Abu Dhabi International Airport revealed yesterday that it has recorded a year-on-year growth of more than 10% in passenger traffic in July 2009, and will today announce details of the average number of passengers passing through the airport and the rise in aircraft movements.
Development of a green-field airport at Sohar, Oman is set to make further headway with the government on Monday inviting bids for the key airfield infrastructure package of the project. According to officials, the airfield infrastructure contract is the second of three packages that constitute the overall scope of the Sohar Airport project. As part of this phase, the selected contractor will build a 4,000-metre runway with turning loops at the ends, in addition to a full-length taxiway with high speed exits, reported the Oman Daily Observer.
Hamburg International Airlines plans to open new bases in the UK and Austria, expanding beyond its eight bases in Germany. "With our future fleet of between 13 and 15 aircraft, we cannot grow anymore just in the German market," MD Norbert Grella told ATWOnline. "We have to look outside [the country]." He described the independent carrier "as a hybrid airline" that operates not only scheduled services but tour operations. It offers flights on unconventional routes, including between Germany and Iraq. Its fleet comprises eight A319s and one 737-700.
Ryanair will launch four new routes from East Midlands this autumn--Lodz (Oct. 28) and Marrakesh, Rzeszow and Bydgoszcz in early November--lifting its winter schedule from the airport to 29 routes. Frequency was not disclosed. It also will add an undisclosed number of services on routes to Belfast City and Nantes from Oct.25. It further announced it will commence daily service from London Gatwick to Stockholm Skavsta from Nov. 5. Germanwings announced yesterday that it plans to add new destinations from its Cologne/Bonn base for the summer 2010 season.
Denver International said it will ask the Denver City Council to approve construction of a photovoltaic solar electricity-generating system to power the airport's fuel-storage and distribution facility. "DIA has filed the ordinances necessary to obtain council approval to enter into an agreement with MP2 Capital and Oak Leaf Energy Partners to develop the $7 million, 1.6-megawatt solar project on approximately nine acres north of the airport's airfield," the airport said in a statement.
Dubai Airports started off the second half of 2009 on a positive note, with Dubai International registering a 12.6% increase in passenger traffic in July.
Following industry rumours and press speculation surrounding AirAsia X's first destination in the Middle East, the carrier today confirmed its commitment to Abu Dhabi at a press conference in the UAE capital. The inaugural flight will touch down in Abu Dhabi on November 23 at 01:30, and depart for the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur again at 02:55 the same day.
Estonian Air resumed thrice-weekly Tallinn-Helsinki service. Kenya Airways will launch twice-weekly Nairobi-Ndola service Sept. 17. Rex Regional Express will launch 17-times-weekly Townsville-Mackay service Oct. 1 aboard a 34-seat Saab 340. Iceland Express said it will operate weekly Reykjavik-Keflavik-Birmingham service for 13 weeks beginning in the 2010 summer. Jet Airways launched four-times-weekly Mumbai-Riyadh service aboard a 737-800 and will begin twice-weekly Bangkok-Gaya-Varanasi flights Oct. 6.
Eight US airlines operating at Los Angeles International have signed a multiyear deal for the supply of a renewable synthetic diesel fuel for use in ground service equipment, an arrangement that Rentech, the Los Angeles-based fuel manufacturer, called "the first of its kind."
ASIG renewed its agreement to provide ramp handling services to Aeromexpress Cargo for an additional three years at Los Angeles International. It has been providing Aeromexpress with ramp handling services at LAX since 2000.
SEPANG, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), in keeping with current travel trends and technology savvy travellers, today launched the first phase of its Next Generation Hub programme.
Continental Airlines yesterday announced that Oct. 27 will be its first day as an official member of Star Alliance. Separately, it said it will operate daily Houston Intercontinental-Edmonton flights beginning Nov. 1 aboard a 737-500.
Ryanair yesterday announced that it will close nine of its 10 routes to/from Manchester and switch them to "lower-cost competitor" airports such as Nottingham East Midlands, Leeds Bradford and Liverpool on Oct. 1, citing MAN's refusal to lower its charges.
Australia and New Zealand are expected to move toward common air travel borders this week, cutting red tape and airfares. New Zealand Prime Minister John Keys and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd are expected to announce Thursday the streamlining of arrivals and departures that may see transtasman flights operating from domestic terminals and elimination of departure taxes and duplication of quarantine, customs and security checks.
Southwest Airlines yesterday launched its Boston service, which will comprise five daily flights to Chicago Midway and five to Baltimore. Royal Air Maroc will launch twice-weekly Casablanca-Dubai service on Oct. 27 using 767-300ERs. RwandAir yesterday added a fifth weekly Kigali-Johannesburg flight.
