Air France-KLM (Air France) (KLM Royal Dutch Airlines) (Paris)ย lost โฌ630 million ($826.3 million) in the first quarter, compared to a smaller loss of โฌ379 million ($497.1 million) in the same quarter a year ago.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
Top Copyright Photo: Ole Simon.ย Air France Airbus A380-861 F-HPJE (msn 052) taxies at the Paris (CDG) hub.
Air France:ย 
KLM:ย
Bottom Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems.ย Airbus A330-203 PH-AOM (msn 1161) taxies at the Amsterdam base.
Spirit Airlines (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) issued the following financial report:
Spirit Airlines, Inc. reported first quarter 2013 financial results.
Revenue Performance
For the first quarter 2013, Spirit’s total operating revenue was $370.4 million, an increase of 22.9 percent, compared to first quarter 2012.
Total revenue per available seat mile (“RASM”) for the first quarter 2013 was 11.85 cents, an increase of 1.7 percent compared to the first quarter 2012 driven by strength in operating yields. The calendar shift of Easter occurring in March this year compared to April in 2012 contributed to the strong first quarter 2013 results.
Passenger flight segment (“PFS”) volume grew 17.8 percent year-over-year in the first quarter 2013. Average non-ticket revenue per PFS for the first quarter 2013 increased 5.9 percent year-over-year to $54.75 and average ticket revenue per PFS for the quarter increased 3.2 percent year-over-year to $79.09. The growth in non-ticket revenue per PFS during the first quarter 2013 was primarily driven by the introduction of advance purchase restrictions on bags as well as other various changes in our pricing structure for optional services.
Cost Performance
Total operating expenses in the first quarter 2013 increased 21.4 percent year-over-year to $320.8 million on a capacity increase of 20.8 percent.
Cost per available seat mile excluding special items and fuel (“Adjusted CASM ex-fuel”) for the first quarter 2013 was 6.04 cents, up 0.8 percent year-over-year. The increase in Adjusted CASM ex-fuel was primarily driven by depreciation and amortization expense related to amortization of heavy maintenance events. Due to an increased number of severe winter storms during the quarter, the Company experienced a higher number of weather-related flight cancellations compared to the same period last year. The CASM pressure associated with the resulting decrease in ASMs as well as other weather-related expenses such as higher deicing expense, also contributed to the increase in Adjusted CASM ex-fuel. The impact of these items was partially offset by efficiency benefits resulting in lower labor expense per ASM, lower distribution expense per ASM, and an increase in average stage length.
Selected Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Items
As of March 31, 2013, Spirit had $483.5 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, no restricted cash, no debt on its balance sheet, and total shareholders’ equity of $614.8 million.
During the first quarter 2013, Spirit incurred capital expenditures of $10.6 million, which includes the purchase of a spare engine that was financed under a sale leaseback transaction after it was delivered. The Company paid $15.1 million in pre-delivery deposits (“PDPs”) for future deliveries of aircraft, and paid $6.8 million in maintenance reserves, net of reimbursements.
Fleet
In the first quarter 2013, Spirit took delivery of two used A319 aircraft and two new A320 aircraft, ending the quarter with 49 aircraft in its fleet.ย Spirit’s March A320 aircraft delivery was the carrier’s first aircraft to be delivered with sharklets.ย The Company has five additional new A320 aircraft with sharklets scheduled for delivery in 2013.
The carrier is expanding quickly. On April 25ย started service on nine new nonstop routes and also resumed summer seasonal service on a variety of our customers’ favorite routes.
Nine New Spirit Airlines Nonstop Routes Starting April 25, 2013:
In addition, Spirit resumes the following summer seasonal routes:
The following new nonstop routes start in June:
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum.ย Airbus A319-132 N506NK (msn 2490) taxies to runway 9L at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Spirit Airlines:ย 
EasyJet (UK) (London-Luton) on May 2ย launched its first flight to London Southend from Edinburgh. The new route means EasyJet now operates to four London airports with up to 28 flights connecting the capital cities per day.
EasyJet flights to London Southend will operate six days a week and offer the quickest route into Stratford and East London. Around 85,000 passengers are anticipated to use the service over the next 12 months and fares start from ยฃ29.99 each way.
In March EasyJet added a seventh aircraft to the airport and launched six new routes in a move which is expected to deliver 140,000 extra visitors to Scotland.
Copyright Photo: Robbie Shaw.ย Airbus A319-111 G-EJAR (msn 2412) in the Supporting UNICEF scheme taxies at London (Gatwick).
EasyJet (UK):ย
EasyJet’s expanding route map at Southend (SEN):
Tiger Airways (Australia) (Melbourne) intends to expand its fleet from 11 aircraft to 23 in five years. The expanding airline will be battling Jetstar Airways for market share in the budget travel segment. Rob Sharp is the new CEO, the fifth CEO in five years.
