News from FlightGlobal – Page 2383

  • News

    Down to earth

    1997-04-16T00:00:00Z

    Full deregulation (in theory, at least) of European air services is admittedly only a few weeks old, but even its most ardent enthusiasts must be disappointed at the apparent lack of effect so far. Those who predicted a more obvious impact from deregulation may, however, not have long to wait. ...

  • News

    -as Southern Air plans to treble 747-200F fleet

    1997-04-16T00:00:00Z

    Southern Air Transport (SAT) plans to add another six Boeing 747 freighters to its fleet over the next three years, but has not yet established from where the aircraft will be sourced. The US freight carrier, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, operates a fleet of 15 Lockheed ...

  • News

    Transaero will lease intrim 767s and 737s

    1997-04-16T00:00:00Z

    Russia's privately owned Transaero plans to add three Boeing 767-200ERs and six 737-400s to its fleet during 1997, in an effort to boost capacity until deliveries of next-generation Boeing 737s commence in 1999. The first of the leased aircraft, a 767 and three 737s, are due to join ...

  • News

    East African Alliance merger moves ahead

    1997-04-16T00:00:00Z

    Criticism has begun to emerge over the proposed merger of the national flag carriers of Tanzania and Uganda into Alliance, the joint-venture carrier led by South African Airways (SAA). Alliance is pressing ahead with plans for fleet and network expansion, however. Ministers from Tanzania and Uganda agreed "in ...

  • News

    AMJ sells BAe 146s

    1997-04-16T00:00:00Z

    British Aerospace Asset Management-Jets (AMJ) has sold four more BAe 146s, as its campaign to cut the group's liabilities on its regional-jet fleet begins to gather momentum. Three BAe 146-200s on lease to Air Atlantic have been sold to the Canadian carrier for $21 million. It has also ...

  • News

    China Airlines hopes for overseas partner

    1997-04-16T00:00:00Z

    Taiwanese national carrier China Airlines (CAL) has confirmed that it is hoping to attract an overseas strategic partner, with the planned sale of up to 16% of the airline's stock by its main shareholder, the China Aviation Development Foundation (CADF). The quasi-Government controlled CADF wants to reduce its ...

  • News

    JAL renews attack on costs

    1997-04-16T00:00:00Z

    Japan Airlines (JAL) is stepping up efforts to cut costs and restructure the company, including the shedding of 2,000 jobs, as the group once again faces a return to losses. The airline's newly unveiled medium-range plan for the five years through to March 2002 also calls for a ...

  • News

    More stoppages may hit TAT and Air Liberté

    1997-04-16T00:00:00Z

    STAFF AT British Airways' French subsidiaries TAT and Air Liberté are threatening further strike action following stoppages over pay and working conditions on 9/10 April. The action follows strikes at Air France over the merger of its domestic operations with the Air France Europe/Air Inter subsidiary. Unions claim ...

  • News

    S Korea signs AI(R) JET deal

    1997-04-16T00:00:00Z

    Aero International (Regional)'s planned AI(R) JET 70 regional-aircraft development has been given a boost, with South Korea signing a preliminary agreement to join the programme, angling for a stake of up to 40%. The Korean Commercial-Aircraft Development Corporation (KCADC) and a team from AI(R), headed by chief executive ...

  • News

    DHL signs MoU with Airbus for A300 freighters

    1997-04-16T00:00:00Z

    DHL Airways has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Airbus Industrie for the acquisition of seven used A300B4 freighters for its US express-parcels network, and could later add additional aircraft for its European operations. The airline will take delivery of the seven aircraft, which are General Electric ...

  • News

    Saab discusses South Pacific venture

    1997-04-16T00:00:00Z

    Saab Aircraft is discussing the setting up of a new South Pacific airline operation, in response to what it believes are unfounded complaints over the unreliability of the Saab 2000 being operated by state-owned Air Marshall Islands (AMI). Saab blames the AMI problems on inadequate spares support and ...

  • News

    Atlas closes on freighter order decision-

    1997-04-16T00:00:00Z

    Atlas Air, the world's largest Boeing 747 freighter operator, is close to deciding whether to order an unspecified number of 747-400 freighters. According to Michael Chowdry, chairman and chief executive officer, the 747-400F is seen as "the next step" for the US contract cargo operator. Atlas Air is ...

  • News

    Order boom forces Boeing to raise production rates

    1997-04-16T00:00:00Z

    Boeing is planning another increase in production rates as it prepares to keep pace with a surging orderbook and growing delivery backlog, now moving towards 1,500 aircraft. New urgency was injected into the company's continuous assessment of production rates by the Delta Air Lines order in March for ...

  • News

    Chinese airlines lease more Airbuses

    1997-04-16T00:00:00Z

    General Electric Capital Aviation (GECAS) has signed lease agreements with two Chinese airlines to supply additional Airbus Industrie A320s, to supplement the large number ordered by China in 1996. China Northwest Airlines and Zhejiang Airlines have each signed letters of intent with GECAS for two more A320s. The ...

  • News

    Finnair signs fresh pacts to strengthen Stockholm hub

    1997-04-16T00:00:00Z

    Finnish flag-carrier Finnair has signed co-operative deals with Braathens Safe, Transwede and Maersk Air, as part of plans to strengthen its presence at Stockholm, Scandinavia's main hub, in neighbouring Sweden. The deals, which include increased codesharing and links on frequent-flier programmes, follow signs of weakening in Finnair's long-standing ...

  • News

    PIA prepares for $1 billion fleet renewal

    1997-04-16T00:00:00Z

    Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is gearing up to order $1 billion worth of new aircraft, as part of plans to replace 21 ageing widebody and turboprop aircraft in its fleet by 2000. The move comes as the carrier enters the throes of a major restructuring, with the Pakistan ...

  • News

    SIA is first to order FANS-A upgrade for Airbus A340s

    1997-04-16T00:00:00Z

    Singapore Airlines (SIA)has become the first customer for the Airbus future-air-navigation system-A (FANS-A), with a commitment to install it on its fleet of long-haul A340-300s. Airbus aims to gain certification of FANS-A equipment on the A330/340 in April 1998, with ßight trials using its A340 testbed due to ...

  • News

    Virgin Executive Aviation takes off

    1997-04-16T00:00:00Z

    The Virgin Group has joined forces with the McCarthy leisure-investment group to form Virgin Executive Aviation, a corporate-jet and helicopter charter company aimed at exploiting European business and leisure-travel markets. The new company also plans to offer feeder services into London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports for Virgin Atlantic's ...

  • News

    R-R, Boeing to draw up -524HT test plans

    1997-04-16T00:00:00Z

    Rolls-Royce has signed a memorandum of understanding with Boeing covering the formulation of a flight-test schedule for the RB.211-524HT "hybrid" turbofan, although the timing of the programme remains uncertain as the UK manufacturer works to locate a suitable testbed aircraft. The -524HT, which uses the core of the ...

  • News

    Jersey European may add larger aircraft to cope with expansion

    1997-04-16T00:00:00Z

    JERSEY EUROPEAN Airways is considering options for the expansion of its fleet, which could see the airline introduce new larger aircraft in 1998. The regional airline, which flies 12 British Aerospace 146s, four Fokker F27s and two Shorts 360s, has experienced 25% annual growth over the past six ...