Lufthansa launched weekly Frankfurt-Beijing service aboard an A380. It will launch twice-weekly A380 FRA-Johannesburg flights Sept. 12. Separately, it will launch twice-daily Luxembourg-Munich service Oct. 31 aboard a CRJ-700. Alaska Airlines will launch thrice-weekly San Jose-Los Cabos service Dec. 4, two weeks later than initially planned ( ATW Daily News, July 30).
Cavotec Middle East, the UAE-based subsidiary of global engineering group Cavotec MSL, has won a contract by Bahwan Engineering Company for the design, supply and installation of 95 pop-up pit systems at the new Muscat International Airport development. Cavotec's pop-up pit systems have been chosen over conventional products due in large part to their advanced technology, reliability and proven track record in the aviation industry.
Cargolux launched weekly Luxembourg-Singapore-Hong Kong-Los Angeles freighter service. Air Arabia will launch thrice-weekly Casablanca-Alexandria service Oct. 4, increasing to four-times-weekly Oct. 31. Copa Airlines will launch twice-weekly Panama City-St. Martin service Dec. 18.
Air India plans to shut down its European hub in Frankfurt by Oct. 31. COO Gustav Baldauf told ATW AI's hub at FRA, which was established last year, is inefficient. Five of its 777-300ERs land at the airport around the same time and there are not enough available gate positions. "For the quality we get, FRA is too expensive," he said.
Michael Kuhn, previously CFO of DC Aviation, will assume the post of Chief Executive Officer and head of operations for Germany's leading provider of business jets which has been developing a regular client base in the Middle East.
