Page 36 - AAA JULY-AUGUST 2012 Online Magazine

AIRLINES

IN THE AIR

Indian pale
India-based Kingfisher Airlines woes
continue, with its share price down
80% since the start of last year, and
MAS goes SuperJumbo the announcement of its biggest loss
Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has taken delivery of its first A380, making it the eighth ever. Its quarterly report indicated a
to get the largest and most eco-friendly aircraft. MAS, which has ordered six 11.5 billion rupee (US$205 million) loss
Trent 900-powered A380s, will use a three-class layout seating 494 passengers. in the quarter to end-March. Analysts
“The A380 will be our flagship aircraft, offering new levels of comfort, luxury estimate the airline’s overall value has
and convenience for long-haul travel,” said Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, MAS CEO. The plummeted to around US$100 million,
A380 will enable MAS to offer a non-stop service with a full passenger payload even though it was rated in second spot
from Kuala Lumpur to any destination in Europe, or one-stop service to major nationally only a year ago. The airline
destinations in the US. has made extensive cuts to its flight
schedules and is now the smallest
Indian airline, rated on market share.

Cash for Southern
It looks like China Southern is to get a
handout. In a statement, China Southern
Air Holding said it was “currently
considering injecting capital including
Lufthansa’s first state-owned capital budget allocation
to reduce the asset-to-debt ratio of the
Lufthansa made its first commercial Franz, Chairman and CEO of Deutsche Company.” The airline, which has some
flight with the 747-8 Intercontinental, Lufthansa AG. As well as the new 400 aircraft and 200 on order, added it
using a new Business Class with “V” seating, which offers maximum was looking at a private share issue to
form seating, where two neighbouring distance between two adjoining seats help shore up operations. The deal is
seats are angled towards one another at shoulder level, the 747-8 boasts new “subject to further policy consultation
for extra space. The aircraft flew from wings with improved aerodynamics and and review by the relevant government
Frankfurt to Washington DC. “The raked tips; as well as fuel-efficient, authorities,” it added, although recent
Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental is an GEnx-2B engines and lower emissions reports indicate a US$300+ million
exceptional aircraft,” said Christoph and noise. injection is likely.

36 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS JULY / AUGUST 2012 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM