TUI AG’s TUIfly unit said it ‘will not tolerate a possible monopoly’ following a code-sharing agreement between Condor, Air Berlin and LTU.
TUIfly spokesman Herbert Euler said ”the code-sharing agreement between TUIfly and Air Berlin was under review anyway” and added that such an agreement between Condor, Air Berlin and LTU would need approval by the cartel office.
source: ABC Money
Globespan, the group behind low-cost airline Flyglobespan, is looking to expand its business in of Edinburgh next year when four more aircraft begin operating in and out of the Capital.
Tom Dalrymple, the founder and chairman of the Colinton-headquartered group, outlined plans as the company revealed its latest results.
While not revealing any specific timetable or targeted routes, Mr Dalrymple said he was aiming to run four Boeing 737-700s from Edinburgh by 2008.
source: Scotsman
Australia-based LCC Jetstar has begun its flights between Japan and Australia, launching the new international route with a celebration at the Sydney International Airport.
The airline will be flying between Sydney and Osaka and returning to Sydney via Brisbane and is expected to fly up to 2100 passengers per week between the destinations. The flights will be operated by a fleet of Airbus A330-200 aircraft with two classes of service.
“‘Jetstar’s expanding international operators out of Western Japan forms part of the Qantas Group’s continued focus on two airline brands for future growth and sustainable operations,’†said Jetstar CEO Alan Joyce. “J’etstar’s growing retail presence in both Kansai and Chubu regions will be underpinned by a direct marketing spend by the carrier of over AUD$10 million.’â€
The Mexican government suspended operations of Lineas Aereas Azteca on Monday because the budget airline failed to comply with administrative and technical procedures.
At a news conference, Communications and Transport Minister Luiz Tellez said inspections carried out oMarch 5-23 turned up problems in safety procedures and obligatory training for pilots, technicians and maintenance personnel.
source: Hemscott
German airline Air Berlin said on Tuesday it had agreed to buy charter carrier LTU. The purchase price for the 100 percent participation in LTU is 140 million euros ($185.8 million), Air Berlin said in a stamenent.
The agreement is subject to the approval of the Federal Cartel Office. The acquisition will be financed through the issuance of new shares and convertible bonds in an expected total amount of about 250 million euros.
source: Reuters
Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline, today launches its first flights of the summer season, bringing a total of 13 brand new routes to travellers in the UK to key domestic and European destinations.
Following the recent acquisition of BA Connect, Flybe customers across the regions can also take advantage of a number of additional domestic and international destinations, and will see a significant price saving on these routes of £19 per passenger.
source: Easier
Romanian integration into the European Union has generated over 50% surge in the number of passengers using low-cost airlines on the local market, while established airline companies saw a growth of 10-20%. TAROM, the biggest established airline operator on the local market, saw a 10% increase in the number of passengers using external flights in the first two months of the year, against the same period in 2007, as well as a 25% rise for domestic flights, according to company representatives. “The number of Blue Air passengers increased by 148% at the beginning of 2007, against the figures recorded in January 2006.
source: zf.ro
Low cost German airline Germanwings said Friday it enlarges its business in Bulgaria with the first flight Cologne-Sofia-Sodia scheduled March 27.
Germanwings is a subsidiary of Eurowings, a partner of Germany’s Lufthansa. It will fly three times a week from Cologne to Sofia and back _ on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
source: bnn
Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic said it remains interested in snapping up rival bmi, but a bmi spokeswoman reiterated on Friday that the carrier was not interested.
“‘We have always said we are interested in bmi and we will continue to look at it,'” Virgin Atlantic spokesman Paul Charles was quoted as saying in the Daily Telegraph. A spokeswoman for the airline confirmed the remark late on Thursday.
She said Virgin Atlantic — 51-percent-owned by Branson and 49-percent by Singapore Airlines — had repeatedly acknowledged an interest in bmi.
source: Reuters
None of Indonesia’s 48 commercial airlines, charter operators and air cargo companies are complying with all mandatory safety regulations, according to an emergency audit, a local report said Friday.
The audit was conducted by the Ministry of Transport following two deadly airline crashes in Indonesia since January 1, including one involving flag carrier Garuda Indonesia on March 7 that killed 21 people, The Jakarta Post reported.
Garuda was one of 13 domestic airlines and cargo companies placed in the middle of a three-category system denoting best to worst, meaning they had met all but a few safety requirements.
