Airbus Deliveries Postponed By Singapore Airlines
Thursday saw Singapore Airlines, the world’s second largest airline by market value, declaring a deal with Airbus in order to postpone delivery of eight A380 aircraft – the latest step in a series of order deferment by global airlines amidst a downturn in air travel. Last month, the maiden delivery of an A380 was delayed by Thai Airways by two years to 2012.
After Airbus’ previous failure to construct the plane according to schedule and being compelled to pay compensation, a number of airlines have opted for deliveries of their superjumbo planes to be put back.
It will be between six months and 12 months later than originally planned that the deliveries to Singapore will take place under the new schedule.
Nicholas Ionides, a spokesman for the airline, said: “It is another measure that will help us better match capacity to demand during the downturn.”
No details regarding the costs associated with the rescheduling were made public by Singapore Airlines.
CLSA analyst Robert Bruce expressed, “Because you don’t need any more capacity for now, providing that there’s no cash cost for them to delay the delivery, it is positive news.”
Singapore Airlines, which is predicted to take delivery of another two aircraft this financial year, currently operates nine A380s.
It should be noted that the first quarterly loss in six years was recently posted by Singapore Airlines, which expects a full-year loss if the tough conditions continue.
Cabin Crew Strike Not Affect Decline British Airways Stock
As the British Airways cabin crews round out the third day of their four day strike against the UK-based airline, there is no sign of an agreement being reached to end the dispute which began when staffing levels and pay were cut back during the recession.
During the walkout around 60,000 passengers of the airline have been affected with most of their flights being grounded beginning from March 27 and carrying on until tomorrow. The company has estimated that cancellations of flights will take-out about 30 percent of the long-haul services from Heathrow Airport.
This newest wave of industrial action was a follow-up to the three day walk out which took place March 22, and according to the airline, cost the company a total of 21 million pounds. Willie Wash, CEO of British Airways, had last sat down with union officer Tony Woodley on March 19, but all talks have failed and arbiters have been unable to get either side to reach an accord.
Yesterday, British Airways was able to service about 75 percent of the customers who were booked on flights, according to a spokesman for the carrier. He added that at Heathrow 55 percent of short-haul flights and 70 percent of long-haul flights were in operation. The airline has stated that they were able to rebook a fair amount of their displaced passengers.
Since Unite announced the possibility of industrial action in March, British Airways’ stocks have risen 19 percent. According to economists, this suggests that investors are viewing the strike as a one-time event and focusing more on British Airways improving passenger traffic.
During the strike, the airline still expects to provide flight services to over 180,000 passengers. Of the passengers whose flights have been cancelled up to 18 percent were given alternative flights on different dates or with other airlines.
American Airlines Expands Mobile Boarding Passes to Eight More Airports
JFK and San Juan Airport, plus Six International Locations to Implement Mobile Boarding. Now at 50 Airports, Customers Departing on American and American Eagle Flights Can Avoid Printing Paper Boarding Pass and Show Barcode on Mobile Phone at Security and Gate
American Airlines customers departing from New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) and San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU), as well as six international airports, including Barcelona, Spain (BCN), Rome, Italy (FCO), Frankfurt, Germany (FRA), Manchester, United Kingdom (MAN), Milan, Italy (MXP), and Zurich, Switzerland (ZRH), will now be able to save time and paper by receiving their boarding passes electronically on their mobile phones.
With the addition of these eight locations, American Airlines now offers the mobile boarding pass option to travelers departing on American Airlines and American Eagle flights from 50 airports. Mobile boarding passes use a two-dimensional (2-D) barcode and were rolled out in partnership with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in 2008.
“This is an exciting time for American Airlines, as we work to enhance the customer experience by giving our customers the options they want and need when and where they need them,” said Andrew Watson, American’s Vice President – Customer Technology. “With the addition of New York’s JFK Airport and San Juan, plus six international airports, an even greater number of our customers will be able to select the option to display their boarding pass on their mobile phone – speeding the process at the airport and eliminating the need for a paper boarding pass.”
The mobile boarding pass process is simple. When customers check in for their flight using AA.com and opt to receive their boarding pass on their mobile phone they will receive an e-mail with an Internet link to the boarding pass. Customers must have an active e-mail address where their boarding pass can be sent and an Internet-enabled mobile phone where the 2-D barcode can be received. The mobile boarding pass contains a 2-D barcode that can be scanned both at security checkpoints and at American Airlines gates.