Read the full interview: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: John Adlard.ย Airbus A320-232 VH-VND (msn 3206) taxies past the camera at Sydney.
Tiger Airways (Australia):ย
Route Map:
Virgin America (San Francisco) yesterday (May 1)ย launched new service to Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport in San Jose, California (SJC) โ the latest destination city in the carrier’s network.ย The addition of SJC expands the airline’s presence in the greater San Francisco Bay Area (SJC is in the South Bay). Virgin America will serve SJC with four daily nonstop flights from and to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Guests on the very first LAX-SJC inaugural flight traveled on board Virgin America’s new Airbus A320 (N841VA), appropriately named “#nerdbird,” and were greeted by Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Bransonย at a red carpet welcome at SJC’s new Terminal A.
Upon arrival at SJC’s ย brand new Terminal A, travelers were given a red carpet welcome with a touch of Silicon Valley-inspired irreverence: flight guests were given nerd glasses and pocket protectors onboard. ย The inaugural #nerdbird flight received a traditional water cannon salute as Flight 534 touched down in San Jose. ย Once deplaned, the inaugural flight guests were greeted by Mayor Reed, U.S. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, business and civic leaders and Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson, for a champagne brunch gate-side to toast the new route.
Virgin America on May 1 also kicked offย aย #nerdbird Goes Southย online promotion sweepstakesย inviting Elevateยฎ frequent flyer program members to enter their membership number by May 16 for a chance to win a prize that includes Elevate Gold Status and 15 single-use WiFi passes good for any Virgin Americaย flightย through the end of 2013, courtesy of Gogoยฎ. All entries will get a code good for 25% off flights between San Jose and Los Angeles (restrictions applying).*** For contest rules please visit:ย https://www.virginamerica.com//html/pdf/130501_nerdbird_contest.pdf
The new SJC-LAX route will also carry the codes of Virgin America codeshare partners Hawaiian Airlines and Singapore Airlines, offering seamless connectivity for guests traveling to and from San Jose via LAX. The addition of Virgin America San Jose-Los Angeles service creates convenient new online connections for San Jose guests traveling to and from Virgin America’s Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, New York (JFK and EWR), Orlando, Philadelphia, and Washington DC (IAD) destinations.
Copyright Photo: Mark Durbin. All others by Virgin America. Airbus A320-214 N361VA (msn 5515) at the San Francisco hub is the first with Sharklets.
Virgin America:ย
Video of the recent LAX-LAS launch:
Route Map:
Frontier Airlines (2nd) (Denver) is unbundling its services while maintaining the bundled option as it moves to a the Ultra Low Fare model. The goal is for the prospective customer to have a choice on services and hopefully the passenger will select the more expensive bundled “Classic Plus” fare which is being portrayed as a value fare rather than paying for individual unbundled add-ons. The airline is also giving advantages to those customers using the Frontier website. This strategy is a new version of the Ultra Low Cost Carrier model that has been developed by Allegiant Air and Spirit Airlines in the United States which advertises low fares but passengers are faced with many add-ons. Spirit Airlines, for example, does not offer the bundled fare alternative like the new Frontier model.
Frontier issued this statement:
Frontier Airlines announces forthcoming changes to further reduce fares and to improve the travel experience for its most loyal customers, including those who book throughย FlyFrontier.com. Frontier will further differentiate its services by charging customers only for the services they use and makeย FlyFrontier.comย the best place to book Frontier travel. Frontier guarantees that customers will get the best value atย FlyFrontier.comย with our Best Fare Guarantee.
Carry-On Baggage
Frontierโs most loyal customers have made it very clear that finding overhead bin space for carry-on bags has become unacceptably difficult. In response, Frontier will be introducing a charge for carry-on bags for customers buying Basic fares through third party sites. All tickets sold atย FlyFrontier.comย include a carry-on bag with the fare.
FlyFrontier.comย will become the only channel through which customers will continue to enjoy free carry-on bags on all tickets. Frontier encourages customers to save time and money by booking their travel atย FlyFrontier.com, where they will always be able to choose their seats, earn more miles, and enjoy more perks, now including a carry-on item in the overhead bin at no additional charge.
This change will increase overhead space for Frontierโs most loyal customers and speed the boarding process for all passengers. This change will take effect in summer 2013, with the start date to be announced later this spring.*
Frontier will continue to offer all customers to carry one free personal item, no more than 18โ x 14โ x 8โ, on the aircraft, provided such item fits under the seat.
