Tag Archives: 777200

American Airlines announces new routes to Asia, Europe and Latin America

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) announced today that it will launch service to markets in Asia, Europe and Latin America, delivering on the airline’s business plan and network strategy designed to offer customers more choices to new destinations. Next year, American will begin the following international services: Dallas/Fort Worth – Seoul, South Korea; Dallas/Fort Worth – Lima, Peru; Chicago O’Hare – Dusseldorf, Germany; and New York JFK – Dublin, Ireland. This new service enhances American’s network footprint and will provide more access and choices for customers in key international markets. It will also add domestic service to match customer demand through its Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago hubs.

Last week, American announced that international unit revenue increased 8.0 percent for the first nine months of 2012, driven by increased load factors across all entities and improved yield performance. Unit revenue performance in the Pacific entity for the same period was strong, up 13.3 percent, driven by increased demand for the premium cabins, greater revenues from Asia point-of-sale and joint selling efforts with joint business partner, Japan Airlines. The Latin American entity posted a 7.2 percent unit revenue increase for the first nine months of 2012, including yield improvements in Mexico and Central and South America. The growing strength of American’s enhanced network, together with coordinated selling efforts with joint business partners British Airways and Iberia over the Atlantic, helped drive a 6.5 increase in trans-Atlantic unit revenue improvement for the first nine months of 2012 versus the prior year.

The strengthening of American’s global network is just another example of the company’s progress toward its business plan, which includes focusing its hubs in the most important domestic and international cities, enhancing relationships with the best international alliance partners and creating a pipeline of industry-leading products and services, including a significant renewal and transformation of an aircraft fleet that American expects to be the youngest and most fuel-efficient among its U.S. airline peers by 2017.

New Service to Asia

From its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth, American will launch its first-ever service to Seoul on May 9, 2013. As one of the top 10 premium markets in the world, the new service to Seoul reinforces American’s commitment to customers and the Asia-Pacific region. The new service will be operated as a part of American’s joint business agreement with Japan Airlines and will provide convenient access for customers traveling from South Korea to connect to more than 200 flights from Dallas/Fort Worth to cities in the United States and Latin America.

More Service to Europe

Beginning April 11, 2013, American will add service between Chicago O’Hare and Dusseldorf, Germany. American will code share with oneworld^® alliance partner, airberlin – further reinforcing an already strong relationship and allowing customers to fly not only to Dusseldorf, but also to cities such as Moscow, Tel Aviv, and Nice through airberlin’s extensive network. This route will also operate as part of the joint business agreement with British Airways and Iberia.

In addition, American also will add new service between New York – JFK and Dublin, Ireland, beginning June 12, 2013. These new flights also will be operated in conjunction with American’s Atlantic joint business partners, British Airways and Iberia. From JFK, American flies non-stop to nearly 50 cities throughout Asia, Europe, North America and South America with nearly 90 daily departures.

Increased Service to Latin America

Beginning April 2, 2013, American will add service between Dallas/Fort Worth and Lima, Peru. American provides more service than any other airline between North America and Latin America with more than 900 weekly flights to 49 destinations. With the addition of Dallas/Fort Worth – Lima, customers can access 30 destinations to Central America, Mexico, and South America from the Dallas/Fort Worth hub.

In addition, this added service continues to enhance American’s relationship with oneworld partner, LAN, including reciprocal frequent flyer benefits for American Airlines AAdvantage^® and LANPASS members, and reinforces American’s commitment to the Peruvian market by providing seamless connections to multiple destinations including the Dallas/Fort Worth – Tokyo non-stop.

New Domestic Cities from Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago:

On February 14, 2013, American will also add new domestic service, through its regional affiliates American Eagle and ExpressJet, from Dallas/Fort Worth to the following cities: Beaumont/Port Arthur, Texas, Columbia, Mo., and Fargo, N.D, as well as new Chicago O’Hare – Columbia, Missouri service.

DFW is the largest of American’s five domestic hubs offering more than 740 departures to nearly 170 cities in Asia, Europe, North America and South America.

