Royal Jordanian and aviation IT specialist, SITA, today announced a major deal for a fully managed service for desktops, printers, servers and infrastructure to the airline's global network of 56 out-stations over five years.
A new initiative by Dubai-based Fly Aviation Services will see an African charity benefit every time a delegate at the EBACE show in Geneva visits the trip support provider at its stand
SR Technics expanded its 10-year engine maintenance contract with the Airberlin Group to cover exclusive maintenance services for more than 300 engines, including CFM56-7B, CFM56-5B and PW4168 engines, for their entire Airbus and Boeing fleet. SR Technics is now responsible for providing maintenance services for 95% of Airberlin Group engines.
Swiss International Air Lines improved its fuel consumption by 3.9% year-over-year in 2010, and by a total of 17% since its founding in 2002. It ended 2010 with fuel consumption of 3.73 liters per 100 passenger km., versus 3.88 liters in 2009. “Maintaining a responsible attitude toward the environment has been a cornerstone of our corporate culture for several years now,” LX CEO Harry Hohmeister remarked.
Pinnacle Airlines said it reached a tentative accord with flight attendants to amend its collective bargaining agreement. If ratified, the contract would provide a five-year extension to the agreement that became amendable on Jan. 31, it said. Pinnacle’s 797 flight attendants are represented by the United Steelworkers AFL-CIO.
An ICAO study released Thursday estimates that demand for aviation personnel will reach 2 million by the year 2030 and reveals a shortfall of training capacity in existing facilities, equivalent to 160,000 pilots, 360,000 maintenance personnel and 40,000 air traffic controllers.
Aircell, provider of Gogo inflight connectivity services, will expand its capabilities beyond the continental US, implementing Ka-band satellite technology, and a next-generation version of Air-to-Ground technology. The options can be selected at the aircraft or fleet level, it said.
US FAA revealed last week that it "recently required the nation's airlines to disable the oxygen generators located in all aircraft lavatories to eliminate a potential safety and security vulnerability." Airlines completed the work on 6,000 aircraft by March 4, the agency said in a statement. It did not explain what danger the generators posed, but the concern was clearly that a knowledgeable terrorist could ignite the contents of the container while in the lavatory.
Traxon Europe reached an agreement with AirBridgeCargo Airlines for the provision of cargo information services. IBS completed integration of its air cargo management solution suite iCargo for South African Airways. IBS's iCargo is being used across the SAA network of 48 stations including 39 international locations, five self-handled warehouse facilities and its global cargo headquarters in Johannesburg.
Etihad Airways appointed Kevin Knight as the airline’s chief strategy and planning officer. Knight will be responsible for a range of key business areas, including pricing, capacity and revenue management, route and network planning and aircraft acquisitions. He also will lead Etihad Crystal Cargo. Mongolian Airlines appointed Aviarepsto serve as the carrier's general sales agent in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Scandinavia, United Kingdom, France, Italy and Spain.
AWAS announced that Terra Firma, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and other co-investors committed to invest an additional $529 million in the Dublin-based operating lessor by April and a another $200 million "to finance further value enhancing opportunities." The initial investment of $529 million is being made by Terra Firma ($246 million), CPPIB ($266 million) and other co-investors ($17 million), following which Terra Firma’s interest in AWAS will be 60%, CPPIB’s 25% and other co-investors’ 15%.
Air Astana and Amadeus have apparently settled their disagreement that led to the Kazakhstan airline filing suit against the GDS in a Madrid court ( ATW Daily New, Feb. 15). On Thursday Amadeus announced that the two had reached a long-term content agreement that "guarantees agents access to the full range of Air Astana's content through Amadeus with no commission reduction." The new contract will be in place through 2014.
Lufthansa Systems said it will launch its new wireless inflight entertainment system, BoardConnect, on Condor’s Boeing 767s. BoardConnect is a next-generation IFE system, operating on a Wi-Fi network allowing passengers to connect to video and audio on demand—including games, e-mail and social networks—via their IFE screens or a personal Wi-Fi-equipped device.
EADS reported 2010 net income of €553 million ($770.8 million), a major turnaround from a €763 million net loss in 2009, on 7% growth in revenue to €45.8 billion driven by a strong performance by Airbus.
NavAero was selected by Condor Airlines to supply its tBag C22 Electronic Flight Bag system for the carrier's fleet of Boeing 757-300 and 767-300ER aircraft. OAG Cargo reached a contract with Saudi Airlines Cargo to supply the carrier with its new Route Mapper product. OAG is the launch customer for the solution, which will begin roll-out from April 1, incorporating Arabic, customized branding, future schedules and full integration into the carrier's website.
SITA announced that it was selected by the air navigation service providers of France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland to provide air/ground communication infrastructure (ATN and VDL Mode 2). The ANSPs are all members of the Functional Airspace Block–Europe Central covering 55% of all European traffic and SITA said the deal "will enable FABEC to meet the EU’s 2013 deadline for the implementation of controller pilot data link communications across Europe."
Three unions representing Spanish airport workers on Tuesday confirmed plans to call a series of strikes over the next several months on key travel dates, including the Easter holiday weekend, to protest government plans to privatize airport operator AENA, which they fear could lead to lay-offs and the closure of smaller airports.
The European Commission on Monday published its historical emissions data on which allocations for the aviation Emissions Trading Scheme will be based, stating that "aviation emissions of 219,476,343 tonnes of CO2 represents the average of the estimated annual emissions for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006" for flights that will be covered under the ETS starting next year.
Iberia, which merged with British Airways into International Airlines Group in January, said it reached agreement with Airbus to order eight A330-300s with options for eight more.
US Transportation Security Administration head John Pistole revealed last week that the agency is developing airport "checkpoint of the future concepts" that will place a greater emphasis on "cutting-edge technology" and intelligence to differentiate passengers based on threat levels.
Iberia, which merged with British Airways into International Airlines Group in January, said it reached agreement with Airbus to order eight A330-300s with options for eight more.
Mercator, the IT services business of Emirates Group, has helped Oman Air to make major changes to its cargo operations management systems, replacing a paper-based, manual system with a fully integrated and automated model.
