Indian aviation has taken off, but its maintenance facilities are still sparse, compelling airlines to seek support abroad. Indian aviation has taken off, but its maintenance facilities are still sparse, compelling airlines to seek support abroad. Moreover, substantial hurdles must be overcome to enhance in-country support of airframes, components and engines.
Athar Husain Khan was promoted to AEA Acting Secretary General in June. He joined AEA in 2007 as general manager, infrastructure, following seven years in management roles at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. At AEA he has overseen progress on key dossiers, including the association’s competitiveness agenda, aviation’s inclusion in the European Union emissions trading scheme and progress towards the Single European Sky. He spoke with ATW European correspondent Alan Dron during the Farnborough Airshow in the UK in July.
With the approach of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Qantas added a special touch to the famous “flying kangaroo” emblem on one of its Boeing 747s—yellow boxing gloves were painted on the ‘roo’s paws. The symbol of a fighting kangaroo may be appropriate at more than one level as competition steps up on some of its most established routes. China Southern Airlines (CZ) is intensifying its focus on operations between Australasia and major European gateway cities as part of an overall strategy to grow its international network and attract more business travelers.
As ceremonies go, despite being led by a man with a very French name and accent, Airbus president and CEO Fabrice Brégier’s July 2 announcement that his company will build a final assembly factory in Alabama could not have been more American. The red, white and blue was everywhere; balloons and confetti rained down reminiscent of a US political rally, and even the company name was given the Stars and Stripes treatment, to emphasize the “US” in Airbus.
Ecuador’s new $700 million Quito International Airport opened Feb. 20, replacing the city’s 52-year-old Quito Mariscal Sucre airport, which closed a day earlier. The new airport is located 24 kilometers east of Quito. Construction began in 2006 as a follow-up of the management privatization of old the Quito airport in 2002. Management company Quiport expects the upgraded infrastructure—including a better geographical location and a longer runway—will allow airlines to introduce nonstop operations to destinations such as Madrid.
Delta Air Lines has filed an application with the US Dept. of Transportation to add additional nonstop flights between Sao Paulo and New York and Atlanta, as it continues its Latin American expansion. If approved, Delta will begin second daily Sao Paulo flights to Atlanta and New York in 2013. Gambia Bird Airlines will launch 2X-weekly Accra-Bamako service from March.
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) has approved a final commitment of $1.1 billion to finance the export of a fleet of Boeing 737-900ERs.
A new winter storm in the US—from the Midwest and up the Northeast Coast—has disrupted travel and canceled more than 2,000 flights Tuesday and Wednesday.
British Airways has announced it will launch its first Airbus A380—which is scheduled for delivery in July—on Los Angeles, Calif. and Hong Kong routes.
The US Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) expects one in four passengers to qualify for expedited screening by the end of 2013, up from one in 12 last year.
FAA forecasted that US airlines’ collective traffic will increase at annual average rate of 2.8% over the next 20 years to reach 1.46 trillion RPMs by 2033.
US mandatory budget cuts could lead to a doubling of the time it takes for people to clear customs and immigration at major US airports, the head of the US Department of Homeland Security has warned.
Safran opened a 400 sq. m. parts distribution center at Beijing Capital Airport to offer after-sales parts and inventory management, serving airlines in China that operate aircraft with the company’s jet engine nacelle and thrust reverser products. Logistics and supply chain management provider SDV will operate the warehouse.
