Felix Airways has taken delivery of two MA600 freighters, making the Yemeni carrier the launch customer for the cargo variant of the MA60 60-seat turboprop.
West Yorkshire-based Jet2.com has promoted MD and CCO Steve Heapy to CEO of the airline and Jet2holidays, replacing company founder Philip Meeson who will serve as executive chairman. Heapy joined Jet2.com in 2009. A4A has named former US FAA assistant administrator-Aviation Policy, Planning and Environment, and commercial airline pilot Dan Elwell as SVP-Safety, Security and Operations.
Austrian-based low-cost carrier FlyNiki founder Niki Lauda has left the Air Berlin board to devote more time to his role as chairman of the Mercedes Formula 1 team.
American Airlines said in a bankruptcy court filing this week that Airbus has improved terms of the major A320 order placed in July 2011 before entering Chapter 11.
The São Paulo government has launched a bid for the construction of a much-anticipated rail link between downtown São Paulo and São Paulo-Guarulhos Airport. The rail link is estimated to open by the end of 2014. São Paulo-Guarulhos Airport reported 30 million boarding passengers in 2011.
The Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) has criticized a 150% increase in taxes and landing fees at Curacao Airport. Curacao Airport Partners—the international consortium that manages Curacao International Airport—announced the hike Nov. 30 and made it effective Dec. 1. According to ALTA, the increase includes all passenger facility charges (PFCs) and landing fees.
The European Commission (EC) has approved a €1.2 billion ($1.6 billion) capital injection by the public owners of much-delayed Berlin Brandenburg airport. The funds will be used to complete construction of the airport, which racked up €1.2 billion in extra costs after a German court judgment tightened noise protection rules. The airport has also been plagued by planning and construction problems, leading to multiple delays to it planned opening.
Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport has banned Ukrainian AeroSvit Airlines due a debt dispute with the carrier. The airport warned the airline it would ban its flights if the RUB95 million ($3 million) debt was not paid in full by Dec. 10. AeroSvit reportedly made a partial payment. Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport said the carrier’s total debt—including arrears for fuel and security supply—had reached RUB165.5 million.
Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport has fully opened its $1.4 billion Terminal A. The completed terminal, which can handle 30 million passengers per year, has three jet bridges for the Boeing 747 and one for the Airbus A380. Transaero CEO Olga Pleshakova said the carrier will transfer its 747 flights to New York and Miami to Vnukovo from Moscow Domodedovo Airport.
The European Commission has ruled that Milan airport operator SEA must repay around €360 million ($477 million) of state aid, following an in-depth investigation undertaken in response to a complaint.
French concessions and construction conglomerate Vinci has been selected by the government of Portugal to acquire a 95% stake in national airport operator ANA. Vinci submitted the highest bid, beating off competition from three other shortlisted consortia: Germany’s Fraport in a consortium with Industry Funds Management; Switzerland’s Flughafen Zurich in a consortium with Global Infrastructure Partners and Brazil's CCR; and Argentina’s Corporación América in a consortium with Mexico’s Tradeco and Portugal’s Sonae Sierra.
