http://www.centreforaviation.com The latest analysis from the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation en-us CAPA Utopia Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:01:00 GMT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://www.centreforaviation.com/images/logos/capalogo-144x30.png 144 30 http://www.centreforaviation.com http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/2010/03/19/will-the-british-airways-strike-light-a-ring-of-fire-as-flight-attendants-of-the-world-unite/page1 http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/2010/03/19/will-the-british-airways-strike-light-a-ring-of-fire-as-flight-attendants-of-the-world-unite/page1 As the UNITE-led strike deadline of British Airways flight attendants approaches, forces are lining up around the world to show solidarity. Many of the statements are typical of similar events in the past. But on this occasion it has a different ring about it. There appears to be a growing feeling that this strike could represent a last stand against the general reduction in status of the inflight group that has been achieved over many years. And the most dangerous enemy is one who feels he has nothing to lose. Meanwhile though, BA investors seem largely untroubled. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:01:00 GMT http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/2010/03/19/regional-scorecard-ua-ak-regional-programs-only-ones-in-black/page1 http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/2010/03/19/regional-scorecard-ua-ak-regional-programs-only-ones-in-black/page1 United and Alaska are the only two legacies with regional affiliate programs that actually make money, according to analysis by AirlineFinancials.com. USAirways has the narrowest losses at USD75 million with Delta and American topping the list on losses at about USD500 million apiece. In 2008, not one of the programs seemed to be profitable, just using the statistics that expenses outweighed revenues. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:11:00 GMT http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/2010/03/19/us-airline-labor-notes/page1 http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/2010/03/19/us-airline-labor-notes/page1 Airline pilots are flexing their muscles at United while Continental posed a cut-to-the-chase offer to its pilots at the same time reaching a tentative agreement with dispatchers. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:10:00 GMT http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/share-market/2010/03/19/turkish-airlines-to-be-one-of-worlds-leading-carriers-aeroflot-rallies/page1 http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/share-market/2010/03/19/turkish-airlines-to-be-one-of-worlds-leading-carriers-aeroflot-rallies/page1 European airline shares gained on Thursday (18-Mar-2010), as oil prices (-0.9%) fell, to USD82.20. The gains came despite a fall in wider markets, as markets start to become exhausted, according to UniCredit head of global equity strategy, Gerhard Schwarz, in an interview with Reuters. Mr Schwarz stated investors are now waiting for new “significant factors”. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:25:00 GMT http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/share-market/2010/03/19/royal-jordanian-airlines-and-air-arabia-expanding-fleets-kenya-airways-slumps/page1 http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/share-market/2010/03/19/royal-jordanian-airlines-and-air-arabia-expanding-fleets-kenya-airways-slumps/page1 Royal Jordanian Airlines (+2.9%) was one of the few carriers to gain on Thursday (18-Mar-2010). President and CEO, Hussein Dabbas, stated during trading the carrier is scheduled to receive its first group of B787s in Oct-2013. The carrier ordered 11 B787s in 2006 and the current delivery schedule represents a delay from the initial schedule commencing in early 2011. Owing to the delay, Royal Jordanian is investing USD12 million in the upgrade of four A340 aircraft, while the carrier has added a 75-seat Embraer to its fleet. In addition, the carrier plans to take delivery of two A330s to service Southeast Asia and the Amman-London sector. Royal Jordanian’s current fleet of 29 aircraft includes 12 Airbus’ and seven Embraers. On network, the carrier plans to launch four times weekly Amman-Madina Munawwarah service and resume Kuala Lumpur service in May-2010. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:20:00 GMT http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/share-market/2010/03/19/aircraft-delays-giving-headaches-to-airlines--suppliers-share-wraps/page1 http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/share-market/2010/03/19/aircraft-delays-giving-headaches-to-airlines--suppliers-share-wraps/page1 Unpredictable economies and delays to new aircraft programmes have turned fleet management into an art rather than a science according to IATA, and caused major headaches for airlines. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:15:00 GMT http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/2010/03/19/a-trend-back-to-hedging---friday-fuel-watch/page1 http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/2010/03/19/a-trend-back-to-hedging---friday-fuel-watch/page1 The continued volatility in week to week pricing has ensured that many carriers are taking cautious approached to fuel hedging, but there are signs that renewed strong hedging positions may be taken as oil climbs back over USD80 per barrel, and now threatens to break through USD85 for the first time this year. