- Air NZ starts direct Shanghai flights[Apr. 05, 2006]
Air New Zealand is launching a new three-times-a-week direct service to Shanghai later this year.
- AUS: Crashed pilot 'didn't stand a chance'[Apr. 05, 2006]
A light plane pilot killed during a takeoff exercise stood no chance of surviving the high-speed crash, a witness said.
- Cathay keeps mainland ambitions in check[Apr. 05, 2006]
Cathay Pacific Airways COO Tony Tyler said the Hong Kong airline will focus its mainland China activities on just three cities, Beijing and Xiamen (currently served), and Shanghai with three daily flights starting as early as this year.
- Southwest reveals WD intentions[Apr. 05, 2006]
With Independence Air out of the picture and JetBlue Airways' armor revealing a few chinks, Southwest Airlines has decided to increase its presence in the Washington area by requesting two gates at Washington Dulles for unidentified service scheduled to begin this fall.Southwest has been a fixture at nearby Baltimore/Washington International, from which it operates 165 daily flights, for more than a decade. "The sheer size and scope of the Washington, DC, metro area makes [Dulles] an exceptional market opportunity," CEO Gary Kelly said. "The population and business growth in Northern Virginia means a great opportunity is rapidly getting even better."
- Higher yields drive surging profits[Apr. 05, 2006]
Bmi Group reported a pre-tax profit of ?10 million ($17.3 million) in 2005, nearly four times greater than the ?2.6 million earned in 2004.
- Air China codeshares with Virgin Atlantic[Apr. 04, 2006]
International air travelers are expected to benefit from greater choice and competition after China's largest civil airline, Air China, agreed to share codes with British Virgin Atlantic Airways.
- Sabre rolls out hotel merchandising plan[Apr. 04, 2006]
News from Travel Technology Update: Sabre Travel Network is rolling out Upsell, a program that displays amenities and upgrades that are available at a hotel that is about to be booked.The program is part of its drive to move more into a merchandising mode, rather than simply processing transactions.
- American Airlines starts China service[Apr. 04, 2006]
Trying to stay afloat in an industry battered by soaring fuel costs and low-fare competition, American Airlines is exploring more profitable international routes where competition is less intense and launching cost-cutting programmes.
- Embraer 170/190 takes company to heights[Apr. 04, 2006]
Embraer reported a record year with sales topping $3.8 billion, an 11.3% increase over 2004, and net income of $446 million, a 17.2% rise.The Brazilian manufacturer's firm-order backlog was valued at $10.4 billion as of Dec. 31. Additionally, the company strengthened its financial position, with net cash of $360 million compared to $22 million on hand last year. It delivered 118 aircraft in 2005 and has a firm-order backlog of 322 170/190 aircraft. Included among 2005 deliveries were the first 190 that went to JetBlue and the first 175, delivered to Air Canada. It received a total of 94 orders for 170s/190s last year.
- Cathay Pacific window shops new freighters[Apr. 04, 2006]
Cathay Pacific Airways, which generates about 30% of its revenue from cargo activities, is evaluating its future freighter fleet and is studying the 747-8F, 777F and A380 freighter."We are looking at them but we may not make a decision this year, because we are very well served with our strategy not to order [new] aircraft too early," COO Tony Tyler told ATWOnline in Hong Kong. He joked that the airline might make an exception "if Boeing gives us a killer offer."