The Frankfurt airport has been cleared for expansion by a German court after years of trying to get the expansion approved. As a result the airport can soon start building a fourth runway north of the current airport perimeter with an opening date of 2012. But Frankfurt's operator, Fraport and the main operator Lufthansa, also have to deal with the court's preliminary statement that the planned night flight restrictions are not far reaching enough. With Lufthansa's growth rates constrained … [Read more...] about 4th runway for Frankfurt but night flights a problem
Airports
Indon carrier begins services to Singapore
Indonesian-registered, Sriwijaya Air commenced flight operations at Singapore Changi Airport¡¯s Terminal 2 this week with 14 weekly scheduled flights between Singapore and Jakarta. Established in 2003, Sriwijaya operates a fleet of 14 B737-200s, three B737-300s and one B737-400. With the addition of Sriwijaya Air, there are now a total of 11 airlines operating a total of 634 weekly scheduled flights between Singapore and 13 cities in Indonesia. ¡°Despite the global economic downturn, air … [Read more...] about Indon carrier begins services to Singapore
Frankfurt cargo down 25% in December
Freight traffic at Frankfurt airport dropped by 25 per cent in December from a year ago - the third successive monthly decline at Europe¡¯s largest air cargo hub - as the global economic downturn slashed German exports. The cargo contraction, to around 142,000 tonnes, was three times the rate of decline in November and nearly five times the year-on-year decrease in tonnage in October which had brought nine months of solid growth to an end. Fraport AG, Frankfurt¡¯s operator, is expecting … [Read more...] about Frankfurt cargo down 25% in December
February deadline to surrender LaGuardia slots
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has given airlines until 2 February to identify which flights they will give up voluntarily at New York LaGuardia in order to alleviate congestion and "restoring reliable air service". The move is aimed at reducing total scheduled operations from an average of 75 per hour to 71 from 31 May to 24 October, and will reduce delays by as much as 41 per cent and save up to US$178 million per year. The strategy was announced last month after the DOT's original … [Read more...] about February deadline to surrender LaGuardia slots
Cathay gets OK to delay new cargo terminal by 24 mths
Cathay Pacific Airways has announced it has reached an agreement with Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) to delay the completion of its new cargo terminal by up to two years to mid-2013. The terminal had originally been scheduled for opening in the second half of 2011. Cathay said the decision "was taken in response to market conditions brought about by the global economic downturn" and that it is aimed at "better matching supply and demand in the airfreight business given the current market … [Read more...] about Cathay gets OK to delay new cargo terminal by 24 mths
Third Heathrow runway gets greenlight
Six years of often acrimonious and always vigorous public debate, the UK government approved construction of a ¡ê9 billion third runway and sixth terminal at London Heathrow. But the government also imposed stricter environmental targets and rejected the introduction of mixed-mode operations (landings and takeoffs on the same runway) on the existing runways as an interim measure to ease chronic congestion. "Heathrow is vital to our economy. But for too long it has operated at full capacity, … [Read more...] about Third Heathrow runway gets greenlight