While other business aircraft manufacturers struggled last year, Embraer more than tripled its production output of executive jets. Thanks to the ramp-up in deliveries of its new Phenom line, the Brazilian aircraft company delivered 115 business jets last year, up from the 36 it shipped in 2008.
A shell-shocked business aviation industry is peeking out from behind the bulwarks and wondering if the lull in gunfire signals the beginning of an end to the battle.
Southwest Airlines Co. said that it flew six billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in December 2009, a 3 percent increase from the 5.8 billion RPMs flown in December 2008, continuing the run of increased traffic it has been reporting for the past several months. Available seat miles (ASMs) decreased 5.8 percent to 7.8 billion from the December 2008 figure of 8.3 billion. The load factor for the month was 76.2 percent, compared to 69.7 percent for the same period last year.
SkyWest Inc., which operates SkyWest Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines, said Monday that its traffic rose 5.4 percent in December.
Republic Airways Holdings, Inc. reported preliminary passenger traffic results for December 2009. The company generated 1.664 billion revenue passenger miles or RPMs, a 112.4% increase from the same month last year, while available seat miles or ASMs increased 99.5%.
Regional carrier American Eagle said Wednesday that December traffic rose 6.6 percent, in contrast to a drop in flying on its larger affiliate, American Airlines.
December was a record-breaking month for AirTran Airways, as the company saw increased traffic, capacity and number of enplaned passengers.
Allegiant Air LLC said its November passenger count jumped nearly 20 percent, the number of departures increased 18.7 percent, and its load factor increased by 0.6 points. Officials at Allegiant also announced Monday the company has signed an agreement to buy 18 MD-80 aircraft from Scandinavian Airlines Systems.
ATP welcomes five more of its graduates as new CFIs: