ATW Daily News

Air China's first half features falling profit, operating loss

Thursday August 28, 2008

Air China's first-half net income fell 20.7% to CNY1.24 billion ($180.8 million) on surging oil prices and softening traffic resulting from May's Sichuan earthquake and heightened security surrounding the recently completed Olympics. [ more ]

While waiting for 787, Qantas turns attention to 777-300ER

Thursday August 28, 2008

Qantas is understood to be moving toward an order for the 365-seat 777-300ER as Boeing pulls out all stops to thwart a commitment to the rival A350-1000. [ more ]

Spanair MD-82's engines recovered, to be studied for thrust problems

Thursday August 28, 2008

Spanish authorities have recovered the engines of the Spanair MD-82 that crashed on takeoff last week and will disassemble them "screw by screw" to try to determine whether a thrust problem contributed to the accident, the head of the crash investigation said yesterday. [ more ]

China Eastern narrows first-half loss, plans fleet expansion

Thursday August 28, 2008

China Eastern Airlines posted a net loss of CNY212.5 million ($31 million) in the 2008 first half, narrowed from a CNY305.6 million deficit in the prior-year period, on a 6.6% lift in operating revenue to CNY20.31 billion. [ more ]

Today's Other Headlines

Thursday August 28, 2008

Virgin Atlantic's profit soars thanks to BA's troubles

Wednesday August 27, 2008

Virgin Atlantic yesterday reported a net profit for the year ended Feb. 29 of £47.7 million ($88.2 million), up from £6.6 million the previous year, citing a surge in business travelers at Virgin Atlantic Airways. [ more ]

ANZ's full-year profit slips just 1%

Wednesday August 27, 2008

Air New Zealand blamed a NZ$300 million hike in fuel expenses for a 1% decline in profit for the fiscal year ended June 30 to NZ$218 million ($154 million) from the NZ$221 million reported in the prior year. [ more ]

FAA suffers flight plan glitch as it challenges New York slot decision

Wednesday August 27, 2008

A US FAA computer system near Atlanta that processes flight plans failed yesterday, causing delays at major airports throughout the US, with the heaviest disruptions occurring in the eastern part of the country. [ more ]

Southwest to cut nearly 200 daily flights in January

Wednesday August 27, 2008

Southwest Airlines said yesterday that it will cut 196 daily flights while adding just six when it launches its winter schedule on Jan. 11, a more than 5% reduction from its current schedule. [ more ]

Today's Other Headlines

Wednesday August 27, 2008

Investigation launched into Itek Air 737-200 crash that kills 68

Tuesday August 26, 2008

Kyrgyzstan officials said yesterday they had recovered the flight data recorder from the Itek Air 737-200 that crashed Sunday, killing 68 of 90 passengers and crew, and have established a commission to conduct an investigation into the accident. [ more ]

Spanair crash investigation focuses on engine thrust, flaps

Tuesday August 26, 2008

Spanish investigators are focusing on whether the Spanair MD-82 that crashed last week had reached adequate speed for takeoff and whether its flaps operated properly. [ more ]

Lufthansa, perhaps S7 among Austrian's suitors

Tuesday August 26, 2008

Lufthansa, which has been considered the prohibitive favorite to become Austrian Airlines' strategic investor and savior, was the only carrier to confirm its participation in Austrian's privatization, although other airlines are thought to have registered their interest before Sunday's deadline. [ more ]

Changi's T1 to get S$500 million upgrade

Tuesday August 26, 2008

Singapore Changi's 27-year old Terminal 1 is getting a S$500 million ($353.9 million) facelift to improve passenger flow and refurbish interior designs and finishes. [ more ]

Today's Other Headlines

Tuesday August 26, 2008

Spanair crash probe: Video of failed takeoff doesn't support engine fire theory

Monday August 25, 2008

Spanish investigators are backing away from blaming an engine fire for last week's Spanair MD-82 crash following emergence of a video of the failed takeoff that shows no signs of fire until after the aircraft, which elevated only a few meters off the ground, crashed back down on the runway. [ more ]

European airport charges up 4% in 2008

Monday August 25, 2008

Published charges among Europe's 50 busiest airports by passenger volume have increased an average of almost 4% since 2007, with the biggest growth occurring at London Heathrow and Gatwick, according to RDC Aviation's Airport Charges Monitor. [ more ]

Cross-strait flights prove successful, especially for struggling Taiwanese carriers

Monday August 25, 2008

Airlines on both sides of the Taiwan Strait carried 95,765 passengers across the strait with an average load factor of 87% over the seven weeks ended Aug. 18, according to Taiwanese authorities. [ more ]

Unite challenges BAA breakup

Monday August 25, 2008

Unite, Britain's largest union, raised "serious" concerns over the likelihood that BAA will be forced to sell three of its seven UK airports. [ more ]

Today's Other Headlines

Monday August 25, 2008

Qantas manages itself to robust full-year profit increase

Friday August 22, 2008

Aggressive fuel hedging, a more favorable exchange rate, a booming domestic economy and tight fiscal management enabled Qantas to defy nearly every trend affecting the global airline industry and post a massive 44.1% increase in net profit to $A970 million ($845.1 million) for the fiscal year ended June 30, [ more ]

Investigators look for answers in Spanair crash

Friday August 22, 2008

Spanish authorities continued to search for the cause of Wednesday's Spanair MD-82 crash on takeoff from Madrid Barajas that killed at least 153 passengers and crew as the carrier insisted that a malfunctioning air intake probe that delayed the scheduled takeoff by 1 hr. had no relevance to the investigation. [ more ]

AiRUnion alliance teeters; financial problems impact operations

Friday August 22, 2008

Russian airline alliance AiRUnion is facing significant financial troubles and having trouble paying its bills, to the point where aircraft at Moscow Domodedovo, which controls fuel distribution, are not being fueled on time. [ more ]

Pratt & Whitney PW1000G completes first phase of testing

Friday August 22, 2008

Pratt & Whitney said the PW1000G (formerly the Geared Turbofan) demonstrator engine finished the first phase of flight testing on the company's 747SP flying testbed. [ more ]

Today's Other Headlines

Friday August 22, 2008

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