Stockholm Arlanda Airport

Marketing the emergence of China's sixth-freedom hubs

In a move that will tilt the world's aviation axis, Chinese airlines are making bold efforts to target sixth-freedom traffic from their geographically well-positioned hubs that further benefit from very low cost bases. There are challenges including service, distribution and marketing, but on the latter two, China's airlines are making efforts and not standing still.

Norwegian Air Shuttle reports its strongest quarterly result with bigger target on corporate sector

Norwegian Air Shuttle reported a strong third quarter (three months to 30-Sep-2011) result, bolstered by strong gains in revenue, passenger numbers and careful cost control. The result for the third quarter, seasonally the carrier’s strongest, was Norwegian’s strongest ever quarterly result as the LCC continues to expand at breakneck pace in the Northern Europe region in which it now claims bases in all four major Nordic markets. The carrier is targeting a greater share of the corporate sector but will soon have to defend itself from full-service competitor SAS, who it has taken market share from.

Norwegian, the first European carrier of the third-quarter reporting season reported a stellar result amid a concerning quarter for the continent's airlines, which was characterised by downward revisions to earnings by many major carriers, although LCCs are faring much better.

New Swiss airline SkyWork aims for “metro-capital” airport success

Tiny Switzerland has another airline, this one based in Bern, the nation’s capital and fourth largest city. Given that both Zurich and Geneva, the most populous, are small by global standards, basing an airline in a metro area with only 350,000 inhabitants may be a risky, and previously unsuccessful, endeavour. However, that history has not prevented yet another attempt named SkyWork.

SAS has best quarter in three years; set for annual profit

SAS Group delivered an unexpectedly strong result second-quarter result, reporting net income of EUR60 million which saw the group finish the first half in the black, in sharp contrast to some of its full-service rivals to the south. The result is a significant turnaround for SAS and is even more remarkable in light of the various challenges faced by European airlines. Its profitability may finally make it an attractive acquisition or merger partner.

Air Malta troubles worsen as unions flex muscle and LCCs grow

Air Malta’s troubles have become more acute as the struggling carrier’s unions increase their opposition to large-scale redundancies. Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has stated the present situation is increasingly worrying, particularly in light of the EUR77 million the government has poured into the airline since Jun-2011.