Strategy – Page 1037

  • News

    Air France president Spinetta lays plans for competitiveness

    1997-12-24T00:00:00Z

    Julian Moxon/Paris Air France president Jean-Cyril Spinetta has unveiled the main elements in his plans to solve the "persistent competitiveness problems" which he says continue to plague the airline. Pilots' unions have objected to the plan, however. The strategy centres on a Fr40 billion ($6.7 billion) investment in ...

  • News

    PIA chairman begins mission to restore 'financial discipline'

    1997-12-24T00:00:00Z

    New Pakistan International Airlines(PIA) chairman Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has set about a clean sweep of the carrier's finances, taking heavy write-offs in the latest 1996/7 accounts and pledging to "restore operational and financial discipline". The accounts, which show a heavy Rs4.8 billion ($110 million)net loss in the year to ...

  • News

    Hidden turmoil

    1997-12-24T00:00:00Z

    There is something vaguely ironic about Boeing outlining continuing production delays and, in the same breath, of the need to shed production staff. The irony is, however, a reflection of the underlying turmoil in the civil airframe industry - a turmoil which has to some extent been hidden by the ...

  • News

    747-400IGW gets go-ahead

    1997-12-24T00:00:00Z

    Guy Norris/SEATTLE The Boeing board has given its civil-aircraft sales team authority to offer a growth version of the 747-400 with a maximum take-off weight of 413,140kg and a range of up to 14,245km (7,700nm). The decision is the first significant growth step for the aircraft since the ...

  • News

    Alitalia confirms KLM alliance

    1997-12-24T00:00:00Z

    Kevin O'Toole/LONDON Alitalia plans to start its alliance with KLM from November 1998, shortly after the opening of the Italian carrier's new Milan hub at Malpensa Airport, which is seen by both carriers as a cornerstone of their partnership. Alitalia's choice of European alliance partner on 17 December ...

  • News

    P&W considers new rival for CFM56

    1997-12-24T00:00:00Z

    Guy Norris/EAST HARTFORD Pratt & Whitney has begun studies of an advanced-technology geared-fan engine in an initiative to re-enter the narrowbody market and challenge the dominance of CFM International. The study outlines an initial series of engines for the 107-156kN (24,000-35,000lb)-thrust range, and is based around the use ...

  • News

    Wishing on a star

    1997-12-17T00:00:00Z

    Guy Norris/Rio de Janeiro Varig is entering one of the most pivotal periods in its 70-year history. After successfully struggling to turn its fortunes around in 1996, the Brazilian flag carrier figuratively hitched its wagon to a star in 1997 when it joined the growing band of airline members ...

  • News

    European ministers agree to set up safety body

    1997-12-17T00:00:00Z

    European Union (EU) transport ministers meeting in Brussels have agreed that a new European Air Safety Authority (EASA) involving the Union and its member states in a treaty with other European states wishing to join, is the preferable route to set up an aviation safety authority to take over the ...

  • News

    Delta pushes to expand services to Latin America from Atlanta

    1997-12-17T00:00:00Z

    Delta Air Lines is planning to expand services into Central and South America in a bid to turn its Atlanta, Georgia, hub into a major gateway for Latin America. The USA's third-largest airline will begin daily non-stop service on 5 April between Atlanta and Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala ...

  • News

    Major Latin American carriers close in on short-haul orders

    1997-12-17T00:00:00Z

    Major airlines in Brazil, Chile, Columbia, El Salvador and Panama are expected to finalise big short-haul fleet orders soon. Combined orders and options for over 100 aircraft are expected from the carriers. Copa Panama is close to finalising an order to replace its entire fleet, which consists of 11 ...

  • News

    Air 2000 to expand long-haul operations with 767-300

    1997-12-17T00:00:00Z

    Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDON Air 2000 is set to become a genuine long-haul airline in 1999 following the signing of a lease deal for delivery of its first dedicated widebodies in the form of the Boeing 767-300ER. The charter airline, which is based at Luton in the UK, has signed ...

  • News

    Challenge launches Omega DC-10 freighter programme

    1997-12-17T00:00:00Z

    Challenge launches Omega DC-10 freighter programme Challenge Air Cargo is set to be the launch customer for the Omega Air-backed McDonnell Douglas DC-10-40 freighter-conversion programme, with the acquisition of up to five aircraft, starting in 1998. According to company president Bill Spohrer, the Miami-based regional freight operator is ...

  • News

    Iberia hopes pay deal will clear way for 727 replacement order

    1997-12-10T00:00:00Z

    Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDON Iberia is optimistic that it will complete contract negotiations with staff shortly, enabling an order for Airbus Industrie or Boeing narrowbodies to be finalised early in 1998. The airline says that it is evaluating the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737-800 to replace its 28 Boeing 727-200s, ...

  • News

    Alitalia plays down privatisation but closes on alliance decision

    1997-12-10T00:00:00Z

    Kevin O'Toole/LONDON Alitalia chairman Fausto Cereti is downplaying the chances for a quick privatisation of the Italian flag carrier, despite the announcement by its parent state-holding company, IRI, that it will cut its stake. The choice of a European alliance partner is promised within weeks, however. Cereti says ...

  • News

    Finnair records double profits as passenger numbers boom

    1997-12-10T00:00:00Z

    Kevin O'Toole/LONDON Finnair saw profits more than double over the first half of its financial year, making it the latest northern European airline to benefit from a passenger boom which has already contributed to record results for Lufthansa and gains at SAS over the latest quarter. Finnair posted ...

  • News

    Western Pacific wins court approval for re-organisation

    1997-12-10T00:00:00Z

    Western Pacific Airlines has won bankruptcy court approval for its own re-organisation plan, backed by the Smith Management Company (SMC), after the withdrawal of a rival bid from Frontier Airlines. Frontier helped to precipitate WestPac's descent into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October when it withdrew from a merger. ...

  • News

    Global warning

    1997-12-10T00:00:00Z

    As the world's environment experts began to assemble in Kyoto, Japan, for the United Nations (UN)summit on global warming, amid the general pronouncements on climate change come some timely reminders that aviation remains firmly among the industries on the target list for environmental activists. Among its other positioning papers ...

  • News

    Netherlands begins search for new airport site

    1997-12-10T00:00:00Z

    Studies into a new location for Amersterdam's noise-limited Schiphol Airport are being stepped up as the Netherlands Government attempts to placate growing pressure from environmental groups. In a policy decision on 28 November, the Government rejected calls to put an absolute cap on the volume of aviation growth within ...

  • News

    Crossair adds more aircraft to

    1997-12-10T00:00:00Z

    Crossair has finalised plans to boost its fleet, with deals to acquire up to 14 additional aircraft, including Saab 2000s, Aero International (Regional) Avro RJ100s and Boeing MD-83s. The Swissair regional subsidiary, based at Basle, operates a fleet of some 65 aircraft, including Saab 340s, Saab 2000s, British Aerospace ...

  • News

    Bombardier plans to establish Malaysian centre

    1997-12-10T00:00:00Z

    Bombardier is planning to establish a new Malaysian-based regional service centre to support the growing number of Challenger, Global Express and Learjet business aircraft which are entering service or are on order for Asian customers. In the longer term, it is also exploring the possibility of a regional fractional-ownership scheme. ...