Even though we’ve been hearing our fair share of bad news regarding all flavors of downsizing going on in the airline business, the Global Fortune 500 List comes back, in 2008, to remind us that some airlines out there are still doing very well for themselves.

To put it simply, some people just need to fly.

For business or leisure, lots of sky travelers simply can’t do without their airplane link to another location on our Blue Planet. The airlines that are performing the best are those which properly cater to these people — and they’re not necessarily selling the cheapest seats either, it’s actually quite the contrary.

While the budget challenged airplane travelers need to cut back on their travel expenses, the richer crowd doesn’t really bother with the extra charges related to homeland security, fuel or various other fees being piggy-backed on the ticket prices.

Planes consuming less fuel, flying with less (empty) seats and serving busier routes will help the airlines who dare to reinvent themselves to thrive, even with the bargain-hunting passenger crowd.

So who’s on top, in the 2008 list of the Global Fortune 500?

Let’s take a look at the numbers:

The profits aren’t anywhere near those from banks or pharmaceuticals but this is airline transport, an industry where the competition is fierce in the air but also from alternative transportation like high-speed trains, direct bus routes, marine shuttles, people’s cars and others.

In this particular context, turning a profit -at all- is a good sign.

Because of anticipated market pressures on the airlines, in the US and abroad, the next few months and years could prove to be bumpy for the investors who need to keep in mind that with technological breakthroughs and advances, planes will likely get more affordable to operate and as such, profits could be looking up. Also, the current price of fuel, which is at an all-time high, is expected to go down enough for the airliners to breath, at least for a short while.

Let’s see how these and other smaller airlines perform in these challenging times, in the months and years to come. Expect major and not-so-major mergers and acquisitions to reshape, yet again, this industry.

Tags: airlines, airliners, airplanes, planes, sky travelers, tourists, business travel, air travel, airplane tickets, bargain prices, bargain hunters, lower prices, high fuel prices, fuel prices, airplane fuel, passengers, us, world, global, fortune, money, revenues, profits

Back in the 1960′s, taking the plane was a “special event” where the passengers were treated like kings, from the moment they entered the departure airport to the moment they left the arrival one.

For instance, the meals that Air France served to it’s Montreal-Paris liaison passengers were prepared by the very prestigious Ritz-Carlton, on Sherbrooke Street, in Montreal. If you’ve flown this Air France lately, you know it’s not as glitzy anymore, even if you fly in the more expensive business class.

So things have changed in the airlines business and not everyone agrees it’s for the better.

Companies like Air Canada, after being sold to American interests, lost interest in the less traveled routes, such as Atlantic Canada, Quebec and Northern Canada, thus severely penalizing smaller communities which had, under Canadian management, been decently served — globalization, privatization and shareholder greed have apparently trumped over all basic consumer satisfaction obligations.

Air travel horror stories abound.

From the fact that it’s still complicated to deal with the airlines, to buy tickets or worse, to get customer service, to the continuous stream of mismanagement imbroglios (think about the luggage nightmares), many modern day airlines have dumbed down their service to the point where it’s not even close to what their marketing promises.

For air passengers, the bread and butter of the airlines, the multiplication of fees (for everything, really), the grossly exagerated security paranoia, the flight delays (with little or no compensation to the ticket holder), the arrogant attitude from the airline personnel and the plastic-like food served on flights (when anything is served, at all) taking the plane has become a pain more than a “generally pleasant experience”.

Regular air travelers are now even attempting to opt-out of today’s air travel madness by asking their companies to buy sophisticated “always-on” teleconferencing solutions to minimize the air commuting back and forth from the various company locations — in itself, this is a good thing but still, it’s precipitated by the fact that taking the plane, for many people, is not exactly a walk in the park, at least not anymore (because it used to be much easier, more expensive but easier nonetheless).

Some airlines specialize in high-yield market niches like the C-level business travel and that’s fine but their ads feature “great service” as a plus… shouldn’t that be a bare minimum for even the “regular” flights?

While the airline industry isn’t too bothered with customer satisfaction, a study published earlier this week by American universities reveal that over 25% of the flights were late, in 2007. Accordingly, the number of traveler complaints filed was up by a whopping 60% last year, making it the worst year for air traffic, in America, ever!

Even more preoccupying is the fact that experts in airline customer satisfaction predict the current situation will continue to worsen as the price of tickets, the fees and the barriers to free movement of travelers continue to mount while, at the very same time, the service level continues to drop.

This being said, let’s keep in mind that the current state of affairs could translate into a unique opportunity for venturing airline entrepreneurs with an astute sense for customer satisfaction.

Tags: airlines, air travel, planes, customer satisfaction, passengers, great service, tickets, fees, security

Yet another important speech has been given by Norman Y. Mineta, df, before the prestigious U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in Washington D.C., at 11 AM, today July 6th, 2006.

The tone was resolutely engaging and the crowd listening to this speech meant business, big infrastructure development business. Most experts agree Mr Mineta want to help the American transports industry as well as the already stressed out commuters, especially in dense urban areas.

Click on the title to read the complete speech transcript.

A revised international investment proposal released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation would strengthen requirements initially proposed last November concerning U.S. citizens’ control of all safety, security and national defense obligations of domestic airlines while allowing international investors to make decisions on commercial matters involving U.S. airline management.

The supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking issued by the Department reflects comments provided on the November, 2005 proposal from consumers, airlines, aviation personnel and other interested groups. That proposal would make it easier for U.S. airlines to raise money, restructure their businesses and form strategic partnerships and alliances by allowing international investors more say in some aspects of airline operations such as scheduling and marketing.