Below is a summary of the new service:

International

Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) – Lima (LIM)
AA2193 Leave DFW: 5:30 p.m. Arrive LIM: 12:25 a.m. (next day)
AA2194 Leave LIM: 2 a.m. Arrive DFW: 9:15 a.m.
Aircraft Type: Boeing 757
Frequency: Daily service
Start Date: April 2, 2013

Chicago O’Hare (ORD) – Dusseldorf (DUS)
AA242 Leave ORD: 5 p.m. Arrive DUS: 8:15 a.m. (next day)
AA241 Leave DUS: 12:10 p.m. Arrive ORD: 2:20 p.m.
Aircraft Type: Boeing 767-300
Frequency: Daily service
Start Date: April 11, 2013, subject to government approval

Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) – Seoul (ICN)
AA27 Leave DFW: 10:30 a.m. Arrive ICN: 3 p.m. (next day)
AA26 Leave ICN: 5 p.m. Arrive DFW: 4:20 p.m.
Aircraft Type: Boeing 777-200
Frequency: Daily service
Start Date: May 9, 2013, subject to government approval

New York – JFK-Dublin (DUB)
AA290 Leave JFK: 6:55 p.m. Arrive DUB: 6:55 a.m. (next day)
AA291 Leave DUB: 9 a.m. Arrive JFK: 11:30 a.m.
Aircraft Type: Boeing 757-200
Frequency: Daily
Start Date: June 12, 2013, subject to government approval

Domestic

Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) – Beaumont/Port Arthur (BPT)
AA2543 Leave DFW 8:40 a.m. Arrive BPT 9:50 a.m.
AA2521 Leave DFW 11:20 a.m. Arrive BPT 12:35 p.m.
AA2523 Leave DFW 3:10 p.m. Arrive BPT 4:20 p.m.
AA2525 Leave DFW 6:25 p.m. Arrive BPT 7:35 p.m. (except Saturday)
AA2510 Leave BPT 6:30 a.m. Arrive DFW 7:45 a.m.
AA2543 Leave BPT 10:20 a.m. Arrive DFW 11:30 a.m.
AA2521 Leave BPT 1:05 p.m. Arrive DFW 2:15 p.m.
AA2523 Leave BPT 4:50 p.m. Arrive DFW 6 p.m. (except Saturday)
Aircraft Type: CRJ 200
Frequency: All flights are daily except as noted above
Start Date: Feb. 14, 2013

Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) – Columbia, Mo. (COU)
AA3396 Leave DFW Noon Arrive COU 1:25 p.m.
AA3348 Leave DFW 6:55 p.m. Arrive COU 8:25 p.m. (except Saturday)
AA3215 Leave COU 6:45 a.m. Arrive DFW 8:35 a.m.
AA3291 Leave COU 5:40 p.m. Arrive DFW 7:25 p.m. (except Saturday)
Aircraft Type: Embraer 145
Frequency: All flights are daily except as noted above
Start Date: Feb. 14, 2013

Chicago – O’Hare (ORD) -COU
AA3919 Leave ORD 3:55 p.m. Arrive COU 5:10 p.m.
AA3900 Leave COU 1:55 p.m. Arrive ORD 3:20 p.m.
Aircraft Type: Embraer 145
Frequency: Daily
Start Date: Feb. 14, 2013

Dallas/Fort Worth – Fargo (FAR)
AA2537 Leave DFW: 12:05 p.m. Arrive FAR: 2:30 p.m.
AA2537 Leave FAR: 3:05 p.m. Arrive DFW: 5:50 p.m.
Aircraft Type: CRJ 200
Frequency: Daily
Start Date: Feb. 14, 2013

American Airlines:

AeroMexico to launch nonstop Mexico City-London (Heathrow) flights on December 14

AeroMexico (Mexico City) is planning to launch nonstop Mexico City-London (Heathrow) service starting on December 14. The route will be operated three days a week.

Read the full story from lainformacion.com (in Spanish): CLICK HERE

AeroMexico:

Ceiba Intercontinental launches its first European route to Madrid

Ceiba Intercontinental Airlines (Malabo) made its historic first intercontinental flight on October 4 from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, to Madrid. Ceiba will service the route with its Boeing 777-200 LR aircraft.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation of Equatorial Guinea purchased the aircraft as the first step in the government’s efforts to meet the growing demand for air service to the country and support its growing economy.

Ceiba has scheduled three flights a week on the new Madrid-Malabo route and is part of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA).

