The pace of Indian consolidation appears to be ramping up as Kingfisher Airlines took a significant step toward acquiring Bangalore rival Air Deccan with the purchase of a 26% stake for INR5.46 billion (US$133.6 million).

SkyEurope Airlines reported a consolidated net loss of EUR32.5 million in the fiscal semester ended March 31, a slight amelioration from the EUR33.6 million lost in the year-ago period.

Aer Arann, Ireland's premier regional airline, accepted delivery of its first ATR 72-500 on May 25. This aircraft is the first to be delivered following the signature last year of a contract worth over US$180 million for 10 ATR 72-500s.

On May 25, 2007, ANA applied to the Japanese government to raise its fuel surcharge on international tickets issued on or after July 10 (Tue) this year. The surcharge will remain at the revised level until September 30, 2007.

Aircraft orders for both Airbus and Boeing are showing no signs of letting up as each manufacturer closed out May with big weeks.

In April 2007, the airline company Air Berlin transported 126,452 more passengers on domestic and international flights than in the same month of the previous year. The number of passengers welcomed on board in April 2007 amounted to 1,684,733 (April 2006: 1,558,281), an increase of 8.1 per cent. For the first four months of 2007, the accumulated number of passengers flying Air Berlin rose by 10.6 per cent, from 5,288,759 to 5,850,420.

Diversified manufacturer United Technologies Corp. expects to generate about US$15 billion in sales of parts for the upcoming Boeing Co. 787 Dreamliner aircraft, United Technologies's top executive said on May 22.

A trade union representing flight attendants at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines threatened strikes over labour conditions on June 1.

Bombardier Aerospace's operating profit for its fiscal first quarter ended April 30 more than doubled to C$112 million (US$103.7 million) from C$55 million in the year-ago period owing to robust aircraft sales.

Japan Airlines Corp has recently asked its creditor banks, including the government-backed Development Bank of Japan and Mizuho Corporate Bank, to funnel up to 400 billion yen into its capital base via preferred share purchases and other steps, sources familiar with the matter said on May 24.