Air New Zealand is taking the country’s Commerce Commission to court in a bid to counter its allegations that 13 airlines colluded in fixing prices in the air cargo market there. Air NZ has gone to the High Court to try to force the Commission to disclose any evidence it has against the airline, saying its own internal investigations have failed to uncover wrongdoing and that the Commission’s actions are impacting the carrier on many levels. "Despite extensive reviews of … [Read more...] about Air NZ takes Commission to court
Carriers
Taiwanese carriers seek additional cross-strait flights
Taiwanese carriers have requested around 340 scheduled flights weekly between the island and China, according to Dow Jones. Taiwan and China currently operate 108 cross-strait charter flights each week, with airlines from each side operating 54 flights. The transition to scheduled flights across the strait will take place in the second half of the year, and the exact number of flights will be discussed at the third round of cross-strait talks. The report added that the passenger load factor of … [Read more...] about Taiwanese carriers seek additional cross-strait flights
Air India restructures operations
Air India has restructured its operations to the US and Europe and made Frankfurt its European hub, Dow Jones reported. "To begin with, Chicago and New York would offer more convenient connections to originating traffic from a larger geographical area in India, with the Chicago flight now set to operate from Delhi," Air India southern region executive director EPA Varghese said. … [Read more...] about Air India restructures operations
China Eastern sold/leased-back six freighters
China Eastern Airlines (CEA) has recently announced that it reached agreement in August of 2007 for the sale and lease back of six Boeing MD-11 freighters to the aircraft leasing unit of General Electric (GE), Dow Jones reported. The Shanghai-based carrier said it sold the six wide-body aircraft to GE Commercial Aviation Services Ltd. for US$36 to $46 million each. As part of the transaction, China Eastern agreed to lease the planes back from the purchaser for up to 38 months from the date of … [Read more...] about China Eastern sold/leased-back six freighters
Ethiopian defies crisis with growing cargo and pax
Ethiopian Airlines reported a ETB515 million (US$45.8 million) profit in its fiscal first half ended 31 December, up 9 per cent year-on-year, on a 54.8 per cent jump in operating revenue of ETB6.7 billion. Freight volume doubled to 49,895 tonnes during the first half, year-on-year while passenger numbers grew 19 per cent to 1.5 million. The carrier also purchased two MD-11 freighters and eight Q400s during the period and signed a lease for one B757. … [Read more...] about Ethiopian defies crisis with growing cargo and pax
IATA: $2.5B loss in ’09 is optimistic
International Air Transport Association (IATA) DG and CEO Giovanni Bisignani said the organisation's December forecast of an industry-wide US$2.5 billion loss in 2009, based on a 5 per cent drop in cargo volumes and a 3 per cent drop in passenger numbers, "is now looking very optimistic." He said IATA will release a revised forecast next week, adding that, "the only good news is that the spot price of fuel is low. Unfortunately, immediate relief is being delayed by hedging at higher prices," he … [Read more...] about IATA: $2.5B loss in ’09 is optimistic