Tag Archives: GRU

Gol shuts down Webjet today

Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. (Gol Transportes Aereos) (Sao Paulo) has announced as of today (November 23), it will begin the process of winding up the activities of its subsidiary Webjet Linhas Aereas (Rio de Janeiro) and the discontinuation of its name and brand. The airline was grounded today.

The group continued in its statement; “The first step is to extinguish flight operations. Webjet has an operational model based on a fleet that mostly consists of aging Boeing 737-300 aircraft that are advanced age, technologically out of date and consume large amounts of fuel. Given the Brazilian sector’s new cost standards, this model is no longer competitive.

As a result of the winding up of operations, around 850 employees, including flight and cabin crew and maintenance personnel, will be laid off.

Webjet’s clients and passengers will be fully served by Gol and their flights will be guaranteed. As of this date, Gol will be responsible for all air transport and associated services for these passengers. In this context, all the necessary measures are been taken.

As a result of this decision and its consequences, the Company estimates a non-recurring increase in costs in the fourth quarter of 2012, which will be disclosed to the market opportunely. However, the measures will improve operational efficiency as of 2013.

In relation to Webjet’s Boeing 737-300 fleet, Gol estimates that it will return all 20 aircraft by the end of the first half of 2013, 16 of which in the first quarter.

Thanks to the smaller fleet, Gol expects to reduce its domestic supply (ASK) by between 5% and 8% year-on- year in the first half of 2013, underlining its commitment to recovering its operating margins and the sustainability of the business.”

Webjet Linhas Aereas:

Gol reduces its third quarter net loss to $152.7 million

Gol Linhas Aereas Intelligentes (Gol Transportes Aereos) (Sao Paulo) reduced its third quarter net loss to $152.7 million.

Read the full report from Zacks: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Marcelo F. De Biasi. Boeing 737-8EH PR-GTF (msn 34279) in the special 10 Anos (10 Years) color schemes taxies at Sao Paulo (Guarulhos).

Gol:

Gol’s second quarter net loss widens to $354 million

Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. (Gol Transportes Aereas and Webjet Linhas Aereas) (Sao Paulo) reported its second quarter net loss expanded to $354 million due to fuel costs and its debt service.

Read the full report from the airline (in Portuguese): CLICK HERE

Read the analysis by the WSJ: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Rodrigo Cozzato. “Smiles” is not the operative word at Gol’s headquarters with this financial report. Boeing 737-809 PR-GIT (msn 28403) approaches the Sao Paulo (Guarulhos) hub while promoting the in-house “Smiles” frequent flyer program (click on the photo for the full view and further information).

Gol:

Webjet:

Copa Holdings reports a 2Q net profit of $32.0 million

Copa Holdings (Copa Airlines and Copa Airlines Colombia) (Panama City) reported net income of $32.0 million in the second quarter. Here is the full report by the company:

OPERATING AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Copa Holdings reported net income of US$32.0 million for 2Q12, or diluted earnings per share (EPS) of US$0.72. Excluding special items,Copa Holdings would have reported adjusted net income of $58.6 million, or $1.32 per share, a 3.6% increase over adjusted net income ofUS$56.6 million and US$1.28 per share for 2Q11.
Operating income for 2Q12 came in at US72.6 million, a 2.7% decrease over operating income of US$74.6 million in 2Q11. Operating margin for the period came in at 14.1%, compared to 17.4% in 2Q11, as a result of a 3.3% decline in unit revenues and a 2.7% increase in the effective price of jet fuel.
Total revenues increased 20.6% to US$515.8 million. Yield per passenger mile increased 1.2% to 17.2 cents and operating revenue per available seat mile (RASM) decreased 3.3% to 13.1 cents. However, adjusting for a 9.6% increase in average length of haul, adjusted yields and adjusted RASM increased 5.9% and 1.2%, respectively.
For 2Q12, passenger traffic (RPMs) grew 20.3% on a 24.8% capacity expansion, resulting in a consolidated load factor of 73.5%, or 2.8 percentage points below 2Q11.
Operating cost per available seat mile (CASM) increased 0.6%, from 11.2 cents in 2Q11 to 11.3 cents in 2Q12. However, CASM excluding fuel costs remained flat year over year at 6.9 cents.
Cash, short term and long term investments ended 2Q12 at US$718.2 million, representing 35% of the last twelve months’ revenues.
During the second quarter, Copa Airlines took delivery of five Boeing 737-800 aircraft and returned two leased 737-700 aircraft. As a result,Copa Holdings ended the quarter with a consolidated fleet of 80 aircraft.
In June, Copa Airlines launched service to four new destinations: Las Vegas (USA), Recife (Brazil), Liberia (Costa Rica) and Willemstad(Curacao). Also, on July 14, the airline launched service to Iquitos (Peru). As a result. Copa Airlines’ network now provides service to 64 destinations in 29 countries in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.
On June 21, Copa Airlines officially joined the Star Alliance, the largest and most important global airline network. Entry into Star Alliancestrengthens the airlines’ successful alliance with United Airlines, as well as the Hub of the Americas’ position as the major connection center in the Americas.
For 2Q12, Copa Holdings reported consolidated on-time performance of 83.7% and a flight-completion factor of 99.4%.


