Financial

Southwest Airlines’ fourth quarter 2014 total operating revenues increased 4.5% to US$4.6bn, while operating unit revenues increased 2.0%, on a 2.4% increase in available seat miles, all as compared with fourth quarter 2013. The growth in operating revenues was largely driven by strong fourth quarter 2014 passenger revenues. Operating income in fourth quarter 2014 was

Alaska Air Group reported fourth quarter 2014 GAAP net income of US$148m compared to GAAP net income of US$78m in 2013. Excluding mark-to-market fuel hedge gains of US$6m (US$4m after tax) a benefit related to the curtailment of certain postretirement benefit plans and a one-time gain associated with the settlement of a legal matter for

United Airlines (UAL) reported full-year 2014 net income of US$1.97bn, an increase of 89%  year-over-year, or $5.06 per diluted share, excluding US$834 million of special items. Including special items, UAL reported full-year net income of US$1.13bn, or $2.93 per diluted share. UAL reported fourth-quarter 2014 net income of US$461m, an increase of 86% year-over-year, or

The year 2014 ended for ATR beating last years’ records in sales; deliveries, turnover and backlog. The aircraft manufacturer’s sales increased to 160 aircraft, along with 120 options, exceeding the previous 2011 record (157 firm sales and 79 options). ATR also achieved a record turnover in 2014, reaching US$1.8bn dollars (US$1.63bn in 2013), and increased

Delta’s pre-tax income for the December 2014 quarter was US$1.0bn, excluding special items, an increase of US$474m over the December 2013 quarter on a similar basis. Delta’s net income for the December 2014 quarter was US$649m and its operating margin was 12.6%, excluding special items. For the full year 2014, Delta’s pre-tax income, excluding special

Fort Worth-based Novaria Group announced the acquisition of substantially all the assets of John Hassall, a provider of aircraft engine fasteners, bolts, blade locks and other flight critical hardware, located in Long Island, N.Y. The company also manufactures a diverse set of products for use in select automotive and industrial applications. The company holds a

HEICO Corporation reported that its Flight Support Group completed the acquisition of 80% of the equity of Aeroworks International. Financial terms were not disclosed, but HEICO stated that it expects the acquisition to be accretive to its earnings within the first year after the closing. Aeroworks is a manufacturer of both composite and metal parts

Bombardier announced the pause of its Learjet 85 business aircraft program. The pause is due to weak demand for the Learjet 85 aircraft and follows a downward revision of Bombardier’s business aircraft market forecast. This reflects the continued weakness of the Light aircraft category since the economic downturn. As a result, the Company will record

Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s flag carrier, has reported an operating profit of US$97.7m in 2014, an increase of 35% over 2013 and the highest in the company’s 13 year history. Net profit fell by 62% to US$19.3m owing to a one-off revaluation of external debt of US$49m caused by the devaluation of the Kazakh tengue by