Lufthansa, Europe’s biggest cargo airline, reported a sharp drop in freight traffic in August from a year ago as the residual impact of strike action in July ended several months of strong gains. The German carrier said the 8 per cent year-on-year decline in cargo carried on its freighters and passenger aircraft to 152,000 tonnes was also due in part to the economic slowdown in the Americas, its fastestgrowing market over the past year. Lufthansa Cargo, Lufthansa’s standalone … [Read more...] about Europe/CIS: Lufthansa, Air France- KLM volumes drop
Carriers
Europe/CIS: Air Caraibes, the A350-1000 XWB launch customer
French Caribbean carrier Air Caraïbes has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for three A350-1000 aircraft, and is with this purchase decision becoming the European launch customer for the largest version of the A350 XWB. The aircraft will be operated on the airline’s network from Paris to the islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique and soon to French Guyana. “The A350 XWB will continue the track record of spectacular effi ciency and low operating costs we already experience with … [Read more...] about Europe/CIS: Air Caraibes, the A350-1000 XWB launch customer
Europe/CIS: BA to shed 1,400 jobs and £170 million
UK carrier British Airways says it is offering voluntary redundancy to 1,400 senior and middle managers in a bid to cut about three per cent of its 42,000 workforceand £170 million from its wages bill. … [Read more...] about Europe/CIS: BA to shed 1,400 jobs and £170 million
Europe/CIS: Serbia’s Jat Airways nearing bankruptcy
Jat Airways is nearing bankruptcy, according to Serbia’s Press newspaper. The Serbian government has been attempting to sell a 51 per cent stake in the troubled carrier since late June to raise money to revitalise it. But no buyers have come forward. It already has reduced onboard food service to lower costs and has laid off employees based outside Serbia. It reportedly has €250 million ($355.4 million)in debt. … [Read more...] about Europe/CIS: Serbia’s Jat Airways nearing bankruptcy
Europe/CIS: “No way BA-AA!” says Virgin’s Branson
Virgin Atlantic president Richard Branson said he was prepared to spend heavily to try to prevent a planned tieup between British Airways, American Airlines and Spain’s Iberia. “If it is approved we believe Virgin Atlantic will be damaged (along with) ... any smaller carriers on these routes,” Branson told reporters recently, adding he would spend “millions of dollars” in a bid to block the tie-up. He said he would start by painting “no way … [Read more...] about Europe/CIS: “No way BA-AA!” says Virgin’s Branson
Europe/CIS: Finnair grapples to find cost-savings
Finnair said recently that it has given its employee groups two weeks to examine three possible cost-saving alternatives. A spokesperson told Reuters that one option is a salary cut of 5 per cent across the company, the second a 15-month salary freeze and the third 400 layoffs. Employees would get some money back if the airline meets certain financial targets, although it said it may report an operating loss in the second half. … [Read more...] about Europe/CIS: Finnair grapples to find cost-savings
