Networks – Page 1360
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News
Stop downsizing
Considerable barriers to rationalising airline maintenance remain. The answer lies not in downsizing but in upgrading training and systems, discarding outdated procedures and making facilities flexible, argues Scott Brandt.Airline maintenance has historically accounted for 9 to 13 per cent of an airline's operating costs. Maintenance cost per ASM varies throughout ...
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Voyage into cyberspace
Airlines are already taking their first tentative steps onto the Internet but remain uncertain over what type of product they should make available. By Carlos de Pommes, Steve Geller and Jens F Meyer.As the Internet continues its global expansion, cyberspace is becoming as big as outer space and the travel ...
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A breath of fresh air
After several wrong turnings on the bumpy alliance road, Sabena and Swissair are finally travelling together. In Brussels, Sabena chief executive Pierre Godfroid and alliance supremo Patrick du Bois discuss the prospects for the carrier with Trevor French.The irony is probably lost on Sabena chief executive Pierre Godfroid that almost ...
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Third party tussle
Despite excess capacity and reduced demand major carriers are returning to the third party maintenance & overhaul business as a key part of their maintenance and engineering strategies. By Steven Casley.In recent years third party maintenance organisations have been through a turbulent period of excess repair capacity, reduced carrier demand ...
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Pride of Argentina
Aerolineas Argentinas is hoping to break even this year, a sign that it could soon cease to be a financial drain on its ailing majority owner Iberia. Sara Guild reports.South America has been the bane of Iberia's expansionist existence since 1990. So it is perhaps a bit of a blow ...
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Rushing to compete
US and Canadian airlines have been rushing to fill the many gaps in the recently liberalised markets between the two countries. But opinions vary on which side will turn out to be the overall winner. Brian Dunn reports on the various strategies that exist in the newly created open ...
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Chilean combine
A restructured and profitable LanChile has finally taken control of its smaller rival Ladeco, securing access to substantial new markets. Sara Guild reports.Timing is everything. Certainly Sebastian Pinera would say so. The Chilean businessman and senator heads the company which in June sold 16.5 per cent of LanChile to take ...
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A real future
Vasp has seen a return to profits and growth despite having almost shut down three years ago. Wagner Canhedo, the president and CEO of the Brazilian carrier, talks to Mead Jennings about his plans for a new trans-border airline in South America.If anyone were to personify the character of Brazil, ...
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US problems brew in Asia
The Japan-US mini-deal may have skirted one impasse, but it is the first of several Asian bilaterals where US negotiators face renewed battles over capacity and fifth freedoms. Two rounds of China-US talks this year have made no progress on the question of allowing US carriers to fly ...
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US fares plan faces doubts
The first major challenge in the US to the current system for selling and distributing airline tickets has gained antitrust clearance, but it still faces a shaky future. The US Department of Justice has given the green light to a plan by Business Travel Contractors Corporation (BTTC) to ...
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Macau faces slow start
The long-awaited opening of Macau's airport next month may not see the carriers lining up as planners had envisaged, but they can at least take comfort from the barrier still facing their irrepressible rival and neighbouring airport at Zhuhai. When the first scheduled flights start from the Portuguese ...
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Dragon sale to calm fears
Senior managers at Cathay Pacific are still fighting to prevent the China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC) from invading their home turf. The latest gambit is to offer the potential rival a stake in regional carrier Dragonair, but there are doubts whether this tactic will curb the Chinese operator's ambitions. ...
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Kiwi to Oz
The New Zealand government has given Kiwi Travel International Airlines approval to operate scheduled services to Australia. The former charter carrier launched three new trans-Tasman routes with six weekly services: three between Hamilton and Brisbane, two from Hamilton to Sydney and one from Dunedin to Brisbane, using an all-economy B727-200. ...
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JAL smooths over FAA ban
Japan Airlines was understood to be close to an agreement in early September to end the US Federal Aviation Administration's suspension of its licence to repair US registered aircraft. The airline's FAA authorisation was cancelled in August after a routine annual inspection showed violations of US standards, according ...
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Kiwi sold on Murphy's law
The traditionally difficult winter season could prove especially challenging for troubled US minnow Kiwi International. In August, the Newark-based carrier installed its fourth chief executive in seven months, and its competitive position in the eastern US is under threat from Southwest's planned entry into Florida. But CEO Jerry ...
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Latins can look to a brighter future
South America's airlines are entering a new phase of alliances and cooperationThe realignment of the Latin American airline business is gathering pace. Chile's antimonopolies board has finally decided to permit LanChile to acquire Ladeco. Enjoying the fruits of a remarkable financial turnaround, Vasp of Brazil is acquiring Ecuatoriana and bidding ...
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Blanc rejigs his top team
Air France chairman Christian Blanc is putting pressure on flight attendants to accept a two-tier pay structure. The latest bid to cut costs follows a management reshuffle at the end of August. Blanc has commissioned a study by Munich-based consultants Roland, Berger and Partner which shows that cabin ...
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No ticket to ride with UAL
United Airlines' decision to make electronic ticketing an option for passengers on all its domestic routes, including services to Hawaii and Puerto Rico, could save the carrier up to $5 per ticket. The carrier estimates the new technology will save it about $25 million annually, similar to savings ...
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KLM builds with caution
KLM's recent agreements with Garuda Indonesia and Jet Airways in India reflect a wariness by the Dutch carrier over the future development of the industry in Asia-Pacific, but in Europe the carrier is still lacking a major partner. As parts of Asia like Thailand and Vietnam develop rapidly ...
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New faces sweep Lagos
Nigeria's aviation industry has undergone a massive shake-up, with the sacking of the entire management of Nigeria Airways and the merger of the Federal Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Airports Authority. Group captain Peter Gana replaces managing director Andrew Agom at Nigeria Airways, after what the minister ...