At the airport, customers simply scan their mobile phone screen with the 2-D barcode displayed on it when going through Security (proper identification must be presented) and when boarding, just as they would a traditional paper boarding pass. Customers who wish to check bags can still use this mobile option by scanning the 2-D barcode on their mobile phone screen at any of the American Airlines self-service machines, ticket counters, or curbside check-in facilities located in the 50 participating airports.
At this time, customers who opt to use the mobile boarding pass option may only list one person in their reservation. They also must be traveling on American or American Eagle flights from any one of the 50 participating airports on a nonstop or connecting flight through a participating mobile-boarding airport. London Heathrow was the first international location to offer the program, and American Airlines is one of the first U.S. carriers to roll out the mobile boarding pass technology in the UK, as well as in Italy, Spain and Switzerland.
Customers who check in online and wish to print a paper boarding pass are still able to do so. At the end of the online check-in process on AA.com, customers can choose how they would like to receive their boarding pass by selecting either “Print” (customers can print the pass at that time, or use a self-service check-in machine to print at the airport), “E-mail for Print” (boarding pass is e-mailed and customers can print at their convenience), or “E-mail for use on Cell Phone or Other Device” (customers receive an electronic boarding pass via e-mail on their cell phone or mobile device).
Couple Drops Alcohol Lawsuit Against United Airlines
At the request of the Florida couple who brought the legal action, a U.S. District Court in Tampa has dismissed a lawsuit against United Airlines that claimed the carrier “negligently” overserved alcohol during a flight.
Yoichi and Ayisha Shimamoto asked the court on Dec. 23 to voluntarily dismiss the case, which created headlines for the legal theory involved.
At issue was whether laws that hold bars and restaurants responsible for harm caused by intoxicated patrons apply when the server and drinker are flying at 40,000 feet across international territory.
The lawsuit alleged that United’s flight attendants were overly generous in serving wine to Yoichi Shimamoto during a nearly nine-hour flight from Osaka, Japan, to San Francisco, fueling domestic violence involving the couple shortly after the plane landed.
Shimamoto was arrested and accused of disorderly conduct and battery after he struck his wife as they headed through U.S. Customs following the December 2006 flight.
Under the Dram Shop Act, which is in place in most states, commercial suppliers of alcohol may be held liable for injuries caused by intoxicated patrons. California’s version of the statute restricts suppliers’ liability to damage inflicted by minors.
Turkish Airlines to Expand Passenger Capacity and Market Share in Hungary
Turkey’s national carrier, Turkish Airlines, or THY, is aiming to expand its passenger capacity and market share in the central European country of Hungary, where it says it has seen great interest in the airline.
The company plans to increase the number of passengers utilizing THY’s flight services in Hungary, said Levend Ar?soy, THY’s director-general in the country.
THY participated in the 33rd International Budapest Tourism Fair last week and drew a good response, Ar?soy said. “We were pleased to witness the interest of Hungarians, both travel agents and potential tourists, and other Europeans in our booth,” he added. “We have seen there is a great expectation and demand for THY to begin flights to Slovakia.”
Hungarians prefer THY based on the food presented to passengers, the extremely high quality of beverages and the smiling faces and warm hospitality offered by the cabin crew, Ar?soy said.
“In 2009, we carried 79,000 passengers who traveled between Istanbul and Budapest,” he added. “In 2010, we plan to carry more than 90,000 passengers between Istanbul and Budapest.”
The national airline of Turkey, THY is headquartered in Istanbul. It operates a network of scheduled services to 120 international and 37 domestic cities, serving a total of 158 airports in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. The airline’s main base is at Atatürk International Airport in Istanbul, with secondary hubs at Esenbo?a International Airport in Ankara, Sabiha Gökçen International Airport in Istanbul and Adnan Menderes Airport in ?zmir.
In 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, THY carried 17 million, 19.7 million, 22.5 million and 25.1 million passengers, respectively, with total revenues of $2.23 billion, $3.0 billion, $4.5 billion and $4 billion in those years.
Estimated to be Europe’s seventh-biggest airline in terms of passengers carried in 2009, and fourth among national flagship carriers, THY has more than 12,000 employees. The airline has been a member of the Star Alliance since April 1, 2008, and is an official sponsor of the sports teams FC Barcelona and Manchester United.
