Tag Archives: Boeing

Air Canada reports record load factors for December and the full year of 2012

Air Canada (Montreal) for the month of December 2012, reported a record system load factor of 82.1 per cent, versus 81.0 per cent in December 2011, an increase of 1.1 percentage points. System traffic increased 3.2 per cent on a system-wide capacity increase of 1.8 per cent. For the full year 2012, load factor was a record 82.7 per cent, versus 81.6 per cent, an increase of 1.1 percentage points. Air Canada reports traffic results on a system-wide basis, including regional airlines from which Air Canada purchases capacity.

“For both the month of December and full year 2012, Air Canada achieved record load factors of 82.1 and 82.7 per cent, respectively,” said Calin Rovinescu, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Led by increases in traffic in the U.S. transborder market of 6.6 per cent and in the Atlantic market of 5.1 per cent, Air Canada generated greater traffic for the month of December in all markets the airline serves with system wide growth of 3.2 per cent on a capacity increase of 1.8 per cent through higher utilization of our existing fleet. These strong results, for both the month and full year, underscore the effectiveness of Air Canada’s disciplined capacity management and our award winning product. I want to thank our employees for taking care of the more than 33 million customers Air Canada served in 2012 and, above all, transporting them safely to their destination. Their professionalism and efforts in earning our customers’ loyalty have been recognized by many industry awards, including the selection of Air Canada by frequent world travelers as the Best International Airline in North America.”


		DECEMBER			Q4			YEAR-TO-DATE
		2012	2011	Change	2012	2011	Change	2012	2011	Change
Traffic (RPMs mln)		4,394	4,256	+3.2%	12,574	12,064	+4.2%	55,646	54,223	+2.6%
Capacity (ASMs mln)		5,349	5,253	+1.8%	15,485	15,290	+1.3%	67,271	66,460	+1.2%
Load Factor		82.1%	81.0%	+1.1 pts	81.2%	78.9%	+2.3 pts	82.7%	81.6%	+1.1 pts

Canada	RPMs	1,272	1,259	+1.0%	3,831	3,708	+3.3%	16,403	15,971	+2.7%
	ASMs	1,520	1,550	-1.9%	4,591	4,588	+0.1%	19,858	19,666	+1.0%
	LF	83.7%	81.2%	+2.5 pts	83.4%	80.8%	+2.6 pts	82.6%	81.2%	+1.4 pts

US Transborder	RPMs	771	723	+6.6%	2,063	1,979	+4.2%	8,921	8,649	+3.1%
	ASMs	1,020	958	+6.5%	2,696	2,625	+2.7%	11,409	11,094	+2.8%
	LF	75.6%	75.5%	+0.1 pts	76.5%	75.4%	+1.1 pts	78.2%	78.0%	+0.2 pts

Atlantic	RPMs	933	888	+5.1%	2,837	2,687	+5.6%	13,951	13,675	+2.0%
	ASMs	1,109	1,100	+0.8%	3,583	3,580	+0.1%	16,845	16,839	0%
	LF	84.1%	80.7%	+3.4 pts	79.2%	75.1%	+4.1 pts	82.8%	81.2%	+1.6 pts

Pacific	RPMs	806	792	+1.8%	2,403	2,287	+5.1%	10,013	9,706	+3.2%
	ASMs	944	909	+3.9%	2,779	2,716	+2.3%	11,383	11,192	+1.7%
	LF	85.4%	87.1%	-1.7 pts	86.5%	84.2%	+2.3 pts	88.0%	86.7%	+1.3 pts

Other*	RPMs	612	594	+3.0%	1,440	1,403	+2.6%	6,358	6,222	+2.2%
	ASMs	756	736	+2.7%	1,836	1,781	+3.1%	7,776	7,669	+1.4%
	LF	81.0%	80.7%	+0.3 pts	78.4%	78.8%	-0.4 pts	81.8%	81.1%	+0.7 pts

* Includes Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and South America

Copyright Photo: Keith Burton. Boeing 767-333 ER C-FMWY (msn 25587) arrives at London (Heathrow). The airliner wears special “15 Years 1997 – 2012” markings on the Star Alliance color scheme.

Air Canada:

Delta Air Lines to offer nonstop Los Angeles-Nashville service in April

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) will add new daily nonstop service between Los Angeles and Nashville starting on April 8. The new route will be operated with Boeing 737-800s according to Airline Route. The company is also starting Raleigh/Durham-Tampa Bombardier CRJ200 Delta Connection flights also on April 8.

Delta Air Lines:

LOT Polish Airlines to shrink in size, Boeing 737s and 767s to be retired

LOT Polish Airlines (Warsaw), because of its continued financial losses, is going to shrink in size according to this report by the Wall Street Journal. The carrier is phasing out its Boeing 737s and 767s. The Polish government, which controls 93 percent of the stock, issued $127 million in emergency loans to the struggling state carrier on December 21 to keep it out of bankruptcy. This loan, which may still be deemed illegal state aid by the European Commission, is keeping the airline aloft. The Polish government is restructuring the airline and only the most profitable routes will be kept. One half of the fleet is expected to be returned to the lessors according to the article.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Terry Wade. LOT is proud to be the first operator of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Europe but will it be able to continue to operate the new type? The 787 is planned to be assigned to the carrier’s long-range routes if those routes can be maintained with the restructuring. The first 787-8, SP-LRA (msn 35938) prepares to touch down at London (Heathrow) on its first visit.

LOT Polish Airlines:

American Airlines and US Airways move one step closer to a merger with this announcement

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) will soon make a decision on whether it will proceed with the proposed merger with US Airways (Phoenix). The two airlines have issued this joint statement which brings a probable merger one step closer with a new agreement between its pilots:

American Airlines and US Airways, with participation of committee counsel for the Unsecured Creditors Committee, are pleased that they have completed discussions with the Allied Pilots Association and US Airline Pilots Association intended to develop a framework for the terms of employment for pilots, as well as a process for pilot integration, in the event of a merger between AA and US during restructuring. This memorandum of understanding was approved by the Allied Pilots Association’s Board of Directors and by USAPA’s Board of Pilot Representatives. This memorandum of understanding will assist all of the stakeholders, including the Boards of AMR and US Airways, in making an informed decision as to whether a merger should ultimately be pursued. The MOU is one of several elements to be considered before a decision on a merger can be made. Details regarding the MOU are still covered by the terms of a non-disclosure agreement so they cannot be further disclosed at this time.

American Airlines’ board of directors meets next week to consider its course of action. Read the analysis by Reuters: CLICK HERE

Top Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. The Boeing 767-200s of both airlines are likely to be retired fairly soon if a merger is accomplished. American’s Boeing 767-223 ER N324AA (msn 22325) is mainly assigned to the transcontinental routes and is pictured departing from Los Angeles International Airport.

American Airlines:

US Airways:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. A decision will have to made about US Airways’ membership in the Star Alliance if a merger is pursued. Boeing 757-2B7 N935UW 9msn 27201) arrives at Las Vegas.

Ukraine International Airlines meanwhile expands with new routes

Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) (Kiev) meanwhile is expanding in the wake of AeroSvit’s bankruptcy proceedings. The airline in May 2013 will launch new routes from Kiev to resort city of Sochi which will host the 2014 Winter Olympics, and Krasnodar in Russia. Kiev-Sochi will start on May 24 with three flights a week and Kiev-Krasnodar will commence on May 25 also with three flights a week.

In addition the carrier is taking over 21 routes from AeroSvit according to Airline Route.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Richar Vandervord. UIA is likely to now add more Boeing aircraft for this expansion. Boeing 737-8HX UR-PSC (msn 29662) arrives at Long (Gatwick).

Ukraine International Airlines:

China Airlines retires its Boeing 747-400 “Dynamic Blue”

China Airlines (Taipei) has repainted its Boeing 747-409 B-18210 (msn 33734) which was painted in the promotional Boeing 787 Dreamliner livery. China Airlines, which called the special aircraft “Dynamic Blue”, has repainted the aircraft in its regular colors.

China Airlines:

United Airlines launches its first international Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner service today

United Airlines (Chicago) today (January 3) will introduce daily nonstop Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner service between its hub at Los Angeles International Airport and its hub at Tokyo Narita International Airport. The service – previously operated with a Boeing 777 aircraft – is the first regularly-scheduled international route operated using United’s new 787 Dreamliner.

The flight, UA 32, will depart Los Angeles at 11:15 a.m. (1115), arriving in Tokyo Narita at 4:10 p.m. (1610) the next day. The return flight, UA 33, will depart Tokyo Narita daily at 5:55 p.m. (1755), arriving in Los Angeles at 10:35 a.m. (1035) the same day.

