Energy Watch

AirGuide Business, May 25, 2009

Pratt & Whitney, Bombardier

Pratt & Whitney's PurePower PW1000G geared turbofan program for the Bombardier CSeries and Mitsubishi Regional Jet will enter the detailed design phase by midsummer. This stage, which follows completion of the preliminary design phase, will take 12-15 months, leading to first engine runs by the third quarter of 2010. "We start testing in the middle of next year, we get engine certification at the end of 2011 and start flying on the MRJ. . .and we fly on the CSeries in the middle of 2012," Saia said. "We are progressing well with both our models." The Technology Demonstrator Program, which mated the fan drive gear system of the PW1000G to a PW6000 core, validated the performance of the key GTF components over the 406-hr. program that included 120 hr. of actual flight time, Saia said. Introduction of emissions trading in the EU and a possible carbon tax on fuel in the US boost the attractiveness of the PW1000G, he believes. Assuming a 500-nm. mission and 2,200 trips per year with carbon dioxide permits trading at USD 30 per tonne, the 3,000-tonne reduction in emissions from the engine translates into an USD 88,000 per-aircraft annual savings, he said. May 22, 2009

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines' fuel bill drop in the second quarter has been offset by an "almost dollar-for-dollar" decline in revenue, the airline's chief executive told investors Wednesday. The Dallas-based company is also planning for continued revenue softness as the recession and the H1N1 flu virus cut into travel demand, CEO Gary Kelly said at the company's annual shareholders' meeting. The announcement comes a month after Southwest reported its third straight quarterly loss, hurt by the dwindling number of travelers. The company cut its two-year capital budget, slowed fleet expansion plans and froze hiring. Still, the company is also expanding its reach. It will commence service from a handful of additional airports, including New York's LaGuardia and Boston Logan. The new services will add tens of millions in incremental revenues in the first year, Kelly said. He also added the airline fully repaid a USDUSD 400 million line of credit that it drew last October. Southwest recently obtained a USDUSD 332 million bank loan at an interest rate below 6.5 percent. Southwest earlier this month reported its April traffic rose 4.1 percent from a year earlier. May 22, 2009

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines posted a 24 percent first-quarter net income increase to TRY155 million (USD 98.5 million) on a 17 percent rise in revenue to TRY1.28 billion. Passengers carried lifted 8 percent to 4.9 million and cargo transported rose 7 percent to 48,000 tons. Passenger traffic heightened 9 percent on a 15 percent lift in capacity. Load factor fell 3.7 points to 66.1 percent. THY said lower fuel prices are "a positive signal" and it believes it can "sustain positive results for the coming periods." May 18, 2009

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