Air Seychelles (HM) will slash all its remaining European routes as demand weakens and competition increases. According to CEO Bram Steller, the European economic crisis—coupled with tough competition from the Middle East—has led HM to shut down its long-haul operations. HM will stop flights from Mahe to Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa as well London Heathrow from Jan 8. Services to Paris Charles de Gaulle will be reduced from 5X to 3X weekly from January and will stop completely by March 25. HM stopped flights to Singapore Nov. 24.
Greater Toronto Airports Authority appointed Pteris Global Limited was awarded London City Airport (LCY) appointed US Dept. of Transportation's (DOT) Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) said the nation’s largest carriers reported NAV Canada said it reached a tentative agreement
Kurumoch Airport (KUF) in Samara, Russia, will become a part of the Russian conglomerate Renova's subsidiary airport holding company Koltsovo-Invest, which won a tender to manage KUF's renovation and operations. According to the tender rules, Koltsovo-Invest will buy 71.1773% shares of KUF. After completing the renovation program, it will gain permission to buy another 25.0114%. Renova, however, won't get to manage the airside facilities (runway, taxiways, etc.) due to Russian law requiring government ownership and control of airside facilities.
Reports from London indicated that the Nov. 30 UK public sector strike, in which a large number of Border Agency immigration officers participated, did not cause gridlock at London Heathrow (LHR) and other major UK airports as had been feared ( ATW Daily News, Nov. 29).
Basic Element Group, which owns several airports in South Russia, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Changi Airports International (CAI) and LLC Sberbank Investments to form a joint venture (JV) to invest in and develop airports in Russia. Basic Element will hold 50% plus one share, CAI will hold 30% and Sberbank will hold 20%, minus one share. The creation of the JV is targeted to be completed in the second quarter of 2012. It is subject to due diligence and final negotiations between the parties and approval by the regulatory authorities.
The European Commission (EC) issued a reasoned opinion (a formal request to comply with EU law) against Belgium, which it said failed to comply with the bloc's legislation on the common charging scheme for air navigation services.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), which is scheduled to open June 3, 2012, is gearing up for test runs of all systems and procedures using 10,000 employees and volunteers. The test phase will start in January and run through April.
Brazil is scrambling to figure out a way to upgrade its airport infrastructure in time to accommodate the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics, and airlines are concerned they will end up paying the bill for the county's airport expansion.
EU member states and their airports are allowed to use body scanners to screen passengers, the European Commission (EC) decided. But it stipulated that the machines can only used under strict operational and technical conditions intended to ensure compliance with fundamental privacy rights and the protection of health.
Qatar Airways is to introduce a fifth daily flight between Doha and London Heathrow from the start of the Northern Summer schedules on March 25 next year.
America's head of homeland security has completed a rapid visit of Qatar and the UAE in which she has stressed the importance of international security cooperation.
Libyan air traffic controllers will be ready to properly reopen Libyan airspace for full safe commercial activities following a deal signed in Tripoli today
