Chris Tarry

Brazil Seen Targeting TAP Airline as Europe Shuns Auction

Portugal’s auction of state-owned airline TAP SGPS SA has been shunned by Europe’s three biggest carriers, boosting prospects for a Latin American takeover of a company analysts say may fetch 500 million euros ($653 million).

Emirates Growth Splurge Rattles Long-Haul Rivals

Emirates, the biggest international airline, is rattling rivals in Europe and Asia with a growth splurge that may be as game-changing for long-haul carriers as the expansion of Ryanair Holdings Plc and Southwest Airlines Co.

Airlines Risk Seat Glut by Growing Fleets as Traffic Teeters

Airlines are storing up trouble by swelling fleets with new planes and bringing older jets out of mothballs at the fastest pace since the world emerged from the last recession, just as traffic starts to collapse.

Air China Increases Capacity; Air France Holds Fast

Airline chiefs gathering for their annual meeting in Berlin today face the biggest decision since the recession: whether to boost capacity as demand for travel surges or restrict supply and focus on raising ticket prices.

Malev Airline Stops Services After 66 Years as Hungary Moves to Cut Losses

Malev Zrt., the state-owned Hungarian airline founded in 1946, ceased flying after the government withdrew financing, becoming the second victim of European austerity measures in a week after the collapse of Spanair SA.

Finnair Seeks Mergers, Asia Ally to Swell Emirates-Style Hub

Finnair Oyj, building Helsinki into a hub offering the shortest flights from Europe to northeast Asia, said it’s seeking a partner with which to operate the services while pursuing local takeovers to boost Nordic traffic.

Air France Gains on Reported $1.1 Billion Savings Plan, Possible Job Cuts

Air France-KLM Group rose as much as much as 4.1 percent in Paris trading after reports that Europe’s largest airline may seek 800 million euros ($1.1 billion) in fresh cost savings that could lead to thousands of job cuts.

Airbus Set to Erode Boeing's Lead in China With 100-Jet Order

Airbus SAS , for decades the also-ran behind Boeing Co. in China, is set to reap one of its largest orders yet from the country as a local factory attracts Chinese carriers and air travel in the region booms.

Air France, Delta to Cut Trans-Atlantic Flights 9% as Jet Fuel Prices Jump

Air France-KLM Group said it held a “vigorous” debate with SkyTeam ally Delta Air Lines Inc. over capacity before the pair agreed to slash seats in their trans- Atlantic venture as much as 9 percent for the northern winter.

Qatar Air Says ‘Belt Up’ as Middle East Carriers Pull In Orders

Qatar Airways Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker is giving the competition a word of caution from the airline’s flight deck: “belt up.”

"Asia is not only where the growth is in terms of GDP and incomes, which fuel demand, but levels of investment there mean its airports are also able to accommodate the increase, which is not necessarily the case elsewhere."

- Chris Tarry on Mar 28, 2012

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Middle East

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Israel to Halt Weapons Flow to Hezbollah, Analyst Says

Berkshire Cash Hits Record $49.1 Billion as Profit Climbs

Payrolls in U.S. Rise 165,000 as Unemployment Rate Drops

Fusion Scientists See Progress as Obama Shows No Ardor

Billionaire Kaiser Exploiting Charity Loophole With Boats