“Aviation is not ready for party time,†according to Bram Steller. The Dutch national who joined Kenya Airways (KQ) in August 2008 as chief operating officer knows what he is talking about. Barely four months ago – in June – KQ reported a loss of KES5.66 billion (US$71.8 million) in the year ended March 2009, a result of fuel hedging costs, a labour strike and political unrest, after a revised pre-tax profit of KES6.52 billion a year earlier. For the carrier … [Read more...] about The ‘Pride of Africa’ is set to shine brighter
air freight
EUROPE & CIS: Norwegian Air Shuttle ups B737 order
Low-cost carrier Norwegian Air Shuttle has confirmed an order for an additional six Next-Generation 737-800s bringing its total order of 737s to 48. It also has an order for 22 aircraft from leasing companies. The Oslo-based carrier has been opening up new markets in Europe and beyond since it was founded 1 September. Norwegian has reported continuous growth in its passenger figures and improved margins throughout the 2008/2009 recession. … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Norwegian Air Shuttle ups B737 order
EUROPE & CIS: BA, AA, Iberia may have to give up slots
British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia may have to give up take-off and landing slots for their Oneworld transatlantic alliance to go ahead, the Financial Times reported. The airlines had planned to deepen the pact to take advantage of the US/EU “Open Skies†agreement, with the focus on routes between the United States, Mexico, Canada, the EU, Norway and Switzerland. But earlier the EU regulators said the plan may violate antitrust rules on restrictive business practices. … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: BA, AA, Iberia may have to give up slots
EUROPE & CIS: AirBridgeCargo expands network to Tokyo
AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC), part of Volga-Dnepr Group, is launching a new B747 freighter service from one of its European gateways at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to Tokyo, Japan. ABC said that the new B747-400 all-cargo flight has been launched in response to demands for capacity on the route from its freight forwarding customers. The Russian carrier will open the new weekly route as part of its 2009/10 winter schedule and will fly via AirBridgeCargo’s main hub at … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: AirBridgeCargo expands network to Tokyo
EUROPE & CIS: Kuban Airlines Opens Air Service to Dubai
On 24 November 2009 Kuban Airlines is launching a scheduled air service from Krasnodar to Dubai (UAE). Kuban Airlines is an airline based in Krasnodar, southern Russia and operates domestic schedules within Russia, along with international charters. Its main base is Krasnodar International Airport and started operations in 1932 as a division of Aeroflot. It was privatised in 1992 and is now owned by the state (51 per cent) and the airline employees (49 per cent). … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Kuban Airlines Opens Air Service to Dubai
EUROPE & CIS: Lufthansa Cargo posts bleak results
Lufthansa Cargo has seen the toll of the collapsed cargo market leave a trail of red ink across the group’s Logistics Division with profits over the first three quarters crashing from a 2008 profit of €160 million to a 2009 loss of €200 million. According to Stephan Gemkow, Lufthansa Group’s chief financial officer, capacity utilisation recovered in the third quarter of the year, “but this was only possible at considerably reduced ratesâ€Â. … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Lufthansa Cargo posts bleak results