HNA Group Co., owner of China’s fourth-largest airline, is said to be in talks to acquire ground handler Swissport International Ltd., according to a Bloomberg report quoting unnamed sources. The report said Swissport’s private-equity owner PAI Partners SAS is seeking about US$3 billion from a sale, but negotiations have dragged on for several months, held up by disagreement over the price, according to the sources. Swissport provides ground services for around 229 million passengers and … [Read more...] about HNA Group in talks to acquire Swissport
Airports
Liege Airport enjoying a robust cargo environment
After a good year in 2014 where cargo volumes grew at more than five per cent, Liège Airport is again outgrowing the market by showing an impressive growth of 13 per cent during the first six months of 2015, making it one of the fastest growing big cargo hubs in Europe. Full freighter capacity also grew by 11 per cent. Not only are Liege Airport’s long term airline customers are showing healthy volume growth, but also airlines that joined Liege Airport in the last few years - Qatar Airways, … [Read more...] about Liege Airport enjoying a robust cargo environment
Half year cargo growth hits 12% at MUC
Munich Airport (MUC) achieved growth in all traffic segments in the first half of 2015 with growth in the air cargo business at Munich Airport outstripping that of the passenger segment. The total of 156,000 tonnes of flown airfreight represented an impressive 12 per cent year-on-year gain in the volume of goods handled at the airport. After three years of declining figures, the number of take-offs and landings are back on track for growth, with a 1.1 per cent increase to more than 186,000 … [Read more...] about Half year cargo growth hits 12% at MUC
Hactl passes GDP annual audit
Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) – Hong Kong’s largest cargo handler – has successfully passed its World Health Organisation (WHO) Good Distribution Practices (GDP) annual surveillance audit. The audit is required in order to maintain GDP accreditation. Hactl achieved GDP accreditation – covering the provision of handling, logistics and storage services for pharmaceuticals – in 2014 and was the first handling agent in Hong Kong to do so. The audit, conducted by independent GDP … [Read more...] about Hactl passes GDP annual audit
Munich’s third runway cleared for take off
Munich Airport has welcomed the ruling by the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig, in which the court has now dismissed the six outstanding complaints filed by the environmental group Bund Naturschutz Bayern and five private individuals, effectively clearing the way for the development of a third runway at the Bavarian airport. The plaintiffs had filed motions with the Leipzig court following the rejection of their appeals in the administrative proceedings on the construction permit for the … [Read more...] about Munich’s third runway cleared for take off
Thai transport minister not confident on FAA audit
Thailand’s Transport Minister Prajin Juntong admitted this week that he was not sure that all the necessary steps taken by the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) to improve aviation safety standards supervision will pass the approval of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Juntong said that authorities concerned were ready to give the explanation to FAA officials and seek more time to make the improvements, according to a report by Thai PBS. The FAA officials are in Thailand this … [Read more...] about Thai transport minister not confident on FAA audit