All Strategy news – Page 1043

  • News

    Airline revolution gathers pace

    1998-08-01T00:00:00Z

    When we launched Airline Business magazine 13 years ago, Carl Icahn had just taken over TWA; People Express was looking at acquisitions; Japan Airlines was losing its international monopoly; British Airways, Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines were about to be privatised; Britain and France had signed a new air services ...

  • News

    Indonesians ally together

    1998-08-01T00:00:00Z

    The domestic Indonesian aviation market will receive a much-needed shot in the arm if proposals for an alliance between five struggling airlines go ahead. Garuda Indonesia, Merpati Nusantara Airlines, Bouraq Indonesia Airlines, Mandala Airlines and Sempati Air are the prospective members of the alliance. The grouping could provide a ...

  • News

    Island assets offloaded

    1998-08-01T00:00:00Z

    Qantas Airways and Ansett Airlines have both sold most of their remaining interests in island resorts, thereby signalling a return to core operations. 'It's a classic case of sticking to your knitting,' explains James Strong, managing director of Qantas. 'I've never been convinced that Qantas could do as good ...

  • News

    Rising confidence

    1998-08-01T00:00:00Z

    Isao Kaneko became president of Japan Airlines the same day its shareholders approved a US$894 million write-off against capital reserves - the largest in Japan's corporate history. Kaneko succeeded Akira Kondo, who resigned as president to take responsibility for the unprecedented loss. It hardly seemed the occasion for the new ...

  • News

    Narita slots scramble

    1998-08-01T00:00:00Z

    Where there's a will, there's a way. Despite a nine year freeze on more takeoffs and landings at Tokyo/Narita airport, Japan's Ministry of Transport (MOT) seems to have found a way to accommodate more prime time flights by US carriers. But then, faced with the obligation to make the new ...

  • News

    Poles delay LOT sale

    1998-08-01T00:00:00Z

    The Polish government says it wants to postpone the sale of state carrier LOT Polish Airlines until next year, following delays in foreign ownership laws. LOT is now likely to look for a foreign strategic partner after the appointment of an advisory team to aid in the airline's privatisation. ...

  • News

    Love rivalry in courtroom

    1998-08-01T00:00:00Z

    Continental Express will be unable to implement its new regional jet service out of Dallas/Love Field fully until 1999 at the earliest, because of a legal wrangle that has developed with the city's main airport, Dallas-Fort Worth. The court case could set an important precedent. In the latest controversy ...

  • News

    A Herculean task

    1998-08-01T00:00:00Z

    Never trust Greeks bringing gifts, so the saying goes. It is to be hoped that doesn't apply to Greeks receiving gifts. Where is Hercules when he's needed? Unless he or the ancient gods intervene and provide a timely miracle, Greek flag carrier Olympic will require another sizeable gift from ...

  • News

    Asians clean up house

    1998-08-01T00:00:00Z

    In hard times, heads roll. Sometimes leaders step aside voluntarily, as in the case of Japan Airlines' president Akira Kondo and chairman Susumu Yamaji. But purges at China Airlines (CAL) and Garuda Indonesia are part of major housecleaning efforts. In a dramatic move to distance China Airlines from its ...

  • News

    Losses: What losses?

    1998-08-01T00:00:00Z

    The airline industry is renowned, with few exceptions, for its poor returns. Indeed, airlines as a group actually destroyed value between 1992 and 1997, achieving a feeble 6 per cent return on invested capital - at least three percentage points below the 9 to 10 per cent cost of capital ...

  • News

    SAA chief plans repairs

    1998-08-01T00:00:00Z

    South African Airways' new US chief executive is promising a complete overhaul and believes alliances and privatisation will have to wait until the airline is in better shape. Coleman Andrews, former CEO of World Airways, has been given a four-year contract with a mandate to restore the South African ...

  • News

    Japan's economy faces overhaul

    1998-08-01T00:00:00Z

    Japan is facing a crisis of historical proportions. The dramatic fall in the value of the yen and the long-term decline in the value of the companies which make up the Nikkei stock market index are simply symptoms of far-reaching changes taking place in the way in which the country ...

  • News

    Startups look to citizen McCain

    1998-08-01T00:00:00Z

    Last year it was the ticket tax; this year it's the Department of Transportation. The US majors have a new enemy in their gunsights and the atmosphere on Capitol Hill is bellicose once again. In 1997 the carriers that united in a campaign to abolish the 10 per cent ...

  • News

    Debonair looks for frequent flier links

    1998-07-29T00:00:00Z

    Low-cost UK carrier Debonair has emerged from its meeting to discuss setting up a joint frequent flier programme for the independent airline sector, declaring that it has up to 15 European carriers on board, including Virgin Express and Air Malta. Potential deals are also in place to extend the scheme ...

  • News

    Fine Air set for Southern Air purchase

    1998-07-29T00:00:00Z

    Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC Fine Air Services, the parent of Miami-based Fine Air, has revealed plans to acquire rival US cargo airline Southern Air Transport (SAT). Privately owned SAT, based in Columbus, Ohio, has been on the market for several months, with 747 freighter lessor Atlas Air previously tipped ...

  • News

    MEA discusses nine-aircraft order with Airbus and Boeing

    1998-07-29T00:00:00Z

    Middle East Airlines (MEA) has confirmed it is in talks with Airbus Industrie and Boeing over an order for up to nine medium-range aircraft. The airline declines to clarify the details of the bids, but it is understood to be looking for a mix of six medium- and three large-capacity ...

  • News

    Marketplace

    1998-07-29T00:00:00Z

    -CityFlyer Express has taken delivery of its fifth Avro RJ100, and has placed orders for two further aircraft for delivery in mid-1999. The airline, which operates British Airways franchise services from Gatwick, has also placed two options. -Atlas Air has placed a third 747-200 freighter with a consortium of South ...

  • News

    Routes

    1998-07-29T00:00:00Z

    -Sabena will introduce jet services on its Brussels to London City service on 13 September, replacing the existing Bombardier Dash 8 with an Avro RJ85 on one of five daily flights. ++ Swissair will cease flights to Philadelphia at the end of October. The airline will offer connections via New ...

  • News

    EC closes issue of Air France state aid despite court decision

    1998-07-29T00:00:00Z

    The European Commission (EC) has effectively laid to rest the issue over its four-year-old Air France state aid package, brushing off legal questions raised by last month's decision in the European courts. Air France should now be free to press ahead with its planned share flotation. The European Court ...

  • News

    Domestic boom keeps majors' profits rolling

    1998-07-29T00:00:00Z

    The major US carriers turned in another healthy set of profits for the second quarter, but as the mid-year results rolled in, Wall Street was already getting jittery over the likely timing of a downturn. The headline results were again based on the strength of the domestic economy, where ...