North America

ATW Daily News

Nearing closure, ACE reports C$182 million first-quarter loss

Monday May 12, 2008

ACE Aviation Holdings, as it reported a first-quarter net loss of C$182 million ($180 million), reiterated plans to close down the business but cited difficulty in disposing of its 75% stake in Air Canada and 20.1% stake in Jazz. [more]

Operational problems cost Pinnacle

Monday May 12, 2008

Pinnacle Airlines Corp. suffered a plunge in first-quarter profit to $2.7 million from $9.4 million in the year-ago quarter as rising fuel costs produced a $5 million operating loss at its Colgan Air subsidiary and severe weather and an increase in maintenance events resulted in its Pinnacle subsidiary failing to meet incentive levels contained in its Airline Services Agreement with Northwest Airlines. [more]

787 delivery delays reportedly will reach two years

Monday May 12, 2008

Boeing has estimated a 15-month delay in 787 deliveries (ATWOnline, April 10) but some customers are facing delays of two years or more, The Seattle Times reported. Launch customer ANA is scheduled to receive its first aircraft in the third quarter of 2009 instead of this month, but the manufacturer's ambitious ramp-up plans also have slipped and full production of 10 planes per month will not be reached until 2012, two years later than planned. The Times reported that ILFC, the largest 787 customer, has been advised that it will have to wait an average of 27 months for its aircraft, citing a May 8 regulatory filing from ILFC parent AIG.

Boeing spokesperson Yvonne Leach confirmed that average delay of first delivery for all 58 Dreamliner customers is working out to about 20 months. Customers obviously are inconvenienced, although many who have spoken to ATWOnline now feel there is definition to the schedule and are hopeful that the company will improve upon it. One executive who declined to be named said the new schedule is "more conservative this time, with upside" regarding deliveries.

Monday May 12, 2008

Unisys won a two-year contract with the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority to supply, implement and oversee an identification management system using fingerprint and iris biometric technology for employee verification at 29 airports. COTS-based technology will replace applications in the RAIC system and allow CATSA to update the security status of 100,000 airport workers. Contract includes two additional two-year option periods.

Air Canada posts C$288 million loss on fuel costs, cargo probe charges

Friday May 9, 2008

Air Canada reported a first-quarter net loss of C$288 million ($287 million), a substantial increase over a C$34 million loss in the year-ago period, blaming high fuel costs and charges associated with ongoing inquiries into potential antitrust violations in its cargo division. [more]

Delta, Northwest continue merger push; pilot groups set to meet

Friday May 9, 2008

Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines executives continued to push the merits of their proposed merger this week, assuring both federal and state legislators that no "frontline" workers will be cut, while the two carriers' pilot groups plan to meet next week. [more]

Atlas Air swings to first-quarter loss

Friday May 9, 2008

Atlas Air and Polar Air Cargo parent Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings reported a first-quarter net loss of $5.3 million, reversed from a profit of $6.2 million in the year-ago period, but insisted the result reflects high fuel costs from which it largely will be insulated when Polar's blocked-space agreement with DHL begins later this year. "Our business fundamentals are solid and our performance is on track. . .apart from the impact of fuel prices," President and CEO William Flynn said. "Record commercial fuel prices, up nearly 50% over last year, had a substantial impact on our [Polar] scheduled services results during the first quarter." But he noted that "our direct exposure to fuel costs will be largely eliminated in late October when [Polar] commences flying under its long-term blocked space agreement with DHL Express" (ATWOnline, Feb. 28). First-quarter revenue increased 5% to $373 million while expenses lifted 11.2% to $375.6 million, producing an operating loss of $2.6 million, reversed from a $17.5 million operating profit in the year-ago period.

United names Tague COO, McDonald moves to chief administrative officer post

Friday May 9, 2008

United Airlines announced the appointment of COO Pete McDonald to the new role of chief administrative officer and the promotion of Chief Revenue Officer John Tague to COO, effective immediately. McDonald's role "combines a number of corporate functions to enable successful execution of. . .[UA's] five-year plan," including customer experience, human resources, labor relations, safety and security, information systems and "industry, environmental, corporate and governmental affairs," UA said.

Articles

Soup To Nuts

By Robert W. Moorman

Simulator manufacturing is a lucrative but risky business, which is why market leader CAE has tapped into the more stable world of flight training.

FlightSafety Boeing = Alteon

By J.A. Donoghue

With a new name, the world's largest aviation training company, wholly owned by Boeing, will broaden global reach.

A Difficult Delivery

By Cathy Buyck

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

Astar is born

By Sandra Arnoult

The cargo airline aims for success providing lift to DHL and others

Transformation not modernization

By John Croft

FAA's new future ATM initiative is looking for a few good ideas (and money to pay for them)

Browse more articles on North America...

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