- BAA eyes China as UK growth slows[Mar. 28, 2006]
Bid target BAA said on Tuesday it was considering investing in airports in China as passenger growth at its UK airports slows this year, but said no more on the takeover proposal from Spain's Grupo Ferrovial.
- Virgin Atlantic woos premium passengers[Mar. 28, 2006]
Virgin Atlantic Airways is investing in premium services for business class passengers to help offset rising fuel costs, the company's chairman, Richard Branson, said on Tuesday.
- Boeing sees first passenger 747-8 order[Mar. 29, 2006]
Boeing expects its first order for the new 747-8 passenger plane shortly, global head of sales for the aircraft maker said on Tuesday.
- Cuba replaces Soviet-era passenger plane[Mar. 29, 2006]
Cuba plans to buy five more Russian passenger jets after receiving two long-haul Ilyushin Il-96s to replace aging Soviet-era aircraft, a Russian diplomat said on Tuesday.
- Etihad expects significant growth[Mar. 29, 2006]
Etihad Airways' owner, the government of the United Arab Emirates, expects a return on its investment by 2009, VP-Commercial Geert Boven told ATWonline.The government invested AED5 billion ($1.36 billion) to have its own national carrier, yet "we have to run the airline as a commercial enterprise. The government expects return on investment within the four or five years after its launch in 2003," according to Boven, who admitted the government is seeking recognition as an important player on the international business stage as well as financial return.
- Boeing feeling bullish about Dreamliner[Mar. 29, 2006]
Boeing is predicting "another phenomenal year" for the 787 in 2006, with Mike Bair, VP and GM of the Dreamliner program, telling ATWOnline that there are another 30 offers out to airlines for 500 787s on top of the 28 customers who have committed to 386 aircraft.
- Malaysia Airlines to lay off 6,500[Mar. 29, 2006]
Malaysia Airlines delivered the news its employees feared (ATWOnline, March 24), announcing it will abandon all but 19 domestic routes to AirAsia, take 19 aircraft out of service and lay off approximately 6,500 employees, or about 28% of its workforce.AirAsia will take over the remaining 96 routes and compete with MAS on the other 19, giving passengers the option of choosing a full-service or a low-cost carrier. The Malaysian government said it will stop subsidizing MAS from Aug. 1, according to press reports, although the carrier said in a statement that the government will compensate it for costs incurred in the restructuring of its domestic network.
- China's Okay Airways joins with rival[Mar. 28, 2006]
Two of China's newest airlines, private carriers Okay Airways and the Junyao Group, say they have agreed to share personnel, routes, marketing and management expertise as they struggle for footing in the intensely competitive, fast-growing market.
- Britain's BAA Considers China Investment[Mar. 28, 2006]
Takeover target BAA PLC said Tuesday it was considering investing in airports in China as passenger growth at its British airports slows this year.
- 1st Boeing 737 joined Shanghai Airline[Mar. 27, 2006]
At 13:20 in the noon of March 25th, the first new aircraft of Boeing 737-800 introduced by Shanghai Airlines in this year rached Shanghai from Seattle where American Boeing was located, and joined the fleet of Shanghai Airlines formally, which made the fleet of Shanghai Airlines increasing to 43 aircrafts.