Strategy – Page 948

  • News

    Crystal joins list of US hopefuls

    2000-02-01T00:00:00Z

    KAREN WALKER WASHINGTON DC Following a dearth of activity in the late 1990s, the US start-up scene is off to a flying start in the new millennium. The latest entrant is Tampa, Florida-based Crystal Airways, which intends to launch a low-fare, all-business-class service in the first quarter of this ...

  • News

    Mexico orders TAESA to raise new capital

    2000-02-01T00:00:00Z

    DAVID KNIBB SEATTLE Officials have told Mexico's third largest airline to improve its financial viability by raising $130 million in new capital within the next 90 days. Taesa is putting a positive spin on the conclusions of a government audit by using them to entice investors. The investment order ...

  • News

    KLM uk sets off for low-cost growth

    2000-02-01T00:00:00Z

    COLIN BAKER LONDON KLM uk has joined the low-fare club as its new buzz brand took to the air in January. It backs predictions that low-cost traffic will triple in the next four years. Floris van Pallandt, KLM uk's chief executive, dismisses suggestions that the London Stansted-based carrier has been ...

  • News

    In the right direction

    2000-02-01T00:00:00Z

    The virtuous trend towards capacity constraint with which the industry ended last year appear to be holding steady. Kevin O'Toole and Chris Tarry of Commerzbank look for early signs. A couple of months into the new decade and it seems that the industry's resolve is holding. Towards the end ...

  • News

    In Brief - Europe

    2000-02-01T00:00:00Z

    Aer Lingus to be floated The Irish Government has opted to go ahead with an initial public offering for Aer Lingus, rather than offer the oneworld partners a strategic stake in the airline. The flotation is expected late this year or early 2001. The carrier says the exact timing, ...

  • News

    Iberian carriers strike alliance deals

    2000-02-01T00:00:00Z

    BARRY CROSS LONDON Portugal's TAP and Portugália have signed a memorandum of understanding to re-establish co-operation, while Spain's Air Europa is linking with "Wings" . The TAP-Portugália deal, announced in December, revives commercial relations which had been broken off by Portuguese flag carrier TAP 12 months previously. During the summer, ...

  • News

    British Airways moves towards Internet network

    2000-02-01T00:00:00Z

    British Airways has begun a major move towards use of the Internet Protocol (IP), signing a five-year $250 million contract for SITA to provide it with an IP-based global network infrastructure. The development will allow BA to add new systems on the IP network rather than on existing ...

  • News

    Sun Air recovery hopes hit by SAA deal with Safair

    2000-02-01T00:00:00Z

    ROGER MAKINGS JOHANNESBURG The saga over the liquidation of South African domestic carrier Sun Air has taken a further twist. Liquidators claim to have unearthed a deal between South African Airways (SAA) and leasing company Safair which effectively kills any chance of revival for the defunct carrier. SAA's bid ...

  • News

    Reform minded

    2000-02-01T00:00:00Z

    NICHOLAS IONIDES TOKYO Kichisaburo Nomura's appointment as ANA president surprised many observers two years ago and the shocks have continued as he has reshaped Asia's largest passenger carrier. It is probably an understatement to say that Kichisaburo Nomura has surprised observers since his appointment over two years ago as president ...

  • News

    Slow change

    2000-02-01T00:00:00Z

    NICHOLAS IONIDES TOKYO The final changes in Japan's painstakingly slow aviation deregulation, from April, will at last pave the way for more new start-ups For a country that so often leads the world in technological innovation, it is ironic that change in other areas can be painfully slow in ...

  • News

    Regional rumba

    2000-02-01T00:00:00Z

    BRIAN HOMEWOOD RIO DE JANERIO South America's regional scene is shifting rapidly; regional jets, economic upheavals, loosening of government restrictions and the scramble to secure partnerships with major carriers are all having an impact. The idea of travelling on a regional airline in South America usually evokes thoughts of ...

  • News

    Finding a new deal

    2000-02-01T00:00:00Z

    Airline Business looks at the state of finance markets as carriers continue to find innovative ways to keep aircraft liabilities off the balance sheet. A new survey also covers the world's major operating lease companies, including a ranking of the Top 40 groups by fleet value. JACK SELLSBY ...

  • News

    British Midland Commuter starts CityLine services

    2000-02-01T00:00:00Z

    Andrew Doyle/COLOGNE British Midland Commuter was due to start flying services for Lufthansa CityLine on 1 February as part of a deal that will see the UK carrier take over the bulk of the routes from Munich operated by bankrupt Debonair. The wet-lease deal, which was close to ...

  • News

    Italy clamps down on small regionals

    2000-02-01T00:00:00Z

    Italy's civil aviation authority, Enac, has clamped down on several of the country's small regional airlines in its first moves to tighten regulatory inspections following its reorganisation in 1997. Air Sicilia is back in operation following the grounding of the chief pilot for failing to comply with numerous procedural ...

  • News

    TES programme resumes but BA says more work is needed

    2000-02-01T00:00:00Z

    Emma Kelly/LONDON British Airways is resuming installations of Rockwell Collins Passenger Systems' Total Entertainment System (TES) on its widebody fleet after a temporary halt in the programme following initially disappointing seat availability figures. The airline claims improved performance of the TES, which is installed on 24 Boeing 747s and 777s, ...

  • News

    US Airways A330s get their P@ssports

    2000-02-01T00:00:00Z

    Airbus Industrie has started to install Sony Trans Com's P@ssport interactive in-flight entertainment (IFE) system on the first of US Airways' A330-300s. Installation of the fully interactive IFE system on the A330 - the first aircraft to feature P@ssport throughout the cabin - follows the approval of the system's software ...

  • News

    Boeing aims for February launch of 777 derivatives

    2000-02-01T00:00:00Z

    Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES Boeing is working towards a launch decision on the ultra-long-range 777X programme at a board meeting set for 28 February. The long-delayed launch is needed by the end of March if Boeing is to keep the 777X effort on track for service entry in September ...

  • News

    BA stake gains seats on Comair's board

    2000-02-01T00:00:00Z

    British Airways has taken a minority stake in South African regional carrier Comair in a move that cements the latter's status as a franchisee of the UK flag carrier, which will get two seats on its board. The 18.3% holding cost BA R168 million ($28 million) and was bought from ...

  • News

    Garuda joins Asian recovery

    2000-02-01T00:00:00Z

    Garuda Indonesia claims to have broken-even last year, reversing seven years of losses. The carrier's president, Abdulgani, says preliminary, unaudited, figures for 1999 show a 600 million rupiah ($83,000) net profit, after 1998's two trillion rupiah ($275 million) net loss. He says recent restructuring efforts are paying off. Abdulgani ...

  • News

    Meridiana sell-off may spark scramble

    2000-02-01T00:00:00Z

    Andy Nativi/GENOA Italian regional Meridiana, the country's second largest carrier, is up for sale following a decision by the Aga Khan to dispose of his 79% holding. A sale had been under consideration for several years, although initially only a small stake was to be offered. Several European ...