Leading logistics provider Agility has named Essa Al-Saleh as president and chief executive offi cer of its Global Integrated Logistics (GIL) unit, which is the company’s private sector, core global logistics businesses. Previously, Al-Saleh was Agility’s managing director for corporate development.
Royal Jordanian Airlines has inaugurated the first phase of a multi-million dinar investment programme to upgrade the Royal Jordanian Cargo Terminal at Queen Alia International Airport. New shelves and pallet storage facilities will be introduced before the end of 2007.
Lufthansa Cargo said it will receive the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA)certificate. The IOSA programme was initiated by IATA in 2003 for the purpose of enhancing operational flight safety. Up to now, IOSA registration has been achieved by 144 airlines, among them 121 IATA member-carriers.
Virgin Atlantic plans to buy up to 24 Boeing 787s as part of an effort to remain competitive on Atlantic routes and to address concerns about carbon emissions. The purchase is worth $3.6 billion. In another development, Virgin Airlines aims to become the first airline using biofuels. Boeing and GE are working on the development of a biofuel-powered jet.
Aeroflot Cargo has signed a letter of intent with Ilyushin France for the lease of six new Il-96-400Ts. Two aircraft will be delivered in 2008, one in 2009 and three in 2010.
Swissport International said it has established a ground handling company at Sofia Airport, Bulgaria. The country is one of the fastest-growing markets in the EU.
Air Cargo Management Group said that the global freighter fl eet will more than double in size from 1,801 units currently to 3,883 by 2026. In addition to the expansion, more than 1,100 existing freighters will be retired over the next 20 years. ACMG predicts the need for more than 3,200 new and converted freighters through 2026.
Gulf Air has announced a fl eet restructuring plan in which by 2009 it will reduce the fl eet from 34 to 28 aircraft by removing nine B767s and nine A340s from the fl eet, and adding eight A330s and four A321s. The airline also has six A330-200s and 10 A320s.
Toll Holdings has reportedly sourced two NZ-registered B737-300QCs for night freight services in Australia, to be operated on the New Zealand register. – John Spiers
Istanbul-based Kuzu Airlines Cargo has taken delivery of its sixth A300B4 freighter. The aircraft is based in China where it joins Kuzu’s fl eet engaged in ACMI activities in the Far East region. Kuzu has also signed ACMI agreements with Libyan cargo carrier, the Global Aviation & Service Group Airline and Air Macau.
Tennenbaum Capital Partners, which is chairman of the Pemco Aviation Group, offered to purchase all outstanding shares in Pemco World Air Services for US$30m. Pemco Aviation Group had $500,000 net income on $160.7m revenues in 2006 compared with a $5.8m loss on $134.8m revenues in 2005.
The Volga-Dnepr Group has contracted with United Aircraft Building Corporation (UABC) to buy 38 aircraft by 2015, Vedomosti reported. The company is to buy 12 new AN-124-100M-150 freighters, 15 Il-76TD-90VD’s and 11 Tu-204C freighters.
FedEx purchased two ex-US Airways 757s for freighter conversion by the US division of Singapore’s ST Aero based in Alabama.
UAE-based Maximus Air Cargo is reportedly in negotiations with Emirates Post (Empost), to carry its mail. It says it plans by October 2007 to acquire a second A300-600F (the airline also has one An-124 and three Il-76s) and two civil C-130s.
United Airlines signed a contract with United States Postal Service (USPS) to carry domestic mail. The deal is worth up to $400m over next 4.5 years.
China Southern Airlines has applied to form Chongqing Airlines with Chongqing Development Investment Co. China Southern will own 60 percent of the new carrier, while Chongqing Development, the government investment body, takes the remaining stake in the new carrier, which will be based at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport.
Cargolux signed an agreement with Schenker and Kùhne & Nagel to operate the ‘Southern Connex Service’ into Atlanta – a new destination, Chicago and New York.
Universal Travel Group, a travel agency in Southern China, said that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Shenzhen Yu Zhi Lu Aviation Service Company Ltd., is in negotiations to acquire Shenzhen Speedy Dragon Enterprise Ltd., a nationwide cargo logistics company.
Finnair Cargo has launched freighter services from Helsinki to St Petersburg and Moscow, using an AN-12.
Western China’s largest air-cargo terminal has opened for service in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province. Covering 11 hectares, the terminal has an annual throughput of 380,000 tonnes, including 350,000 tonnes of domestic cargo and 30,000 tonnes of overseas cargo.
