BELL ANNOUNCES ARH-LINKED JOB CUTS
Bell Helicopter last week laid off around 500 employees, representing 4% of its total workforce and 20% of its management-level staff, citing the US Army's 16 October decision to cancel its Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter contract. The company will provide pay and benefits to the employees for 60 days, in addition to severance benefits.
LUFTHANSA-BMI COULD CHALLENGE BA: VIRGIN
Virgin Atlantic boss Steve Ridgway sees last week's confirmation that Lufthansa is to acquire an 80% shareholding in London Heathrow-based BMI as "a major opportunity to [co-operate] and create a new and even more effective competitor to British Airways". Ridgway describes the once-mooted BMI-Virgin tie up "as one of the great undone deals in aviation".
MALAYSIA ACQUIRES THREE AW139S
AgustaWestland has completed the sale of three AW139 medium twin helicopters to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, marking the entry of the type into the country's government market. The agency responsible for patrolling Malaysia's waterways bought three Eurocopter AS365N3 Dauphins last year and could order another three of each type in the coming years.
LAN TAKES UP TO FIVE MORE 767S
Lan is close to completing a deal with Boeing to purchase four additional 767-300ERs and is seeking to acquire a fifth to help it continue its long-haul route growth despite delays in 787 deliveries. The carrier's chief financial officer Alejandro de la Fuente has revealed that Lan has "almost concluded an order for four additional Boeing 767s for delivery in 2011".
REVENUE RISE EXPECTED AT ROLLS-ROYCE
Rolls-Royce says current trading remains in line with market expectations, and according to an interim management report expects to increase underlying revenue and profit and generate a positive cashflow in 2008. Chief executive Sir John Rose says: "Clearly, the global economy has deteriorated rapidly, but it is too early to determine the precise effect this will have on our markets."
FALCON DELIVERIES SET FOR BOOST
Dassault Aviation delivered 13 Falcon business jets during the third quarter and expects a "significant increase" in the fourth quarter delivery rate. The 29 Falcon orders taken during the quarter, and 116 for the year to date, are well down on the 58 and 145 taken during the same periods last year, but Dassault notes that orders taken so far this year "remain very high" as 2007 was "exceptional record" and says it cannot yet estimate the impact of the current financial crisis.
BELTWAY RUMOUR MILL LIKE FEDEX CHIEF, FAA BOSS
As the USA goes to the polls, names doing the Washington rumour rounds as potential transport secretaries under a McCain administration include FedEx founder and chief executive Fred Smith and current job holder Mary Peters. An Obama win could elevate Federal Aviation Administration administrator Jane Garvey or high-powered lobbyist Linda Daschle. Also in the spotlight are lawmakers who have focused on transport improvement initiatives, such as the Democratic governor of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell.
Source: Flight International
