UK airports operator, BAA, owned by Spanish construction firm Ferrovial, agreed to sell Gatwick Airport to investment fund Global Infrastructure Partners for 1.5 billion pounds (US$2.46 billion) on Wednesday, as part of a competition ruling that it must offload three British airports in total. BAA said it will use the proceeds to repay debt. A $91.9 million portion of the sale price is conditional on future traffic performance and the buyer’s future capital structure. Global … [Read more...] about BAA sells Gatwick for US$2.5 billion
Airports
Schiphol launches new security ‘scan street’
An air cargo security project – Cargo Checkpoint – has been launched at Amsterdam Schiphol airport in the Netherlands. It uses a variety of systems to check cargo containers as they are driven through a so-called “scan street’’ on trailers at a speed of 10 km an hour. Scanned images then are inspected by Customs analysts who identify any irregularities and can call for further inspections. The project is a partnership between Dutch … [Read more...] about Schiphol launches new security ‘scan street’
German government to remove night restrictions
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s new coalition will ease rules that limit night flights to help companies including Deutsche Lufthansa AG and Fraport AG stay competitive, a senior coalition lawmaker said, according to a Bloomberg News report. Merkel’s prospective alliance of her Christian Democrats and the Free Democrats will curtail powers that Germany’s 16 states have to restrict night flights, Hans-Peter Friedrich, the deputy leader in parliament of … [Read more...] about German government to remove night restrictions
Cargo & pax declines moderate further at HK
Cargo throughput in September at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) dropped 4.3 per cent year-onyear to 304,000 tonnes, while passenger throughput reached 3.5 million passenger trips in September 2009, 3.5 per cent below the same period in 2008. Air traffic movements recorded a decline of 8 per cent to 22,570. Declines in air traffic volumes have continued to narrow over the last three months, HKIA said. Noting that cargo volume has improved significantly from a drop of 22.9 per cent in … [Read more...] about Cargo & pax declines moderate further at HK
LAX cargo rebounds in Sept
Los Angeles International Airport has posted an increase in air cargo of 2.7 per cent in September, compared with the year-earlier period. This was one of the few increases in air cargo around the country's airports. In September, air cargo rose to 132 164.116 tonnes, up 2.7 per cent from the 129 478.849 tonnes, a year earlier. … [Read more...] about LAX cargo rebounds in Sept
Aramex’s Dubai Logistics City facility breaks ground
Aramex has broken ground on its Logistics Centre, located in Dubai Logistics City (DLC). The AED 120 million Aramex facility encompasses a built-up area of over 43,000 square metres, situated over a 140,000 square-metre area of land, and is due for completion in the first quarter of 2011. The logistics centre is strategically located next to the Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone, complementing Aramex' product offering of total logistics solutions. … [Read more...] about Aramex’s Dubai Logistics City facility breaks ground