CARGO RESTRUCTURING ON TRACK: AIR FRANCE-KLM
Having reduced full freighter capacity by 40% and limited this fleet to 14 aircraft, Air France-KLM says it is ahead of plan in its bid to reverse its €348 million ($430 million) operating loss in the year to the end of March, in which revenue fell 27.8% to €2.4 billion. The carrier's new strategy focuses on selling belly space in its passenger aircraft first, following by space in combi aircraft. Full freighters are used on trunk routes and for outsize cargo.
LIEBHERR GETS AIR DEAL ON CHINA'S C919
Liebherr Aerospace Toulouse is to supply the air management system for China's in-development Comac C919 passenger narrowbody, due to enter service in 2016. Liebherr supplies the air management system for the Comac ARJ21 regional jet and it is involved in its landing gear.
BOEING AWARDS 777 WORK TO DUCOMMUN
Ducommun AeroStructures is to supply empennage vertical and horizontal fin tip assemblies for the Boeing 777 from the first quarter of 2011. Work will take place at the Ducommun facilities in Los Angeles and Guaymas, Mexico.
LONDON STANSTED EXPANSION PLANS DITCHED
London Stansted airport has withdrawn its application to construct a second runway in light of the policy of the new UK government to halt airport expansion. Operator BAA has already stopped planning work on a third runway for London Heathrow.
INVESTOR COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF SAAB STAKE
Sweden's Investor group has completed its acquisition of half of BAE Systems' 20.5% stake in Saab following regulatory approval, taking its holding to 30.0% of the capital and 39.5% of the votes. BAE, which has been a partner in Saab's Gripen fighter but is now focused on the Eurofighter and the Lockheed Martin F-35, intends to sell the remainder of its stake through a market placing.
XCOR, MASTEN TEAM FOR NASA LANDERS BUSINESS
SPACECRAFT XCOR Aerospace and Masten Space Systems are to jointly pursue anticipated NASA unmanned lander projects. In October 2009 Masten automated vertical take-off, vertical landing technology won the $1 million first prize in NASA's Lunar Lander Challenge.
WIZZ AIR IPO '2011 AT EARLIEST'
Difficult market conditions will push back Wizz Air's plans for an initial public offering to 2011 at the earliest. Chief finance officer Michael Powell concedes an IPO is integral to financing fleet expansion. Wizz Air operates 30 Airbus A320s and plans to take 102 aircraft over the next seven years, including 13 in 2011.
LOCKHEED MARTIN REORGANISES SPACE SYSTEMS SATELLITES
To "reflect the significant synergy" between its commercial and government programmes, Lockheed Martin Space Systems has aligned its Commercial Space Systems satellite unit within its Global Communications Systems business, which develops military satellite communications programmes.
BRISBANE ROLLS-ROYCE CENTRE EXPANDS
Brisbane-based Rolls-Royce authorised maintenance centre Asia Pacific Aerospace is to acquire Aviation Turbine Overhaul, based at Moorabbin airport in Victoria.
Source: Flight International
