Singapore Airlines (SIA) prefaced its report on its annual performance for FY2012/13 with attribution to high fuel prices and lower yields owing to a weak global economy for its lacklustre results. The announcement concluded with an equally dismal outlook, saying very much the same thing, warning that “the global economic outlook remains uncertain with the ongoing weakness in the eurozone and sluggish recovery in the United States” and that “yields …Read More
Japan Airlines flies into a ‘new sky’
Japan Airlines (JAL) is a black swan, or more precisely, a red crane called “tsurumaru” in the airline industry. It is nothing short of a remarkable turnaround story, a rarity in a highly competitive industry that saw national champions such as Malev go bankrupt and Air France, Iberia and the likes struggle to compete against an onslaught of low-cost carriers (LCCs) that have placed significant pressure on these legacy carriers’ …Read More
International Airlines Group entering a new dawn in 2013
It could have been much worse. International Airlines Group (IAG), formed by the merger between British and Spanish flag carriers British Airways and Iberia, posted a €997 million (US$1.29 billion) 2012 before-tax loss, dragged down by a €343 million impairment charge against the intangible assets and a €202 million transformation cost at the beleaguered Iberia unit. Amid a moribund Spanish economy where the unemployment rate has hit a staggering 26.1% …Read More
Boeing 777X to spark mini-jumbo war
GE9X to feature 16 blades, versus 18 on GEnx engines Folding wingtip to be operated hydraulically Folding wingtip to improve lift-to-drag by 12% Folding wingtip 800lbs weight penalty, against 777-200′s 3,200lbs 777X to remain ICAO Code E aircraft on aprons 787-styled tail fin, elimination of overwing exit confirmed Elimination of overwing exit saves 1,000lbs of weight 787-styled larger dimmable windows, lower cabin altitude being studied 777-8X & -9X range boosted …Read More
Boeing 777X & 787-10X unfazed by 787 battery woes
787-10 ‘Gate 4′ formal launch still planned in June 2013 Time between start of final assembly & flight testing on 787-9 narrowed to 4 months Folding wingtip decided for 777X 800lbs weight penalty for 777X folding wingtip, compared to 3,200lbs for 777-200 study in 1995 Folding wingtip contains no moveable parts, to be operated electrically 777X has same wing span as 777-300ER on the ground & stay as ‘Code E’ …Read More
Optimism returns to aviation
There is renewed optimism for the airline industry, going by the latest industry body Geneva-based International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecast that 2013 will see an improvement in global airline profitability from US$6.7 billion to US$8.4 billion. This has been revised from an earlier estimate of US$7.5 billion. IATA chief economist Brian Pearce said: “I think we are past the low point, which was earlier this year.” The positive mood …Read More
Qantas/Emirates partnership to reshape competitive landscape
The full-year FY2011/12 financial results of Australian flag carrier Qantas Airways paint of a bleak picture, as the flying kangaroo posted its first after-tax loss of A$244 million (US$254.8 million) since its privatisation in 1995, amid record high jet fuel prices and intense competition from Gulf carriers on the lucrative Australia-Europe, or “kangaroo route”. In response, Qantas cancelled its firm order for 35 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners in order to rein …Read More
Boeing 787 Dreamliner programme starts to soar
Following the Boeing 787 Dreamliner roll-out in Everett, Washington for the first time on 8th July, 2007, the Chicago-based airframer suffered perennial delays on the game-changing mid-sized, long-range widebody aircraft programme, ranging from delays caused by a delamination in the 787′s side-of-body area to an in-flight fire in November 2010 over Laredo, Texas due to a foreign object debris (FOD) in the P100 electrical panel that prompted a redesign in …Read More