โWith this change, we are ensuring that our most loyal customers โ Ascent and Summit level members ofย EarlyReturnsยฎ,ย those who book Economy, Classic and Classic Plus tickets, including all customers who book throughย FlyFrontier.com, will have more space onboard the aircraft for their carry-on bags,โ said David Siegel, Frontierโs chief executive officer. โAs we unbundle our product further, we ensure those customers who want the absolute lowest fares can always find them atย FlyFrontier.com.โ
Ascent and Summit level members of Frontierโsย EarlyReturnsยฎย program will continue to receive access to the overhead bins without additional charge. With some of the lowest elite qualification rates in the U.S. airline industry, it pays to be a loyal flier with Frontier.
Once this change has been implemented, Frontier bag fees will be priced as follows:
| Fare Type | Checked | Carry-on | ||||
| Summit & Ascent | $0 | $0 | ||||
| Classic Plus | $0 | $0 | ||||
| Classic | $0 | $0 | ||||
| Economy: lowest fares at FlyFrontier.com |
First bag: $20 (when checking in at FlyFrontier.com) or $25 at the airport; Second bag: $20 |
$0 | ||||
| Basic: lowest fares through outside booking channels |
First bag: $20 (when checking in at FlyFrontier.com) or $25 at the airport;Second bag: $20 |
$25-100 (customers enjoy the lowest price by checking in at FlyFrontier.com) |
||||
First Bag Fee
The fee to check a first bag will remain $20 when purchased during on-line check-in at FlyFrontier.com but will increase to $25 when purchased at airport check-in for all Economy and Basic tickets booked on or after June 1, 2013 for travel on or after July 11, 2013.
Second bag fees for Economy and Basic bags remain unchanged at $20. Classic and Classic Plus tickets continue to receive two free checked bags.
Onboard Beverages
As part of the transformation into an Ultra Low Cost Carrier, Frontier will begin charging for onboard beverages this summer. Effective July 1, 2013, customers who purchase Economy or Basic fares will be charged $1.99 for coffee, tea, soda and juice. All on-board purchases continue to require a credit or debit card.
Beverages will continue to be free for Ascent and Summit levelย EarlyReturnsยฎย members, as well as for all customers who purchase Classic and Classic Plus fares, when they show their boarding pass orEarlyReturnsยฎย membership card.
All customers will now receive a full can of soda or juice and customers choosing coffee will be offered free refills. In addition, Frontier will be making improvements to its beverage selection, including introducing a premium tea brand and Boyer’s Premium 100% Arabica coffee, a Colorado brand.
โFrontier continues to make it easier for customers flying with Frontier to pay only for the services they use, which allows us to continue lowering fares,โ said Daniel Shurz, Frontierโs senior vice president, commercial.
Frontier is proud to have an extensive onboard catering selection that includes a variety of buy on board food options, alcoholic beverages, and premium beverages. As Coloradoโs hometown airline, Frontier features Colorado brands in its onboard menu, including Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory fudge, Izze sparkling beverages, and several Colorado-brewed beers.
EarlyReturnsย Frequent Flyer Mileage Earn Changes
FlyFrontier.com customers always earn a minimum of 100% of frequent flyer miles flown. Economy, Classic and Classic Plus ticket-holders will continue to receive 100%, 125% and 150% of miles flown, respectively, regardless of where booked. However, beginning July 1, 2013, Frontier will be changing itsย EarlyReturnsยฎย mileage accrual rate on Basic fares from 50% to 25% of miles flown.
Frontier Airlines is a wholly owned subsidiary of Republic Airways Holdings, Inc.
*Frontier will charge a fee for carry-on luggage (larger than a personal item) for those who book Basic tickets after the announced date. Basic tickets are Frontierโs lowest fare sold for travel through outside booking channels, including other travel websites. Basic fares are not sold through FlyFrontier.com, where Frontier sells its lowest fares as Economy tickets that include a carry-on bag, an advanced seat assignment, lower change fees, and moreย EarlyReturnsยฎย miles than Basic fares. Classic tickets include additional amenities including two free bags and no change fees prior to the day of travel. Classic Plus fares offer our maximum flexibility, including being fully refundable.
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Formerly operated by USA 3000 Airlines,ย Airbus A320-214 N218FR (msn 1615, ex N261AV) (Atlantic Puffin) arrives at Washington (Reagan National).
Frontier Airlines:ย
Small Planet Airlines (formerly FlyLAL Charters) (Vilnius) is expanding its charter fleet. It is billing itself as the fastest growing charter airline in Europe. The charter airline is leasing five additional Airbus A320s. The first A320 was added in April 2011. The remaining two aging Boeing 737-300s should be retired at the end of the current summer season.
