Emirates SkyCargo carried 1.3 million tonnes of cargo in the fiscal year ended March 31, up 10.9% year-over-year, and boosted revenue 20% to AED6.4 billion ($1.7 billion), comprising 19% of Emirates' total revenue. But Divisional Senior VP-Cargo Ram Menen warned that the current fiscal year "will not be easy" and that cargo operators are entering into a "correction period" that will weed out inefficient players. "All carriers will have to refine their operating practices and airlines operating fuel inefficient aircraft will not survive," he warned at a gathering of SkyCargo employees.

Italy's Air One cemented its commitment to increasing its international profile with a firm order for 12 A350-800s plus 12 options and 12 A330-200s with eight options.

The new union representing US Airways pilots filed suit against a group of fellow pilots originally with America West Airlines charging that they have engaged in harassment, extortion, racketeering and other illegal activities.

Airbus selected Diehl Stiftung & Co. and Thales as the preferred bidder for its Laupheim site (ATWOnline, May 15). Airbus and Diehl/Thales will enter into negotiations toward arriving at a final sales agreement. Thales and Diehl already are partnered in Diehl Aerospace, an aircraft component and systems supplier formed in 2000. Diehl holds 51% of that venture and Thales 49%. The selection "also includes A350 XWB cabin work-packages for Laupheim," according to Airbus.

Air One is expected to announce a widebody aircraft order with Airbus Wednesday, ATWOnline learned in Istanbul. The privately held Italian carrier recently took delivery of its first two A330-200s, which it will use on its first long-haul routes from Milan Malpensa to Boston and Chicago O'Hare starting later this month.