Monthly Archives: February 2010

Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings reports 4Q and 2009 financial results

Please click on the AG icon for a direct link to the Atlas Air photo gallery.

Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (New York), the holding company for both Atlas Air and Polar Air Cargo, today (February 24) announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2009.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2009, the holding reported net income of $28.3 million compared with net income of $62.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008.

For the year ended December 31, 2009, the holding company posted net income of $77.8 million compared with net income of $63.7 million for the previous year.

Delivery of the Company’s 12 next-generation 747-8 freighters is expected to begin in early 2011.

Alaska Airlines to offer Gogo Internet service

Please click on the AG icon for a direct link to the Alaska photo gallery.

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) today (February 24) announced it will offer Aircell’s Gogo® Inflight Internet service on all Alaska’s aircraft.

Alaska and Aircell are currently working to install the Gogo service on a Boeing 737-800 and will begin testing to secure certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Once Aircell’s equipment has been certified for Alaska’s 737s, the airline will start outfitting its entire fleet, beginning with its 737-800s serving longer routes.

Last year Alaska Airlines successfully tested a satellite-based inflight Wi-Fi service offered by Row 44. However, the airline ultimately chose Aircell’s Gogo service to speed fleet-wide installation and Wi-Fi availability for customers.

AirTran to offer additional summer seasonal service

AirTran Airways (Orlando and Atlanta) today (February 24) announced new seasonal service, beginning in May, between many of its destinations, including: San Antonio-Baltimore/Washington and Orlando; Allentown- Atlanta and Orlando; Asheville-Tampa and Orlando; Wichita-Orlando; and Harrisburg-Atlanta.

Full details:

finance.yahoo.com/news/AirTran-Airways-Unveils-prnews-1196444227.html?x=0&.v=1

Emirates to launch Dubai-Jakarta service on March 1

Emirates Airline (Dubai) will launch a new route to Jakarta with Boeing 777 equipment on March 1.

News link:

www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/02/24/emirates-fly-twice-daily-jakarta.html

Freebird Airlines takes its first direct delivery from Airbus

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Freebird Airlines (Istanbul) on February 14, 2010 took delivery of new Airbus A320-214 TC-FBH (msn 4207), its first direct delivery from Airbus.

News link:

www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=free-bird8217s-new-aircraft-arrives-2010-02-23

Denim Air ceases all operations

Denim Air Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100 (Fokker 100) PH-LNE (msn 11322) MST (new type), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Denim Air (Amsterdam) ceased all operations on February 18, 2010. The company was established in 1996 and commenced operations on April 26, 1996. Air Nostrum acquired the company in January 1999 however in October 2002 the management of Denim Air acquired the all of the shares. The company specialized in ACMI operations and was flying for Air Nostrum and Arik Air and other agencies and companies. It was operating 10 Bombardier DHC-8-300s (Q300s), 10 Fokker F.27 Mk. 050s (Fokker 50s) and three Fokker F.28 Mk. 0100s (Fokker 100s) at the end.

Flybe carves out its own profitable small market niche

Please click on the AG icon for a direct link to the Flybe photo gallery.

Flybe (Exeter) has been very successful in serving under utilized smaller airports in the UK and also staying well clear of the fray between the big carriers and the low cost carriers fighting over bigger markets.

Here is the nice article on Flybe:

www.walesonline.co.uk/business-in-wales/business-news/2010/02/24/french-reveals-secret-of-flybe-s-flight-to-success-91466-25900100/

British Airways to attempt to block BALPA’s request to change its pilot’s holiday pay

British Airways (London) is due to fight to the courts today in an attempt to block the BALPA union’s attempt to change its policy on holiday pay for pilots, just days after BA cabin crew voted for possible strike action. The British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA), which is challenging the airline’s pay policy for pilots at a two-day hearing at the UK Supreme Court, wants to see BA pilots get the same pay during holidays as they do when they are working according to Reuters.

Read the full report here:

www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE61M1S020100224?type=marketsNews

Both United and US Airways are open to a merger

United Airlines’ (Chicago) chief financial officer (CFO) Kathryn Mikells, speaking at the Reuters Travel and Leisure Summit in New York, said the third-largest U.S. airline is open to merging with U.S. or foreign carriers.

Meanwhile US Airways (Phoenix) Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Derek Kerr, in a separate interview at the summit, said his airline was also open to merging with another U.S. carrier.

United and US Airways getting together? Not likely.

Read the full report from Reuters:

finance.yahoo.com/news/Two-big-US-airlines-open-to-rb-3653328837.html?x=0&.v=2

Announcing our new “Guest Editor” program

We are happy to announce our new “Guest Editor” program which will regularly feature special articles and columns right here in this World Airline News blog from other authors.

The first, Joel Chusid’s Airline Corner, will debut tomorrow (February 24) right here on this airline news blog. Joel, formerly with Airliners Magazine, will regularly report on the light look of the airline industry in his special column.

Joel Chusid has spent a lifetime in the world of airlines, as an executive at both an American domestic carrier and two Asian airlines. He is Chairman of the Association of Travel Marketing Executives. Joel’s perspectives on the industry reflect his experience and sense of humor. Enjoy this light look at an industry that’s forever changing.

Note: Joel welcomes articles in the same vein as the column! Send them to him at jmchusid@aol.com.

Are you looking for a publisher for your special airline or aircraft article or column? Do have a special airline or aircraft article you would like to publish? If you would like to consider us as your place to freely publish your feature article or produce a regular column please contact us at airlinersgallery@gmail.com. All ideas will be considered.

Thank you.

Bruce Drum

Publisher and AG Curator