The ambitious plan by the US Transportation Security Administration to screen all 3.5 million tonnes of cargo transported annually on passenger airliners in the US may come up short, according to a report by Congress' Government Accountability Office (GAO). The report says the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) may not have enough inspectors nor adequate equipment to meet the August 2010 Congressional deadline to screen all cargo transported in the bellies of airliners for explosives. … [Read more...] about Congressional report questions TSA scan plan
Carriers
India’s newest cargo carrier to take off in May
India's newest cargo carrier to take off in May Defying the global air cargo slowdown, GR Gopinath, founder of budget carrier Air Deccan, is planning to start operations of his cargo airline in May. His company, Deccan Cargo Express Logistics (DCEL), will take delivery of three Airbus 310 freighters from the first week of April onwards. With plans to offer end-to-end logistics solutions, DCEL's freighters will fly begin with a Dubai-Mumbai-Delhi-Hong Kong route. Eventually the all-freighter … [Read more...] about India’s newest cargo carrier to take off in May
Malaysia reverses decision on new LC terminal
Malaysia has reversed its decision on building a new low-cost air terminal, after last month rejecting budget carrier, AirAsia's plan to build and operate a 1.6 billion ringgit (US$432 million) budget terminal amid concerns it may undermine the main Kuala Lumpur International (KLIA) airport. It subsequently said it has allocated 2 billion ringgit (US$540 million) to build a new low-cost terminal near the main airport as part of a massive economic stimulus package. To be built by 2011, the … [Read more...] about Malaysia reverses decision on new LC terminal
Qatar boldly continues global expansion
While global carriers scramble to trim and reorganise their networks, Qatar Airways has announced bold expansion plans including new services to Australia and expanded operations in India and Europe. Chief executive officer Akbar Al Baker said: “Qatar Airways’ robust expansion is continuing undeterred by the current economic climate.†“Sydney and Melbourne have been on our radar screen for many years. We can finally look forward to entering the Australian market with … [Read more...] about Qatar boldly continues global expansion
RR rushes to find Trent 777 icing solution
Rolls-Royce is working to find a modification to its Trent 800 engine following recommendations by the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). A second interim report on last year's crash of a British Airways Boeing 777-200 at London Heathrow said modifications were necessary to reduce the risk of ice in fuel lines which the AAIB suspected causing a flow restriction and thrust rollback of the Trent engines. The AAIB recommended that regulatory authorities make mandatory any measures Boeing … [Read more...] about RR rushes to find Trent 777 icing solution
DHL in talks with ABX and ASTAR in US
DHL has opened discussions with ABX Air and ASTAR Air Cargo about the possibility of taking over its domestic US operations out of Wilmington, according to an Associated Press report. Following the announcement last November by Deutsche Post, that its subsidiary DHL Express would shut down its US domestic package shipping operation it said it would hire United Parcel Service (UPS) to handle its US domestic volumes. An agreement to negotiate exclusively with UPS expired at the end of January, and … [Read more...] about DHL in talks with ABX and ASTAR in US