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Exploring all avenues

July 14, 2008

Analysis of:Ultra Cool: A Ride in BMW's Hydrogen 7 | www.thedailygreen.com

BMW'S H7 is the only hydrogen-powered luxury car in production today. This fuel technology presents yet another avenue to be explored. BMW has been left alone to go this route, as most others believe in the fuel cell - as does the author of this article. The mere fact that he presents this car only now, is somewhat remarkable and shows so-called 'experts' disbelief in this technology. But at least he gives it a chance.

ETA (estimated time of arrival)

April 18, 2008

Analysis of:Airline Deal Isn't Done Yet | online.wsj.com

After many months of dealing and wheeling it seems to be set now: Delta and Northwest will finally merge under the umbrella of Delta Air Lines. It is not fully completed and already the questions start, not least on the side of the passengers. After all, the 'new' Delta will be the biggest airline by passengers, so the expectations are also one size bigger.

TUI = Pfui?

March 19, 2008

Analysis of:TUI capitulates | www.tradewinds.no

It has taken the management many years of integration and re-organisation to come up with the concern that is TUI today. Breaking it up is essentially reverse engineering and it signals an end to the brand as we know it. The headline is based on German. For english speakers: pfui = fie or tut.

Team Tactics

December 11, 2007

Analysis of:SkyTeam duo take on BA to Seattle | www.telegraph.co.uk

The SkyTeam Alliance of Air France/KLM and its US partners Delta and Northwest have prepared themselves to make full use of the new openess of Heathrow Airport for transatlantic flights. The last monopoly routes, such as LHR-SEA, will be falling as well as many more seats on existing routes. Expected Anti-trust immunity for the four SkyTeam airlines could make matters worse yet for incumbent BA. The Telegraph views the alliance as being the clear winner of the new open skies accord between the EU and the US.

Alitalia: Sono allergico alla logica!

December 10, 2007

Analysis of:Air France, Air One lead charge for Alitalia; Lufthansa opts out | www.atwonline.com

Alitalia was pleased to learn that two airline groupings had decided to bid via 'non-binding' LoIs for the bankrupt carrier. Only AF/KLM and Air One group decided to bid and the former did so in an extraordinary cautious manner: AF/KLM would only furbish some nicely worded statements but no fiscal information. What is more interesting here is the fact that Europe's most successful airline group - Lufthansa - decided not to bid after all.

Olympic Odour

December 10, 2007

Analysis of:Olympic Airlines' Future in Question | biz.yahoo.com

The European Commission is finally putting pressure on the Greek Government to solve the national airline misery. The agony of Ryanair's lawsuit is just the tip of an iceberg and the shutdown really is now inevitable. The artwork here is merely with the governmental statements to appease the unions.

About Doha Dollars and Emirate Euros

November 16, 2007

Analysis of:Gulf airlines place massive aircraft orders at Dubai air show | www.iht.com

With a huge order for both Airbus and Boeing on its opening day, the Dubai Air Show has come of age and not only put itself firmly on the map of the most important shows together with Farnborough and Paris, but it also indicates new times to come in world aviation.

EADS: losing my mind...

November 6, 2007

Analysis of:EADS expects further costs for A400M delays | www.reuters.com

After its widely expected delay announcement for the A400M two weeks ago, came today the financial implication for this  programme. EADS expects to be in need of a sum of 1.2 to 1.4 bn Euros related to the programme, in part due to revised delivery schedules. EADS continues to point out that this amount allows for further slippage of up to another six months, but doesn't include unknown snags that may arise during flight testing and engine problems with the all new turboprop engine on this aircraft.

Internationally Looking For Craftsmanship!

October 29, 2007

Analysis of:ILFC confirms order for 20 A350 XWBs | www.atwonline.com

Last week, Airbus announced that ILFC had placed an order for an initial batch of 20 A350s. The leasing company will be allowed to switch between the -800, -900 and even the -1000 variants as its needs shape up. So, Airbus is now just 4 aircraft short of its self-assigned target of 200 sales by the end of this year. According to ILFC, the company also placed an initial order of 20 for the 787, which now stand at 74 despite the delay. So, there appears to be room for more A350s should the market respond positively for ILFC. The delivery schedule also suggests that Airbus had reserved some of the early delivery slots for ILFC (2014, 2015), indicating that ILFC needed to ensure that these reservations would not lapse or potentially benefit someone else.

BAA = Bric - A - brAc ?

October 15, 2007

Analysis of:Pressure mounts on BAA to sell airports | scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com

BAA is under pressure to explain its recent failures at Heathrow and Gatwick airports to politicians, while being asked to explain earning shortfalls to investors and shareholders. The latter results in cutting costs to the tune of some 150 million pounds sterling. Meanwhile, the lack of improvements in service levels at its main gateways is fuelling calls for its break up. On top of this comes the sudden departure of its chief executive after just five weeks at the helm.

787 Delayedliner?

October 15, 2007

Analysis of:Boeing delays Dreamliners delivery to Q4 2008 | www.marketwatch.com

Boeing announced on Wednesday what was widely expected in aerospace circles: its 787 will face a delay of six months for deliveries. Also, the first flight has been pushed further and is now planned for QI/2008. Boeing added that this won't significantly affect its earnings for 2007 and 2008.

