Boeing Delivers AirBridgeCargo Airlines’ Fifth 747-8 Freighter

MOSCOW – Boeing [NYSE: BA]  and AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC), part of Volga-Dnepr Group and Russia’s largest cargo airline, recently celebrated the delivery of the airline’s fifth 747-8 Freighter.
"AirBridgeCargo has already experienced the outstanding payload and operating economics of the 747-8 family,” said Denis Ilin, executive president of AirBridgeCargo Airlines. “We are very excited to receive our fifth 747-8 Freighter.”

Boeing [NYSE: BA]  and AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC), part of Volga-Dnepr Group and Russia’s largest cargo airline, recently celebrated the delivery of the airline’s fifth 747-8 Freighter.

With delivery of the fifth 747-8 Freighter, AirBridgeCargo continues to follow its long-term fleet modernization strategy to further improve the quality of its products. The new aircraft will be used on ABC’s existing route network linking Europe, Asia and the United States via the airline’s hub in Moscow.

“AirBridgeCargo is a valued customer that has built a very successful cargo business using 747 Freighters,” said Marty Bentrott, vice president of sales for Middle East, Russia and Central Asia, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “We are proud of our partnership with AirBridgeCargo, and we are confident they will continue to grow their business successfully as their fleet expands."

AirBridgeCargo’s current fleet consists of 12 Boeing 747s, including five Boeing 747-400ERFs (Extended Range Freighters), three Boeing 747-400 Freighters and five Boeing 747-8 Freighters.


The new 747-8 Freighter gives cargo operators the lowest operating costs and best economics of any large freighter airplane while providing enhanced environmental performance. It is optimized to provide greater revenue cargo-carrying capability than the 747-400, offering 16 percent more cargo volume while keeping its iconic nose door. With more than 150,000 hours in service, the 747-8 Freighter is achieving performance milestones with customers reporting 1 percent better fuel burn than expected.


Source

United Continental Holdings to Pay More Than a Quarter Billion Dollars in Profit Sharing to Employees

 EMPLOYEES SHARE IN THE COMPANY'S SUCCESS CHICAGO, Feb. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL) tomorrow will distribute $265 million in profit sharing to employees based on the combined full-year financial results of its subsidiaries, United Airlines and Continental Airlines.  The company is paying eligible employees approximately 5 percent of their annual pay for profit sharing.
"My co-workers worked together all year to deliver solid financial results, reliable operational performance and excellent customer service," said Jeff Smisek, United Continental Holdings' President and CEO.  "We are sharing the results of working together by distributing more than a quarter of a billion dollars in profit sharing."
Smisek will deliver profit-sharing checks to employees tomorrow at the airline's hubs at Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston and O'Hare International Airport in Chicago.  Other officers of the company are traveling to locations around the globe to distribute profit sharing to employees.

In addition to profit sharing, co-workers of the combined company earned cash incentive payments for on-time performance totaling $40 million during 2011.  The on-time incentive program pays up to $100 monthly when the combined airline hits targets for on-time domestic and international arrivals.  The program reinforces the new United's commitment to working together to deliver outstanding performance for its customers.

United/Continental Media

Atlanta, at Last! Southwest Airlines Launches Service from Georgia

First Flights Usher in Era of Lower Last-minute Fares, No Change Fees, and Bags Fly Free™ Value for Atlanta Travelers.

The People of Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) today delivered an early Valentine's gift to travelers who have long-awaited the Atlanta arrival of the carrier's legendary low fares and positively outrageous Customer Service.  Continuing the 40-year mission to serve in its communities, Southwest also announced the launch of LUV Grants for Good, making available $150,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations from across the State of Georgia. 

"Our service from Atlanta brings greatly reduced fares with new flexibility and value for both leisure and business Customers," said Gary Kelly, Southwest's Chairman, President, and CEO, at a news conference Monday afternoon in the airport's main terminal. Employees of Southwest Airlines celebrated the milestone in a LUV-themed ceremony featuring congratulations from Georgia Governor Nathan Deal, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, Aviation General Manager Louis Miller, and a cadre of excited Southwest Customers and airport employees.

"Southwest Airlines will significantly expand the tradition of excellent customer service and low fares that we have come to expect from AirTran Airways over the past 15 years," said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. "Hartsfield-Jackson Airport prides itself on serving more than 90 million passengers every year, and Southwest's presence will further assure our airport remains as the busiest passenger airport on the planet."
Following on months of community service performed around Greater Atlanta even prior to the August 2011 announcement of Southwest service, Kelly also announced the launch of an online essay and video contest to award $150,000 in LUV Grants for Good across the State.  The contest is open to 501(c)(3) nonprofits which meet guidelines and rules, available at southwest.com/luvgrants.

