Satisfaction with the airport experience "continues to lag behind that of other aspects of the travel industry," J.D. Power and Assoc. reported in its "2010 North America Airport Satisfaction Study", citing a lack of consistency in meeting "expectations of basic needs."
The $1.55 billion upgrade of Los Angeles International's Tom Bradley International Terminal was launched late last month as officials broke ground on a project that will transform international travel to/from the airport.
Airports and airlines have united to warn that a proposed US Environmental Protection Agency rule setting standards on discharges from airport deicing operations would be highly costly, compromise safety and impede efficient operations during winter months.
Airports Council International now expects airport traffic to increase 3%-4% this year following a 2.6% decline in 2009, and also announced that Incheon International again ranked at the top of its annual passenger survey.
Enthusiastic leadership and a new ownership structure have transformed CAI. The new Terminal 3 is a showpiece of efficient use of space and technology.
Carpatair will launch twice-weekly flights from Craiova to Rome Fiumicino and Bergamo on May 24 aboard F70s. Spirit Airlines will operate daily Atlantic City-Detroit service May 20-Nov. 10.
CSA Czech Airlines said it launched a tender to sell its slots at London Heathrow and New York JFK. It operates to LHR twice-daily from Prague and codeshares on Delta Air Lines flights to/from JFK.
Fujairah International Airport is counting down to the opening of a new $25 million MRO facility and comes to the Aerospace Week shows keen to promote its potential to both MRO and aircraft interiors manufacturers and service providers.
Ryanair will launch service to Kos and Volos from Frankfurt Hahn and Bergamo and to Rhodes from Bergamo and Pisa in May. AirTran Airways will launch the following seasonal service: Daily flights from San Antonio to Baltimore and Orlando International on May 27, daily Allentown-Atlanta on May 4, four-times-weekly Asheville-Tampa on May 4, weekly Wichita-MCO on May 27 and daily Harrisburg-ATL on May 4.
UK Competition Appeal Tribunal yesterday issued a final order overturning the Competition Commission's March 2009 ruling ordering BAA to sell London Gatwick, Stansted and either Edinburgh or Glasgow International. The order follows the Tribunal's December decision agreeing with BAA's claim regarding apparent bias in the Commission's decision ordering the breakup of the airport group because a commission member also was a paid financial adviser with links to Manchester Airport Group, which was in the running to purchase LGW before it was sold to Global Infrastructure Partners
Originally based in Sharjah in the UAE, Air Arabia established itself in Morocco last year through its Air Arabia Maroc start-up and it is trying to repeat this in Egypt during 2010. In April it will launch Air Arabia Egypt, a joint venture with Travco, the major Middle Eastern tourism and hospitality group. Routes News examines the evolution of Air Arabia and what it hopes to achieve in the Egypt market.
Kingfisher Airlines announced new routes from Delhi to London Heathrow and Hong Kong in the past week, along with plans to join oneworld in the second half of this year. Routes News examines its significance.
Jet Airways is currently India's second-largest international airline and the largest operator in the domestic market. It operates over 400 daily flights to 64 destinations. The carrier has grown its domestic and international traffic for four consecutive months and has recently been recognised in a string of awards, including “Best Long Haul Carrier” at the TM Travel Awards in Brussels last year.
Last month’s opening of Gold Coast Airport’s second passenger terminal coincided with double-digit month-on-month growth of international passenger traffic (in January). The new facility is designed primarily to meet the needs of low-fare carriers and the airport seeks to expand its long-haul network, working in partnership with the Queensland Government and Gold Coast Tourism to deliver new route incentives.
Operating from 36 UK airports, Flybe is the largest UK domestic operator (measured by weekly seat capacity and number of destinations). Announcing the first scheduled services for Kent International and Humberside to Edinburgh and Belfast City respectively, Flybe plays to its many strengths: operating high-frequency services to thin or new markets using suitably sized aircraft. Routes News examines this rise and asks if it can maintain it position amid competition from easyJet.
