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Airline News February 2005
Airguide Online, Feb 28, 2005
The expected statement by defence secretary Geoff Hoon finally confirming that Air Tanker Ltd, a consortium of EADS, Cobham, Rolls- Royce, Thales and the VT Group, has won the contract to supply the future strategic tanker aircraft for the RAF. Airbus A330s would replace the current ageing fleet of VC10 and TriStar aircraft The 27 year life private finance initiative involves operating the 'planes in a civil role when not required by the military. An airline partner is required, with Virgin Atlantic thought to be the lead possibility although boss man Sir Richard Branson has a well-known aversion to twin-engine aircraft. It does seem to be a case if it is good enough for the RAF it's good enough for me. Australia is to get the A330 too. The British Ministry of Defence declined to confirm the announcement date. http://www.airtanker.co.uk
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Feb 27, 2005
Aircraft manufacturers, that is general aviation producers (all non- military aircraft except airliners) had a very good year in 2004 producing just under 3,000 aircraft with a total value of $11.9bn nearly 20% up on the previous year and the third highest total of all time. 591 business jets were produced, Raytheon's Hawker 800XP (de Havilland 125 to older readers - see photo) still the top seller with 50 units. Turboprops continued to be purchased with the Beech King Air family still leading on 102 units, Switzerland Pilatus next up with 70 PC 12s and the single engine Cessna Caravan selling a very respectable 64 units. Training and touring aircraft numbers continued to be well down on the halcyon figures of 30 years ago with Cirrus the largest producer at 553 units and Cessna and New Piper showing modest numbers. http://www.gama.aero
Feb 27, 2005
Cargo anoraks will be pleased with this artists impression of an aircraft that will actually become a reality in 2006, even larger than Airbus Beluga A300 based component transporter. Seattle has released details of the 747 LCF (large cargo freighter), a modified 747-400. A pair of these aircraft will be needed to support the multi-national 787 programme, and possibly a third. Two 'planes have been identified for the conversion, which will be carried out in Taiwan. A commercial version at some point? Boeing would not comment. http://www.boeing.com
Feb 27, 2005
Aging DC-9s help Northwest weather higher costs. Northwest Airlines continues to fly aging DC-9s because they are economical and help it endure high fuel prices. The airline owns many of its jets, so its fixed costs are lower than many of its competitors. The average age of Northwest's DC-9s is 34 years, and they account for more than one-third of the company's fleet.
Feb 22, 2005
Kazakhstan, arguably a democracy, but with the same former Soviet management in place since independence in 1991, is attempting to force foreign airlines to move to its new capital of Astana or quit the oil rich country completely. The airlines affected include Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, British Airways (British Mediterranean) and Turkish Airlines who all fly to the commercial centre of Almaty whilst Russia's Transaero operates to both cities. The Kazakh tourist industry is very concerned over the whole matter believing the country will lose out to neighbouring Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan. Astana is a bleak soviet style city with little to interest visitors. Air Astana serves the new capital and is 49% owned by BAE Systems. Kazakhstan is presided over by 65 year old Nursultan Nazarbayev who has ruled the country since Russia departed and has now extended his term of office from five years to seven, running unopposed at the elections. http://www.president.kz
Feb 14, 2005
Cost-cutting is only part of the answer for U.S. airlines. The airlines will have to do more than lower costs to pull themselves out of their financial crises, the Financial Times reports. The airline industry pushed expenses down in the fourth quarter, but the six largest carriers still posted a loss of $4.1 billion, seven times higher than the year- ago loss.
Feb 7, 2005
Airlines need to balance supply, demand, Bethune says. The airline industry will return to financial health when it strikes a balance between supply and demand, according to former Continental Airlines chief executive Gordon Bethune. He discussed the future of the industry on National Public Radio Thursday morning. Bethune is now an industry consultant.
Feb 3, 2005
Air Canada
Air Canada intends on launching summer service from Quebec City to Boston on June 1, becoming the only airline to offer daily nonstop service in the market. It said this will provide a link for Quebec City cruise ships. Its regional airline affiliate, Air Canada Jazz, will operate the flights with Dash 8 aircraft configured with 37 seats in a 2X2 arrangement. It will charge an introductory fare as low as $105 one way, available through agents or its own reservations and Web site.
Feb 23, 2005
Air France, Japan Airlines
Air France and Japan Airlines seem to be getting closer together although the Tokyo-based airline is not, as yet, part of SkyTeam. From 17 February, the daily JAL Boeing 777 Paris - Nagoya service becomes a code-share with AF holding 20 business class seats and 80 in economy. The service will run alongside Air France's existing Tokyo and Osaka operations. Nagoya, about one hour's flight time south of Tokyo, is not served from London with direct flights.
