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Tuesday August 7, 2007

European low-cost carrier seat capacity grew by 21% or 34 million seats in 2006 compared to 2005 and the sector accounted for around 30% of all intra-European seat capacity last year and 22% of departures, according to rdc's Low Cost Monitor 2007, a copy of which was provided to ATWOnline. Although the growth of LCC departing seats slowed compared to the 27% increase experienced in 2005, "the actual increase in volume of seats offered by low-cost carriers was greater in 2006 than 2005," according to the report.

The number of airports served by LCCs rose to 280 from 270 in 2005. Also, the number of intra-Europe seats offered by conventional airlines actually declined, dropping 1% compared to 2005. This is the first year-to-year decrease since the LCM series began. The conventional airline share of departing seats is now below 70% versus 31% for LCCs.

Ryanair, easyJet and Air Berlin accounted for 54% of low-cost capacity within Europe, down from 55% in 2005, while the top 10 LCCs accounted for 77%, down from 80%. Among other findings, the UK remained the largest LCC country with 56 million departing seats in 2006, but growth slowed dramatically to below 11% per year. Stansted was the largest low-cost hub with 14.1 million departing seats last year, while Wroclaw was the fastest-growing low-cost airport and Vueling the fastest-growing LCC in terms of departing seats. The analysis also shows that at current growth rates, more than half of all European point-to-point passengers will be carried by LCCs by 2011. LCCs will account for 43% of the estimated 1 billion intra-Europe seats on offer that year. For more information about the LCM, contact chris@routedev.com

ABX Air yesterday agreed to purchase a 767-200ER from Air China and convert it to a freighter for long-haul international operations. The Wilmington, Ohio-based cargo carrier projected the total cost to purchase, modify and put the aircraft into revenue service at approximately $23 million. ABX primarily operates as a DHL subservice carrier in the US but is eager to grow non-DHL operations outside North America. "We continue to expand our presence in the ACMI charter industry and look forward to adding this aircraft to our 767s already deployed with ACMI customers serving the South American and Asia/Pacific markets," President and CEO Joe Hete said. The 767 will be delivered to ABX Air in the fourth quarter and then sent to VEM Maintenance & Engineering in Brazil for cargo conversion. It is expected to enter service in the second quarter of 2008, likely becoming the 43rd 767 in ABX's fleet.

Qatar Airways said it will launch twice-weekly Doha-Nagpur flights from Sept. 23 and daily Doha-Ahmedabad service from Dec. 12 aboard dual-class A320s seating 144 passengers. The new flights will boost QR's India operations to 51 weekly flights to eight cities, making India the nation with the most destinations in the airline's network. It said it will be the only full-service international carrier offering scheduled service to Nagpur, which has a population of more than 2 million. It currently operates daily service to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Cochin, Trivandrum, and Hyderabad.

Northwest Airlines told travel agents that it will suspend its Detroit-Brussels service in mid-month, citing "operational challenges" with the cockpit crew of the 757-200s that operate the route. NWA launched the service in early May. It previously said it would drop its second Detroit-Frankfurt frequency in order to free up 757 pilots (ATWOnline, July 2).

ARINC signed a marketing and reseller agreement with Abanco LLC to introduce an airborne data and payment system to enable passengers to use credit cards for onboard purchases. Under the agreement, ARINC will license Abanco's MDT In-Flight productivity application, "which is currently in use by many US carriers." The companies said they "plan to market a range of streamlined payment and inventory control solutions for onboard sales by airlines."

VEM Maintenance and Engineering said it received FAA certification to perform heavy maintenance for A310 and A300-600 aircraft.

KLM became the first airline to offer self-service check-in to passengers at Kuala Lumpur International, using the SITA-installed CUSS kiosks now in operation there. Together with Malaysia Airports, SITA installed 12 CUSS kiosks with 24 more to follow over the next few months. SITA said CUSS check-in applications for both Malaysia Airlines and Cathay Pacific will be placed on the kiosks before year end and the option also will be available to some 40 other carriers using KLIA.

Radixx International announced that Polynesian Airlines selected the Radixx Air Enterprise Edition reservation and distribution management system.

MITIE secured a three-year contract with the Airline Operators Committee at Bristol, making the company the sole supplier for hold baggage screening there.