Ceiba currently offers scheduled service from Bata and Malabo in Equatorial Guinea to several cities in West and Central Africa, including Accra, Ghana; Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, Brazzaville, Congo; Douala, Cameroun; Libreville, Gabon; Cotonou, Benin; andLome, Togo.

Ceiba Intercontinental:

Emirates SkyCargo starts new freighter service to Osaka and Seoul

Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates Airline (Dubai), commenced a new freighter service from Dubai to Japan and Korea on September 7.

The new service will operate one flight per week and serve the growing demand for air freight to and from Kansai International Airport and Seoul Incheon International Airport. Flight EK 9891 – using a Boeing 777F freighter with a cargo capacity of more than 100 tons – will depart Dubai every Thursday at 22:30 and arrive at Kansai at 12:40 the following Friday, and depart Kansai at 14:40 and arrive at Inchon at 16:10 same day.

Flight EK 9892 from Incheon to Dubai will depart from Incheon at 18:15 every Friday and arrive at Dubai at 22:45 on the same day.

Emirates:

American Airlines becomes the first commercial carrier with FAA approval to use Electronic Flight Bags in all phases of flight

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) has announced it is expanding its iPad Electronic Flight Bag program after becoming the first commercial carrier to receive FAA approval to use the Apple iPad in the cockpit during all phases of flight.

American’s pilots will be using iPad, the only FAA-approved tablet as an Electronic Flight Bag in approved aircraft. An Electronic Flight Bag reduces or replaces paper-based reference material and manuals often found in a pilot’s carry-on kitbag. Removing the 35-pound kitbag from each American Airlines plane will save an estimated $1.2 million of fuel annually based on current fuel prices.

Alaska Airlines is also using the iPad in the cockpit.

As part of the Electronic Flight Bag program, American’s pilots will use mobile software and data from Jeppesen, a unit of Boeing Flight Services. The FAA-approved Jeppesen application, which is allowed for gate-to-gate use throughout all phases of flight, will replace bulky paper operating manuals with real-time, up-to-date electronic information that is easier to access.

American’s pilots will start using iPads this month on the airline’s Boeing 777 fleet. American aims to have FAA approval for use in all fleet types by the end of 2012. Beginning in January 2013, American will stop distributing paper revisions to its flight manuals and most navigation charts.

To ease the transition company-wide, all active pilots and instructors will receive an iPad for use in training and inflight.

American first received FAA approval to use iPads in the cockpit in 2011, which came several months after American completed testing with pilots using iPads in the cockpit. The first FAA-approved device to be tested is the iPad, and if other tablets are approved by the FAA they will be evaluated for use.

Top Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Boeing 777-223 ER N757AN (msn 32636) climbs awy from the runway at Los Angeles International Airport.

American Airlines:

Bankruptcy judge rules AMR can void the American Airlines pilot’s contract

AMR Corporation (American Airlines) (Dallas/Fort Worth) now has what it has wanted. Bankruptcy Court Judge Lane has issued his decision which now permits AMR and American Airlines to unilaterally void its contract with its pilots, represented by the Allied Pilots Association. AMR has stated it needs labor stability and around 20 percent lower costs to emerge from its Chapter 11 reorganization. Who now will make the next move?

Read the full report from Reuters: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Boeing 777-223 ER N756AM (msn 30264) climbs away from Los Angeles International Airport.

American Airlines:

American’s pilots are talking with the US Airways’ pilots about a transitional labor agreement

American Airlines‘ (Dallas/Fort Worth) pilots, represented by the Allied Pilots Association (APA), have been meeting with the pilots of US Airways (Phoenix) and CEO Doug Parker about a transitional labor agreement and also about possible airline consolidation between the two carriers according to this article by the Tulsa World. The APA pilots are united in their opposition against American CEO Tom Horton. The pilots of American are the last labor group holding out against a new labor agreement and are threatening to strike if their current contract is voided by the bankruptcy court. The judge is due to rule on September 4.

Read the full article: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Boeing 777-223 ER N791AN (msn 30254) of American Airlines in the Oneworld motif climbs away from the runway at Los Angeles International Airport.

American Slide Show:

US Airways Slide Show:

British Airways to start nonstop London Gatwick-Colombo service on March 31

British Airways (London) will start nonstop London (Gatwick)-Colombo (Sri Lanka) flights starting on March 31, 2013. The route will be operated three days a week and flown with Boeing 777-200 ERs.