The supplemental proposal issued today would make clear that U.S. citizens who are members of a domestic airline’s board or the voting shareholders, must retain the authority to revoke decision-making authority that international investors may acquire. For example, domestic board members might decide to revoke international investors’ decision-making authority over scheduling and fleet composition if they felt that those decisions were not in their airlines’ best interests. The new provision would make clear that U.S. citizens remain in “actual control” of the airline, as required by statute.

In addition, the revised proposal would strengthen the original proposal’s requirement that U.S. citizens have full control over all policies and implementation relating to safety, security and national defense airlift commitments. The new proposal would specifically prevent international investors from having the ability to hire, fire or control the budgets of senior airline managers with direct responsibility for safety, security and national defense airlift commitments.

As with the original version, the revised proposal would only apply to international investors from countries that have Open-Skies aviation agreements with the United States and allow similar investments by American citizens in their domestic airlines.

Here’s a partial list of US domestic airliners targeted, directly or not, by this proposal:

• Alaska Air
• Aloha Air
• America West Airlines
• American Airlines
• Continental Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Northwest Airlines
• Pacific Coastal Airlines
• Southwest Airlines
• United Airlines
• US Airways
• WestJet Airlines
• World Airways

The Department is seeking additional comment for another sixty days to allow for all interested groups to comment on the revised proposal.

Tags: airlines, investments, us, dot, proposal, safety, security, national defense, citizens

Preparations are well advanced for the International Aerospace Exhibition ILA 2006.

From the 16th to the 21st of May 2006, over 1,000 exhibitors from more than 40 countries will be coming to the southern section of Berlin-Schönefeld Airport to display their latest aircraft and a wide range of products, systems and processes representing every area of this high tech industry.

The exhibition site has been extended for the ILA 2006 to cover 250,000 square metres and almost all of this space has already been reserved. This area includes the 100,000 square metres of outdoor display sites, the ten exhibition halls covering a total of 50,000 square metres, and all the chalets, which provide an exclusive setting in which to meet with customers.

Over 300 aircraft from the historical to jets incorporating the latest advances in aviation technology will be on show on the ground and in the air.

For the professionals there will also be more than 80 conferences, meetings and workshops offering additional opportunities for obtaining information.

During the first three days (16-18 May) admission to the ILA will be restricted to trade visitors only. The highlight of the open days (19-21 May) will be the spectacular air show.

Federal Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel will officially open the ILA 2006 during her tour of the grounds on the 16th of May.

Hans-Joachim Gante, the Chief Executive of the BDLI, stated: “The ILA 2006 promises to be extremely successful. The number of exhibitors, together with the size and quality of their stands, are an indication that the ILA has developed into one of the world’s leading aerospace trade fairs. Virtually every company of any standing in this sector is represented at the ILA in order to present its products and services to Germany and the world.”

Europe’s “shopping mall” for business and private aircraft.

The General Aviation Avenue at the ILA 2006 alone is one of the largest trade fairs anywhere in the world for business, private and sports aircraft.

In the space of just a few years the General Aviation Avenue at the ILA has become Europe’s “Shopping Mall” for business and private aircraft as well as a commercial meeting place for aircraft owners and pilots.

Among the more important suppliers to be found at the ILA 2006 will be Aquila, Beechcraft (Raytheon Aircraft), Bombardier, Cessna, Cirrus, Diamond Aircraft, Embraer, Extra, Pilatus, Piper and Socata.

They will be joined at the ILA by numerous general aviation suppliers including the publicly quoted engine maker Thielert and the airscrew manufacturer MT-Propeller, whose products are already internationally known.

Career Center with details about job opportunities

The Career Center takes the form of seminars at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on the 19th and 20th of May, in Hall 4, with first hand information about training and employment opportunities in the aerospace industries.

Details of requirements and career prospects will be explained by companies such as Aerotec, Airbus, EADS, Lufthansa Technik, MTU Aero Engines, Rolls Royce Deutschland and Ryan Air.

Tags: ila, berlin air show, aerospace, airlines, airplanes, trade show, exhibition halls, thielert, engines

The US Department of Transportation has made a significant announcement for the future of the Myrtle Beach Airport:

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta today announced plans to spend $43 million over the next eight years to help Myrtle Beach International Airport pay for construction of an apron and new taxiways supporting the new terminal to handle growing business and attract new customers.

The investment will allow the airport to accommodate up to 14 new gates by 2022 needed in anticipation of an increase in traffic at Myrtle Beach, Mineta said.

He noted that improving capacity at smaller airports is vital to serving the increased number of travelers and businesses coming to the area.

“Our airport investment strategy must include smaller facilities that are starting to see more traffic,” Mineta said.

The Secretary also said the first installment of $4 million would be available later this year.

Myrtle Beach International Airport is one of the faster growing airports in the south handling over 785,000 passengers in 2005, an increase of almost 20,000 passengers from 2004, he said.

This announcement for Myrtle Beach International Airport is one of four financing pledges Mineta has unveiled in the past few months.

The remaining three include over $337 million for expansion at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, $200 million for a new runway at Washington Dulles International in Virginia, and $26 million for a new taxiway at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Georgia.

Tags: myrtle beach airport, taxiway, usa, airport expansion, airlines, passengers, investment, strategy

It’s a show you can’t miss if you build planes or do business in that industry.

The numbers speak for themselves with roughly half a million people attending this event in just seven days. We’re announcing it here first, on NavSite, because it should already be marked on your agenda, for 2007.

Read our review of the upcoming 47th Edition of this international air show.