Major US Airlines Raise Their Prices

IBA Group Limited   9th May 2008

The three biggest U.S. carriers said Thursday they have again raised ticket prices, this time by $20 roundtrip, to recoup rapidly rising fuel costs.

Airline Industry: The signs of the time

IBA Group Limited   2nd May 2008

The news of Eos filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection has again hinted that the financial crisis in the airline industry is worsening. The flood is probably here to stay and if timely measures are not taken soon, it will claim more victims in the industry. There is no doubt that it will have a similar effects on both large and small scale operators, however the extent of the current crisis on smaller airlines could in some cases become unbearable.

Boeing's bottom line: big profits

IBA Group Limited   24th April 2008

Lost defence contracts and jet delays didn't keep the Boeing Co. down in the first quarter of 2008, when it saw a 38 percent jump in earnings over the previous year.

Mismatched airline fleets could complicate merger

IBA Group Limited   18th April 2008

A merger between Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines would create a mammoth, 1,000-plus aircraft fleet, creating a single U.S. carrier that could – as executives promise – connect the world.

Tide goes out for world’s airlines

IBA Group Limited   11th April 2008

The sudden collapse of Oasis Hong Kong Airlines shows how quickly the tide is going out for the world’s airlines as they struggle to deal with surging fuel prices and softening economic growth.

Smaller airlines bear brunt of tightening market

IBA Group Limited   4th April 2008

A slowing economy and high fuel prices appear to have killed off tiny ATA Airlines, Aloha Airlines, and Champion Air. A big pile of cash will keep the big airlines from that same fate, for now.

Mitsubishi May Announce Go-Ahead on Jet

IBA Group Limited   28th March 2008

The first "made in Japan" passenger aircraft in three decades may get its official go-ahead as soon as Friday, a day after major Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways placed the first orders.

Air France gives CityJet €180m to purchase VLM

IBA Group Limited   14th March 2008

Air France has given Dublin-based subsidiary CityJet almost €180m to complete the purchase of Dutch regional carrier VLM.

Thoughts on the Geneva Aircraft Finance Forum

IBA Group Limited   7th March 2008

This year’s Geneva Aircraft Finance Forum followed the tried and tested format and although attendance seemed slightly lower than in previous years, delegates from the major lessors and banks were there en masse. Airlines on the other hand were hard to spot.

Why airlines must reduce flights for efficiency

IBA Group Limited   29th February 2008

Airlines that consolidate through mergers or acquisitions must reduce the number of planes in the sky and make the industry more efficient, US Airways CEO Doug Parker said Thursday.

Airbus wins orders for five freighters from BOC Aviation

IBA Group Limited   22nd February 2008

BOC Aviation, an aircraft leasing firm owned by the Bank of China, said Friday it has ordered five A330-200F cargo planes from European manufacturer Airbus.

US, Australia Reach Open Skies Agreement

IBA Group Limited   15th February 2008

Australia and the United States have reached a bilateral "open skies" aviation agreement, the countries announced Friday, clearing the way for increased competition on one of the world's most lucrative and protected long-haul routes.

Northwest's name is at risk in Delta talks

IBA Group Limited   8th February 2008

Negotiations are moving swiftly toward a likely merger between Delta Air Lines Inc. and Northwest Airlines Corp., sources close to the talks said Thursday.

TPG completes buyout of Midwest, ending contentious bidding war

IBA Group Limited   1st February 2008

Private equity firm TPG Capital completed its buyout of Midwest Air Group Inc. on Thursday, ending a two-year bidding war for the quirky regional carrier.

Singapore Strengthens Position As Regional Hub

IBA Group Limited   25th January 2008

Singapore has recently put its 1.22 billion U.S. dollars Changi Airport Terminal 3 into operation. This has enabled the city state to stand in a stronger position to consolidate its status as a regional aviation hub.

Airbus, Boeing to continue dominating commercial plane market

IBA Group Limited   18th January 2008

Airbus Chief Operating Officer (COO) Fabrice Bregier said on Thursday that the European aircraft manufacturer and its main American rival Boeing "will remain as the two major global players ten years from now" given the challenges of making planes.

Boeing's inflight web facility under FAA lens

IBA Group Limited   11th January 2008

Before Boeing Co's new 787 jetliner gets the green light to fly passengers, the aircraft maker will have to prove that offering internet access in the cabin won't leave the flight controls vulnerable to hackers and hijackers.

What the soothsayer sayeth for 2008?

IBA Group Limited   4th January 2008

The soothsayer sayeth:
I see turmoil and concern in the Aviation market – conspiring against us are the higher cost of money and fuel with an environmentalist movement telling us to go back to the stone age and burn less carbon. But the genie won’t go back in the bottle. Try telling the booming regions of the Indian sub continent and China that they cannot grow, that they should remain behind the West? Seems like a recipe for disaster, doesn’t it?

Boeing, Airbus to finish 2007 with more than 1,200 orders each

IBA Group Limited   21st December 2007

At the start of 2007, industry observers figured there was little to no chance airlines would treat Boeing Co. and Airbus SAS to the same order frenzy the jet makers had enjoyed the previous two years.

