AVION CAPITAL BUYS LITHUANIAN SAAB OPERATOR
Lithuanian-based airline UAB Avion Express has been purchased by newly formed aviation consultancy Avion Capital Partners and a group of investors. The carrier, formerly known as UAB Nordic Solutions Air Services, operates a fleet of four Saab 340s - three of which are cargo aircraft. It was acquired by Avion Aircraft Trading in 2007 and rebranded. Avion Capital Partners, which has been formed by former Avion Aircraft Trading executives, has a long-term plan to develop the airline as a wet-lease specialist.
ATLANT-SOYUZ KNOWS WHERE IT COMES FROM
Moscow's city government-controlled carrier Atlant-Soyuz has adopted the new name Moskva Airlines to underscore its affiliation with the city. A new livery will follow "in due course".
LOCKHEED MARTIN SELL-OFF AVERTS CONFLICT
Lockheed Martin is to sell its Enterprise Integration Group business to Veritas Capital for $815 million in cash. The divestment comes in response to US government concerns about perceived organisational conflicts of interest. EIG provides system engineering services, architecture and integration services and support to a broad range of government customers. Divesting the business better positions it for growth, says Lockheed Martin.
THAI CARRIER PICKS AJ WALTER FOR 767 SERVICES
Thai carrier Business Air has signed a three-year agreement with AJ Walter Aviation for power-by-the-hour maintenance support for its Boeing 767-300 fleet. The agreement will supplement the full daily support that AJW is providing to the airline's three aircraft since its start-up in December 2009. Business Air serves the Far East and Middle East.
AER ARANN HOPEFUL AS INVESTORS SIGN UP
Aer Arann has signed a preliminary agreement with investors that could help the struggling Irish regional carrier to exit creditor protection. Aer Arann has been under examinership - the Irish equivalent of bankruptcy protection - since August and has been seeking investment to enable it to emerge before the end of the year. Aer Arann's examiner Michael McAteer has told the Irish high court that with the new investment the carrier "has a reasonable prospect of survival as a going concern".
RYANAIR LEAVES MARSEILLES OVER TAX WRANGLE
Ryanair is to close its Marseilles base - its only one in France - following a legal challenge from French authorities that want the Irish carrier to pay French income and social insurance taxes on its 200 Marseilles-based workers. Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary, however, says that under European Union rules "these are not French jobs, but rather Irish jobs on Irish aircraft, which are defined by EU regulations as Irish territory". The aircraft at Marseilles will be moved to airports in Spain, Italy and Lithuania. It will continue to serve Marseilles from bases elsewhere in Europe.
EMBRAER'S THIRD-QUARTER DELIVERIES FALL
Embraer delivered 44 jets - 20 to commercial airlines and 24 to business jet operators - during the third quarter, compared with 57 during the same period in 2009. For the year through September, Embraer topped its 2009 delivery total by one unit, at 154 aircraft: 70 commercial jets, 83 business jets and one Legacy 600 to the defence market.
Source: Flight International
