AirAsia X – the low-cost long haul arm of Malaysian carrier AirAsia – is increasing its flights to seven per week on its recently-launched London Stansted- Kuala Lumpur service. The increase from five departures per week was prompted by the strength of early demand, and is part of the carrier’s overall expansion strategy for Europe, the carrier said. Dublin-based IAM, which was appointed to market the airline’s cargo capacity in Ireland when it … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: GSA welcomes AirAsia X flight increase
Carriers
EUROPE & CIS: BA chief warns worst of recession still ahead
Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways, offered a bleak assessment recently that the worst of the recession was still ahead for the global airline industry. Walsh said BA had planned “on the assumption of a 24-month downturn, and we have seen nothing yet to persuadeus we are over-pessimisticâ€Â. “Though some of the financial markets may be looking better, I believe that for airlines, the worst of this recession is still ahead of us.†He added that a … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: BA chief warns worst of recession still ahead
EUROPE & CIS: Cargolux Italia begins HK services
Cargolux Italia has launched its first flights after getting approval to start operations from the Italian civil aviation authority and will initially operate one B747-400 freighter, on a twice-weekly Hong Kong and Milan service. It will also call at Dubai eastbound and Baku westbound. It has appointed parent company Cargolux Airlines International as its worldwide general sales and services agent and Hactl as its handling agent in Hong Kong. … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Cargolux Italia begins HK services
EUROPE & CIS: Major Euro carriers report cargo leveling
Nearly a six-month long plunge in cargo traffic has leveled out in May for major European carriers, giving hope to earlier sentiments that the global economic contagion will not get any worse. Lufthansa Cargo, Europe’s second largest scheduled cargo airline, carried 125,000 tonnes of freight in May, a 9.1 per cent decline from the same period a year ago that left traffic in the first five months of 2009 down 21.4 per cent at 566,000 tonnes. The May decline is a marked … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Major Euro carriers report cargo leveling
MIDDLE EAST: Etihad launches direct service to Cyprus
Etihad Airways has launched its inaugural service from its home base at Abu Dhabi to Larnaca, Cyprus. The three times a week service is being operated using Airbus A320 aircraft and follows earlier launches of services to Athens and Istanbul. … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Etihad launches direct service to Cyprus
MIDDLE EAST: Etihad makes aviation history with engine order
Etihad Airways stole the show in Paris recently when it announced a recordbreaking US$14 billion engine order from GE Aviation, Rolls-Royce, Engine Alliance (a joint venture between GE and Pratt & Whitney) and International Aero Engines (IAE) to power the new Airbus and Boeing aircraft that it ordered at last year’s Farnborough International Airshow. The Farnborough deal included 100 firm orders and options and purchase rights for a further 105 aircraft, which will be delivered … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Etihad makes aviation history with engine order