Aircraft Repossession - Some Considerations

IBA Group Limited   14th December 2007

The market downturn just before and post 9/11 saw a number of airlines on watch, several collapses and repossessions. IBA was involved in many of these on behalf of Banks, Export Credit Agencies and Investors, including Aerolineas Argentinas, Flightwest, Ansett and SwissAir.

The scarce availability of narrow-body aircraft

IBA Group Limited   7th December 2007

As the industry approaches the end of 2007 – many operators and some lessors may well be rueing the fact that they had not placed orders for new aircraft – now that the date for new generation availability is pushing out towards 2015. So what can operators who need to renew their fleet or expand – yet have no agreement with the manufacturers or lessors do? If I had a pound for every enquiry IBA receives from operators looking for available aircraft to lease then I would have a very happy Christmas!

Circle of Airbus

IBA Group Limited   30th November 2007

Airbus has secured 1,436 aircraft orders so far in this calendar year. This time last year EADS and Airbus Industries were in damage control mode showing us how even through their troubled times 2006 was second only to 2005’s 1,111 aircraft order.

A Positive Outlook for the Brazilian Aircraft Manufacturer

IBA Group Limited   23rd November 2007

Last week, the 8th Embraer day took place at the company headquarters in São José dos Campos. It was an occasion for the whole management team to reassure analysts and investors alike of the well-being and the soundness of their investments. The investing community was treated to what appeared to be a very positive market outlook.

Busy week in Dubai

IBA Group Limited   16th November 2007

Following a bumper week of orders this week at the Dubai AirShow the questions on everyone’s lips are, where will DAE place the speculative aircraft orders and where will Emirates fly all of their additional aircraft?

The good and not so good

IBA Group Limited   9th November 2007

This week we have seen a number of airlines posting increased quarterly or half-yearly profits. The list includes British Airways (although their full-year forecast has been lowered), Austrian Airlines, Ryanair, Air Arabia, JAL, CSA Czech, Emirates, WestJet, and the TUI Group.

Black is back

IBA Group Limited   2nd November 2007

This week has seen a flurry of financial results being announced and it’s been good news from airlines across the globe. Profits have been soaring on the back of five years of cost cutting measures and reorganisation. This is very good news when you consider the soaring oil prices, albeit on the back of a weak dollar.

The Potential for Airlines to Become Lessors

IBA Group Limited   26th October 2007

With few if any opportunities to secure new aircraft delivery slots for at least 6 years, the question has to be asked as to whether a cash rich airline may not consider becoming a lessor and buying an existing operating lessor with an attractive orderbook. The airline could then acquire the slots and redelivery positions and sell off the rest of the portfolio to other lessors in chunks.

787 delays – the inevitable?

IBA Group Limited   19th October 2007

From my perspective, given my several decades of airline industry - either directly in it or assisting from the outside – I have never seen the “perfect” aircraft into service plan.

Sukhoi Superjet 100 – Worldwide success or Pugachev’s Cobra

IBA Group Limited   12th October 2007

The industry awaits a new Regional Jet. It’s not being built in Canada or Brazil. It’s Russian and has extensive international support. Its manufacturer is well known for military aircraft that perform jaw dropping manoeuvres at air shows. So will the Superjet 100 work or will the snake bite?

Vienna what an Environment

IBA Group Ltd   5th October 2007

5 manufacturers, 27 airlines, 38 lessors, 17 financiers, 42 consultancies, lawyers and publishers, 6 MROs, 6 parts companies and others, represented by 330 people.
An eye opener for most regarding the environment with an especially large helping of trends and statistics produced by manufacturers, environmentalists and airlines left many people confused. We have the paradox of global warming and the desire of environmentalists for us all to reduce emissions whilst other aviation gurus, such as Domnal Slattery, will soon be offering 100 VLJs to provide up to 4 passengers in each one an efficient mode of transport for the user in terms of quick check in, convenient frequency in new Embraer Phenoms.

Bush seeks changes to cut U.S. airline delays

IBA Group Ltd   28th September 2007

WASHINGTON - U.S. President George W. Bush directed deputies on Thursday to devise a plan to shorten airline delays, an initiative that could force carriers to change schedules and pay more to use crowded airports at the busiest times of the day.

Qantas and Jetstar start C02 offset programmes for passengers

IBA Group Limited   24th September 2007

Australia's flagship Qantas Airways Ltd. and its popular budget carrier Jetstar launched a programme on Wednesday allowing passengers to pay extra to offset the greenhouse emissions their flights cause. The scheme allows travellers to calculate the per-passenger emissions of their flights and buy carbon dioxide credits that would be paid to a variety of environmental projects, the airline said in a statement.

Bombardier Q-400 planes recalled for visual inspections after landing gear failures

IBA Group Limited   14th September 2007

Canadian regulators called for visual inspections of all Bombardier Q-400 turboprop planes worldwide after two separate landing gear failures in three days sent planes skidding across runways.