British Airways:

American Airlines’ pilots reject the tentative contract by 61%

American Airlines‘ (Dallas/Fort Worth) 7,500 pilots, represented by the Allied Pilots Association (APA), have rejected by a 61 percent vote, to disapprove the latest tentative contract. American stated it was disappointed by the vote and will now ask the bankruptcy court to impose harsher terms for its pilots.

Meanwhile AA’s flight attendants are voting on a tentative agreement through August 19.

Read the full account in the Washington Post: CLICK HERE

American Airlines:

Air Canada reports EBITDAR second quarter income of C$314 million

Air Canada (Montreal) recorded earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and impairment, and aircraft rent (EBITDAR) of C$314 million in the second quarter of 2012 compared to EBITDAR of C$338 million in the second quarter of 2011. Operating income of $63 million decreased $10 million from the same quarter in 2011.

In the company financial call, airline executives confirmed AC is still proceeding with a low-cost subsidiary in 2013. The new subsidiary will operate Airbus A319s and Boeing 767-300s on leisure routes. AC’s pilots are fighting the creation of this new subsidiary.

Here is the full financial report (all currencies in Canadian dollars):

Income Statement Highlights

On a system capacity growth of 0.6 per cent, system passenger revenues increased $85 million or 3.3 per cent in the second quarter of 2012, on a 1.4 per cent growth in traffic and a 1.2 per cent improvement in yield. Passenger revenue per available seat mile (RASM) increased 2.0 per cent from the second quarter of 2011. In the premium cabin, second quarter 2012 passenger revenues increased $21 million or 3.7 per cent from the same quarter in 2011, driven by a 2.1 per cent improvement in yield and a 1.6 per cent growth in traffic.

In the second quarter of 2012, operating expenses increased $81 million or 3 per cent from the second quarter of 2011, primarily due to increases in wages, salaries and benefits, aircraft maintenance, capacity purchase costs and other expenses. Partially offsetting these increases was a reduction in depreciation, amortization and impairment expense. Unit cost, as measured by operating expense per available seat mile (CASM), increased 2.3 per cent from the second quarter of 2011. Excluding fuel expense and the cost of ground packages at Air Canada Vacations, CASM increased 3.6 per cent from the second quarter of 2011. The 3.6 per cent increase in CASM, excluding fuel expense and excluding the cost of ground packages at Air Canada Vacations, was less than the 4.0 per cent to 5.0 per cent increase projected in Air Canada’s news release dated May 4, 2012, as a number of cost categories were slightly below what Air Canada had previously anticipated.

Air Canada reported an operating income of $63 million in the second quarter of 2012, a decline of $10 million from the second quarter of 2011.

Air Canada reported a net loss of $96 million or $0.35 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2012 compared to a net loss of $46 million or $0.17 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2011. On an adjusted basis, net loss per diluted share was $0.05 in the second quarter of 2012 compared to a net loss per diluted share of $0.01 in the second quarter of 2011. Removing the impact of the labour disruptions and the capacity impact related to the Aveos closure, the adjusted income per diluted share would have been $0.07 to $0.12, an improvement over the same quarter in 2011.

Liquidity Highlights

At June 30, 2012, Air Canada’s cash and short-term investments amounted to $2,383 million, $124 million higher than Air Canada’s cash and short-term investments balance at June 30, 2011, and represented 20 per cent of 12-month trailing operating revenues.

At June 30, 2012, adjusted net debt of $4,223 million decreased $353 million from December 31, 2011. This reduction in adjusted net debt included the impact of lower debt balances and the impact of an increase in cash and short-term investments of $284 million from December 31, 2011, which was mainly due to positive free cash flow of $368 million in the first six months of 2012.

Current Outlook

In the third quarter of 2012, Air Canada expects its system ASM capacity, as measured by available seat miles (ASMs), to increase in the range of 0 to 1.0 per cent when compared to the third quarter of 2011.

