Airbus COO-customers, John Leahy said recently that the manufacturer may ramp up A320 family aircraft production to 40 per month as early as the end of 2010 or early 2011, a signal that the industry has some confidence in an impending economic recovery. Leahy said that a ‘best case’ outlook saw a two per cent year-on-year drop in RPKs this year, four per cent growth next year and a six per cent increase in 2011, while a ‘worst case’ scenario featured a four … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Possible 2011 ramp-up of A320 production

Finnair’s third A330 aircraft will make its first commercial flight to Delhi on 20 May after which it will start regular scheduled flights between the Indian capital and New York. The new A330 aircraft are part of a major long haul fleet renewal which will see Finnair take delivery of a total of five new A330s this year. … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Finnair’s latest A330 on Delhi route

Swiss WorldCargo, the air freight division of Swiss International Air Lines, has announced plans to implement short-time work for its personnel from June 1, in response to what it said were “continuing substantial declines in airfreight volumes.” The carrier, now part of the Lufthansa Group, which earlier this year put its staff on shorter working hours, has said that the adoption of short-time working is intended to retain jobs in the current global economic crisis, and is … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Swiss WorldCargo to implement short-time work

Airbus parent EADS reported firstquarter net income of €170 million (US$232 million), down 40 per cent from €285 million a year earlier, as net commercial aircraft orders dropped dramatically year-on-year to eight compared to 395 in last year’s firstquarter. First-quarter revenue fell 14 per cent to €8.47 billion and EBIT fell 70 per cent to €232 million. Airbus’s revenue declined 21 per cent to €5.88 billion as it delivered 116 aircraft … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: EADS first-quarter profit tumbles 40%

Rhenus Freight Logistics and Lufthansa Cargo have signed an agreement aimed at winning more air freight business from medium-sized European companies shipping to the US, Asia and Middle East. Rhenus, which has annual turnover of some €3.3 billion (US$4.5 billion), said it would introduce its European shipper customers to Lufthansa Cargo as part of the preferred partner deal. “Our customers obtain reliable and high-quality services for their air freight in return,” added … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Rhenus & Lufthansa team up to boost volumes