Newswatch 2008 Issue 19 out now!

Newswatch   16th May 2008

Qatar Airways Plans Low-Cost Carrier

News Update   16th May 2008

Qatar Airways is likely to launch a low-cost carrier with better services than the existing low frills carriers in the Middle East, the CEO Akbar Al-Baker said yesterday.

Finnair in talks with Indian airlines for partnership

News Update   15th May 2008

Nordic airline Finnair is in talks with leading airlines in India for a partnership in order to strengthen its position in the local market there.

More airlines headed for a nosedive

News Update   15th May 2008

After the collapse of Oasis Hong Kong Airlines due to turbulence in the aviation industry, half a dozen carriers across the globe have also gone down that path in the past few weeks. And more are expected to do so, given that the ride ahead is projected to be a very bumpy one.

PIA to induct 10 aircraft in 2 years

News Update   14th May 2008

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) would induct ten aircraft in the next two years to enhance revenue and ward off the need to retrench employees for saving runaway costs, new Managing Director Aijaz Haroon said on Tuesday.

U.S. wants to ease global airline ownership rules

News Update   14th May 2008

The U.S. is proposing that dozens of countries ease their airline ownership rules in an effort to spur international investment in the industry, a State Department official said Tuesday.

Southwest Airlines borrows $600 million

News Update   13th May 2008

Southwest Airlines Co. said Monday that it borrowed $600 million from Citibank and seven European banks to bolster its cash position because of uncertainty about the economy.

United, US Airways fly closer to merger

News Update   13th May 2008

United Airlines is closing in on a merger with US Airways, sources say, after being spurned by Continental Airlines and Delta Air Lines.

China forms company to make jumbo jets

News Update   12th May 2008

China has established a company to build regional commercial jets, with an eye to eventually reducing the country's reliance on Boeing and Airbus for jumbo jets, official media said on Sunday.

Ryanair says high oil prices will break some airlines

News Update   12th May 2008

The current record highs in oil prices will force some airlines into bankruptcy, the outspoken chief executive of budget airline Ryanair told a German newspaper on Sunday.

Newswatch 2008 Issue 18 out now!

Newswatch   9th May 2008

Etihad inks deal to lease two aircraft

News Update   9th May 2008

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways said yesterday it has signed a contract with New York-based CIT Aerospace for the lease of two new Airbus A320-200 aircraft.

Qatar seeks compensation from Boeing

News Update   8th May 2008

Qatar Airways, which has 60 Boeing 787 Dreamliners on order, is seeking compensation from the US planemaker as delivery of the aircraft is delayed by 12 months and may order more Airbus A380 aircraft as part of its expansion plans, the airline’s CEO said yesterday.

World's biggest passenger aircraft A380 to fly to Beijing ahead of Olympics

News Update   8th May 2008

The world's biggest aircraft A380 will be operated on one of the three regular flights from Singapore to Beijing during the first week of August to meet the expected surge in passenger numbers during the Olympics.

Two possible buyers consider Nationwide

News Update   7th May 2008

Nationwide’s provisional liquidator, Hannes Muller, who is racing against time to sell what remains of the stricken airline, met two potential buyers yesterday, but received no firm offers.

Behind the numbers

News Update   7th May 2008

An airline can't make losses if it manages to keep its fleet above the ground for more than 12 hours per day with a decent load factor, an aviation expert once said. Every year, the announcement of Emirates' annual results seems to prove this theory over and over.

Iraq orders 30 Boeing 737-800 planes

News Update   6th May 2008

Iraq has ordered 30 Boeing 737-800 commercial airplanes, the first step in re-establishing the country’s scheduled commercial aviation operations.

AirAsia cries foul over zero fares move by MAS

News Update   6th May 2008

Now that Malaysia Airlines is offering low-cost fares, the time has come for the entire aviation industry in Malaysia to be fully liberalised.

Newswatch 2008 Issue 17 out now!

Newswatch   2nd May 2008