Airports & Networks

Chicago Midway privatization,which collapsed a year ago in the wake of the global financial crisis, is attracting new interest from potential bidders, according to Southwest Airlines VP-Properties Robert Montgomery, who spoke at last month's Phoenix International Aviation Symposium.

With talks between the Chicago Dept. of Aviation and O'Hare's two largest airlines over funding for ORD expansion on hold indefinitely, CDA secured a small victory last month by winning $410 million in US federal funds that it can put toward the "completion phase" of the busy airport's long-term expansion project.

Just a few weeks after rolling out its first Advanced Imaging Technology body-scanning machines, Boston Logan International has seen "an improvement [in security] without a decrease in the efficiency," according to George Naccara, the Transportation Security Administration's Federal Security Director for BOS.

European airports estimate they lost more than 16 million passengers and more than €250 million ($332.6 million) in aeronautical and commercial revenue owing to the volcanic ash crisis that closed much of Europe's airspace April 15-21.

Dubai's low cost airline flydubai, is continuing the rapid expansion of its network with the announcement today of flights to Karachi, Pakistan's largest city and financial capital.

Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) has welcomed the first Oman Air flight to touch down at Al Ain International Airport with the airline now operating a daily service between Abu Dhabi's second city and the Omani capital, Muscat.

The volcanic ash cloud is seeping back into european air space - this time affecting all flights departing from Northern Ireland, the Republic of

In line with its ongoing strategy to optimise its network through codesharing, privately owned Bangkok Airways has begun partnering with Taiwan's EVA

Indonesian low-fares carrier, Cebu Pacific plans to link its Manila base with Surigao. The carrier will use its A320 aircraft to serve the route -

Aer Arann has taken the decision to cancel its two proposed services from Derry to Manchester and Edinburgh, as the routes attracted poor bookings

The US Department for Transport has granted final approval for Delta Air Lines and US Airways to swap slots at Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA

Air Canada is to introduce non-stop flights between Phoenix and Montreal during the winter season. The first flight begins on November 6 and the

Abu Dhabi International Airport yesterday saw the arrival of Air France's Airbus A330 on its first nonstop flight between Paris and Abu Dhabi. Air France flight AF 3848 touched down at 10:25pm local time and was welcomed by the Chairman of Abu Dhabi Airport's Company (ADAC), H.E. Khalifa Al Mazrouei and other high ranking officials in a ceremony celebrating Air France's inaugural flight.

Etihad Airways won six titles at the annual World Travel Awards ceremony for the Middle East, held at The Address Dubai Marina, yesterday including the coveted title as the region's Leading Airline.

Safi Airways, the international airline of Afghanistan, has revealed details of its expansion plans and rebranding at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai today.

Star Alliance members, Continental and United Airlines have agreed a new "merger of equals", which, subject to regulatory approval, will help in their

Fast-growing Frontier Airlines (Republic Airways' subsidiary) has today (Tuesday) announced a new link between Kansas City and Columbus, Ohio. The

Air New Zealand and Virgin Blue have announced intentions to seek regulatory approval to start an alliance on trans-Tasman routings. An alliance would

Tomorrow (Tuesday), airBaltic will begin serving Belgrade three-times weekly (Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays) from Riga. The route, which is

airBaltic will launch thrice-weekly Riga-Belgrade service May 5 aboard a 737. Frontier Airlines launched Denver service to Madison, Wisc.. (six-times-weekly aboard an E-190, becoming daily June 10) and Newport News (four-times-weekly) and launched daily Port Columbus-Kansas Cityservice aboard an E-190. JetBlue Airwayslaunched twice-daily Raleigh/Durham-Boston service.

Air New Zealand and Virgin Blue Airlines Group yesterday announced their intention to seek regulatory approval to create an alliance on transtasman routes. Both airlines, which have had legal teams working on the alliance proposal for some months ( ATWOnline, April 30), said applications will be filed with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the New Zealand Ministry of Transport shortly. Regulators are expected to take six months to review the applications.

Hala Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways' destination management company, has launched its 2010 Formula 1 brochure at this year's Arabian Travel Market (ATM), featuring exclusive packages for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which takes place between November 12 and 14.

Bahrain's international airport has begun the transition that sees it move from being run by the country's department of Civil Aviation Affairs to operate as private business with greater transparency and wider opportunities for international contractors and service providers.

Trinidad's Caribbean Airlines has completed its takeover of cash strapped Air Jamaica. As part of the deal the Jamican government will now own a 16%