 million if all options are converted. "We have renewed half our fleet in five years," Finnair President and CEO Keijo Suila said. "Our operational environment is changing and the most successful will be the one who reacts quickly to the new situation and is among the first to take advantage of it." Finnair currently operates a fleet of 61 aircraft comprising seven ATR 72s, 10 A319-110s, 12 A320-210s, five A321-210s, one DC-9-51, six MD- 11s, 13 MD-82s/83s and seven 757-200s. "Shifting to a single aircraft type will bring significant savings in operating costs," Suila said. "At the same time, fuel consumption will be cut by a third and air traffic charges will decrease." Jul 1, 2004

Finnair in cooperation with Lithuanian Airlines is increasing frequencies between Helsinki and Vilnius from two to three daily flights. Service will start Aug. 1 2004, operated with LAL Saab 2000s. Jul 30, 2004

Frontier Airlines will launch twice-daily service between Denver and Little Rock Oct. 10. The flights will be operated by Horizon Air as Frontier JetExpress with CRJ700s. Delta Connection carriers Atlantic Southeast Airlines and Comair will realign flights at Huntington, W. Va. Effective Sept. 15, Comair will offer four daily nonstops between Huntington and Cincinnati using 50-seat CRJs, while ASA will discontinue its three daily flights to Atlanta. Jul 2, 2004

Frontier Airlines accepted two new 132-seat A319s last week on lease from GE Capital Aviation Services. With the deliveries, the airline's fleet now consists of nine 737-300s, 31 A319s and six A318s. Jul 5, 2004

Global ePoint said its AirWorks division received initial orders from American Airlines to install laptop power systems in 103 additional MD- 80s. The initial orders are valued at $361,000 with follow-on buys anticipated. AirWorks previously provided laptop power systems to American in 1998. Jul 2, 2004

Brazilian LCC Gol will acquire three 737-300s and launch regular service to Buenos Aires after receiving official authorization from Brazil's Dept. of Civil Aviation, Reuters reported. Following the acquisitions, the airline's fleet will total 25 aircraft. Gol did not specify when it will begin service to Buenos Aires but market analysts expect it to start in Oct., the report said. Jul 7, 2004