BAck to Basics

October 1, 2007

Analysis of:British Airways Order For Superjumbo Jetliners Gives Airbus Needed Boost | online.wsj.com

BA has finally begun its long-awaited fleet renewal with orders for A380s and B787s. A deal that should merely be the beginning of more to come. The announcement is said to be a much needed boost for Airbus and its A380 flagship and yet more endorsement for the yet-to-fly 787. While both the A350 and the 747-8 are said to not be out of the running, the identified looser in this announcement is GE and its engine products showing BA's unhappiness with the GE90 series. All engines will be supplied by Rolls-Royce. The order is seen as significant also, as it apparently does not touch on the other aircraft that would need replacing and that such aircraft are ill-replaced with the current types so ordered.

Déjà vu?

September 28, 2007

Analysis of:787 flight delay blamed on unfinished structures, software | seattletimes.nwsource.com

Further delay to Boeing's new 787 aircraft may have repercussions down the line that could well mirror of what has been hit its competitor before. Originally scheduled for late August, the date has now slipped by roughly 3 months, severely compromising any room for errors that are quite normal for any prototype esp. in the ever more complex airframe industry. Boeing insists that all problems are temporary issues and no inherent flaws in its production planning. Insiders are a bit more skeptical - quite naturally so, as it is clear that a prototype is almost 100% certain to hit snags during testing and trying no matter how well you plan and build it. Only quietly admitting that there really isn't any room for snags or bigger work-arounds in the now compressed flight test programme. As May 2008 is approaching, industry observers remain doubtful if the first delivery will remain on schedule.

Phoen... erm, Atlanta from the Ashes!

September 26, 2007

Analysis of:Delta Air Lines Wins Rights to Serve China Nonstop From Atlanta | biz.yahoo.com

Reborn and revamped Delta Airlines has literally landed a big coup with this route approval. Together with the announcement that its award-winning Business Elite Class will also get a new look and product enhancements Delta appears to be pressing all the right buttons at the moment. The once dying ugly duckling from the south is suddenly rising fast, leaving other US carriers wondering if they have done their homework correctly. This news is really a double whammy in the face of fellow US competitors. Many of them would have preferred to sit quietly and watch it go under, only to pick up the pieces afterwards. How things change! What is really surprising here is the amount of support - also from the business community, Delta received in its bid. This is not only good news for the company's management but should also serve as a boost for its service personnel and crews.

Low Cost Value

August 30, 2007

Analysis of:Are European low-cost carriers entering maturity in their revenue and profit generation? | www.ft.com

The magic and hype about the low cost carriers (LCCs) is all but over and now the real earning of money starts. And while they all call themselves low cost, there are differences between the players, which in turn offer different products to both passengers and investors. Growth curves are about to or have already levelled and the next challenges are already in place: stay profitable and operationally healthy at the same time. Air Berlin, which is specifically mentioned here is a bit of a story on its own in terms of growth and profitability when compared to easyJet and Ryanair. This may seem a bit difficult to comprehend as the result is still the same: profit warning, waning margins and rising costs. It goes without saying that cost cutting measures are being announced. The article appears to be sending a slight warning to investors, esp. as far as Air Berlin is concerned. The article is wrong about easyJet though, as it grew considerably at the time, when it bought GO from 3M.

Russia and its Energy

August 30, 2007

Analysis of:Russia Will Build Floating Nuclear Power Plants | www.energy-daily.com

The floating nuclear powerplant (NPP) will be an old technology in a new suit. So why build it? The answer is: it is cheap energy for a long time. Plus: on an efficiency level, Natural Gas simply cannot provide this quantity of power at such a low price. Plus: it is CO2 neutral. The idea is born out of the knowledge that Russia itself has a rising need for electricity and that in a country where transporting power in cables - hung up or dug under - is not an option. You need power locally and a lot of it to power your industry. You also need affordable energy in a country where winter is part of most of your daily life and earning power is weak. And this is the crux, where the floating NPP becomes a much wanted item in other countries, where one or the other point is present: China, Central Asia, North East Asia, Africa, the Middle East to name but a few. It is cheap electricity over a long period of time. The rest of us hope that Russia has improved on reliability too!

Terminal terminated...

July 23, 2007

Analysis of:Italian Government has to find another solution for Alitalia | www.ft.com

Union intervention - Mismanagement - weak government The crux about Alitalia's misery basically hinges on a few straight points: Firstly, the unions basically call the shots behind the scenes. Secondly, these unions have constantly been protected by the prevailing governments - mostly of socialist flavour; and, thirdly, whatever management there has been over the past decades, was incompetent at best. This cocktail then sums up in an utterly imaginary price tag that no self-respecting investor would ever pay for such a crippled enterprise. Add to that the demands by the government and the unions, both of which are unable and/or incapable to let go of their influences and you end up with a miserable situation that is a perfect mirror of the entire country. Alitalia has of course been getting more than its fair share of publicity as it flies the Italian flag around the world. Now that this sale flopped, it may well be time to roll up the tricolore and close this book for good.

Highway Stars

July 20, 2007

Analysis of:EU Looks to Cargo Trains to Ease Load on Trucking | online.wsj.com

Trucking has always been a problem in the EU. Now that the environmental concern has been put on top of the agenda, the hyperactive EU commission is seeking ways out of the dilemma. If you take a closer look, however, this problem is split west-to-east. Western haulage companies carry a much higher cost burden and are looking at ways to reduce the bills and the implications of reduced duty hours for drivers. Eastern haulage companies use their old age trucks with worn tyres, exhausted drivers and improperly loaded and secured cargo. These eastern European trucks are ticking time bombs on the roads. For eastern haulage companies it is of course minimum investment at maximum profits. The EU is possibly trying to solve both problems with its railway initiative by getting as much cargo off the roads and on the tracks. It remains to be seen, if all haulage companies are willing to pay for these new services, as the investments have to be recovered somehow.

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