Consolidated Financial & Operating Highlights	2Q12	2Q11	% Change	1Q12	% Change
Revenue Passengers Carried (‘000)	1,658	1,511	9.8%	1,714	-3.2%
RPMs (mm)	2,886	2,400	20.3%	2,954	-2.3%
ASMs (mm)	3,923	3,145	24.8%	3,829	2.5%
Load Factor	73.5%	76.3%	-2.8 p.p.	77.2%	-3.6 p.p.
Yield	17.2	17.0	1.2%	17.7	-3.2%
PRASM (US$ Cents)	12.6	12.9	-2.5%	13.7	-7.8%
RASM (US$ Cents)	13.1	13.6	-3.3%	14.2	-7.3%
CASM (US$ Cents)	11.3	11.2	0.6%	11.3	0.2%
CASM Excl. Fuel (US$ Cents)	6.9	6.9	-0.1%	6.8	1.0%
Breakeven Load Factor ⁽¹⁾	63.0%	58.5%	4.5 p.p.	61.2%	1.8 p.p.
Fuel Gallons Consumed (Millions)	52.1	42.2	23.6%	51.3	1.7%
Avg. Price Per Fuel Gallon (US$ Dollars)	3.32	3.24	2.7%	3.33	-0.2%
Average Length of Haul (Miles)	1,740	1,588	9.6%	1,724	0.9%
Average Stage Length (Miles)	1,063	973	9.2%	1,066	-0.3%
Departures	27,005	24,694	9.4%	26,647	1.3%
Block Hours	74,841	61,240	22.2%	73,480	1.9%
Average Aircraft Utilization (Hours)	10.6	10.2	3.5%	11.0	-3.6%
Operating Revenues (US$ mm)	515.8	427.7	20.6%	543.3	-5.0%
Operating Income (US$ mm)	72.6	74.6	-2.7%	111.6	-34.9%
Operating Margin	14.1%	17.4%	-3.4 p.p.	20.5%	-6.5 p.p.
Net Income (US$ mm)	32.0	41.3	-22.4%	95.9	-66.6%
Adjusted Net Income (US$ mm) ⁽¹⁾	58.6	56.6	3.6%	90.6	-35.3%
EPS – Basic and Diluted (US$)	0.72	0.93	-22.5%	2.16	-66.6%
Adjusted EPS – Basic and Diluted (US$) ⁽¹⁾	1.32	1.28	3.5%	2.04	-35.3%
# of Shares – Basic and Diluted (‘000)	44,354	44,316	0.1%	44,341	0.0%

⁽¹⁾Breakeven Load Factor, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS for 2Q12, 2Q11, and 1Q12 exclude non-cash charges/gains associated with the mark-to-market of fuel hedges.

The new font titles and updated logo:

Copa Airlines:

Pluna’s seven Bombardier CRJ900s to be auctioned off

Pluna Lineas Aereas Uruguayas (Montevideo) operated seven Bombardier CRJ900s. The government of Uruguay is planning to auction off the fleet to the highest bidder. The winning bidder will also have the first option to resume operations as the new flag carrier of Uruguay according to this report by Bloomberg.

Read the report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Marcelo F. De Biasi. Bombardier CRJ900 (CL-600-2D24) CX-CRD (msn 15180) is pictured arriving at Sao Paulo (Guarulhos).