The current fleet serves the Polish charter market along with the UK, France and Lithuania.ย Small Planetย Airlines works with the majorย tour operators to bring holiday travelers toย Greece, Spain,ย Turkey, Egypt and other sunny destinations. The company also charters flights for the government, sport teams and private customers.
Top Copyright Photo: Keith Burton. Formerly operated by Air Astana, Airbus A320-232 P4-UAS is becoming LY-SPB (msn 2987) with Small Planet. All other images and photos below from Small Planet.
Small Planet:ย
Video:
Thomas Cook Group (London) today (May 1) merged the flight operations of subsidiary Condor Berlin (Berlin) into Condor Flugdienst (Frankfurt). This move is part of the group’s new strategy to streamline operations and to reduce the amount of its subsidiaries. Condor Berlin will continue to operate as a maintenance company in Berlin. The 12 Airbus A320s and 1 A321 of Condor Berlin are now being operated by Condor Flugdienst. All aircraft operate under the Condor and Thomas Cook brand.
Copyright Photo: Keith Burton. Airbus A320-212 D-AICH (msn 971) is pictured at Southend.
Condor:ย
Video: A cockpit view of a Condor Airbus A320:
Allegiant Travel Companyย (Allegiant Air) (Las Vegas) reported the following financial results for the first quarter 2013:
| Unaudited | 1Q13 | 1Q12 | Change |
| Total operating revenue (millions) | $273.0 | $237.9 | 14.8% |
| Operating income (millions) | $52.4 | $36.3 | 44.2% |
| Operating margin | 19.2% | 15.3% | 3.9pp |
| EBITDA (millions) | $69.4 | $48.3 | 43.6% |
| EBITDA margin | 25.4% | 20.3% | 5.1pp |
| Net income (millions) | $31.9 | $21.7 | 47.1% |
| Diluted earnings per share | $1.65 | $1.12 | 47.3% |
“We are very proud to report our 41st consecutive profitable quarter,” stated Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr., Chairman and CEO of Allegiant Travel Company. ย “The month of March is typically our busiest month of the year, and this year was no different. ย Thanks to the tireless efforts of our Team Members, we have had another profitable quarter.”
Notable company quarterly highlights
First quarter 2013 revenue performance
| 1Q13 | 1Q12 | Change | |
| Scheduled Service: | |||
| Average fare – scheduled service | $97.54 | $94.95 | 2.7% |
| Average fare – ancillary air-related charges | $41.64 | $32.39 | 28.6% |
| Average fare – ancillary third party products | $5.81 | $5.36 | 8.4% |
| Average fare – total | $144.99 | $132.70 | 9.3% |
| Scheduled service passenger revenue per ASM (PRASM) (cents) | 8.60 | 9.04 | (4.9)% |
| Total scheduled service revenue* per ASM (TRASM) (cents) | 12.79 | 12.64 | 1.2% |
| Load factor | 89.8% | 91.1% | (1.3)pp |
| Passengers (millions) | 1.8 | 1.7 | 8.4% |
| Average passengers per departure | 148 | 138 | 7.2% |
| Average scheduled service stage length (miles) | 978 | 932 | 4.9% |
* Total scheduled service revenue includes scheduled service, ancillary air-related charges, and ancillary third party products revenue.
ASMs = available seat miles
PRASM = scheduled passenger revenue per scheduled available seat mile
First quarter 2013 cost performance
| 1Q13 | 1Q12 | Change | |
| Total System*: | |||
| Operating expense per passenger | $117.31 | $112.03 | 4.7% |
| Operating expense per passenger, excluding fuel | $59.62 | $55.10 | 8.2% |
| Operating expense per ASM (CASM) (cents) | 10.20 | 10.52 | (3.0)% |
| Operating expense, excluding fuel per ASM (CASM ex fuel) (cents) | 5.18 | 5.17 | 0.2% |
| Average block hours per aircraft per day | 5.9 | 6.4 | (7.8)% |
* Total system includes scheduled service, fixed-fee contract and non-revenue flying.
Second quarter 2013 cost trends
Copyright Photo: Keith Burton. Allegiant introduced the first Airbus A319 into operations on March 1. The second was introduced on April 4. The former easyJet (Switzerland) A319-111 HB-JZN became N302NV (msn 2387) when it was delivered on February 11, 2013. The airliner is leased from GECAS.
Allegiant:ย
Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) (Kathmandu) has jumped from Boeing to Airbus and has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to acquire two Airbus A320 aircraft equipped with the Sharklet fuel saving wing tip devices. Sharklets deliver up to four percent savings in fuel consumption making the aircraft a cornerstone of NACโs fleet modernization.
Nepal Airlines currently operates two Boeing 757-200s for its international routes.
Image: Airbus.
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