Lufthansa Systems said its Electronic Logistics & Warehouse Information System freight handling system was selected by Aircargo Operations ACO, a new cargo handling operator at Bratislava Airport.
Inventory Locator Service is hosting an online auction of surplus parts for Virgin Atlantic Airways. The seven-day auction, which will be open to all ILS subscribers, began Sept. 27 and will consist of one lot containing 6,600 pieces of A320, A340, 747-200 and 747-400 rotables and LRUs, inflight entertainment equipment, components and consumable parts.
Boeing and Malaysia Airlines incorporated a new Jeppesen Terminal Charts application into the Class 3 Boeing Electronic Flight Bag on MAS's two 777-200ERs, giving pilots access to Jeppesen's extensive library of more than 40,000 charts for airports around the globe while eliminating the volumes of paper charts once required on the flightdeck. The airline must complete a six-month evaluation period that began in July before it can cease using paper charts on its EFB-equipped aircraft.
ATA Airlines' cockpit crew, represented by the Air Line Pilots Assn., ratified a tentative contract that includes concessions valued by the union at $84 million over the three-year term of the agreement. ATA currently is in bankruptcy. Under the terms of the Long-Term Relief Agreement, crewmembers will see their pay remain at 18% below 2003 contract rates until the end of 2006, gradually rising to 7% below 2003 rates by the end of 2008. "This amounts to a 30%-40% pay cut for flight crewmembers, in addition to cuts in health care benefits, retirement and work rules," the union said.
Emirates signed a leasing agreement with two UAE banks, National Bank of Dubai and Emirates Bank Group, for a new A340-500. The $119.5 million financing is for the last of the 10 A340-500s Emirates has on firm order. It is structured as an operating lease over a 12-year term and carries a weighted average cost of funds 0.9% over six-month Libor.
Etihad Crystal Cargo extended its ULD control and pooling contract with Unitpool, a load device pooling company, with the signing of a new long-term contract.
AirAsia will launch service from its base at Kuala Lumpur to Chiang Mai and Phnom Penh on Oct. 20 and Nov. 1 respectively with a single daily roundtrip to each destination. To kick off the routes, it is offering 10,000 seats to each city at an introductory fare of MYR49.99 ($15) each way excluding airport fees and taxes.
General Electric named Bradley Mottier president and CEO of GE Engine Services within GE Transportation, Aircraft Engines. He replaces Dan Heintzelman, who assumes the role of VP-energy services for GE Energy. Mottier has served as president and CEO of Unison Industries, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aircraft Engines' Engine Services operation, since GE acquired Unison in 2002. Prior to the acquisition he worked for more than 20 years at Unison.
North American Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of World Airways, renewed its contract to provide service to GWV Vacations flying from Providence and Hartford to Caribbean and Mexico vacation destinations.
SkyEurope shares began trading on the Vienna and Warsaw stock exchanges yesterday at an initial price of €6 ($7.25) per share and climbed to €6.60 on the Vienna exchange before closing at €6.30 ( ATWOnline, Sept. 23).
Swiss International Air Lines reportedly plans to supply up to 60 pilots to China Airlines for the carrier's 747, A330 and A340 fleets. Pilots have been made surplus to Swiss needs owing to its decision to phase out its Embraer 145s and Saab 2000s. Another 15 pilots may find some work with Etihad Airways. Also, Jet Airways of India is looking for some A340 pilots from Swiss.
Lufthansa and Frankfurt Airport operator Fraport signed a deal Tuesday lowering the cost of ground handling for the carrier at the airport for the next five years. Savings amount to more than €10 million per year, according to Reuters, which cited Lufthansa Passenger Airline management board member Carsten Spohr. Savings will come from a combination of lower prices and greater efficiencies, Spohr said. Fraport Chief Executive Wilhelm Bender said the airport operator will offset the reduction in ground handling fees from Lufthansa through its own cost savings.
European Commission proposed to negotiate an Open Aviation Area agreement with Ukraine. In 2004, 1.5 million passengers traveled between the EU and Ukraine by air, up 25% over 2003. The EC said authority to negotiate with Ukraine is in line with the conclusions of the June 27 Transport Council "in which EU Transport Ministers welcomed a wider European Common Aviation Area with our neighbors."
The European Commission, in a landmark decision, came down in favor of including European airlines in the EU's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme rather than imposing separate emissions charges and/or other taxes and fees on the industry to offset damage to the environment from carbon dioxide emissions by aircraft.
British Airways announced that Group Treasurer and Head of Taxation Keith Williams will succeed John Rishton as CFO on Jan. 1 following Rishton's resignation to join Amsterdam-based retailer Ahold.
Alteon said it will place 787 simulator training locations in China, the UK and the US, "enhancing [its] commitment to provide a global training network for the new airplane." Facilities will be established at London Gatwick, in Seattle and at a site to be determined in China. The Boeing subsidiary said it aims to have six 787 locations up and running before the first Dreamliner delivers in 2008. It already reached agreement in cooperation with ANA to establish a center at Tokyo Haneda ( ATWOnline, Sept. 13).
Telair International said it successfully completed its FAA STC System Conformity Inspection for the first Main Deck Cargo Loading System installation of the 747-400SF passenger-to-freighter conversion. Cathay Pacific is the launch customer for the system with six firm and six option conversions. SriLankan Cargo opened an office at the cargo terminal in Abu Dhabi Airport.
Thales said Royal Jordanian chose its TopSeries digital IFE for its A320s and A321s. The carrier's first revenue flights with the new system are scheduled for November.
Rockwell Collins signed an agreement with Showtime Arabia to provide programming content for its Tailwind 560 satellite television system, which makes its debut on new A330 and A340 aircraft belonging to Qatar Airways. Thales announced a new customer for its TopSeries I-4000 inflight entertainment system, Air Europa, which chose the system for four A330s.
US and Mexico last week agreed to a new aviation bilateral that increases from two to three the number of passenger airlines from each country that can operate between the countries. Under the agreement, the carriers may fly between any US city and any of 14 Mexican cities. Also, any number of scheduled all-cargo carriers may fly between the countries under the new accord and three all-cargo carriers from each country may fly in each city-pair market.
