Another carrier - Australia's Queensland-based carrier SkyAirWorld - has gone belly-up joining the swelling ranks of small rural aviation service providers downunder that are falling victim to the global recession. SkyAirWorld's troubles could also spill over to East Timor's upstart national carrier Timor Air which had wet leased one of SkyAirWorld's 94-seat Embraer aircraft to fly from Dili to Darwin and Bali. The Brisbane carrier also provided pilots and crew. It also throws into question the … [Read more...] about Australia's rural carriers dropping like flies
Support for Jet's Star entry upsets govt
India's civil aviation ministry is upset with German carrier Lufthansa for its apparent backing of Jet Airways for inclusion into Star Alliance while state-run Air India is still waiting in the wings, according to a government official, The Economic Times of India reported. Following instructions from the civil aviation ministry, the Indian embassy in Germany has now written to Lufthansa, pointing out that the carrier’s move to back Jet Airways would put Air India (AI) at a … [Read more...] about Support for Jet's Star entry upsets govt
Lufthansa Cargo sees profits rise 20%
Lufthansa, Europe's second largest airline, reported a rise in cargo earnings of more than 20 per cent in 2008 from a year earlier, but warned of declining revenue and profit in 2009 as freight volumes continue to collapse amid the ongoing global recession. Lufthansa Cargo's operating profit rose 20.6 per cent to €164 million year-on-year as revenue gained 6.3 per cent to € 2.9 billion. The cargo division's results come in the face of a severe industry downturn which saw a six per … [Read more...] about Lufthansa Cargo sees profits rise 20%
Virgin Atlantic cuts Mumbai service
Virgin Atlantic Airways will cease operations - at least temporarily - on its Mumbai-London service from May as the economic crunch continues to take its toll on the global aviation industry. “We have decided to temporarily suspend operations to Mumbai with effect from May 4. We are suspending this service until rational conditions re-emerge and it can resume service on this important route,†said Neha Lidder Ganju, senior marketing manager- India, Virgin Atlantic Airways. … [Read more...] about Virgin Atlantic cuts Mumbai service
JAL lowers cargo fuel surcharge
Japan Airlines (JAL) has filed with the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) for a decrease in fuel surcharge for international cargo flights departing Japan, with effect from 1 April, 2009. The international cargo fuel surcharge on long-haul international routes for flights departing Japan will decrease from 115 yen (US$1.71) to 31 yen per kg. In the case of medium-haul international routes, the surcharge will decrease from 99 to 27 yen per kg, and on … [Read more...] about JAL lowers cargo fuel surcharge
Boeing reaffirms a 1Q 2010 Dreamliner delivery
The head of Boeing Co.'s commercial-aircraft segment has reaffirmed that it still intends to make the first commercial delivery of its much-delayed 787 Dreamliner in the first quarter of 2010. "At Boeing, the fundamentals of our production programs are sound to excellent, and we're working through the challenges of the development difficulties," Scott Carson, CEO of Boeing's commercial group, told an audience of financial investors and analysts in New York. Getting the 787 certified and into … [Read more...] about Boeing reaffirms a 1Q 2010 Dreamliner delivery
