Scott Kirby can be a whiz with airline numbers, and that is just what United Continental shareholders are craving as the nation’s third-largest carrier prepares for its first investor day in two years on Tuesday. Kirby’s hire as United’s president from top-ranked American Airlines Group in August completed the overhaul of the former’s senior ranks by CE Oscar Munoz. It also heightens expectations that the carrier can start delivering on the advantages offered by its creation six years ago. United has one blessing and one big problem. Its lineup of routes leads the global industry, spanning the country and connecting big US business centres to Europe, Asia and Latin America. However, it has stubbornly earned less revenue from each mile of flying than peers such as Delta. Years of delayed and cancelled flights alienated high-paying corporate fliers and dented profits. “Despite an arguably better domestic and international network, United still lags Delta on just about every financial and operational metric,” said Roger King, airline analyst at CreditSights. The new team recruited by Munoz has spent the summer and early fall in a root-and-branch review of every route it flies, executives have said. Those attending Tuesday’s event expect executives to lay out a path for ending that gap with Delta and others. United declined to comment or make executives available.<br/>
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ANA is considering further investments around Asia as it seeks to reduce its reliance on a slow-growing domestic market, according to its CE, Shinya Katanozaka. ANA took an 8.8% stake in Vietnam Airlines this year, the company’s first investment in an international partner. The move, completed in May, followed prolonged speculation linking ANA to other foreign airlines. The company had examined the experience of Abu Dhabi’s Etihad in building stakes in other airlines with an eye to look for other opportunities, said Mr Katanozaka. While he declined to say where else ANA might invest, Mr Katanozaka pointed out that ANA had developed a close relationship with Cambodia’s Angkor Air, in which Vietnam Airlines holds a 49% stake. When asked whether the airline would be making other investments to enhance its reach into other regional markets, Katanozaka said: “Yes, that’s possible.” However, he insisted that Star Alliance remained critical for ANA. The industry’s big alliances have become less important for many carriers in recent years. Sir Tim Clark, CE of Emirates, which has never joined an alliance, is particularly critical of the arrangements. But Katanozaka praised his alliance’s record. “Star Alliance has competed effectively against the other two alliances, OneWorld and Sky Team,” he said. ANA would nevertheless need to monitor the alliance’s “competitive edge”, he added. Katanozaka pointed out that Delta, the US member of Sky Team, had been “very proactive” in renewing its aircraft fleet and expanding into Asian countries. United, Star Alliance’s US member, is generally regarded as moving more slowly.<br/>
Thai Airways announced a smaller net loss of 1.59b baht (US$45m) in its third quarter. The loss was an improvement from the 9.89b baht loss in the same period last year. Operating revenue for the period was down slightly at 43.27b. Costs were down 6.4% to 45.62b baht on a fuel bill down 33%. Thai Airways is part through a transformation plan to return it to a position of sustained profitability.<br/>