Cisco Systems said it is working with Emirates Group to implement a new 10-gigabit ethernet data center network at Emirates' operations headquarters in Dubai.
Dublin Airport Authority, a frequent target of verbal vitriol from Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary, criticized a decision by the Commission for Aviation Regulation setting the airport's maximum passenger charge at an average of €6.14 ($7.39) beginning in January.
British Airways named Tim Steeds its new director-safety and security from next month, succeeding Geoff Want, who was promoted to director-ground operations earlier this month. Steeds, a captain with 31 years of flying for BA, has spent the last three years as head of quality and regulations and was the airline's chief technical pilot in 1997-2002. He will retire from flying at the end of 2005.
World Air Holdings raised its revenue and operating income guidance for the third quarter that ends today on better-than-expected performance at World Airways and recently acquired North American Airlines. The parent now is forecasting quarterly revenues in the range of $215-$225 million compared to $195-$205 million previously, with military revenues of $145-$155 million versus $121-$131 million. It expects operating income to be $22-$24 million compared to the prior forecast of $15-$17 million.
Memphis-based Pinnacle Airlines is bracing for inevitable staff reductions that could begin as early as next week owing to planned capacity cuts at bankrupt Northwest Airlines, with which Pinnacle codeshares ( ATWOnline, Sept. 27).
VT Miltope will supply its Telephony Server and Cabin Access Point products to provide wireless LAN connectivity on the A380. In addition, its Telephony Servers were selected for the Airbus Onboard Mobile Phone System. VT Miltope is a member of the Singapore Technologies Engineering group of companies.
Alitalia denied that it had agreed to acquire a majority stake in Air Alps and planned to relocate the Austrian Regional to the province of Bolzano, Il Sole 24 Ore reported. Alitalia noted that any agreement with Air Alps would be limited to commercial considerations, as it is not permitted to buy shares in other airlines until the end of 2005 under the conditions set by the European Commission in approving a government-guaranteed €400 million ($482 million) bridging loan.
Engine Alliance, the General Electric/Pratt & Whitney joint venture to develop the GP7200 for the A380, delivered the first four compliance/flight test engines to Toulouse yesterday. Engine certification is expected later this year.
Thai Airways International A340-600 yesterday became the first aircraft to land at Bangkok's new Suvarnabhumi Airport, Airbus said. Passengers onboard for the inaugural test flight included Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, members of the Thai cabinet and the Managing Committee for Development of Suvarnabhumi Airport.
American Airlines is offering passengers the opportunity to confirm a seat on an earlier or later flight on the same day as their originally scheduled departure for $25, subject to a seat being available. The Confirmed Flight Change option can be done through AA reservations, at the airport ticket counter or using a self-service machine. The new flight must be scheduled to depart within 3 hr. of the requested change. For flights less than 1 hr. away, the change must be made at the airport.
Continental Airlines will launch daily nonstop service between Newark and Copenhagen May 23, subject to government approval, using a 757 for the 7 hr. 55 min. flight (eastbound). Washington Dulles-based MAXjet Airways is accepting reservations for service between New York JFK and London Stansted that begins Nov. 1 ( ATWOnline, Sept. 20). It will operate 767s configured for 102 seats. Independence Air will launch daily nonstop service Dec. 16 from its Washington Dulles hub to San Juan using A319s. San Juan is the carrier's first Caribbean destination.
UK CAA published its formal proposals for regulatory price controls for the Eurocontrol and Oceanic businesses of National Air Traffic Services for the five years beginning Jan. 1 and April 1 respectively.
Air France will increase its fuel surcharge by €6 ($7.22) to €44 for long-haul flights and by €2 to €12 for mid-range flights from Oct. 4. It also will raise its domestic flight surcharge by €1 to €8.
Declaring that "a European solution is no solution at all," IATA DG and CEO Giovanni Bisignani yesterday sharply criticized the European Commission's proposal to include the airline industry in the European Union's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme ( ATWOnline, Sept. 28).
Munich Airport cargo area added a new freight handling hall. The facility at the southeast end of the freight area was opened officially following nine months of construction. The expansion is in response to the booming airfreight business at Munich, which has posted strong annual growth rates of up to 30% in recent years. With a total volume of 300,000 tonnes in 2004, the annual tonnage has more than tripled since the airport opened in May 1992. The new 4,400-sq.-m. Express Services Center will be used exclusively by FedEx, DHL and UPS.
Air Berlin will start a new thrice-weekly Paderborn--Bournemouth service from Dec 17. Adria Airways opened a thrice-weekly cargo service between Ljubljana and Sarajevo Sept. 23. It plans to expand its cargo operations, especially to destinations in southeast Europe.
MAIR Holdings, parent of Mesaba Aviation, reported yesterday that Northwest Airlines paid it only a fraction of what it is owed for participating in the Northwest Airlink feeder program for the first half of September.
Hong Kong Express took delivery of an Embraer 170, making it the first operator in Asia of the 170/190 series. It will take delivery of three by year end and one in early 2006. All will be leased from GE Commercial Aviation Services and will be configured for 76 seats in a single-class layout.
Ryanair joined easyJet in calling on the British government to reject CAA's proposal to increase the tax on tickets for all UK passengers ( ATWOnline, Sept. 26). Last week, CAA published an assessment supporting its case for what it calls "modernizing the financial protection of air travelers and holidaymakers." It recommends that the scope of the current protection system be extended to protect all air travelers flying from the UK on international flights, with tour operator and airline passengers being covered by a single scheme funded by a short-term £1 levy on tickets.
Lufthansa Systems said its Electronic Logistics & Warehouse Information System freight handling system was selected by Aircargo Operations ACO, a new cargo handling operator at Bratislava Airport.
Northwest Airlines is seeking concessions valued at $190 million per year from the approximately 14,400 fleet and passenger service employees, stock clerks and other workers represented by the International Assn. of Machinists and also wants to impose a temporary 5% pay cut that will remain in place until the company exits bankruptcy.
Inventory Locator Service is hosting an online auction of surplus parts for Virgin Atlantic Airways. The seven-day auction, which will be open to all ILS subscribers, began Sept. 27 and will consist of one lot containing 6,600 pieces of A320, A340, 747-200 and 747-400 rotables and LRUs, inflight entertainment equipment, components and consumable parts.
SAS Cargo, in conjunction with Sterling's purchase of Maersk Air's passenger business, is taking over the former Maersk Air Cargo from Oct. 1. The takeover includes the freight sales agency for eight foreign airlines in the Nordic and Baltic countries and 22 employees. Terms of the deal were not released.
