United Continental is considering parking its Boeing 747 jumbo jetliner fleet ahead of schedule to make way for newer, more-efficient twin-engine aircraft on its longest routes. The carrier’s 22 747-400s might be retired as early as 2018, according to a memo last week from Howard Attarian, senior VP of flight operations. That would be an accelerated timetable, as then-CFO John Rainey in April said United likely would keep its 4-engine aircraft at least until expensive maintenance work set for 2020 requires a decision on their future. If United drops its biggest jet the airline would accelerate deliveries of other long-haul aircraft. “As you know, this is an aging fleet that many operators are beginning to exit from service, and as this happens support for the aircraft, especially in our spokes, gets more difficult,” Attarian said in the memo. <br/>
star
Air NZ is using 3D printers to build parts of its long-haul planes. The airline hopes to soon start rolling out 3D printed components for its Business Premier cabins. It has been working with Auckland University of Technology to manufacture the fold down cocktail trays that form part of the seat using 3D printing. Air NZ COO Bruce Parton said the move into 3D printing was one of many innovative moves the airline currently has underway. "Aircraft interiors are made up of tens of thousands of parts. Not only can't we hold stock of every replacement part we might need, we often only require a small number of units which can be really expensive to produce using traditional manufacturing methods and can involve frustrating delays while a replacement part is delivered," he said. <br/>
Copa Holdings—parent company of Copa Airlines and Copa Airlines Colombia—reported 2015 net profit of US$185.4m, down 49% compared to 2014. Full-year revenue was down 16.8% to $2.25b while expenses fell 9.2% to $1.98b, producing an operating income of $266.1m, down 49%. Q4 2015 net profits were $1.9m, down 92.6% from the same period in 2014, on revenues of $533m, which were down 19%. Q4 operating expenses fell 10.7% to $494m and operating income dropped 61.6% to $39.1m. Copa reported full-year operating margins of 11.8% and forecast operating margins this year of 11%-13%. Copa Airlines’ results continue to be dragged down by macroeconomic weaknesses in some of its largest markets, a situation the carrier does not expect to improve in the first half of this year. <br/>