The head of DHL Global Forwarding (DHL GF), the world's largest forwarder, said the company expects shipping volume - both air and ocean shipments - around the world to decline 20 per cent in the first half of 2009 and 10 per cent for the full year, based on ongoing shipment data this year and reports from customers. Hermann Ude, chief executive officer of DHL Global Forwarding and Freight, said business out of Asia is particularly weak, with exports from China and Hong Kong, leading the … [Read more...] about DHL forecasts 20% cargo drop, 1st improvement 2010
Carriers
NTSB confirms bird remains in US Airways' engines
The US National Transportation Safety Board, continuing its investigation into the cause of the 15 January ditching of a US Airways A320 into the Hudson River in New York City, said the left engine was found to contain bird remains. The right engine was earlier judged to contain organic material confirmed as bird remains. … [Read more...] about NTSB confirms bird remains in US Airways' engines
China air traffic growth slows to single digits
China's air travel growth fell into single digits, the first time in five years, as a slowing economy hit air travel demand, according to official data. Chinese carriers handled 4.03 million tonnes of cargo last year, up 0.3 per cent from a year earlier, and 191.91 million passengers last year, up 3.3 per cent from 2007, the Civil Aviation Administration of China said on its website. Passenger traffic in December rose 8.2 per cent to 15.67 million, but freight volume fell 15.2 per cent to … [Read more...] about China air traffic growth slows to single digits
China Eastern: breakeven 2010, profit 2011
China Eastern Airlines is targeting a breakeven 2010 and a profitable 2011, newly appointed Chiarman Liu Shaoyong said this week, adding that the carrier is open to consolidation and a potential merger with Shanghai Airlines. The carrier hopes to offset the impact of heavy losses for 2008 by selling off its stakes in certain units and cutting orders for new planes, the Wall Street Journal reported. Liu Shaoyang, the company chairman, admitted that the chances of turning a profit this year are … [Read more...] about China Eastern: breakeven 2010, profit 2011
SAS cuts freighter unit
SAS, Scandinavia's biggest airline, is set to cease freighter services and shrink other cargo operations as part of a radical restructuring to stem losses and retain its independence in the fast consolidating European airline industry. The part state-owned carrier said in future its freight unit, SAS Cargo, "will focus on selling belly cargo capacity for the group's airline operations." It said other activities would be discontinued or outsourced to third parties. SAS will also sell Spirit Air … [Read more...] about SAS cuts freighter unit
Korean Air reports net loss
Korean Air reported a full-year 2008 net loss of KRW1.96 trillion (US$1.4 billion), reversed from a net profit of KRW11.1 billion in 2007, citing the weak won as the biggest contributor to the heavy decline. It also said yesterday that it is boosting its A380 order from eight aircraft to 10 and will initiate "more aggressive investment" this year with the aim of achieving a "black ink balance" in 2009 while building "a foundation for future growth." It said it will focus on "increasing overseas … [Read more...] about Korean Air reports net loss