Frontier posts revenue increase on routes against Southwest

IBA Group Limited   7th September 2007

Frontier Airlines claimed a victory Thursday in the highly competitive Denver market, posting a 20 percent increase in August passenger revenue on routes where it competes head-to-head against Southwest Airlines.

Boeing gets 67 orders for 737s

IBA Group Limited   31st August 2007

Low-fare carrier Norwegian Air Shuttle announced an order for 42 Next-Generation 737-800s Thursday with an option for 42 more.

Virgin Blue fights air war on two fronts

IBA Group Limited   24th August 2007

Virgin Blue is now at war on two fronts after firing the first shots yesterday in a battle to control New Zealand ticket sales.

Southwest poised to become world's largest airline

IBA Group Limited   17th August 2007

Southwest Airlines Co. is on pace to unseat American Airlines this year as the world's biggest airline, measured by passenger traffic.

Will Northwest make a bid?

IBA Group Limited   10th August 2007

With a deadline looming, Northwest Airlines Corp. appears to be the most likely challenger to AirTran Holdings Inc.'s bid to buy Midwest Air Group Inc.

BA Beats Q1 Forecasts, Warns on Revenues

IBA Group Limited   3rd August 2007

British Airways posted a 28 percent rise in quarterly operating profit on Friday to beat analysts' forecasts, but warned a weak dollar and soaring fuel prices would slow full-year revenue growth and raise costs.

US Airways vows to continue its strategy for growth

IBA Group Limited   27th July 2007

US Airways posted its sixth consecutive quarterly profit Thursday, but its shares and those belonging to the nation's other airlines dropped as they continue to struggle with high fuel costs.

Continental's profit rises 15 percent

IBA Group Limited   20th July 2007

Continental Airlines said profits rose 15 percent in the second quarter as it carried more passengers and increased revenue on its trans-Atlantic flights.

LAN Announces Future Incorporation of 32 Boeing 787 Aircraft into Its Fleet

IBA Group Limited   13th July 2007

LAN Airlines S.A., one of the leading airline groups in Latin America, announced today that at an Extraordinary Meeting of the Board of Directors held this week, the Board agreed to incorporate 32 Boeing 787 Dreamliner long-haul aircraft to the Company's fleet between 2011 and 2016.

Dubai buys stake in Airbus parent

IBA Group Limited   6th July 2007

Dubai - home to Emirates airline, the biggest customer in the troubled A380 'superjumbo' programme - has bought a 3.12% stake in Airbus parent EADS.

European Commission bans all Indonesian airlines from flying to EU

IBA Group Limited   29th June 2007

All Indonesian airlines and several from Russia, Ukraine and Angola will be banned from flying to the European Union due to safety concerns, the European Commission said Thursday.

Airbus sales top Boeing's for 2007

IBA Group Limited   22nd June 2007

A raft of orders at the Paris Air Show this week has boosted Airbus' fortunes and handed the European planemaker back the lead in overall airplane sales bookings for 2007 from rival Boeing Co. -- at least so far.

AirTran lands seats on board of Midwest Air

IBA Group Limited   15th June 2007

AirTran Holdings Inc. gained ground Thursday in its attempted takeover of Midwest Air Group Inc., when Midwest shareholders ousted three board members and replaced them with a slate nominated by Orlando-based AirTran.

Airbus lands $2bn deal with Aer Lingus

IBA Group Limited   8th June 2007

Irish airline Aer Lingus has announced an order for 12 new Airbus aircraft worth $2.4 billion to boost its expansion on transatlantic routes. Aer Lingus will take delivery of six new wide-bodied A350 XWBs and six new A330 300E aircraft from 2009 onwards, the company said, adding that it had obtained “substantial discounts”.

Kingfisher Airlines “Good Times” for Air Deccan “Common Man”?

IBA Group Limited   1st June 2007

Mergers and acquisitions seem to be the order of the day across the globe and across every industry. Just to understand the basics this is not as yet a merger in the traditional sense. This is a strategic investment by UB Group, the parent of Kingfisher Airlines, in Deccan Aviation, parent of Air Deccan. But the UB Group has announced that it will look to acquire a further 20% market share in the near future giving it majority control of Air Deccan.

Comair to fly bigger planes, offer first-class

IBA Group Limited   25th May 2007

Comair will offer first-class seating for the first time in its 30-year history, according to the regional carrier which emerged from bankruptcy three weeks ago with parent Delta Air Lines Inc.

Eleven 787 Dreamliners and 50 Next-Generation 737s for TUI Group

IBA Group Limited   18th May 2007

Boeing has confirmed that the TUI Group, one of Europe's largest integrated-tourism companies, has ordered 11 787-8 Dreamliners and 50 Next-Generation 737s. The orders were previously recorded on Boeing's website as unidentified. The value of the orders is approximately US$4.7 billion at list prices. Two of the airplanes have already been delivered and identified.

Mesa Air Group posts $24M loss

IBA Group Limited   11th May 2007

Mesa Air Group Inc., locked in an interisland battle with incumbents Hawaiian Airlines and Aloha Airlines, said today lower yields caused go!’s operating income to come in $650,000 below plan in its fiscal second quarter, during which the parent company lost $24 million.