United’s 787 Dreamliner is configured with 36 seats in United BusinessFirst, 70 seats in United Economy Plus and 113 seats in United Economy. The aircraft will revolutionize the flying experience for United customers and crews while delivering unprecedented operating efficiency, comfort and lower emissions. Customers on the flights will experience greater comfort with improved lighting, bigger windows, larger overhead bins, lower cabin altitude and enhanced ventilation systems, among other passenger-friendly features.

Yesterday (January 2) LAN Airlines (Santiago) introduced the Boeing 787-8 on the Santiago-Los Angeles route.

United Airlines:

Philippines to fly to Toronto starting on November 30

Philippines (Philippines Airlines) (Manila) has announced it will add Toronto (Pearson) and the nonstop Manila-Toronto route on November 30. The return routing will stop at Vancouver.

Philippines:

MIAT Mongolian Airlines to start a new route to Shanghai on January 17

MIAT Mongolian Airlines (Ulaan Baatar) is expanding its route map (see below) with a new twice-weekly route radiating from Ulaan Baatar to Shanghai (Pudong) starting on January 17 according to Airline Route.

This airline should not be confused with the newer Mongolian Airlines operating Airbus A319s on international routes.

Copyright Photo: OSDU. Boeing 737-8CX EI-CXV (msn 32364) arrives in Moscow (Sheremetyevo) painted in the striking 2011 livery. EI-CXV is named for Khubelai Khaan or Kublai Khan, the fifth Great Khan of the Mongol Empire from 1260 to 1294 and the founder of the Yuan Dynasty in China.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

MIAT Mongolian Airlines:

Current Route Map:

Please click on the map to expand.

Austrian Airlines sets its restructuring platform for 2013, won’t ask Lufthansa for any more money

Austrian Airlines (Vienna) has outlined it restructuring plans which will be fully implemented in 2013 including moving all operational administration to Innsbruck under Tyrolean Airways which operating all Austrian aircraft (except one). 150 administrative jobs will also be eliminated. Struggling Austrian Airlines will not ask its parent Lufthansa for any additional money, after receiving $119 million to upgrade the fleet according to a report by Reuters. The company issued this statement:

Austrian Airlines Group has initiated a further step in the restructuring program announced in spring. This step will eliminate redundancies in its organization. These were identified through the conducting during the second half of 2012 of analyses of the operating procedures employed in the flight operations of Tyrolean Airways, in technical processes and in administrative departments. The result is potential savings somewhat greater than €10 million. 150 administrative positions out of the Group’s 6,320 employees will be cut.

Gaudenz Ambühl, managing director of Tyrolean Airways, states: “This is a highly painful move. However, it is one that our restructuring makes inevitable. This makes it possible for us to realize all of the savings in costs enabled by the operational transition. These measures have been widely expected. They will now eliminate the redundancies found in operations.”

The following measures were resolved upon:

Flight control operations are currently managed from two centers. These operations will all be handled by the Vienna hub.
The headquarters of all flight administration operations will be set up in Innsbruck. This essentially involves the establishment of a Shared Services Center in the city, to which nine departments will be assigned.
The planning of personnel, resources and rotation will be concentrated in Innsbruck.
Redundant operations will also be eliminated at Austrian Airlines. The “Part M” responsibilities forming part of technical maintenance – with these including the engineering, the planning and the management – will be grouped in Tyrolean. Tyrolean is the holder of the official AOC (Air Operator Certificate). The technical maintenance of the fleets will continue to be undertaken at a variety of stations. Innsbruck will handle the maintenance of the Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft; Vienna, of the Fokker, Airbus, and Boeing airplanes, and Bratislava, the overhauling of the Fokker fleet.

Jaan Albrecht, CEO of Austrian Airlines says: “The difficult conditions prevailing on markets do not leave us any choice. We have to increase our organization’s efficiency and to eliminate redundancies in the entire Group. This especially applies to duplications in our organizations, of which we have been aware for a number of years.”

All measures will be implemented in 2013. The grouping of operations at a set of centers will result in a reduction of up to 150 jobs. These will be in Austrian Airlines’ administrative operations. The Austrian Airlines Group has resolved to set up a social plan for the employees affected. Details of it are still being worked out with the works council.

Copyright Photo: Keith Burton. Boeing 737-8Z9 OE-LNS (msn 34262) departing London (Heathrow) now carries “Operated by Tyrolean” sub-titles.

Austrian Airlines: