Asiana buys A380s
SEOUL, 7 January 2011 – South Korea’s Asiana Airlines said Thursday it had agreed to buy six Airbus A380 superjumbos in a deal worth US$1.8 billion as it tries to cash in on booming demand from China and the rest of Asia.
The country’s second-largest carrier said the European manufacturer had agreed to deliver the planes between 2014 and 2017, adding they would be used on routes to Europe and the United States.
The agreement, worth 2.04 trillion won (US$1.8 billion), comes as an easing of visa rules on South Korean visitors to the United States and an ever-growing number of Chinese travellers fans demand for lucrative trans-Pacific flights.
Garuda raises cash for 2011 expansion
JAKARTA, 4 January 2011 – Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia plans to raise around US$500 million from its imminent initial public offering, a report said Tuesday, kick starting a year of expansion.
The airline is selling 9.36 billion shares, of which 79% are new, according to a term sheet seen by Dow Jones Newswires.
It will begin roadshows for the deal, which has no overallotment option, on 14 January and aims for a listing in Jakarta on 11 February, the term sheet said.
Easyjet’s New Year shopping list
LONDON, 4 January 2011 – British no-frills airline EasyJet on Tuesday said it had agreed to buy 15 Airbus A320 single-aisle planes worth US$1.1 billion (824 million euros) and secured an option to buy another 33.
“EasyJet plc today announced that it has reached agreement with Airbus to exercise existing options over 15 Airbus A320 aircraft for delivery between 2012 and 2014 and to secure new options over a further 33 A320 aircraft.”
It added that “whilst the total list price for the 15 new A320 aircraft should be approximately US$1.1 billion… EasyJet has been granted substantial confidential price concessions” from European planemaker Airbus.
United, Air Canada in revenue share
October 8, 2010 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under News
CHICAGO, 8 October 7, 2010 – United Airlines and Air Canada announced plans Thursday to form a revenue-sharing joint venture for flights between Canada and the United States.
Already partners through the Star Alliance, the airlines said the joint venture would lead to lower fares and better services.
It comes a week after United completed a merger with Continental Airlines. Read more
Softer anti trust rules over Pacific
TOKYO, 7 October 2010 – Airlines from Japan and the United States on Thursday welcomed a proposal by US authorities to grant antitrust immunity allowing more alliance cooperation on flights between North America and Asia.
The US Department of Transportation on Wednesday proposed to grant the immunity to two alliances for services between the United States and Japan, subject to the the signing of an Open Skies agreement between the countries.
Government bans PAL strike
MANILA, 7 October 2010 – The government on Wednesday banned a planned strike by Philippine Airlines cabin crew and ordered the union and the flag carrier to submit to arbitration, a union official said.
“This means we cannot pursue the process we have initiated, and at the same time the company will not be able to do anything against the union members,” union leader Andy Ortega told AFP after receiving a labour ministry order.
Mega merger unites US airlines
NEW YORK, 4 October 2010 – United Airlines and Continental Airlines announced Friday they had completed their merger that creates the world’s biggest carrier.
The new firm begins trading on the New York Stock Exchange as United Continental Holdings, with the symbol UAL.
“This is a true merger of equals, bringing together two strong companies and positioning us to succeed in a dynamic and highly competitive global aviation industry,” said Glenn Tilton, the United Airlines chief who is the non-executive chairman of the new firm.
PAL air crew prepared to strike
MANILA, 4 October 2010 – The Philippine government said Friday it would ban a planned strike that threatens to paralyse the operations of national flag-carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL).
Labour Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said that if the airline and its flight attendants’ union failed to reach an agreement later this week, she would assume jurisdiction over the dispute, making a planned strike illegal.
Airlines running short of pilots
SINGAPORE, 16 September, 2010 – The commercial aviation industry will need more than a million pilots and maintenance personnel in the next 20 years, with Asia accounting for almost 40% of demand, Boeing said Thursday.
The US plane maker estimated world demand at 466,650 pilots and 596,500 maintenance personnel from 2010 to 2029, of whom 180,600 pilots and 220,000 maintenance personnel would be needed in Asia, particularly in China.
PAL cabin crews threaten to strike
MANILA, 9 September, 2010 – Philippine Airlines’ cabin staff on Thursday told the government they would go on strike over pay at the end of October, saying the move would ground all flights by the loss-making flag carrier.
The 1,600-member cabin crew union said it had filed a strike notice with the labour ministry, which by law has 30 days to try to find a compromise between the two sides to prevent a shut-down.
“Once we go on strike, no flight will take off,” said Bob Anduiza, president of the Flight Attendants Association of the Philippines.
