Alaska Air Cargo is increasing the cut-off time and imposing a security screening surcharge in order to meet US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requirements for seafood shipments on passenger aircraft. From 15 February, freight that is not pre-screened by shippers under the TSA’s Certified Cargo Screening Program (CCSP) will have to be delivered to the airline four hours prior to flight departure and the carrier is increasing its security screening surcharge to four … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: Alaska imposes security surcharge for seafood

Air Canada has reported a 2009 net loss of C$24 million (US$22.4 million), a significant improvement over a net loss of C$1.03 billion a year earlier. In part it was aided by C$657 million in gains on foreign exchange that were reversed from C$655 million in losses in the prior year. Revenue for 2009 fell 12.2 per cent to C$9.74 billion. President and CEO Calin Rovinescu said the carrier “overcame tremendous challenges” last year and has started 2010 in a far “more stable … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: Air Canada narrows losses from year earlier

Canada’s WestJet has reported a 2009 full-year net income of C$98.2 million (US$94 million), down 45 per cent from C$178.5 million in 2008, and said it plans to re-accelerate growth this year after slowing annual capacity expansion to just 2.6 per cent last year. Revenue in 2009 fell 10.5 per cent to C$2.28 billion. WestJet took delivery of five 737NGs in the fourth quarter 2009 and a further 737-800 in February 2010 to bring its fleet to 87, all 737NGs. It will take a -700 by the … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: WestJet to grow capacity 10% this year

Canada’s WestJet has reported a 2009 full-year net income of C$98.2 million (US$94 million), down 45 per cent from C$178.5 million in 2008, and said it plans to re-accelerate growth this year after slowing annual capacity expansion to just 2.6 per cent last year. Revenue in 2009 fell 10.5 per cent to C$2.28 billion. WestJet took delivery of five 737NGs in the fourth quarter 2009 and a further 737-800 in February 2010 to bring its fleet to 87, all 737NGs. It will take a -700 by the … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: WestJet to grow capacity 10% this year

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), an office of the US Department of Defense, will soon – possibly in a matter of months, not years as previously thought – be producing jet fuel made from algae at a price comparable to that of petroleumbased fuel, the UK’s Guardian newspaper reported recently. “Oil from algae is projected at US$2 per gallon (3.8 litres), headed towards $1 per gallon,” said DARPA’s energy special … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: Commercial algae biofuel nearer than expected

Wet-lease operator Southern Air Holdings has taken delivery of its first B777 freighter, which will provide capacity under a block-space agreement for Thai Cargo. The second, also for use by Thai, will be delivered on 2 March. CEO Daniel McHugh said: “The addition of these two B777s is a defining moment in the history of Southern Air that begins the next phase of the company’s growth. The combination of the B777s and our 16 B747s makes Southern Air the first ACMI operator to … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: First B777 freighter for Southern