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Thursday September 18, 2008

Jat Airways is nearing bankruptcy, President Sasa Vlaisavljevic told Serbia's Press newspaper. The Serbian government has been attempting to sell a 51% stake in the troubled carrier since late June (ATWOnline, June 30) to raise money to revitalize it. But no buyers have come forward and Vlaisavljevic said Jat can afford to operate only nine if its 15 aircraft. It already has reduced onboard food service to lower costs and has laid off employees based outside Serbia. It reportedly has €250 million ($355.4 million) in debt.

by Kurt Hofmann

Air Caraibes signed an MOU with Airbus for three A350-1000s, becoming the European launch customer for the largest version of the A350 XWB. The French carrier said it would configure the aircraft to seat 440 passengers in three classes and operate them on flights from Paris to Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guyana.

Spirit Airlines reported a second-quarter profit of $17.6 million, a more-than-fivefold increase over the $3.1 million earned in the same period a year ago, according to the Miami Herald. Revenue was up 4.6% to $206 million.

by Sandra Arnoult

Southwest Airlines pilots at Baltimore/Washington International yesterday began particparting in the US Transportation Security Administration's SecureScreen trial, which is using biometric screening technology developed by Priva Technologies to positively identify flightdeck crewmembers. The trial will run for 60 days at BWI and include more than 200 SWA pilots. It aims to identify pilots more accurately than current screening methods and allow them to move through security checkpoints more quickly.

British Airways moved another chunk of its international flights into London Heathrow's new Terminal 5 this week and expressed confidence that it has overcome the problems that beset T5's March opening. Since then, the terminal has handled 8.5 million passengers. The carrier yesterday started operating flights to the US, Latin America and Canada from T5.

NWA Cargo said it upgraded engines on five of its 12 747-200Fs as part of its EarthCares program. It switched out a mix of JT9D-7Js and -7Qs for a mix of -7Qs and -7Rs from former passenger aircraft, according to spokeswoman Kristin Baur. NWA expects to achieve a 5% improvement in fuel efficiency, saving 2.4 million gal. of fuel and 26,000 tons of carbon emissions per year. The freighter fleet currently consists of seven JT9D-7R-powered aircraft, three -7Qs and two -7Js.

NWA Cargo also purchased 4,200 lightweight LD3s that should save up to 1.3 million gal. of fuel per year. Its current aluminum LD3s weigh just over 205 lb. each whereas the new composite LD3s weigh only 150 lb. per unit. The new units also are more reliable and have reduced repair expenses, the airline said.

myTECHNIC received DGCA/EASA certification for heavy maintenance at its 46,000-sq.-m. facility at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen. Certification covers C and D checks as well as major modifications on MD-80s, A300s and 737s registered in Turkey and the EU. It also allows for CF6-series overhaul.

Worldwide Flight Services won contracts from Continental Airlines, Northwest Airlines and US Airways for cargo handling at Baltimore/Washington International.

Sabre Holdings' products in the United Arab Emirates and five markets in Africa will be distributed by Emirates' travel division EmQuest under a 10-year deal announced this week. Contract covers distribution sales and support services in South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia and in the UAE starting in January.

Mindpearl was selected by American Airlines as its preferred supplier to deliver multilingual contact center services for Japan, China, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. Languages will include Japanese, Mandarin and English. Services will be provided from Mindpearl's Brisbane facilities and will include general sales and ticketing inquiries along with frequent-flier inquiries and redemptions.

VT Miltope and TriaGnoSys announced a partnership to provide end-to-end systems for in-cabin networks. Collaboration is aimed at developing a solution to enable a range of services including broadband Internet access, voice services, inflight entertainment system management and the transmission of non-flight-critical crew information such as electronic flight bags, weather reports and cabin inventory reports.

Flight Safety Foundation said yesterday that Executive VP Robert Vandel announced his intention to retire on Dec. 31. "Bob has had a tremendously distinguished career of public service and has made huge contributions to global aviation safety," said FSF Chairman Edward Stimpson.