Networks – Page 1198

  • News

    Dragonair forced to rethink expansion

    1998-06-03T00:00:00Z

    Hong Kong's Dragonair is deferring delivery of its last of nine new Airbus A320 family aircraft and has shelved the planned launch of new services to Japan and South Korea because of the Asian economic downturn. The airline is undertaking a fleet roll-over with International Lease Finance (ILFC), with ...

  • News

    Growing power

    1998-06-03T00:00:00Z

    Paul Seidenman/SAN FRANCISCO Through a series of agreements with authorised service centres, AlliedSignal Engines has been expanding its TPE331-10 turboprop upgrade programme to encompass more general aviation (GA) aircraft. These centres, in conjunction with the Phoenix, Arizona-based manufacturer, have developed supplemental type certificates (STCs) for specific aircraft. These involve modification ...

  • News

    As easy as AB

    1998-06-01T10:46:00Z

    AB Airlines raised $14.7 million in the flotation of 35.6 per cent of its shares on the London Stock Exchange at the end of April. Cash will be used to fund aircraft orders, including six Boeing 737-700s, plus four on option, and for route development. Source: Airline Business

  • News

    SAS Baltic tie

    1998-06-01T10:45:00Z

    SAS and Lithuanian Air have announced that they aim to establish a 'strategic partnership' by 1 September 1998 to include network and frequent flyer programme cooperation. Source: Airline Business

  • News

    American to bed US rival

    1998-06-01T00:00:00Z

    Karen Walker Caution is the key word in the American Airlines and US Airways alliance proposal, but some wonder whether early tiptoeing might lead to a full merger further down the road. The two airlines describe their marketing alliance as 'broad and innovative', but provide few other details. By ...

  • News

    Hold your horses!

    1998-06-01T00:00:00Z

    Jackie Gallacher Close your eyes. Now open them. Like magic the alliance picture has changed again. In fact the speed of airline alliance courtships in 1997-8 is beginning to make pinning down an accurate image of the major groupings a bit like trying to capture fairy dust. Has the ...

  • News

    United trusts US alliances

    1998-06-01T00:00:00Z

    Karen Walker It was almost a throwaway comment, but it was deliberately aimed. Gerald Greenwald, United Airlines' chairman, says that for two airlines to approach corporations jointly about discount deals, they would need antitrust immunity. The statement, made during a question and answer period after the announcement of the ...

  • News

    China seeks foreign cash

    1998-06-01T00:00:00Z

    David Knibb Zhu Rongji may be starting cautiously as China's new premier, but his pro-market plans are clearly visible in recent aviation initiatives. Beijing is cutting its own spending as the Civil Aviation Administration of China considers whether to allow more foreign capital in airlines and how to attract ...

  • News

    Bob bows out to Carty

    1998-06-01T00:00:00Z

    Karen Walker For a leader originally set against airline deregulation and then dismissive of strategic alliances, Robert Crandall's frequent description as industry innovator has been earned in a peculiar way. But Crandall's handing over the helm of American Airlines to Donald Carty should ensure that the Crandall legacy continues, ...

  • News

    Delta ties knot at last

    1998-06-01T00:00:00Z

    Karen Walker To the relief of its new chief executive officer, Delta Air Lines has joined the US matchmaking game. But the planned strategic alliance with United Airlines has union and governmental hurdles ahead. The two airlines confirmed their alliance plans on 30 April. The pair say they will ...

  • News

    Taca lays into US open skies deals

    1998-06-01T00:00:00Z

    Karen Walker Pop! That's the sound of Central American carriers reacting to the open skies agreements they were applauding just a few months ago, but which they now regard as black clouds that have opened the floodgates to US competition and left local airlines with little shelter. The bubble ...

  • News

    Who's ready for a cosy threesome?

    1998-06-01T00:00:00Z

    And then there were three. If things work out as planned - and that's a big 'if' - over 80 per cent of the US airline industry will be in the hands of three alliance groups. Globally, the situation is less clear-cut, but the industry is moving in the same ...

  • News

    How does your airline grow?

    1998-06-01T00:00:00Z

    Tom Barkin and Todd Morgan With most airlines failing to deliver satisfactory shareholder returns over the full business cycle, it is essential to look beyond the core business for profitable growth. But seeking out and exploiting the best opportunities is not easy. Airlines need to combine their unique capabilities or ...

  • News

    Indian policy starts afresh

    1998-06-01T00:00:00Z

    Ravi Prasad The appointment of a new Indian civil aviation minister, Ananth Kumar, is translating into a fresh outlook for Indian aviation policy. The minister is scrutinising recommendations made by an expert group, headed by a senior civil aviation ministry official, to reassess India's aviation sector. Kumar promises ...

  • News

    Will sun rise in Japan?

    1998-06-01T00:00:00Z

    David Knibb After a bad year for all three major Japanese airlines, the debate is now whether their woes are temporary or due to deeper, more fundamental problems. Japan Airlines claims to have resolved its problems and cleaned up its balance sheet by taking a US$1.2 billion write down. ...

  • News

    Korean sees hope ahead

    1998-06-01T00:00:00Z

    David Mann Despite gloomy economic conditions in Korea, Korean Air remains bullish about its prospects. The airline aims to increase its operating revenue to US$3.5 billion this year, up from US$3 billion in 1997. And its optimism does not appear entirely misplaced. Salomon Smith Barney's Peter Negline agrees that ...

  • News

    Korea opens up its skies

    1998-06-01T00:00:00Z

    David Knibb Both Koreas have taken strides towards liberalisation as South Korea agrees to an open skies bilateral with the US and North Korea allows regular commercial overflights. The South Korea-US bilateral was sealed in late April, after three rounds of tough negotiations in which Seoul successfully held out ...

  • News

    Oz to rescue Air Niugini?

    1998-06-01T00:00:00Z

    David Knibb While Papua New Guinea's government ponders whether to accept Qantas Airways' offer to take over management of Air Niugini, the ailing PNGcarrier is slashing international services in an effort to stem its losses. PNG's prime minister Bill Skate has asked Qantas to manage government-owned Air Niugini and ...

  • News

    Peru opens skies first

    1998-06-01T00:00:00Z

    Peru has leapfrogged past Chile in its open skies negotiations and agreed to a deal that phases in liberalisation over four years. The open skies agreement was initialled on 9 May but not made public by presstime. The deal follows the pattern of recent treaties signed with Japan and ...

  • News

    Ryanair passes go in Europe

    1998-06-01T00:00:00Z

    Tom Gill With soaring profits, share price and traffic, Europe's largest and longest established low-cost airline may yet achieve its ambition to be the Southwest of Europe. But as it strives to continue its profitable growth path Ryanair can expect to cross swords with the new British Airways ...