Chinese carriers had failed to pay bills totaling about CNY1.87 billion ($273.6 million) combined to 32 airports as of Dec. 31, according to the China Civil Airports Assn. Domestic carriers blamed "financial difficulties" for the defaults, which comprise mainly landing, parking and security fees.
A major restructuring of the way Libya carries out its aircraft handling and MRO services has been announced by the country's major operator - The Libyan African Aviation Holding Company (LAAHCO).
Egypt will move ahead with its $1.1 billion (6.3bn Egyptian pounds) expansion plan, despite the economic slowdown according to a government official reported the Khaleej Times.
A new era for budget air travel within the Middle East took a big step closer to realisation today when flydubai, Dubai's first low-cost airline, received its Air Operators Certificate (AOC) from the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) has released the April 2009 traffic figures for Abu Dhabi International Airport. The figures show a 12 per cent increase in passengers travelling to, from, and through the airport compared to the same month in the previous year. Aircraft movements also increased by 5 per cent.
Sensis Corp. said the General Authority of Civil Aviation of Saudi Arabia selected its Advanced-Surface Movement Guidance and Control Systems and Wide Area Multilateration systems for King Abdulaziz International in Jeddah and King Fahad International in Dammam.
EgyptAir plans to launch twice-weekly Cairo-Abuja flights June 1 using 737-800s. Bmibaby will introduce service to Grenoble from Nottingham East Midlands, Birmingham, Cardiff (all twice-weekly) and Manchester (weekly) for its 2009-10 winter schedule.
Hit hard by competition from high-speed rail, Shanghai-based Spring Airlines, the most profitable Chinese LCC, is abandoning plans to open a second base in Zhengzhou to the north and shifting its attention south to Sanya in Hainan Province.
US Airways yesterday launched seasonal daily Philadelphia-Oslo Gardermoen service aboard a 757. Aerolineas Argentinas will begin a daily Buenos Aires-Cordoba-Mendoza flight on July 1 JetBlue Airways yesterday launched daily New York JFK-Montego Bay flights aboard an A320 and said it will begin serving Kingston from JFK this fall.
Expanding military airspace to accommodate commercial airlines and better air traffic control are key to maximising expected growth in passenger numbers at Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports said Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths reported the Khaleej Times.
CEOs of Air France KLM Group and Delta Air Lines signed a profit/loss-sharing joint venture agreement yesterday in Paris covering a wide network around 10 hubs representing more than 200 flights and approximately 50,000 seats per day. The airlines said their venture, which will concentrate on service to/from Amsterdam, Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York JFK and Paris Charles de Gaulle as well as Cincinnati, Lyon, Memphis and Salt Lake City, represents about 25% of the industry's total transatlantic capacity.
Worldwide Flight Services inked a three-year contract with LTU International to provide cargo handling services, warehousing and customs clearance in Miami.
Southwest Airlines announced yesterday that it will start service in November or December at Milwaukee, a market targeted for growth this year by rival AirTran Airways.
Emirates has opened its third lounge in Germany at Dusseldorf International Airport yesterday. The dedicated lounge measures some 700 square metres and is its largest in the country.
Clickair will operate all London routes out of Heathrow from June 1, switching its Vigo and Seville service to LHR from Gatwick. It already operates daily Bilbao and La Coruna flights to/from LHR.
American Airlines customer service manager fell from a lift at Miami International Airport early yesterday morning and was killed, the airline confirmed in a statement cited by The Miami Herald.
Boeing yesterday released its "2009 Environment Report," touting its participation in biofuel test flights ( ATWOnline, April 10) and tailored arrival demonstrations. It also pointed to efforts to reduce energy and water use at its manufacturing facilities.
Kuwait's Directorate General of Civil Aviation has made large strides in implementing projects aimed at modernising Kuwait International Airport and has confirmed it is not planning on moving the airport to another site.
Cable manufacturer Nexans, reported at the Airport Show in Dubai today that is supplying Almabani with special airfield lighting cables for King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah.
"The ATM community should see the economic downturn as a chance and use the time wisely to plan ahead. This will enable us to be prepared when growth resumes," says Achim Baumann,DFS regional manager Middle East saids at the Airport Show, Dubai today.
