European carriers’ shares moved lower with the wider market on Monday (08-Mar-2010), also pushed down by another 0.5% gain in oil prices, to USD81.87. In key markets, UK’s FTSE (+0.1%) and Germany’s DAX (+0.1%) gained slightly, while France’s CAC (-0.2%) ended trading lower.
In releasing its February traffic statistics yesterday, United Airlines stated its weather-related cancellations last month reduced revenue by about USD40 million, from 1,740 cancelled flights. However, the benefit to PRASM was approximately 1.5 points from storm-related reductions in ASMs and the impact...
Another aircraft potentially looks set to join the increasingly crowded 70-110 seat market, this time with an update to the venerable Fokker 100. The Dutch Government recently confirmed that it plans to grant up to EUR20 million to NG Aircraft, to develop a prototype of an updated F 100 and resurrect...
The shift of US domestic capacity to low-cost carriers (LCC) has been happening for years, but new analysis reveals that despite all the talk about capacity discipline and dramatic capacity cuts, in reality only about a billion available seat miles disappeared in the latest recession, translating to...
Shares in China’s Xiamen Airport led the way up yesterday, with a strong 5.5% gain. The airport had the second largest increase in passenger numbers in Jan-2010 of the CAAC East China Regional Administration’s member airports.
Shares in China Southern Airlines will resume trading today (09-Mar-2010) following the announcement that the carrier plans to raise USD1.57 billion in funds through the non-public issuance of A Shares and H Shares, as part of efforts to reduce the company's gearing ratio, improve its capital structure...
CAAC Director General, Li Jiaxiang, stated that China plans to purchase 218 aircraft (regional and widebody aircraft) in 2010 to meet increased demand for air travel, according to Xinhua, China’s official press agency. CAAC is forecasting a 12% increase in passenger and freight traffic from 2009 levels...
Kuwait National Airways was flat. Subsidiary, Wataniya Airways confirmed plans over the weekend to introduce three A320 aircraft to its current fleet of four A320s this year. Each aircraft will be configured with 122 seats, compared with the 145 that a number of leading European airlines use in their...
There were plenty of nuggets at yesterday's JP Morgan Aviation, Transportation and Defense conference on the outlook for the US airline industry, with some revealing commentary on the economic recovery and pricing environment, labor and strike threats, as well as alliances and access to Tokyo Haneda...
The first acknowledgment that the new US Department of Transportation tarmac rule forced the cancellation of flights during February’s back-to-back 'snowpacalypses' came from Continental CEO Jeff Smizek yesterday when he let go a passionate diatribe against the government. In response to a question...
North and South American shares soared on Tuesday (09-Mar-2010) after a number of US carriers stated things are looking up financially for 2010. Only two carriers, Allegiant (-4.3%) and Republic Airways (-2.6%) were down at the end of trading.
Yesterday’s JP Morgan Aviation, Transportation and Defense conference carried little news about airline merger and consolidation (M&A) activity, as carriers paraded their new dedication to capacity discipline, the strength of their balance sheets and their continued ability to raise liquidity even...
European airline shares were mostly down on Tuesday (09-Mar-2010), despite a slip in oil prices (-0.5%), to USD81.49. Wider markets ended trading flat. City Index head of equities, Giles Watts, told AFP the markets were lower as investors “moved to scale down positions that had been built up over...
In Southeast Asia yesterday, shares in Malaysia Airports Holding Berhad (MAHB) dipped 2.6%, upon the release of the airport operator’s traffic report for Jan-2010. Passenger numbers at Kuala Lumpur International Airport rose 19.7% year-on-year in the month, led by a 26.4% year-on-year increase in...
Shares in JetBlue and Southwest Airlines rose 2.7% and 1% yesterday, respectively, as both airlines outlined plans to slow their future growth rates.
China Southern Airlines’ shares soared 7.1% in Hong Kong to their highest level since Jun-2008 (as trading resumed after a two-week suspension), following the carrier's announcement of a much bigger than expected capital raising plan – supported by Beijing – to help it improve its balance sheet...
“The Commission believes at this stage that the commitments address its competition concerns…If the market test confirms that the proposed commitments remedy the competition concerns, the Commission may adopt a decision...making the commitments legally binding on the parties,”: European Commission...
Comair (-10.5%) shares suffered their biggest daily drop in two months, after the carrier reportedly stated it plans to issue up to 69 million new shares at ZAR1.80 each, as part of plans to raise ZAR124.5 million to fund Boeing aircraft orders.
While FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt and Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood were upbeat on the prospects for achieving the NextGen air traffic management system, it all sounds entirely too familiar, since the industry has heard this lip service before.
North and South America shares soared again on Wednesday (10-Mar-2010), with a number of carriers reaching 52-week highs. UBS raised its price target for a number of carriers.
European carriers’ shares were mixed on Wednesday (10-Mar-2010), as oil prices (+0.7%) rallied again, reaching USD82.09 at the end of trading. Wider markets meanwhile gained on positive economic data from the US, while banking and mining sectors also pushed shares higher.
Boeing's shares were up 3.3% yesterday, as the withdrawal of EADS/Northrop Grumman from the US Air Force aerial tanker programme leaves it as the sole bidder. EADS shares fell 1.0% yesterday, despite its Airbus unit confirming an order for 25 A350 XWBs with United Airlines.
Cathay Pacific’s shares gained 4.7% to HK15.20 yesterday, its highest close since Jul-2008, after the carrier reported its best half-year result in two years and a return to profitability for 2009.
Qantas Group’s traffic results for Jan-2010 revealed signs that yields are starting to improve after a very difficult 2009. Over the past two months, Qantas international yields have showed continued improvement, with monthly yields moving from a 10.3% year-on-year reduction in Dec-2009, to a 7.7%...
Cathay Pacific staged a very solid turnaround in 2H2009 (six months to 31-Dec-2009), comfortably exceeding the market’s profit expectations, helped by better yields and capacity restraint. But the Hong Kong-based carrier remains “cautious” about the prospects for 2010, following the big hits to...
Shares in Spain’s Ferrovial, owner of UK airports operator BAA, gained 1.2% yesterday, upon the release of its traffic report for UK airports. BAA CEO, Colin Matthews, stated that London Heathrow Airport remains “resilient”, while other airports are showing “encouraging signs”. However, Mr...
The majority of African and Middle East carriers’ shares gained on Thursday (11-Mar-2010), with Comair (-0.4%) the only carrier to slip, taking an edge of its gains the day prior.
As European LCCs such as Air Berlin, Ryanair, easyJet, Vueling and Wizzair expanded their capacity and traffic in 2009, their full service competitors have been in contraction mode, as they sought to reduce losses.The members of the Association of European Airlines (AEA) handled 20 million fewer passengers...
With so many labour contracts in play, one of the main objectives for US mainline carriers will be further scope clause relief, as suggested by Continental, which is at such a competitive disadvantage in being unable to operate any regional jet larger than 50 seats. Should past contract agreements be...
North and South American shares were mixed on Friday (11-Mar-2010), despite IATA cutting its industry losses forecast for 2010 and the wider US market rallying for a third consecutive day.
