News from Travel Technology Update: The long-awaited move by the Civil Aviation Administration of China to open China’s GDS market to foreign companies was hailed as “exciting” and “an important step” by the other GDS companies, but it will probably be some months before they can take full advantage of it.
UK low-cost carrier easyJet (U2) foresees a large low-cost market for its proposed London-Moscow route if it succeeds in winning new slots for the sector.
Etihad Airways (EY) is exploring potential commercial partnerships with South American-based carriers in a bid to “expand its footprint” in the region, according to president and CEO James Hogan.
Nineteen US aviation stakeholders on Monday sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to challenge the inclusion of international aviation under the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS).
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) owner and operator Fraport is set to open the A-Plus pier—which will provide termination positions for widebody aircraft—on Oct. 10.
Nordic Aviation Capital has named Kim Graven-Nielsen as its new CEO and Soren Overgaard as CFO. Lufthansa Systems AG extended the appointment of CEO Stefan Hansen to June 30, 2018. It also elected Simone Menne, CFO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, as its chairperson effective immediately. StandardAero has elected former VP-turboprops and fleets Tom Roche to VP-customer support and former VP-operations Alain Berube as VP and GM-turboprops and fleets.
AeroLogic (3S), a joint venture of Lufthansa (LH) Cargo and DHL Express, sees “no end in sight” to its ban from flying in Russian airspace on flights from Europe to Asian destinations due to Russia’s opposition to the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS).
Virgin Atlantic (VS) is planning to relocate its Japanese operation from Tokyo Narita (NRT) to Haneda (HND), which is much closer to the city center, in time for the summer 2014 season.
FastJet, the African low-cost carrier backed by easyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou, has identified Dar es Salaam (DAR), Tanzania, as its first operating base.
Delta Air Lines’ (DL) fleet restructuring plan will leave it with 15% fewer aircraft but capacity will be maintained at current levels, a company executive said Monday.
LOT Polish Airlines confirmed its first Boeing 787 will join the fleet in mid-November. The aircraft will enter schedule services on the Warsaw (WAW)-Chicago O´Hare route from Jan. 16, 2013.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has selected Spanish-based technology multinational Indra to commission a new air traffic control center in Kolkata.
SkyWest has approved an agreement with Raymond James & Associates to repurchase up to 6.5 million shares of SkyWest common stock. The repurchases were permitted to begin 30 days from Friday and may be purchased in the open market or privately negotiated transactions. Japan Airlines launched JAL Sky Project, a revamp of its inflight products and services on international routes. Under the project the carrier will first install seat design changes to 13 Boeing 777-300ERs.
As part of the joint High Level Sectors Project, the UK and Ireland are preparing to undertake two ambitious simulations of new airspace designs that allow for direct routes through the UK-Ireland Functional Airspace Block (FAB).
Kazakhstan-based Air Astana (KC) sees no need for joining a global alliance as the rapidly expanding carrier offers a “unique network in this part of the world,” KC president Peter Foster told ATW.
The Indian government on Friday amended its foreign direct investment (FDI) rules, allowing foreign airlines to buy up to 49% equity in Indian carriers.
