Oman Air last week launched four-times-weekly Frankfurt-Muscat service and thrice-weekly Muscat-Munich flights aboard A330-200s. Wizz Air will launch service from its new base in Wroclaw to Paris Beauvais (twice-weekly starting Dec. 18), Oslo Torp (thrice-weekly starting Dec. 17), Eindhoven (twice-weekly starting July 19), Forli Bologna (twice-weekly starting July 19), Cork (twice-weekly starting July 18), Milan Bergamo (thrice-weekly starting July 17) and relaunch service to Dortmund (thrice-weekly starting Dec. 17) and Doncaster Sheffield (twice-weekly starting July 19).
AirBaltic yesterday launched daily service between Turku and Tallinn and will launch four-times-weekly service from Lappeenranta to Tallinn and Riga Nov. 12 aboard 737s.
Swissport will terminate its passenger handling activities at Vienna at the end of 2009, largely owing to the collapse of SkyEurope "and the insufficient prospects of positive local business development in the longer term." Approximately 70 employees are affected. It said the decision does not affect its cargo handling operation.
Greater Toronto Airports Authority announced that landing fees and terminal charges at Toronto Pearson will each be reduced by 10% effective Jan. 1. GTAA said that landing fees have been cumulatively lowered by 13.1% since 2007 while terminal fees have been cut by 15% over the same period. "This fee reduction is welcome because it helps us control costs in this challenging economic environment," Air Canada Executive VP and COO Duncan Dee said in a statement.
The worst economy in at least 40 years remains the biggest challenge for US airports and they are doing all they can to retain air service as airlines cut back on flights, says Airports Council International-North America President Greg Principato. "Airports are cutting their budgets to make it possible for airlines to serve their communities," he tells ATW's Airports Today, adding that they have been forced to furlough or lay off employees as carriers have reduced service.
Amsterdam Schiphol fees will remain stable through April 1, 2010, despite the current economic downturn. "By keeping charges at the current level, AMS aims to help airlines maintain and expand their network of destinations to and from AMS," a spokesperson explained. In doing so, Schiphol will accept a lower return on aviation activities than is permitted based on its Aviation Act. The decision not to increase charges at this moment is based on a commercial consideration, which is feasible from a financial point of view.
By year end the City of New Orleans plans to issue a request for qualifications from organizations interested in leasing its Louis Armstrong International Airport and downtown heliport. It expects to ask for bids next spring and send a final application for privatization to FAA by the fall of 2010, a spokesperson for Armstrong International tells this newsletter.
Greater Toronto Airports Authority announced that landing fees and terminal charges at Toronto Pearson will each be reduced by 10% effective Jan. 1. GTAA said landing fees have been cumulatively lowered by 13.1% since 2007 while terminal fees have been cut by 15% over the same period. "This fee reduction is welcome because it helps us control costs in this challenging economic environment," Air Canada Executive VP and COO Duncan Dee said in a statement.
Almost half the passengers at Frankfurt International Airport are there to change flights, making it the leading connecting airport in Europe, Fraport AG CEO Stefan Schulte told ATW's Airports Today. "Compared to airports like Paris CDG or London Heathrow which have a big city behind [to generate traffic], FRA has developed itself to be a transfer airport," he said.
Airports have to focus on customer service along with revenue diversification and future growth if they hope to remain competitive at a time when airlines are reducing capacity, Airports Council International DG Angela Gittens told representatives at the Airport Business and Trinity Forum in Macau in late September.
Dubai Airports is projecting a 13.6% growth in passengers in 2010. Total passengers are expected to reach 40.5 million by the end of 2009 and top 46 million in 2010. An improving economy, strong expansion by Emirates Airline, the emergence of LCC flydubai and open skies policies are driving the growth, according to Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths.
Hanoi's Noi Ban International will get two new runways and other new facilities and its existing space will be renovated to handle 25 million annual passengers and 260,000 tons of cargo by 2020, the Vietnamese government said. The airport will be upgraded to A380 standards. Tan Son Nhut International in Ho Chi Min City will be expanded and improved to handle 23.5 million passengers and 600,000 tons of cargo a year by 2015. Improvements also will be made to the airports serving Cam Rahn, Chu Lai, Cat Bi, Danang and Phu Bai.
Allegiant Air will launch twice-weekly service between Wichita and Phoenix Mesa Nov. 20 aboard a 150-seat MD-80. Air Astana will launch weekly service between Almaty and Kuala Lumpur Oct. 31 aboard a 767.
