Industry - Airline latest news

Airline CFOs around the world are pessimistic about industry finances over the next 12 months, expecting soaring costs to erode profitability further despite rising traffic, according to the IATA Business Confidence Index released yesterday.

AirBridge Cargo, the scheduled 747F airline owned by Volga-Dnepr Group, said it likely will not achieve profitability this year despite a more-than-doubling of first-half 2008 revenue to $210 million from $96 million in the year-ago period.

Midwest Airlines yesterday unveiled a revised flight schedule that will feature elimination of service to Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers and San Diego and an enhanced codeshare agreement with Northwest Airlines.

News from Travel technology Update: Travelport plans to roll out its new travel agency desktop in early 2009 with a number of "wow factors," including access to the Sabre and, eventually, Amadeus GDSs.

Qantas on Friday said it will cut 1,500 jobs by Dec. 31 and cancel a planned 8% boost in capacity for its 2009 fiscal year starting July 1 "in response to the sustained high oil prices and changing economic conditions."

Sukhoi Holding CEO Mikhail Pogosyan is maintaining the initial forecast that the Sukhoi Superjet 100 will capture a 15%-17% share of the global 60/120-seat regional jet market over the next 20 years despite the industry downturn and entry into the market of Mitsubishi and China's AVIC.

Delta Air Lines reached an accord with Pinnacle Airlines and agreed to abandon plans to terminate its 10-year contract with its regional partner, with terms of the reaffirmed deal allowing Pinnacle to continue operating as a Delta Connection carrier until 2017.

United Airlines, the largest carrier at Denver International Airport, will trim overall capacity in Denver by 16 percent in 2009, airline executives said Tuesday in a conference call with investors. (UALA)

The African nation of Tanzania is predicting an increase in its visitor numbers over the coming years, according to reports.Some $1.2 billion (£598 million) is set to be generated by the Tanzania tourism industry this year but this is expected to rise to $1.35 billion in 2009.The national tourist board said that the growth, which is hoped to see between 150,000 and 200,000 more visitors to the country next year, will be supported by increased marketing in North America and Europe.Speaking in an interview with Reuters, Tanzania tourist board boss Peter Mwenguo said: "For 2009, we should try every effort to reach 950,000 visitors. For revenue it will be in the range of $1.35 billion."(This year) our target is to receive 750,000 tourists, but it might go up to 800,000. In terms of revenue, we are projecting about $1.1 billion to $1.2 billion."Tanzania's major attractions to tourists include the Serengeti and Selous national parks, the beaches along its eastern coastline and the archipelag

Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, has received a major accolade at this year's Airline Business awards.The airline was recognised for the strong brand that it has created in the marketplace and the innovative sponsorship programmes it has developed with sporting and cultural partners.Judges at the awards, which were hosted by Airline Business magazine, said that Etihad customers "see the same brand at every touch-point", from the carrier's check-in desks and premium lounges to its inflight services.Peter Baumgartner, the Abu Dhabi-based airline's vice-president of marketing, said: "Every company around the world knows how crucial it is to achieve the right marketing strategy and develop a strong brand, and that is even more significant in the highly competitive airline industry."Therefore to win this award, for an airline as young as Etihad Airways, is a tremendous honour for us."Airline Business editor Mark Pilling said Etihad had created "a strong bran