ALPA ADVANCING AVIATION SAFETY AND SECURITY SINCE 1931

Release #: Vol. 84, No. 3
April 01, 2015

Sharing Our Success

 

Highlighting ALPA pilots’ commitment to flying for successful companies, the following is “good news” from our pilots’ airlines.

 

Hawaiian Is Nation’s Most On-time Carrier for 11th Consecutive Year

Continuing a remarkable streak of on-time consistency that began in 2004, Hawaiian Airlines led the nation’s carriers in punctuality for the 11th year in a row, reported the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

Hawaii’s largest and longest-serving airline averaged a 91.9 percent on-time performance rating for the full year 2014, earning the top ranking in 11 of the 12 months and exceeding the industry average for the year by 15.7 percentage points.

“Our employees know the importance to our guests of arriving at their destination on time, so they work incredibly hard to have our flights arrive on schedule better than 90 percent of the time,” said Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian Airlines president and chief executive officer. “That we have been better at this than our competitors for 11 years in a row is a testament to the passion and commitment to the customer of Hawaiian Airlines’ more than 5,000 employees.”

Alaska Airlines Announces Order for Six Boeing NextGeneration 737-900ers

Alaska Airlines’ fleet of fuel-efficient Boeing airplanes is growing again. Seattle’s hometown airline is purchasing six more Boeing 737- 900 Extended Range aircraft, valued at $594 million, Boeing’s current list price. The new airplanes, four scheduled for delivery in 2016 and two in 2017, bring Alaska’s total of locally manufactured jets on order to 79.

“We’re delighted Boeing is able to expedite delivery of four of these new 737-900ERs, increasing the number of planes we’ll receive next year to 19,” said Andrew Harrison, Alaska Airlines executive vice president and chief revenue officer. “These comfortable and highly efficient jets will expand and strengthen our already leading Pacific Northwest network.”

Alaska operates one of the youngest fleets in North America. The airline is transitioning to Boeing’s most modern and efficient 737 next-generation models. Over the next few years, Alaska’s remaining B-737-400s will be replaced with B-737-900ERs, which transport 25 percent more passengers on the same amount of fuel.


ATSG Posts Improved 2014 Results as Aircraft Leasing Portfolio Grows

Air Transport Services Group, Inc. (the parent company of Air Transport International), the leading provider of medium widebody aircraft leasing, air cargo transportation, and related services, recently reported consolidated financial results for the quarter and full year ended Dec. 31, 2014.

For the fourth quarter of 2014:

  • Adjusted pre-tax earnings from continuing operations increased 19 percent to $17.7 million.
  • Adjusted net earnings from continuing operations increased 11 percent to $10.8 million, or 17 cents per share diluted.
  • Revenues were $157.9 million, slightly higher than a year ago and up $19.5 million from the third quarter of 2014.
  • Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) increased by 15 percent to $50.8 million from $44.3 million a year ago. Full-year adjusted EBITDA grew by 14 percent to $179.5 million from $157.5 million in 2013.

In January, ATSG completed a multi-year commercial agreement with DHL that calls for the extension through March 2019 of the Boeing 767 freighter leases and operating services that ATSG has provided in support of DHL’s U.S. network for more than a decade. Dry leases for 13 ATSG-owned Boeing 767 freighters already leased to DHL were extended through March 2019, and two others operating for DHL will be converted to four year leases. ATSG’s businesses will continue to operate and maintain those aircraft through March 2019 under an amended and restated CMI (crew, maintenance, and insurance) agreement. 

This article is from the April 2015 issue of Air Line Pilot magazine, the Official Journal of the Air Line Pilots Association, International—a monthly publication for all ALPA members.

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