All air transport news – Page 2505
-
News
Two UK freight carriers prepare for widebodies
HeavyLift Cargo Airlines, and Hunting Cargo are working towards the introduction of widebodied freighters later this year to meet possible express-parcels carriers' requirements and their own needs. HeavyLift is finalising plans to introduce two Airbus A300B4 freighters this year, while Hunting says that it is considering the acquisition ...
-
News
First Ilyushin Il-96T is rolled out at Voronezh
The first series production version of the Pratt & Whitney PW2000-powered Ilyushin Il-96, a-96T freighter, was rolled out at the VASO plant in Voronezh on 26 April. The Russian prime minister, Victor Chernomyrdin, attended the ceremony, stressing the political significance of the event. Twenty of the PW2337-powered aircraft ...
-
News
Lufthansa 747 'Classic' digital cockpit retrofit is certificated
The first Boeing 747 "Classic" to be retrofitted with a digital cockpit has been certificated by the German civil aviation authority. The aircraft, an ex-United Airlines 747SPbelonging to the Brunei royal family, was modified by Lufthansa Technik in Hamburg, Germany (Flight International, 26 June-2 July, 1996). It has ...
-
News
MEA expands Airbus fleet as 747s are sold
Middle East Airlines (MEA) is planning a major expansion of its Airbus Industrie fleet following the sale of its three ageing Boeing 747s. The three Boeing 747-200 Combis, delivered new to the airline in 1975, have been sold to the US freight airline American International Airways (AIA) for ...
-
News
R-R will speed up Trent 8100
Rolls-Royce has reached agreement with Boeing to advance the development and certification of its planned 445kN (100,000lb)-thrust Trent 8100 growth engine by nine months, allowing the powerplant to enter service on the proposed 777-200X and -300X derivatives by 2001. The revised Trent 8100 schedule is contained in a ...
-
News
Latin cargo tempts Asia
Access to unlimited beyond rights is one of the main goals for the US in its global drive for open skies and now Asian carriers are discovering there may yet be benefits in return, in the booming Latin American cargo market at least. China Airlines will become the ...
-
News
Lessors look to go it alone
Leading aircraft lessors are seeking outside capital in unprecedented amounts to fund their aggressive portfolio expansions. Boullioun Aviation Services typifies the new trend. In the past it would occasionally privately place part of a single plane transaction with an outside financier. Otherwise it relied on parent Sumitomo Trust ...
-
News
LOTs of luck at third try?
The management at LOT has got its hands full. Not only is this year crucial for the third attempt at a partial sell-off but the Polish carrier is also introducing five new aircraft, resulting in the biggest single capacity hike ever. After the government blocked the first attempt ...
-
News
When the wolf's at your door
Edward Faberman, executive director of the newly formed Air Carrier Association of America, makes an unusual Red Riding Hood, but he is certain he is looking into the eyes of cleverly disguised wolves. Faberman uses chilling language to describe the actions of the US major carriers against their ...
-
News
MAS bids to stop malaise
Amid criticism of high debt levels and excessive ambition, Malaysia Airlines has announced the biggest capital restructuring in its history, aimed at raising US$2.2 billion for new aircraft purchases and investment at Kuala Lumpur's new airport. MAS chairman Tan Sri Tajudin Ramli, says a one-for-one bonus share issue, ...
-
News
BA hires and fires equally
British Airways has agreed concessions with one main union but the others may not comply so easily as the carrier launches a recruitment drive to hire 1,300 pilots and 2,000 cabin crew. Ground staff of the transport workers' union, TGWU, voted in favour of a three-year proposal at ...
-
News
Having fun in Brussels
As Sabena throws itself into revamping its shaky operations it had better remember to watch its back. Both Virgin Express and City Bird are attacking the flag carrier's Brussels base with gusto. The two airlines claim to be revolutionising the services on offer in Europe with a cheap, ...
-
News
Crossair tries back door
Swiss regional carrier Crossair has taken a 35 per cent stake in a proposed French startup carrier, in an attempt to improve its access to the European Union market. Initially, Euro Continental Airways would operate two Crossair Saab 2000s from major French cities to the French sector of ...
-
News
Delta deal fires debate
Delta Air Lines' decision to sign up with Boeing for 20 years prompted analysts to coo their approvals. But one former Capitol Hill veteran worries that this deal will only stoke the antitrust debate over the proposed Boeing- McDonnell Douglas merger. Mike Korens, managing director at consultants GKMG ...
-
News
Digest
Delta Air Lines has extended its SkyMiles FFP to Air France and Korean Air, while British Airways and American Airlines have extended their FFP links. British Airways introduced two daily flights from Manchester to Warsaw and two weekly flights from London/Gatwick to Krakow. In return LOT Polish Airlines ...
-
News
Law of the jungle?
The airline industry has yet to see a predation suit settled in the plaintiff's favour. Yet the extent to which predation can be prevented could determine the overall success of deregulation in Europe. In this business it can be safely assumed that where there is a small new entrant ...
-
News
The new jet set
Long acknowledged as a quiet revolution, the issue of regional jet aircraft service was catapulted into the public domain when the potential American Airlines pilots strike became a staple feature of the evening news. Yet the operation of moderate-sized jets seating between 50 and 90 passengers, including the Canadair Regional ...
-
News
A picture of health
The results of the 1996 survey of the world's 100 largest regional airlines suggest a continued improvement in the health of this sector, with passenger numbers and revenues both recording double-digit growth. This bodes well for a sector which had to contend with unprecedented criticism in 1996, particularly from the ...
-
News
Suitors fly close to Sun
Privatisation has become a bit of a buzz word among Africa's airlines recently and, while some plans should be treated with healthy scepticism, the search for foreign and local investors for South African domestic operator Sun-Air should prove less difficult. The first stage of the full privatisation of ...
-
News
Beijing mixes Taipei deals
Taiwan's aeropolitical relations with third countries are experiencing mixed fortunes at the hands of Beijing after China spoiled plans by EVA Air to fly to the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, while being less vociferious in its opposition to China Airlines serving Russia for the first time. After ...