ITA Software, the Cambridge, Mass.-based company that revolutionized airfare shopping, could be poised to take online fare search to a higher level if its acquisition by Google is approved by the US Dept. of Justice. But the deal is not a slam-dunk: DOJ has issued a second request for information, and “it will take several months” to satisfy the request, complete the transaction and begin to integrate the two companies, a Google spokesperson said.
Ethiopian Airlines was officially invited to join Star Alliance Wednesday, and aims within 12 months to become the group’s third member on the African continent following EgyptAir and South African Airways (ATW Daily News, July 22). ET’s integration, under the mentoring of Lufthansa, will begin “shortly.”
SITA signed a 5-yr. contract with St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport to provide its AirportConnect agent and self-service check-in platform. The deal includes installation of 100 new workstations and five CUSS kiosks, as well as modernization of existing airport infrastructure. The airport is served by more than 70 domestic and international airlines.
Iberia and British Airways received all regulatory approvals for their merger. Last week, Iberia agreed to the pension deficit reforms of BA ( ATW Daily News, Sept. 24). Shareholders of both carriers will vote on the merger in the coming months.
Safi Airways CCO Claus Fischer told ATW that the Afghanistan airline is undergoing a restructuring plan to be able to begin a moderate international expansion in early 2011. “We are currently in a consolidation process… [and have] stopped services from Kabul to Kuwait,” said Fischer, who noted the carrier’s single 767-200ER will be available for ACMI leases. Its two 737-300s are for sale, leaving the airline with one A320 and one A340-300.
Boeing and Air China Monday finalized a previously announced commitment for four 777-300ERs, valued at $1.1 billion ( ATW Daily News, Sept. 13). "This is a great day in the history of our long and enduring partnership with Air China," said Boeing Commercial VP & Marketing Marlin Dailey.
US Dept. of Justice announced Monday that China Airlines Ltd. agreed to pay $40 million in criminal fines for its role in a conspiracy to fix prices in the air cargo industry on flights to and from the US between 2000 and 2006. The plea agreement is subject to court approval.
ICAO, IATA, US Dept. of Transportation and the European Commission signed an MOU to "create the framework and path forward to launch the Global Safety Information Exchange," at ICAO's 37th General Assembly, which opened Tuesday in Montreal. The four signed a "Declaration of Intent" to create the exchange at the ICAO High Level Safety Conference last spring ( ATW Daily News, April 1, 2010).
SuperJet International CEO Alessandro Franzoni told ATW that Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Co.'s Superjet 100 is on track to receive a Type Certificate in November from Russian aviation authorities with deliveries to launch customers Aeroflot and Armavia occurring in December ( ATW Daily News, Sept. 16).
Spanish air traffic controllers were set to strike Wednesday as part of the broader general strike while Belgian controllers launched a 24-hr. wildcat strike from 1400 local time Tuesday, halting air service to and from that country. Last week, French controllers struck for a day. Iberia said it expected to operate 35% of its regularly scheduled flights Wednesday while Ryanair announced that it cancelled all its Spanish domestic flights and most of its international services. Lufthansa expected to operate about one-third of its 90 daily flights to the country.
Air Nostrum CEO Carlos Bertomeu said he is confident the carrier will post a profit this year although yields, particularly on the Spanish domestic routes, remain depressed.
US Transportation Security Administration Assistant Administrator-Office of Security Technology Robin Kane said the agency has installed "just under 250" advanced-imaging technology body-scanning machines at passenger checkpoints at 60 US airports and plans to deploy around 250 more "by the end of this calendar year."
IATA reported yesterday that international passenger and cargo traffic growth slowed in August compared to July, further evidence that the recovery in demand has peaked.
News from Travel Technology Update: Southwest Airlines has narrowed its choice of a new reservations platform to “two players,” chief executive officer Gary Kelly said.
Opodo is rumored to be on the block Travelport sells ‘sponsored’ positioning on search results Fund manager blasts travel company, then shorts its stock Air France-KLM complete migration to Altéa Inventory TRX Inc. releases latest versions of ResX, Correx Distribution of ancillary services is debated at The Beat Live business travel conference World news briefing
US Dept. of Justice announced Monday that China Airlines Ltd. agreed to pay $40 million in criminal fines for its role in a conspiracy to fix prices in the air cargo industry on flights to and from the US between 2000 and 2006. The plea agreement is subject to court approval.
