Business: Good Week - Bad Week

© JW Owens

SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS The Wichita, Kansas-based company has significant new business. Mitsubishi contracted it to design and manufacture the engine pylons for its MRJ regional jet, while Continental Airlines signed an agreement for the supply of thrust reverser, fuselage and wing parts for its Boeing fleet. Mitsubishi Aircraft president Nobuo Toda describes Spirit as "the leader in the design and manufacture of components for passenger aircraft".

 

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© Petrick 2008

FUEL HEDGING Northwest Airlines has joined Southwest Airlines - which posted its first loss in 17 years earlier this month - as a victim of their hedging policies being caught out by the sudden fall in fuel price. Northwest posted a $216 million operating loss, compared with a $459 operating profit last year. Southwest, renown for using its fuel hedging strategy to sustain profitability, posted special charges of $247 million for the quarter as oil prices started to fall.

Source: Flight International