AirlinesQantas could face a USD 5,4m fine

Sydney, Australia - If found guilty to hamper Virgin Blue operations

Qantas, Australian largest air carrier, could risk to pay a USD 5,4m fine if the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will ratify its accusation according to which Qantas would be acting to interfere... more

AirlinesAeroflot-Lufthansa: sky-wars

Moscow, Russia - German carrier denies Russian airline to fly over Munchen at evening

Tension raises between Aeroflot and Lufthansa as the German flag carrier decided to deny its Russian rival aircraft to fly over Munchen skies at evening hours. Lufthansa acted in retaliation of the previous... more

AirlinesLuton airport targeting trans-Atlantic traffic

London, Uk - An approach to Continental

Luton Airport has approached Continental Airlines Holdings with a proposal for the American carrier to begin regular flights between Luton and New York, in a plan which would mean the first scheduled transatlantic... more

AirlinesTap to increase flight to Africa and Brazil

Lisbon, Portugal

TAP Air Portugal is to increase its flights to various destinations in Africa and Brazil as part of its policy to meet customer requirements. From the end of March, the company will be flying four weekly... more

AirlinesEasyJet-Go merger

London, Uk - The agreement perhaps tonight

British low-cost airline easyJet could be able as a soon as tonight to sign the agreement for the acquisition of the Stansted-based no-frills carrier Go. If easyJet will succeed in its intent, it will... more

AirlinesTap (2): airline denies an accusation published on "Publico" newspaper

Lisbon, Portugal

Due the text published in the "Público" morning edition, which seriously attempts against TAP Air Portugal's image, professionalism and honorability, this Company informs: "TAP Air Portugal follows,... more

AirlinesSAS started to test its new passenger identification system

Stockholm, Sweden - Through a fingerprints scanning system

Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) is ready to test its new fingerprints-based passengers identification system. Thanks to a detector equipped-with memory card containing passenger fingerprints, the new... more

AirlinesHarsh news for United Airlines

Washington, Usa - It will have to pay USD 8,89m to its flight assistants

It seems quite sure that troubles for United Airlines won't end in the short time as far as now, a part from the huge losses it has to face, the Us air carrier will have to pay a USD 8,89m fine after deemed... more

AirlinesBA April passenger traffic falls

London, Uk - 10.8% fall from one year earlier

British Airways said on Friday its April passenger traffic fell 10.8% from the same month a year earlier, but its strategy of reducing capacity has resulted in a rise in the average number of seats being... more

AirlinesRichard Branson to attack Us low-cost market

London, Uk - And thus to challenge South West Airlines

Virgin Atlantic, Richard Branson owned-by British airline, will likely enter Us market with a new low-fare air carrier and thus to move competition against South West Airlines, American largest low-cost... more

AirlinesEasyJet to buy Go Fly

London, Uk - "Negotiations are at an advanced stage"

Luton-based low-cost air carrier EasyJet should be ready for the acquisition of Go Fly. "EasyJet confirms that the negotiations are at an advanced stage and also confirms its intention only to conclude... more

AirlinesTrent 900s engines to power Lufthansa A-380s

Frankfurt, Germany - The announcement probably this week at Berlin Ila

Lufthansa 15 new Airbus A-380s, which have been ordered by the German air carrier last December, will be powered by Trent 900s engines produced by the British aeronautical manufacturer Rolls-Royce. The... more

AirlinesEasyJet to develop between Paris and London

Paris, France - The low-cost air carrier to increase its links

The low-cost air carrier, EasyJet, is intending to develop its activities mainly between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and London-Gatwick. Last week it landed at Paris-Charles de Gaulle ( from Liverpool) for... more

AirlinesAmerican Airlines still in crisis

Washington, Usa - Carrier air traffic decreased of 15,9% in April

Despite a general recovery seems to affect the international air sector, American Airlines is far to get out of the mire. In April, in fact, the Us airline registered a 15,9% decrease in its traffic in... more

AirlinesSydney airport get closer to its privatization

Sydney, Australia - Thanks to the acquistion of the ex Ansett terminal

Sydney handling agent after yesterday acquisition of Ansett ex terminal is now closer to realize its privatization plan. Ansett administrators decide to sell their Sydney terminal, bankrupted airline... more

AirlinesAmerican Airlines celebrates its AAdvantage programme 21st anniversary

Washington, Usa - It has been launched in 1981

Us air carrier American Airlines is going to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the launch of its "air miles" program AAdvantage, set up in fact in 1981. Nowadays flyers have earned as many miles as they... more

AirlinesA new Spanish air carrier is born, Hola Airlines

Madrid, Spain - It will start operating as from May 4th

Hola Airlines is the name of the new Spanish air carrier born from the ashes of Air Europa Express which is going to start its operations next May 4th. Air Europa Express, regional division of Air Europa... more

