News from FlightGlobal – Page 2275

  • News

    CAG secures its first order for Y-12 Twin Panda

    1998-06-24T00:00:00Z

    Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing will deliver its first Y-12(IV) Twin Panda turboprop airframe to the Canadian Aerospace Group (CAG) in August for final completion and supplementary type certification, before delivery to a US customer in March 1999. CAG says it has secured the first order for two Y-12s from an ...

  • News

    BA Gatwick growth

    1998-06-24T00:00:00Z

    British Airways says that expansion at London's Gatwick Airport over the next ten years will take its passenger numbers up by 60%, to 12 million a year, and double cargo to 400,000t annually. BA aims to add only 10 more aircraft, but expects the move to create 3,500 jobs. ...

  • News

    Russia will tighten import rules

    1998-06-24T00:00:00Z

    The Russian Government is drafting new proposals which would tighten up the rules on tax exemptions granted for imported aircraft. The proposed government order, which is now at draft stage, is designed to protect the country's own struggling aircraft manufacturing industry. The measures would effectively mean that a domestic ...

  • News

    Engine pooling concept targets airline costs

    1998-06-24T00:00:00Z

    Guy Norris/SAN DIEGO Shannon Engine Support (SES), an Irish-based company specialising in supporting the CFM International CFM56-3, is promoting a concept in which airlines will club together to create a pool of spare engines. The initiative has been prompted by estimates that the industry will have to spend $30 ...

  • News

    Ryanair announces new share offering

    1998-06-24T00:00:00Z

    Irish low-fares carrier Ryanair plans a fresh share offering and a possible listing on the London stock exchange to help back its ambitious fleet and network expansion programme. Ryanair, which launched on the Dublin and US Nasdaq markets last May, says that it plans to raise another IR£50 million ...

  • News

    Difficult birth

    1998-06-24T00:00:00Z

    It is difficult to think of a reason to regret the latest agreement to form a European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA). It is, alas, equally difficult to think of a single ground for optimism that the EASA's birth will be easy. European air-safety regulation, be it on certification or ...

  • News

    New Garuda boss plans to slash aircraft fleet

    1998-06-24T00:00:00Z

    The Indonesian Government has appointed Robby Djohan, the new president of national carrier Garuda, as part of a shake-up of the financially stricken airline's board of directors, senior management and operations. Djohan is a relative newcomer to the airline industry, having previously headed Citibank Indonesia and Bank Negara. Observers ...

  • News

    Tour war hots up

    1998-06-24T00:00:00Z

    UK tour operator First Choice, owner of Air 2000, has bought Unijet, owner of UK-based Leisure International Airlines, for £110 million ($179 million), while UK tour operator Thomas Cook has purchased Flying Colours for an undisclosed sum, believed to be around $50 million. Source: Flight International

  • News

    Controlling interest

    1998-06-24T00:00:00Z

    Privatising the UK's ATC service is part of a world wide move to put control of the airways on a commercial footing Having swung between ambiguity and hostility over possible privatisation of the UK National Air Traffic Services (NATS) while in opposition, the UK's Labour Government caught everybody flatfooted ...

  • News

    Reid leaves

    1998-06-17T12:11:00Z

    Lufthansa president Frederick Reid has resigned to join Delta Air Lines as executive vice-president and chief marketing officer. Reid, who cited family reasons for returning to the USA, was appointed to head Lufthansa's passenger airline operations three years ago as chief operating officer, having joined the airline's US operation in ...

  • News

    AirTran assures Boeing of 717 fleet intentions

    1998-06-17T00:00:00Z

    Boeing's roll-out of the first 717-200 on 10 June was accompanied by public reassurances from launch customer AirTran Airlines that it still intends to buy a fleet of up to 100 aircraft. To date, the AirTran deal for 50 firm orders and 50 options makes up the bulk of the ...

  • News

    IATA seals Afghanistan deals

    1998-06-17T00:00:00Z

    Paul Lewis/SINGAPORE The Afghanistan Government and national carrier Ariana Afghan Airlines have concluded a series of wide ranging agreements with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to overhaul local air traffic communications as well as to improve aircraft and airport safety. Under an $8 million deal concluded with ...

  • News

    Air Djibouti takes A310-200 for long haul services

    1998-06-17T00:00:00Z

    Airbus Industrie has placed a secondhand A310-200 with Air Djibouti, which the airline will use to relaunch operations next month. The carrier has signed a deal with Airbus' Dublin-based Financial Services (AIFS) division to lease a 14-year-old ex-Kuwait Airways A310-200, powered by Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7R4s. The 194-seater ...

  • News

    BA demands give Airbus and Boeing delivery headaches

    1998-06-17T00:00:00Z

    Max Kingsley Jones/LONDON British Airways is entering final negotiations with Airbus and Boeing to acquire its new short haul fleet, but the two manufacturers are having to discuss deals with leasing companies to help them meet the airline's requirements for early delivery slots. The UK carrier is aiming ...

  • News

    Asian crisis prompts Boeing to slow production

    1998-06-17T00:00:00Z

    Boeing has confirmed that production of the 747 and 777 will slow next year in response to the economic downturn in Asia. The expected axing of some 12,000 jobs is also beginning as the company overcomes the worst of its fraught production ramp-up. Boeing's official production rate announcement for ...

  • News

    Business Air ponders ERJ-145 acquisition

    1998-06-17T00:00:00Z

    Business Air is examining the Embraer RJ-145 as an alternative to the Saab 2000, which it had been planning to introduce as part of its expansion under British Midland (BM) ownership. The Aberdeen, Scotland-based regional wants a 50-seater to operate alongside its Saab 340s, and was close to a ...

  • News

    Cimber picks ATR 72s in fight to win Danish rail travellers

    1998-06-17T00:00:00Z

    Julian Moxon/SONDERBORG Danish regional airline Cimber Air is to expand its fleet with the purchase of ATR 72s and, eventually, regional jets. The plan follows the airline's sale of a 26% stake to SAS. The carrier has been linked with SAS since October 1995, operating feeder services into ...

  • News

    Corsair moves to Airbus from all-Boeing fleet

    1998-06-17T00:00:00Z

    French charter airline Corsair has confirmed its purchase of two Airbus A330-200s, with Rolls-Royce Trent 700s. The decision in favour of the European consortium was taken, says Corsair president Jacques Maillot, "-because Airbus reacted most quickly" to the request for proposals and "-presented the best financing package". The ...

  • News

    Garuda is in 'critical condition'

    1998-06-17T00:00:00Z

    Paul Lewis/SINGAPORE The situation at cash-strapped Garuda Indonesia looks set to deteriorate further, with debts mounting and warnings that the airline could face repossession of leased aircraft. Indonesian state enterprise minister Tanri Abeng has described the airline's condition as "critical", with reports that the carrier has $200 million ...

  • News

    Aer Lingus wet-leases MD-11 to boost summer capacity

    1998-06-17T00:00:00Z

     Aer Lingus has introduced a Boeing MD-11 on a six-month wet-lease from World Airways. The tri-jet is being used to supplement the airline's long haul fleet of Airbus A330-300s on transatlantic services during its 1998 summer season. It will be used mainly on services from Ireland to New York ...