Europe

ATW Daily News

BA to begin long-haul T5 transfer as under-fire BAA gets £400 million injection

Monday May 12, 2008

British Airways will begin shifting long-haul flights to London Heathrow's Terminal 5 next month, it said in a joint statement with airports operator BAA. [more]

Austrian now willing to partner with foreign carrier

Monday May 12, 2008

Austrian Airlines Group CEO Alfred Oetsch, under significant pressure following a steep first-quarter loss and the potential loss of a critical new investor (ATWOnline, May 7), told Austria's ORF radio last week that a shift from the airline's "standalone" strategy has become a possibility and that it now will consider partnering with a foreign carrier. "If no signs of improvement in the financial situation are on the horizon, a solution could be to bring in a strategic partner carrier," he said. Meanwhile, talks with disgruntled future investor Mohamed bin Iassa Al-Jaber continued last week, although they are "surrounded by a gloomy atmosphere on both sides," a manager close to the situation told ATWOnline.

Monday May 12, 2008

EuroManx, based on the Isle of Man, ceased operations and cancelled all services Friday. "Over the last six months a number of factors, including rising fuel prices and reduced passenger numbers, have proved to be insurmountable obstacles to the airline being able to continue to operate," it said on its website. Established in 2002, EuroManx flew turboprops to Liverpool, Manchester, Belfast City and London City. Manx2 and Flybe stepped in to rescue stranded passengers.

Monday May 12, 2008

Aviapartner won a contract from Air One for the provision of full handling services at Milan Malpensa. Contract covers about 130 weekly flights.

Friday May 9, 2008

TAP Portugal yesterday announced the launch of new fare and product offerings that it claimed will be better tailored to customer needs while strengthening "transparency in communicating with the traveling public." From June, TAP will offer five new products, each of which will come with a specific level of service both in flight and on the ground: Tap/executive and tap/plus are designed for business travelers or customers "looking for a higher quality service," while tap/classic ("convenience and flexibility"), tap/basic ("very good value") and tap/discount ("very low price") round out the offerings.

Friday May 9, 2008

Swedish union Pilotforbundet threatened late Wednesday to take its 100 SAS pilots out on strike beginning May 18 unless a collective wage agreement is reached. SAS said the action probably will not affect its operation, as just 100 of its 1,700 pilots are members of Pilotforbundet. Swedish Airline Pilots Assn., the country's largest pilot union, said it did not support Pilotforbundet's initiative. It already has a wage agreement covering its SAS members.

Friday May 9, 2008

European Commission's interim report on its investigation into misleading advertising and unfair practices on websites selling airline tickets revealed "serious and persistent consumer problems" throughout the industry. The EC's first sweep of 386 websites in 16 countries last September showed that 35% had confirmed irregularities and many breached consumer protection law on several fronts. Misleading pricing emerged as the biggest problem (present at 58% of sites under investigation), contract term irregularities (missing or incorrect language and pre-checked boxes for optional services) were found on 49% and issues with nonavailability of advertised offers appeared on 15%.

One in three websites surveyed have been subjected to enforcement action in the past seven months for breaches of consumer law, the EC said, noting that more than half of those sites have complied. "It is unacceptable that one in three consumers going to book a plane ticket online is being ripped off or misled and confused," EU Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva said. "My message to industry is clear, act now or we will act." She gave airlines until May 2009 to fix the problems.

Friday May 9, 2008

Austrian LCC Niki took delivery of a new 212-seat A321 Wednesday. It now operates nine A320 family aircraft including an A320 leased from Vueling Airlines. President Niki Lauda told ATWOnline in Stockholm that the carrier expects to transport 2.2 million passengers this year, up 29.4% from 2007 (ATWOnline, Jan. 14), and operate 20 A320s by 2019. He said the new aircraft will be financed over a 12-year period, with 80% coming from banks and the remainder from the carrier's own cash.

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A Difficult Delivery

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Many questions must be answered before the EU and US arrive at an agreement that gives birth to an Open Aviation Area.

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Cargolux thrives by devoting its full attention to the freight business

'We Want to Easternize the UK'

By Sandra Arnoult

Eastern Airways takes pride in trying harder

Remaking Air Malta

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Turnaround hopes hinge on structural revamp, company culture change.

THY in Transition

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Major aircraft order propels Turkish Airlines' vision to become a global carrier

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