The public will have an opportunity to vote and select the winning six organizations from a pool of finalists that produce videos on how they would use money to show love to the communities they serve.  Those finalists will have been selected from essays submitted online and judged by the Georgia Center for Nonprofits and Southwest Airlines. In accepting the gift on behalf of all Georgians, Governor Deal said, "Southwest Airlines has established itself as a first-rate corporate citizen in our State by creating LUV Grants for Good to celebrate their arrival in our community. This program will benefit the people of Georgia, who welcome Southwest, their good works, and the wonderful opportunities they bring to our great State."

Today's initial schedule of 15 flights to five nonstop destinations, with additional same-plane and connecting service to 48 destinations across the country, is just the beginning of a beautiful partnership between the world's busiest airport and the largest airline in the nation, as measured by the U.S. Department of Transportation in terms of originating passengers boarded.  Daily nonstop service between Atlanta and Austin, Baltimore/Washington, Chicago Midway, Denver, and Houston (Hobby), will grow next month with the addition of nonstop service to and from both Las Vegas and Phoenix starting March 10.

 Southwest also will add nonstop service beginning June 10 between Atlanta and Los Angeles and will offer additional nonstop service connecting Atlanta to Louisville, Norfolk/Virginia Beach, and Seattle starting August 12.  All flights are available for sale now at southwest.com.

Read more at  Southwest Media 

Obama Budget Would Cut Airline, Airport Funding

The new Obama administration budget proposal, released on Monday, had general aviation advocates worried about user fees, but other aviation sectors have also found cause for concern. The Air Line Pilots Association was unhappy about proposed cuts of $36 million from the Federal Air Marshal Service and $13 million from the federal flight deck officer program, which trains volunteer pilots to carry firearms on board.

Lee Moak, president of ALPA, said funding for the FFDO program is already "minimal," and any further reduction "could very well lead to its ultimate demise." Airlines would face increased security fees, as well as a $100 departure fee to help cover the cost of the air traffic control system. Funding for improvements at medium and large airports would be cut by 27 percent.

 Airline travelers, under the proposal, would pay up to $25.5 billion in fees over the next 10 years, with the goal of covering the costs of aviation security through user fees "and not by the general taxpayers," according to the budget plan. However, $18 billion of those fees would go to pay down general government debt, not to provide security, according to The Wall Street Journal. It's widely expected that most of these proposals will be rejected by Congress, and the budget plan will never be enacted in its current form.

Avweb

Jet Airways suspends pilot for 'trainee landing'

India's private airline Jet Airways has suspended a pilot and a crew member for allowing a trainee pilot to land a plane in the western city of Mumbai.

The two apparently allowed a trainee pilot to take over from the co-pilot and land the plane about four months ago, reports say. Jet Airways said action had been taken based on "appropriate investigations and a confidential report". Jet Airways is one of India's best-known and oldest private airlines. Reports say that the pilot was suspended for two-and-a-half months following the incident, and had resumed flying again.

A spokesman for the airline told the Press Trust Of India news agency that they had been in talks with the aviation regulator DGCA over the incident. "They are completely satisfied with the steps taken. In line with international practises on enforcing safety, a voluntary and confidential reporting system exists in Jet Airways for all its employees," the spokesman said. Last month a consumer court in Delhi ordered Jet Airways to compensate a female passenger who was refused an alcoholic drink because of her gender.

BBC/Asia  

Low-cost airline with familiar name hopes to fly

NORFOLK, Va.—The name PeoplExpress conjures up thoughts of cheap fares, packed planes and bare-bones service. If regulators agree, the name will be back this summer, attached to an airline that hopes to borrow from the old playbook while avoiding some of the mistakes that doomed one of the pioneers of the no frills airline business.

PeoplExpress Airlines announced Monday that it will be headquartered at Newport News-Williamsburg International Airport in southeastern Virginia. The airline plans to offer flights on the East Coast this summer. But a successful launch is far from a sure thing. It still needs approval from the U.S. government. And it still needs to secure financing.

Initial destinations are expected to be Pittsburgh, Newark, N.J. and West Palm Beach, Fla. Chief Operating

Officer Michael Morisi, who worked at the original airline, says the airline won't ever fly to large cities served by other airlines. The original PeoplExpress called overexpansion one of its fatal mistakes. At the time, Morisi was responsible for opening up several domestic and international destinations, including London and Los Angeles.

The old PeoplExpress was once the country's fifth largest airline. It flew from 1981 to 1987 and was known for offering fares for as low as $19 while turning a profit. But once American introduced "Ultimate Super Saver" fares in 1985 the airline struggled. Continental Airlines eventually swallowed it up. Since then, more than 100 airlines have filed for bankruptcy or stopped operating altogether.

Continental did not maintain the name to PeoplExpress, allowing Morisi to register for it.