Taking into account reported ASM capacity for the first six months of 2012, Air Canada expects its full year 2012 system capacity to increase in the range of 0.5 to 1.5 per cent when compared to the full year 2011 (as opposed to the 0 to 1.5 per cent ASM increase projected in Air Canada’s news release dated May 4, 2012) and expects its full year 2012 domestic capacity to increase in the range of 0.5 to 1.5 per cent from the full year 2011 (as opposed to the 0 to 1.5 per cent ASM increase projected in Air Canada’s news release dated May 4, 2012).

For the third quarter of 2012, Air Canada expects CASM, excluding fuel expense and excluding the cost of ground packages at Air Canada Vacations, to increase by 1.0 per cent to 2.0 per cent from the third quarter of 2011.

Air Canada continues to expect its full year 2012 CASM, excluding fuel expense and excluding the cost of ground packages at Air Canada Vacations, to increase by 0.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent from the full year 2011 level.

Air Canada’s above-mentioned outlook assumes Canadian GDP growth of 1.5 per cent to 2.0 per cent in 2012. In addition, Air Canada expects that the Canadian dollar will trade, on average, at C$1.01 per U.S. dollar in the third quarter of 2012 and for the full year 2012 and that the price of jet fuel will average 85 cents per litre for the third quarter of 2012 and 88 cents per litre for the full year 2012.

The following table summarizes Air Canada’s above-mentioned outlook for the third quarter of 2012 and for the full year 2012 and related major assumptions:


	Third Quarter 2012 versus Third Quarter 2011	Full Year 2012 versus Full Year 2011
Current Outlook
Available seat miles (System)	Increase 0% to 1.0%	Increase 0.5% to 1.5%
Available seat miles (Canada)	n/a	Increase 0.5% to 1.5%
CASM, excluding fuel expense and excluding the cost of ground packages at Air Canada Vacations	Increase 1.0% to 2.0%	Increase 0.5% to 1.5%


	Major Assumptions – Third Quarter 2012	Major Assumptions – Full Year 2012
Major Assumptions
Canadian dollar per U.S. dollar	1.01	1.01
Jet fuel price – CAD cents per litre (net of fuel hedging)	85 cents	88 cents
Canadian economy	2012 annualized Canadian GDP growth of 1.5% to 2.0%	Canadian GDP growth of 1.5% to 2.0%

For the full year 2012, Air Canada also projects the following:

Depreciation, amortization and impairment expense to decrease by $55 million from the full year 2011, as opposed to the decrease of $70 million projected in Air Canada’s new release dated May 4, 2012. This revised guidance reflects changes in residual values of aircraft and the acceleration of depreciation of various assets, including as a result of the planned removal of nine CRJ-100 aircraft from the covered fleet under Air Canada’s capacity purchase agreement with Jazz Air LP.
Employee benefits expense to increase by $30 million from the full year 2011.

The following table summarizes the above-mentioned projections for the full year 2012:


	Full Year 2012 versus Full Year 2011
Depreciation, amortization and impairment expense	Decrease $55 million

Employee benefits expense	Increase $30 million

The outlook provided constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws and is based on a number of additional assumptions and subject to a number of risks. Please see section below entitled “Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information.”

Non-GAAP Measures

Below is a description of certain non-GAAP measures used by Air Canada to provide additional information on its financial and operating performance. Such measures are not recognized measures for financial statement presentation under Canadian GAAP and do not have standardized meanings and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other public companies. Readers should refer to Air Canada’s Second Quarter 2012 MD&A for a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures.

Adjusted net income (loss) per diluted share is used by Air Canada to assess share performance without the effects of foreign exchange, mark-to-market adjustments on derivatives and other financial instruments recorded at fair value and unusual items.
EBITDAR is commonly used in the airline industry and is used by Air Canada to assess earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and impairment, and aircraft rent, as these costs can vary significantly among airlines due to differences in the way airlines finance their aircraft and other assets.
Operating expense, excluding fuel expense and excluding the cost of ground packages at Air Canada Vacations, is used by Air Canada to assess the operating performance of its ongoing airline business as such expenses may distort the analysis of certain business trends and render comparative analyses to other airlines less meaningful.
Free cash flow is used by Air Canada as an indicator of the financial strength and performance of its business because it shows how much cash is available for such purposes as repaying debt, meeting ongoing financial obligations and reinvesting in Air Canada.
Adjusted net debt is a key component of the capital managed by Air Canada and provides a measure of the airline’s net indebtedness.

Air Canada: