Friday, 09 May 2008
IFALPA sources the following items from a wide variety of media and they may not
necessarily represent the views of the Federation. Publication in the The Daily News
does not infer that IFALPA endorses the views expressed.

1.      IATA reports slight increase in accident rate in 2007
2.      Air Canada reports first quarter loss
3.      Copa says ‘strong’ three months despite fuel price
4.      Asiana orders two 777s while GECAS receives Europe’s first 737-900ERs
5.      April traffic figures for SAS, Air Berlin, Finnair and Estonian
6.      Piece of Aviation History
7.   A Quote of  the Day
8.   A Bit of Light Relief

IATA reports slight increase in accident rate in 2007
IATA has published its safety report for last year which shows that the global accident rate increased to 0.75 hull losses for every million flights by western built aircraft compared to the previous year’s figure of 0.65.
In total there were 100 accidents last year of which 57 involved jet aircraft and 43 involved turboprops. In 2006 there were a total of 77 accidents.
Africa had the worst accident rate of 4.09 hull losses per million flights.
The number of fatalities declined 19 per cent to 692 from the previous year even though passenger numbers increased six per cent to over 2.2 billion.
IATA’s CEO Giovanni Bisignani remarked on the figures by saying that “Air travel is the safest mode of transportation. In the ten years from 1998, the accident rate was reduced by almost half -  from 1.34 accidents per million flights to 0.75”.

Air Canada reports first quarter loss
Air Canada has announced that it suffered a loss of C$288 million during the first three months of this year. Although passenger revenue increased eight per cent to C$2,727 million a provision of C$125 million has been made to cover costs concerning an industry-wide probe into “alleged anticompetitive cargo pricing activities”. Excluding this provision an operating loss would have been C$12 million, a sharp reduction from the C$78 million from the same quarter in 2007. The spiralling fuel costs were also cited as a driver in the loss figure.
On a brighter note the airline reported a load factor for April of 82.7 per cent which is a record for the carrier.

Copa says ‘strong’ three months despite fuel price
Declaring its financial results as strong for first quarter Copa Holdings, parent of Copa Airlines and Aero Republica reported that it’s total revenue increased by 21.9 per cent to $295.9 million. Net income slipped 18.7 per cent to $39.5 million from the $48.6 million of the Q1 2007. Operating income was also down by 15 per cent but the operating margin was reduced from 25 per cent to 17.5 per cent.
In its report it says that “these strong results were achieved despite a $21.7 million in additional fuel costs as a result of a 35.1 per cent increase in the all-in average price per gallon of jet fuel”.

Asiana orders two 777s while GECAS receives Europe’s first 737-900ERs
Asiana Airlines has completed an order with Boeing for the supply of two 777-200ERs in an order valued at $438 million at list prices. Making the announcement Boeing said that  Asiana has negotiated rights to substitute the -200ER to the larger -300ER should requirements demand it.
Boeing has delivered Europe’s first two 737-900ER NextGen to lessor GE Commercial Aviation Services. The aircraft will be operated by Futura International Airways based in Palma de Mallorca.

April traffic figures for SAS, Air Berlin, Finnair and Estonian (All figures are quoted year on year unless otherwise stated)
The SAS Group has reported that traffic and capacity both increased during the month to 17.4 per cent and 22.1 per cent respectively. The group carried 2.9 million passengers an increase of 17.9 per cent but load factor was slightly down at 69.1 per cent.
Air Berlin, including LTU, Belair and Walter Airlines, reports an increase of 6.5 per cent in the number of passengers carried to 2,242.575 million. Load factor was up at 78.81 per cent, a rise of 4 per cent.

Finnair reports that traffic increased 9.6 per cent while capacity was up 18 per cent resulting in a 5.4 per cent reduction in the load factor to 69.8 per cent.
An increase of 20.3 per cent in passenger numbers has been announced by Estonian Air to a total of 66,833. The airline enjoyed a 47 per cent share of the regular flights segments from Tallinn Airport an increase of 2.4 per cent over March.

Piece of Aviation History for May 9 1932 - The first blind solo aeroplane flight, controlled only on instruments, was made in Dayton, Ohio. U.S. Army Aircorps Captain A.F. Hegenberger accomplished this feat by using a Douglas BT-2 model equipped with a landing system for that purpose. He landed safely, making his approach by lining up on two radio transmitters through the use of a compass aboard the plane.

A Quote of  the Day
The beginning is always today. Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (1797 - 1851)

A Bit of Light Relief
Two girls board a crowded bus and one of them whispered to the other, "Watch me embarrass a man into giving me his seat."
Pushing her way through the crowd, she turned all of her charms upon a gentleman who looked like he might embarrass easily. "My dear Mr. Wilson," she gushed, "fancy meeting you here on the bus. Am I glad to see you! Why you're almost a stranger. My, but I'm tired!"
The sedate gent looked up at the girl. He had never seen her before but he rose and said pleasantly, "Sit down, Mary, my girl. It isn't often I see you on washday. No wonder you're tired. Being pregnant isn't easy. By the way, don't deliver the wash until Thursday.
My wife is going to the Prosecutor's office to see whether or not she can get your husband out of jail."