Morisi says he intends to serve niche markets that are currently underserved or those that have lost service altogether because of industry consolidation. A number of bigger airlines have pulled out of smaller markets since the recession because flying there wasn't profitable.

"I think we can build a very nice operation serving dozens of cities and never really encroach on some of the major hub cities that other carriers are dominant in," he said in an interview.

Newport News is losing AirTran service next month as AirTran's parent Southwest Airlines Co. redirects flights to other cities. The region has also offered financial incentives for new airlines to roost.

But although some bigger carriers have left room for new airlines to start service, the industry remains highly competitive. If one airline sees another building up business, it's likely to target those cities, and try to win them back.

"New airlines tend to underestimate the degree and gravity of that competitive response." airline consultant Robert Mann said. Morisi, who lives in Chesapeake, Va., said he thinks PeoplExpress can beat the odds and become successful through a combination of factors. Among them, he said the airline aims aiming to have a non-union workforce of employees -- a strategy employed by the old PeoplExpress.Continued...

Boston News/Aviation  

Boeing, Lion Air Finalize Historic Order for up to 380 737s - Feb 14, 2012

SINGAPORE, Feb. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Jakarta-based Lion Air today finalized a firm order for 201 737 MAXs and 29 Next-Generation 737-900ERs (extended range). The agreement, first announced last November in Indonesia, also includes purchase rights for an additional 150 airplanes.

 "The 737 MAX is the best choice for Lion Air and the best airplane to serve our passengers," said Rusdi Kirana, Lion Air Founder and President Director. "We're excited to be the first airline in Asia to fly the 737 MAX and to be the global launch customer of the 737 MAX 9." With orders for 230 airplanes valued at $22.4 billion at list prices, this deal is the largest commercial airplane order ever in Boeing's history by both dollar value and total number of airplanes.

 Lion Air will also acquire purchase rights for an additional 150 airplanes. "Lion Air has been a leader in Indonesia from the very beginning," said Dinesh Keskar, vice president of Asia-Pacific and India Sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "Today more people are flying in Asia at lower fares because of the 737 and this historic 737 MAX order will help connect more people in the future.

" The 737 MAX is a new engine variant of the world's best selling airplane and builds on the strengths of today's Next-Generation 737. The 737 MAX incorporates the latest-technology CFM International LEAP-1B engines to deliver the highest efficiency, reliability and passenger comfort in the single-aisle market. Airlines operating the 737 MAX will see a 10-12 percent fuel burn improvement over today's most fuel efficient single-aisle airplanes and a 7 percent operating cost per seat advantage over tomorrow's competition.

To date, the 737 MAX has orders and commitments for more than 1,000 airplanes from 15 customers and the Next-Generation 737 family has won orders for more than 6,600 airplanes. Lion Air, Indonesia's largest private airline, currently operates or has on order a total of 178 Next-Generation 737s.

- Airline orders 201 737 MAXs and 29 Next-Generation 737-900ERs worth $22.4 billion 
- Largest ever commercial airplane order for Boeing 
- Lion Air is launch customer for 737 MAX 9

Boeing

American Eagle Airlines Reports January Traffic

    

FORT WORTH, Texas, Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- American Eagle reported a January traffic increase of 10.3 percent year-over-year as capacity increased 5.6 percent. January load factor was 67.2 percent, an increase of 2.8 points compared to the same period last year. American Eagle boarded more than 1.5 million passengers in January. Detailed traffic and capacity data follows.

AMERICAN EAGLE

COMPARATIVE PRELIMINARY TRAFFIC SUMMARY

                                                                     2012              2011               CHANGE

PASSENGER MILES (000)    

SYSTEM                                                    751,937            682,025           10.3 %
AMERICAN EAGLE AIRLINES               716,008            639,242           12.0 %
EXECUTIVE AIRLINES                              35,929              42,783           (16.0) %

           

SEAT MILES (000)    

 SYSTEM                                                  1,118,801         1,059,283           5.6 %
 AMERICAN EAGLE AIRLINES             1,051,901            975,464           7.8  %
 EXECUTIVE AIRLINES                               66,900              83,819          (20.2) %

           

LOAD FACTOR    

    SYSTEM                                                            67.2                64.4                 2.8 pts
    AMERICAN EAGLE AIRLINES                       68.1                65.5                 2.5*
    EXECUTIVE AIRLINES                                    53.7                51.0                 2.7

           

PASSENGERS BOARDED    

  SYSTEM                                                     1,514,934           1,447,295    4.7 %
  AMERICAN EAGLE AIRLINES                1,321,876           1,226,273    7.8  %
  EXECUTIVE AIRLINES                               193,058               221,022    (12.7)%

*January 2012 load factor change number rounded to nearest tenth of a point.