Delta Air Lines Inc. said earlier this week it would add eleven new routes scattered among the United States, Europe and the Middle East in 2006 in a bid to become the world´s largest transatlantic airline, despite its financial woes.
The move is part of a “transformation plan” to pull the carrier back from the brink of collapse by tapping more lucrative markets. It filed for bankruptcy protection last month.
Brazilian airline GOL received its 39th Boeing 737 aircraft on October 15th, enabling the Company to reach a frequency of 400 daily flights. With the arrival of this airliner, GOL has added a total of 12 aircraft to its fleet this year, up 45 percent. The growth of GOL´s fleet in 2005 has allowed the Company to gradually increase the number of seats it can offer to travelers.
Currently, GOL´s fleet is composed of 39 aircraft, a number that is expected to increase to 42 by the end of this year. The Brazilian low fare airline plans to double its fleet by the end of 2010 with the addition of 44 aircraft for a total of 86. In July of this year, the Company increased its order with Boeing to a total of 101 new 737-800 New Generation aircraft, comprised of 60 firm orders and 41 purchase options, scheduled for delivery beginning in June 2006.
TNT Vacations will be offering non-stop private flights from Boston to Barbados beginning in December.
Flights will operate on Sundays from December 25 through April 23 next year, with service provided by Xtra Airways, owned by Avion Group, a large international aviation corporation.
Star Alliance, the airline network for Earth, now offers customers flying across its North America network the convenience of using one single electronic ticket. The itinerary can include any combination of domestic and trans-border flights operated by member carriers Air Canada, United and US Airways. The three member carriers operate a total of 8,000 daily flights within North America serving some 323 destinations.
“Many of our customers already appreciate the advantages of traveling on e-tickets. We are very pleased to extend this innovative product to multi-carrier itineraries in one of the world´s most competitive aviation markets,” said Lee Hock Lye, Vice President Products and Services, Star Alliance.
Despite record high cost of jet fuel and hurricanes, Continental Airlines managed net income of $61 million or $0.80 diluted earnings per share, including a $3 million net special charge in the third quarter of the ongoing year.
Excluding the net special charge, Continental recorded net income of $64 million ($0.83 diluted earnings per share) which compares favorably to the First Call mean estimate of $0.27 earnings per share.
American Eagle will launch daily service between the two Puerto Rican destinations of San Juan and Vieques on December 16, using Super ATR twin-engine 64-passenger aircraft.
The flight will depart San Juan´s Luis Munoz Marin International Airport at 2:30 p.m. and arrive in Vieques at 2:59 p.m. The return flight will leave Vieques at 3:30, arriving in San Juan at 4 p.m.