Pluna:

Gol promotes its Smile frequent flyer program with a new logojet

Gol Transportes Aereos (Sao Paulo) this month has introduced this colorful “Smiles” logojet to promote its frequent flyer program. Customers can accrue miles in the program that can be redeemed for free trips, especially to new destinations like Miami (this aircraft will fly the weekly route to Miami). Passengers can also purchase extra miles up to 4,000 miles in order to speed up the redemption of their free tickets.

Copyright Photo: Rodrigo Cozzato. Boeing 737-809 PR-GIT (msn 28403) taxies past the camera today at Sao Paulo (Gaurulhos).

Gol:

Hot New Photos:

Pluna to be permanently shut down

Pluna Lineas Aereas Uruguayas (Montevideo) will be shut down permanently according to a report by Reuters.

The government of Uruguay has decided to close down its bankrupt carrier after failing to find new investors to replace investment fund Leadgate which has pulled out. Uruguay assumed control over Pluna in June 2012 after Leadgate, which controlled a 75 percent stake, refused to contribute more capital according to Reuters.

The government is considering establishing a new flag carrier.

PLUNA (Primeras Líneas Uruguayas de Navegación Aérea) was established in September 1936 and started operations on November 20, 1936.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Pluna:

Video:

Route Map:

Please click on the map to expand.

Pluna cancels all flights until tomorrow morning

Pluna Lineas Aereas Uruguayas‘ (Montevideo) has cancelled all flights until tomorrow morning due to a work stoppage by its unions fearing that some positions may be eliminated. The flag carrier is facing a financial crisis and could soon file for bankruptcy. The strike and cancellations started late on July 3.

The airline issued the following list oc cancelled flights (in Spanish): CLICK HERE

Pluna:

LAN acquires TAM, becomes the LATAM Airlines Group

LAN Airlines S.A. (Santiago) (which has been renamed LATAM Airlines Group S.A.) and TAM S.A. (Sao Paulo) on June 22 completed their exchange offer. The acquisition has created the LATAM Airlines Group S.A. LATAM Airlines Group S.A. will offer passengers more flights to more destinations than any other affiliated group of airlines in South America, initially reaching about 150 destinations in 22 countries and transporting cargo to 169 destinations in 27 countries.

As previously announced, the transaction was carried out through an exchange offer in which TAM’s shareholders could elect to exchange their TAM shares for LAN shares at a ratio of 0.9 LAN shares for each TAM share. The offered LAN shares will be delivered in the form of BDRs (Brazilian Depositary Receipts) in Brazil and ADRs (American Depositary Receipts) in the United States. The exchange offer, which was materialized with the auction on June 22, 2012, was subject to the condition that more than 2/3 of the TAM shares that participate in the offer agree with the deregistration of TAM as a public company in Brazil. This delisting condition was satisfied when 99.9% of the participant shares agreed with TAM’s deregistration. The tendered shares together with the TAM shares committed by the TAM Controlling Shareholders represented 95.9% of the total outstanding shares of TAM.

According to this report by Reuters, LATAM Airlines will decide within the next six months which airline alliance it will stay with. Currently LAN is a member of the OneWorld alliance, while TAM belongs to Star Alliance.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Top Copyright Photo: Alvaro Romero.

LAN Airlines:

TAM Linhas Aereas:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Marcelo F. De Biasi.

Delta wants to add two non-hub routes from London Heathrow

Delta Air Lines Boeing 767-332 ER N1605 (msn 30198) GRU (Marcelo F. De Biasi), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) has filed applications with the European Commission (EC) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requesting permission to operate twice-daily year-round service between London’s Heathrow Airport and Boston, and daily year-round service between Heathrow and Miami.

The slots for the new service are available following the U.S. and E.U. governments’ approval of an immunized trans-Atlantic alliance between American Airlines and British Airways. The government required the airlines to divest some Heathrow slots in order to enhance competition in the most tightly restricted markets.

If approved, Delta’s Heathrow service from Boston and Miami would begin March 27, 2011, and would be offered in cooperation with its trans-Atlantic joint venture partners Air France-KLM and Alitalia.

If approved, Delta would operate Boeing 767-300 ERs on both routes.