AirlinesWestJet to increase its summer links

Calgary, Canada - To face demand raise

Canadian air carrier WestJet, in order to be able to face next summer foreseeable demand increase, decide to augment its flights. The routes interested by the summer raise include Victoria, Comox, Kelowna,... more

AirlinesAir Canada ready to expand operations of its two low cost carriers

Toronto, Canada

Canadian carrier Air Canada is ready to expand its two discount airline operations in the domestic market as part of its attempt to return to profitability in this year. The airline launched Zip in mid-April... more

AirlinesRoyal Brunei Airlines: Pengiran Ali Ahmad to resign

Brunei, Indonesia - Executive director and CEO at the rich sultanate flag air carrier

Pengiran Ali Ahmed, executive director and CEO at Royal Brunei Airlines, resigned even though will keep its place until a substitute will be found. According to Pehyn Yahya, Royal Brunei Airlines president... more

AirlinesVirgin Atlantic to raise its capital

London, Uk - With USD 36m

Virgin Atlantic shareholders are planning to raise carrier capital with a USD 36m injection financed in part by Singapore Airlines (owner of a 49% stake of British airline) and in part by Virgin Investments... more

AirlinesQantas new low-cost subsidiary ready for bookings

Canberra, Australia - Starting from next May 8th

Qantas, Australian flag airline, is ready to launch its new low-cost division. Bookings for the first flights, which initially are going to serve exclusively East Asian countries, will start next May... more

AirlinesAir New Zealand (ANZ): foresees to improve its financial situation

Auckland, New Zealand - Breakeven get closer

Pushed by the international air sector recovery, Air New Zealand appears to be on the right way to get out of its financial crisis. For ANZ, the airline witnessed a "significant" improvement both in... more

AirlinesAmerican Airlines will be sued by New York's accident victims families

U.S. carrier American Airlines is to be sued by the families of 15 Dominican passengers who were killed when one of the carrier's Airbus A300-600 planes crashed shortly after take-off last November. They... more

AirlinesWestJet to order two more Boeing 737-700

Washington, Usa - An operation worth USD 100m

The Canadian airline WestJet ordered two more Boeing 737-700, in an operation worth USD 100m. Thanks to these aircraft, whose delivery is scheduled from April 2003 to July 2003, next year the Calgary-based... more

AirlinesAir Canada defines first quarter losses as "encouraging".

Montreal, Canada

Canadian carrier Air Canada posted an operating loss of USD$102.3 million but the carrier welcomed the quarterly results, describing them as "encouraging". The figures represented a USD88 million improvement... more

AirlinesFully booked first AfricaOne flight

Kampala, Uganda - First intercontinental flight to take off

All 267 seats of AfricaOne Dc 10 have been booked in. The first AfricaOne flight will depart from Lagos, Nigeria, next May 5th. It will make a stop over at Entebbe, Uganda, and will finally land at Dubai,... more

AirlinesDelta recovers codeshare with Korean Air

USA

After the positive definition of a series of concerns over Korean Air Lines safety record, both Delta Air Lines and Air France, Skyteam members, dropped code-sharing arrangements after a series of crashes. the... more

AirlinesCrossair great exit

Zurich, Switzerland - Before it became "Swiss"

Crossair, the largest regional carrier in Europe, registered smashing results before assuming the brand "Swiss". In last quarter of 2001 in fact, Crossair registered an amazing +66,6% in the number of... more

AirlinesJetBlue to order two new Airbus A-320s

Washington, Usa - Delivery between December 2002 and May 2003

Us carrier JetBlue ordered two new Airbus A-320s by converting two of its options. Delivery of the IAE 2500 powered-by aircraft will start next December 2002 and will be completed in May 2003. "JetBlue... more

AirlinesEmirates wants more and bigger aircraft

Dubai, Dubai - As A-380s and B-777-300s

Maurice Flanagan, Emirates managing director, confirmed Dubai air carrier to be interested to enlarge its fleet. Emirates, recently awarded as "best airline of the year 2001", would likely purchase new... more

AirlinesA new pan-African airline is born, AfricaOne

Uganda, Africa - The first totally-private air carrier in Africa

AfricaOne is the name of the new pan-African airline. AfricaOne, the Uganda-based air carrier, is the first African airline to be completely privately-owned. At the very start, on board of its DC-9s... more

AirlinesA large Air France pilot strike canceled

Paris, France - It was announced yesterday by Union

A four day strike, who was announced yesterday by the Air France pilots union, has been canceled. Unions said that the strike was programmed answering to refuse of the management to examinate their requests.... more

AirlinesBritish Midland operates a "teledoctor" system

London, Great Britain

The UK's bmi British Midland airline announced it has installed a instant medical diagnostic equipment on its long haul flights. The device , installed on the first time in the world on airliners, provides... more