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:14:00 GMT http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/share-market/2010/03/19/air-berlins-net-loss-narrows-in-2009-reduces-b787-orders-as-part-of-efforts-to-gain-higher-earning/page1 http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/share-market/2010/03/19/air-berlins-net-loss-narrows-in-2009-reduces-b787-orders-as-part-of-efforts-to-gain-higher-earning/page1 Air Berlin narrowed its net loss to EUR9.5 million in 2009, a considerable improvement from a EUR83.5 million net loss in 2008, as it reduced operating expenses by 6.2% (as a result of the carrier’s efficiency programme), exceeding the 4.4% revenue reduction in the period. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:05:00 GMT http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/share-market/2010/03/19/fedex-reports-146-improvement-in-net-profit-lan-looking-to-peru-for-shareholders/page1 http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/share-market/2010/03/19/fedex-reports-146-improvement-in-net-profit-lan-looking-to-peru-for-shareholders/page1 North and South American airline shares were mixed on Thursday (18-Mar-2010), with the AMEX Airline Index (-0.2%) slipping, despite a drop in oil prices (-0.9%), to USD82.20 and another wider market rally. The Dow (+0.4%) rose for an eighth consecutive day, pushed higher by Boeing shares, after Bernstein Research stated the aircraft manufacturer’s B787 program appears to be making “substantial progress”. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:05:00 GMT http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/share-market/2010/03/19/map-up-in-early-trade-following-particularly-pleasing-feb-2010-traffic-report/page1 http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/share-market/2010/03/19/map-up-in-early-trade-following-particularly-pleasing-feb-2010-traffic-report/page1 Shares in MAp slipped 0.7% yesterday, ahead of the release of the airport operator’s traffic report for Feb-2010. Both Sydney and Copenhagen airports posted double-digit growth in the month, with Brussels also up and ASUR the only investment airport to decline. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:33:00 GMT http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/share-market/2010/03/19/china-southern-introduces-domestic-premium-economy-seats-airasia-sees-strong-1q2010-earnings/page1 http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/share-market/2010/03/19/china-southern-introduces-domestic-premium-economy-seats-airasia-sees-strong-1q2010-earnings/page1 Chinese airlines’ shares rose on Thursday, on expectations of a stronger Yuan, which would help reduce the cost of aviation fuel and aircraft purchases. China Southern and China Eastern led the way, with gains of 5.3% and 5.6%, respectively, while shares in Air China were up 2.0%. Hainan Airlines’ shares slipped 1.1%. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:45:00 GMT http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/share-market/2010/03/18/wataniya-airways-looking-forward-to-privatisation-of-kuwait-airways-comair-gains/page1 http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/share-market/2010/03/18/wataniya-airways-looking-forward-to-privatisation-of-kuwait-airways-comair-gains/page1 Kuwait National Airways (-1.8%) was down after Wataniya Airways Chairman and Managing Director, Abdulsalam Al-Bahar, stated the airline is looking forward to the privatisation of Kuwait Airways Corporation, stating it is currently difficult to compete with KAC as a private sector airline, as fuel and airport space rentals are currently subsidised for KAC. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:26:00 GMT http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/2010/03/18/update-aviation-reauthorization-moving-to-front-burner-in-senate/page1 http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/2010/03/18/update-aviation-reauthorization-moving-to-front-burner-in-senate/page1 Washington is lustily eyeing airline ancillary revenues with the House and Senate addressing it in different ways. The Senate is taking a consumer affairs approach in its Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bills which may actually be enacted this spring….maybe, we hope, there’s a chance….oh, and cross your fingers. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:18:00 GMT http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/share-market/2010/03/18/increase-in-foreign-ownership-levels-being-considered-in-fast-growing-brazilian-market-share-wrap/page1 http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/share-market/2010/03/18/increase-in-foreign-ownership-levels-being-considered-in-fast-growing-brazilian-market-share-wrap/page1 Brazil’s Ministry of Defence, in a Bill sent to Congress, proposed to raise the foreign ownership cap applying to airline ownership, potentially enabling international parties to acquire up to a 49% stake in Brazilian airlines (up from the current 20% limited). GOL’s shares were 2.3% lower yesterday. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:09:00 GMT http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/share-market/2010/03/18/united-airlines-revises-guidance-for-double-digit-jump-in-prasm-continental-airlines-down/page1 http://www.centreforaviation.com/news/share-market/2010/03/18/united-airlines-revises-guidance-for-double-digit-jump-in-prasm-continental-airlines-down/page1 North and South American carriers’ shares were mostly down on Wednesday (17-Mar-2010), despite the Dow (+0.5%) reaching a 17-month intra-day high during trading. The rise came after the US Labor Department reported a seasonally adjusted 0.6% year-on-year decline in the producer price index for finished goods in Feb-2010, after an unrevised 1.4% rise in Jan-2010. The news helped to reduce the chance of higher interest rates and inflation. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 06:31:00 GMT