Strategy – Page 1076

  • News

    Lufthansa sale

    1997-02-01T09:50:00Z

    The German government has approved a bill for Lufthansa's full privatisation ahead of the flotation of the state's remaining 35.68 per cent stake later this year. Foreign ownership will be capped at 50 per cent. Three-fifths of Lufthansa's employees have acquired the equivalent of 0.5 per cent of its capital ...

  • News

    The sales of the century?

    1997-02-01T09:49:00Z

    The sales of the century? NetsAAvers, CyberSavers, E-Savers or On-Line Travel Specials - under various names, four of the largest US carriers, plus a handful of others, are experimenting with using the Internet to promote special fare deals. They are selling what is essentially 'distressed' inventory - seats on weekend ...

  • News

    Delta dumps Frankfurt hub

    1997-02-01T00:00:00Z

    By insisting his airline will remain the number one transatlantic carrier and the leading US carrier in Germany, Delta Air Lines' chairman Ron Allen is trying to put a positive spin on the winding down of the Frankfurt hub. The decision, which is expected to boost operating profits ...

  • News

    Rebuild with care

    1997-02-01T00:00:00Z

    New faces in Washington mean action in the most controversial area of FAA reform - funding - is on hold. But the sparks should still fly in 1997. The new US Federal Aviation Administrator may want to consider investing in a pair of velvet gloves on taking up office. ...

  • News

    Gulf Air split put on hold

    1997-02-01T00:00:00Z

    Gulf Air's future remains in doubt as Abu Dhabi still looks set to succeed in its bid to take control of the carrier. The bid by the oil-rich Emirate was put on hold following new objections from Qatar and Oman. Concerned about their ability to grow their own ...

  • News

    Courts cap Dutch action

    1997-02-01T00:00:00Z

    KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Northwest Airlines both claim small victories in the legal battle between the two alliance partners which suggest the simmering dispute is no nearer a settlement. The New York supreme court made an interim decision upholding only two of six KLM arguments in a ...

  • News

    LOT tackles local losses

    1997-02-01T00:00:00Z

    In a bid to stem both financial losses and the erosion of market share by western European carriers, LOTis set to retaliate with the long-awaited launch of a new regional and domestic subsidiary, Eurolot. The wholly owned subsidiary, set up in December 1996, is due to start operations ...

  • News

    BA tightens Euro screws

    1997-02-01T00:00:00Z

    British Airways will intensify its efforts to turn around its unprofitable operations in France and Germany after the acquisition of Air Liberté and the relaunch of Deutsche BA. Air Liberté's fate rests in BA's hands after the commercial tribunal in Creteil finally approved BA's recovery plan, filed in ...

  • News

    Garuda link

    1997-02-01T00:00:00Z

    Garuda and Northwest Airlines have signed an MoU to pursue a broad marketing and operating alliance. The deal envisages codesharing, schedule coordination, a CRS linkup and joint marketing. On the operational side, Northwest plans to extend its three weekly Seattle-Osaka flights to Jakarta.   Source: Airline Business

  • News

    SIA cautious on India link

    1997-02-01T00:00:00Z

    Singapore Airlines' plan to launch a joint venture start-up in India has run into more trouble. The country's civil aviation minister has cast doubt on the plan's official approval by India's Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB). SIA has been lobbying with Tata Industries to launch the airline since ...

  • News

    Iberia set to drop Viasa

    1997-02-01T00:00:00Z

    Iberia is set to end its Latin American airline odyssey after shareholders and unions rejected the Spanish airline's plan to restructure Viasa. The tough stance adopted by Iberia's senior management suggests that new president, Xabier de Irala Estevez, will shrug off political pressure to maintain existing links with ...

  • News

    Web fever

    1997-02-01T00:00:00Z

    Business gurus like to portray the Internet as the best marketing opportunity ever and most airlines and aerospace companies have jumped onto the bandwagon. Richard Whitaker goes surfing to see what is on offer, and Jane Levere discusses the trend towards airlines using the Internet for distress sales of inventory. ...

  • News

    Sea change

    1997-02-01T00:00:00Z

    A change of government has resulted in a new chief executive for Air Malta, as well as a narrower focus. The airline's investment in Italian startup carrier Azzurra Air is now being questioned. Ian Verchere reports from Malta. Malta's unexpected shift to the Left at the national elections in November ...

  • News

    Mastering Micronesia

    1997-02-01T00:00:00Z

    As island governments slash support for their airlines, the carriers are discovering the need to size themselves to fit their markets and to pay more heed to commercial realities. When your nearest neighbour is 10 days away by boat, aviation is fairly important. But the central Pacific Micronesians are ...

  • News

    Mutual interests

    1997-02-01T00:00:00Z

    Mutual funds own substantial shares in most major US airlines. James S Altschul examines how they look at the airline business, and asks how much influence they wield. They are the behemoths of the equity investment world. Fuelled by a surging stock market, growing retail interest in equities, and a ...

  • News

    PIA is primed for sell off

    1997-02-01T00:00:00Z

    Pakistan International Airlines looks set to become the latest carrier in the region to start the hunt for a strategic equity partner, as the shortlist is drawn up for potential bidders for a stake in Air Lanka. The Pakistani government called in a team from International Finance Corporation, ...

  • News

    US pilots are out for profit

    1997-02-01T00:00:00Z

    Record profits and the use of regional jets are at the root of troubled pilot union negotiations at both American Airlines and United Airlines, and American could suffer a strike. The relationship between American's management and the Allied Pilots Association has changed dramatically since early January, when APA ...

  • News

    Skating on thin ice

    1997-02-01T00:00:00Z

    Competition, high costs, declining yields, and powerful unions are weighing heavily on SAS, but salvation could lie in its growing alliance grouping. It must be like hoarding a treasure chest, only suddenly to find a queue of people knocking on your door demanding a share of the booty. SAS ...

  • News

    SIA still keen on Sempati

    1997-02-01T00:00:00Z

    The main reasons behind Sempati Air's delayed initial public offering have now emerged as its deteriorating financial situation and the resulting top management shakeup. These events do not appear to have dampened Singapore Airlines' interest in taking a stake in the Indonesian private carrier. 'Discussions are continuing' about ...

  • News

    Lithuanian introduces Saab 340 on regional flights

    1997-01-29T17:45:00Z

    Lithuanian Airlines (LAL) is leasing two used Saab 340B turboprops to develop regional routes from Lithuania's capital Vilnius. The first of the two used aircraft, formerly operated by now-defunct Spanish regional Prima Air, came into service in mid-January. The second will follow in April. LAL will ...