Kenya Airways CEO Allan Kilavuka, in IATA's Airlines publication, stated (27-Mar-2024) the carrier intends to increase its fleet by about 30% by 2029. Mr Kilavuka added the airline wants to simplify its fleet by reducing aircraft types to two, enabling "a substantial reduction in cost and far greater efficiency in operations". [more - original PR]
The 2023 rankings of Europe's top 20 airline groups by passenger numbers are very similar to their pre-pandemic order of 2019.
Collectively, the top 20 airline groups increased passenger numbers by 17% year-on-year, and were only 3% short of their 2019 traffic level. The seven LCCs among the top 20 fared better, and collectively carried 8% more passengers than in 2019.
Ryanair Group extended its lead as Europe's biggest airline group by passenger numbers in 2023. Its 182 million passengers in the calendar year gave it a huge lead over second-placed Lufthansa Group's 123 million.
The gap of 59 million was more than the annual passenger count of Wizz Air Group.
Ryanair carried 97 million more passengers than the next biggest low cost airline group, easyJet. This gap was more than Air France-KLM Group's annual traffic.
The three planned acquisitions by the leading legacy groups would not change the rankings: Ryanair's lead looks set to endure.
After one competitor fades, Canada's long-standing airlines behave rationally in the market
The demise of Lynx Air in Canada was hardly a shock to those familiar with the country's aviation history, which is rich with low cost airline failures. Lynx was a small-scale operator, with a fleet of nine Boeing 737-8s, when it ceased operations in late Feb-2024.
But the airline's exit could create opportunities for Canada's other airlines - if they behave in a rational manner.
Canada's three largest operators - Air Canada, WestJet and Porter Airlines - have co-existed for quite some time and know the market well. And each airline has a somewhat distinct strategy going forward that has promise in the market.
Lori Ranson, Senior Analyst, Americas at CAPA - Centre for Aviation shares her viewpoint.
The Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer reversed its fortunes in 2023, reporting a full-year profit as it expanded aircraft production, grew various order backlogs, and enjoyed a series of one-time tax benefits.
Revenue at the company grew 16.0% year-on-year, to USD5.3 billion, with all of Embraer's business segments reporting double digit revenue growth.
Revenue at Embraer Commercial Aviation, the company's largest business segment, grew 19.6%, to USD1846.7 million (35.1% of total revenue), due to 12% growth in aircraft deliveries. Services and Support revenue rose 11.9%, with the company reporting MRO capacity expansion in the US and the rest of the world. Defence revenues were up 25%, and Executive Aviation revenue grew 13%.
Adjusted EBIT at Embraer was USD350 million - compared to an Adjusted EBIT loss of USD110.5 million in 2022. Adjusted EBITDA was USD561.9 million. Adjusted EBIT margin was 6.7% and EBITDA margin was 10.7%, which met company guidance for the year.
Net income was USD79.5 million, up from a net profit of USD38.5 million in 2022. Embraer reported that it had enjoyed a series of tax efficiency gains in several of its business segments, including Executive Aviation, Commercial Aviation and Services & Support.
Delta Air Lines remains one of the strongest airlines worldwide, reflected in a solid balance sheet and a solid return on invested capital, whereas some other US airlines are experiencing financial headwinds.
But the company believes that there is more ground to be gained in its financial performance, and it has a plan in place to achieve its goal of a mid-teens operating margin.
Some of the key drivers of its confidence in attaining its margin goals are leveraging the strength of its premium products, attaining pre-pandemic operating levels in its core hubs, and improved utilisation of its assets.
More broadly, even as United Airlines works to position itself alongside Delta as another large global premium airline, Delta's brand continues to remain robust, and that strength shows no signs of weakening.
Australia's regional airports 'unviable' without Federal budget aid; three examples. Part one
According to Regional Capitals Australia (RCA), which advocates for regional capital cities "to have a clear and central role in national policy", the country's airports need urgent (unspecified) financial support from the Federal government in the forthcoming budget or they will become "unviable".
There are many Australian airports - 630 of them - and although some have been privatised by way of lease for 25 years now, and others are grass strips to enable the Flying Doctors to do their rounds, a couple of hundred remain under local council control.
These airports are critical gateways for industry and commerce in towns of widely varying economic constitution, often in the absence of realistic alternative travel modes in one of the largest countries in the world.
The report, in two parts, examines the RCA's claims and then looks at three airports across the country where air travel is crucial to the local economy and why.
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iCoupon, Director of International Sales, Viktoriya Soubra at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit - Airlines in Transition 2024
iCoupon, Director of International Sales, Viktoriya Soubra spoke to CAPA TV at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit - Airlines in Transition 2024, in Granada, Spain, about latest industry trends and company developments.
CAPA Events are hosted in key markets around the world and attract the highest calibre of thought leaders and decision makers in the aviation and travel industry. Delegates are provided with unprecedented access to the latest data, insights and trends from our global team, in addition to valuable networking opportunities with executives across all sectors of the aviation and travel industry. Review CAPA’s full events calendar here.
CAPA - Centre for Aviation announced (25-Mar-2024) the session 'IAG, CEO, Luis Gallego, at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit - Airlines in Transition 2024' is now available on demand on CAPA TV. The session features Mr Gallego discussing topics including the group's recovery since the COVID-19 pandemic, traffic trends and the IAG's capital allocation strategy. [more - CAPA TV]
CAPA - Centre for Aviation announced (25-Mar-2024) the session 'Transavia, CEO, Marcel de Nooijer at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit - Airlines in Transition 2024' is now available on demand on CAPA TV. The session features Mr de Nooijer discussing topics including the airline's fleet renewal plans, route network expansion and slot constraints in the Netherlands. [more - CAPA TV]
CAPA - Centre for Aviation announced (25-Mar-2024) the session 'Ryanair DAC, CEO, Eddie Wilson at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit - Airlines in Transition 2024' is now available on demand on CAPA TV. The session features Mr Wilson discussing topics including consolidation, rising ticket prices and the carrier's future aircraft delivery plans. [more - CAPA TV]
CAPA - Centre for Aviation announced (25-Mar-2024) the session 'Andalucia Tourism Board, Antonio Martín-Machuca at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit - Airlines in Transition 2024' is now available on demand on CAPA TV. The session features Andalucia Tourism Board head of cooperation and connectivity Mr Martín-Machuca discussing topics including Andalucia's tourism recovery since the COVID-19 pandemic, the region's efforts to increase traffic during winter seasons and its long haul targets for future route development. [more - CAPA TV]
Airline Leader Summit: Bluebox Aviation Systems director interview now available on CAPA TV
CAPA - Centre for Aviation announced (27-Mar-2024) the session 'Bluebox Aviation Systems, Paul Rayson at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit - Airlines in Transition 2024' is now available on demand on CAPA TV. In the exclusive interview, Bluebox business development director and board member Paul Rayson discusses the latest industry trends and company developments. [more - CAPA TV]
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This report aims to benchmark the performance of the world’s major airlines – to understand their relative carbon emission quantity and intensity with respect to passenger and freight transport.