European Air Express (EAE) has acquired a majority stake in Filder Air Service and merged the two German regionals under the EAE brand. Mönchengladbach-based EAE has returned two Fokker 50s leased from Denim Air of the Netherlands and replaced the aircraft with two ATR 42s. Two BAe Jetstream 31s are being operated on charters, but could be replaced by more ATR 42s. American Airlines parent AMR has spun off its 83% interest in computer reservations systems giant Sabre to AMR shareholders. Sabre, under new chief executive William Hannigan, will focus on technology services for the travel and transport markets. Space Imaging, operator of the Ikonos high-resolution satellite, is to buy Pacific Meridian Resources, expanding its visual Earth information product line. Denver-based OEA, a manufacturer of military aircraft personnel escape systems and high-reliability devices for missile and aerospace applications, is to be bought by automotive safety specialist Autoliv. Oklahoma-based Southwest has bought the Miami engine repair facility of Flame Spray, renaming it Southwest Aeroservice. US aviation services provider Piedmont Hawthorne has bought Blackbird Aviation's Wichita Falls, Kansas, fixed-base operation (FBO), taking Piedmont's portfolio of FBOs to 32 locations.
Source: Flight International