AirlinesSmashing 2001-2002 for Emirates

Dubai - Net profits for USD 164m

Emirates, the air carrier that, as recently reported by AVIONEWS, has been awarded airline of the year 2001, announced today to have registered USD 164m net profits in the business year 2001-2002, +13,5%... more

AirlinesVirabongsa steps down from Thai Airways presidency

Bangkok, Thailand - To avoid pilot's strike

Virabongsa Ramangkula quit the chair of Thai Airways International to avoid the risk of a pilot's strike. THai pilots requested Mr Virabongsa -former Minister of finance- to step down for having appointing... more

AirlinesIberia to cancel its flights to and from Cancun and Mexico City

Madrid, Spain - From May 1st to May 3rd because of its employees strike in Mexico

Because of the strike of its employees in Mexico, the Spanish air carrier Iberia is going to cancel its Cancun and Mexico City flights from May 1st to May 3rd. According to Iberia, "negotiations for a... more

AirlinesNorthwest Airlines reached a tentative agreement with its pilots

Washington, Usa - To extend present collective bargaining for another year

During last week-end, the Us air carrier Northwest Airlines reached a tentative agreement with its pilots to extend of another year the current collective bargaining. The deal which is going to protract... more

AirlinesA good start for China Eastern Airlines

Beijing, China - Profits for USD 8,8m in the first quarter of 2002

China Eastern Airlines posted USD 8,8m profits in the first three months of 2002, thus strongly improving in comparison with results registered in the same period of last year, when it recorded a USD... more

AirlinesEight Virgin subsidiaries to be listing

London, Uk - The group's founder also announces his retirement

The Virgin group's founder, Richard Branson, forecasts at least 8 subsidiaries to be listing in the next 5 years and announces his consequent decision to quit. "I will quit all companies's chair after... more

AirlinesVirgin Atlantic to surf the waves of recovery

London, Uk - The carrier ready to employ 300 workers

Virgin Atlantic, Richard Branson owned-by airline, as a confirmation of the recovery signals affecting the international air sector, announced its intention to employ 300 new workers in the incoming 12... more

AirlinesNew link Palermo-Naples-Brussels for Volare Airlines

Palermo, Italy - Starting from May 1

The Italian air carrier, Volare Airlines, will provide a new daily flight Palermo-Naples-Brussels with an Airbus 320, starting May 1. Takeoff at 6.55 am from Palermo, Italy, stop over at Naples at 7.55... more

AirlinesAir Afrique into liquidation

Paris, France - Air France's rescue efforts met cool response

Air Afrique, the multi-national flag carrier for 30 African countries, has gone into liquidation. It was declared bankrupt in February this year with debts of USD 458m. Rescue efforts by Air France met... more

AirlinesMore Rome-Moscow Alitalia flights

Moscow, Russia - Italian junior minister's claims to Moscow

Italian transport junior minister, Mario Tassone claimed more Alitalia flights from Rome to Moscow to his Russian counterpart. "We claimed three more flights to replace Delta's ones. Furthermore Aeroflot... more

AirlinesAir France pilots on strike

Paris, France - From Thursday to Sunday included

Three of the main Air France pilots unions announced that the strike they originally planned for Thursday 2nd, Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th of May, will include Sunday 5th as well. The strike is about... more

AirlinesUnited in difficulties after flight assistant refuse to collaborate

USA

The requests of the U.S. carrier United Airlines to its employees to make concessions to help a recover of the situation of the loss-making carrier back to financial health have been rejected by the... more

AirlinesJapan antitrust authority gave its ok to JAS-JAL merger

Tokyo, Japan - It's now time to shareholders to approve

Merger project between the two Japan air carriers Japan Air System (JAS) and Japan Airlines (JAL) has been approved by the Japanese antitrust authority. It's now time for the shareholders to decide whether... more

AirlinesCathay Pacific to enlarge its fleet

Hong-Kong - With 3 Airbus A330-300s and 3 Boeing 777-300

Cathay Pacific, the Hong-Kong-based air carrier, announced today its decsion to enlarge its fleet by the acquistion of six new planes, three A330-300s and three B777-300s, whose deliveries will start from... more

AirlinesBritish Airways opens its new headquarters in the Us

London, Uk - In New York

The London-based air carrier British Airways inaugurated its new Us headquarters at the Bulova Corporate Center in Jackson Heights, State of New York. The renovated structure, which costed British Airways... more

AirlinesBritish Midlands: a gloomy 2001

London, Uk - No recovery until 2003

Within 2001, British Midlands registered an operating loss for GBP 12m, anyway posting pre taxation profits for GBP 12,4m (+51,2% in comparison with 2000). Bad news come also from air traffic, a sector... more