All Networks articles – Page 1144
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News
Philippines toughs out 'protectionist' attack
Nicholas Ionides ATI SINGAPORE The Philippine Government has come under attack for growing protectionism in its air services policy, but mounting criticism appears only to have toughened its stance. Accusations of protectionism were lodged by Taiwan in July when its national carrier, China Airlines (CAL), was hit with a 30-day ...
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Better times beckon in the South Pacific
David Knibb SEATTLE Airlines of the South Pacific islands have had one of their best years ever, led by Fiji's Air Pacific. Two of the region's chronic losers are showing profits, but the scene at Air Niugini stays turbulent. Fijian flag carrier Air Pacific had a record year, posting ...
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Brazilians refute merger speculation
Brian Homewood RIO DE JANEIRO Brazil's four major airlines have described reports that they are considering merging into two as "mere speculation". But the Brazilian airline industry remains awash with rumours that Varig, Vasp, Transbrasil and Tam could join forces. Varig says that company president Fernando Pinto, who went on ...
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United offers more business legroom
Jane Levere NEW YORK Battling, like every other carrier, for the higher-yield market, United Airlines is installing improved seating at the back of the cabin in its domestic fleet in order to reward its most frequent or full-fare economy passengers. The carrier is reconfiguring the first six to 11 rows ...
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CAL crash raises fresh fears
Brent Hannon/TAIPEI Andrzej Jeziorski/SINGAPORE The crash on 22 August of a China Airlines (CAL)Boeing MD-11 at Hong Kong International Airport has placed both the airline and the airport authority on the defensive. In a bad week for Asia-Pacific air safety, the crash was followed days later by a ...
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CAL goes on spending spree
Nicholas Ionides ATI SINGAPORE Taiwan's China Airlines (CAL) has finalised a long-awaited fleet renewal plan with $5.6 billion worth of orders for up to 36 aircraft from Airbus Industrie and Boeing. The split order, the largest in the history of Taiwanese civil aviation, covers firm orders for 13 Boeing ...
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PAL enters cargo venture talks with Lufthansa
Andrzej Jeziorski/SINGAPORE Struggling Philippine Airlines (PAL) is talking to Lufthansa about a joint cargo service between Manila and Frankfurt, which could mark PAL's return to Europe after a year away. According to PAL, the proposed block space agreement will come into effect on 1 November, with PAL buying ...
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US carriers gripe over China routes
David Knibb SEATTLE All three US carriers that have been tentatively awarded new rights to China have asked the US Department of Transportation (DoT) for more flights than they have received. Of the 17 new weekly flights allowed under the China-US bilateral between now and next April, the DoT ...
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China's fortunes improve
Nicholas Ionides SINGAPORE The Chinese Government is claiming success in its struggle to turn the country's unprofitable airlines around, but has warned that the industry is not out of the woods yet. The state-run China Daily newspaper says total losses by the country's 30-plus airlines in the first half of ...
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Controlling the future
Peter Bennett VIENNA Commercialisation, privatisation and the empowerment of Eurocontrol are possible solutions to Europe's growing delays. The solution for Europe's air traffic delays is simple. First, look at the causes - a fragmented air system controlled by a patchwork of control centres that leads to the inefficient management ...
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Orlando courts Europeans
Virgin Atlantic Airways has signed a long-term agreement for a $58 million international 12-gate terminal to be built at Orlando airport, Florida. The recent approval of the lease, which runs until 2008 for one gate, is described by Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) officials as "unique" for a foreign ...
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A crowded market
Lois Jones BEIJING & SHANGHAI Still shuddering from Asia's economic crisis, China's aviation industry is restructuring with domestic tie-ups and the home market high on the agenda. The Hainan Airlines aircraft took off and spread its wings over the sprawling mass of Guangzhou, south China - one of the most ...
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Majors eye Kennedy terminals
Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are weighing up major investments in new terminal facilities at New York's Kennedy Airport, already in the middle of a massive $9 billion redevelopment programme for new terminals and infrastructure. Delta and United operate from outdated and overcrowded facilities while many of ...
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KLM uk eyes low-cost route
Lois Jones LONDON Fierce competition from low-cost carriers at its London Stansted base is forcing KLM uk to rethink its market position and restructure. Launching its own no-frills service is one possibility. The KLM regional subsidiary is to axe six unprofitable routes from 12 September and streamline its fleet. The ...
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Punctuality hits new lows
When the Association of European Airlines (AEA) issued its punctuality report for the first quarter of the year, it warned that delays in 1999 were shaping up to be worse even than the infamous summer of 1989 when European delays last hit a peak. The prediction was on target. ...
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Raising the internet stakes
Dennis Blank ORLANDO The explosion of online travel booking in the USA - stimulated by offerings of bargain basement ticket fares - is attracting the wrath of travel agents. But US major carriers cannot ignore this rapidly growing marketplace. This year, the customary late summer round of airfare bargains across ...
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Management teams
Carriers in need of change are looking to new boardroom teams for results. Analysis is by Michael Bell, who leads the Global Aviation Practice for senior-executive search firm Spencer Stuart The past few months have brought into focus a new form of leadership at troubled carriers around the world: management ...
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Passenger seat restraint
Kevin O'Toole Continuing fall-out from Asia's economic crisis reverberated around markets last year as is clear from the latest passenger airline rankings. But it is concerns over falling yields rather than traffic that are now taking centre stage. Last year posed something of a test of resolve for airline ...
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Profits on a plateau
Kevin O'Toole In the final analysis, the airline industry's financial results for 1998 were once again a mix of the encouraging and the depressingly familiar. Overall profitability came out at almost identical levels to the year before. The industry should perhaps take heart from that fact, given the dire ...
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Reading the signs
Major carriers appear to be signalling their intent to rein back on excess capacity. Chris Tarry at Commerzbank looks at the signs and the possible influence of alliances in the equation. It does not take a degree in rocket science to realise just how testing this year has already been ...