The Indian government is unlikely to allow foreign airlines to directly buy stakes in local carriers before the upcoming federal elections, Dow Jones reported. Indian carriers, like Kingfisher Airlines and SpiceJet, have urged the government to allow them to sell stakes to raise funds with foreign carriers including British Airways and Virgin Airways having expressed interest in investing in India's growing aviation sector. The finance ministry official's comments follow a recent Economic Times … [Read more...] about India not likely to OK foreign investment
Carriers
Thai Airways delays Airbus payment
Thai Airways International said Tuesday it had reached an agreement with Airbus to postpone the first payment for six A330 aircraft to be delivered in 2009 after being hit by the Thai airport closures and global economic crisis, according to Reuters. The Thai carrier had ordered eight A330 aircraft with six of them will be delivered this year, with the first due in April. The delivery of six A380 superjumbos is still on track for December 2010. The first payment will be postponed to April from … [Read more...] about Thai Airways delays Airbus payment
FedEx to cancel Okay Air contract
FedEx Express, the world's largest express delivery company, is to end its contract with troubled Okay Airways, opting instead for Yangtze River Express, a cargo airline controlled by HNA Group, to maintain its domestic express air network. The move is yet another setback for the Tianjin-based airline, which is desperately seeking to restart its passenger service before the Lunar New Year after a lack of cash and disputes between its investors forced its service suspension. The suspension of … [Read more...] about FedEx to cancel Okay Air contract
China air cargo volume tumbles 11.3%
Mainland air carriers suffered their worst cargo volume drop of the year in November as consumers in the US and Europe cut back on their spending, the South China Morning Post reported. Mainland Chinese carriers saw 11.3 per cent less cargo in November compared with a year earlier, following a 3.1 per cent drop in October. Shipments bound for Hong Kong and Macau decreased the most with volume dropping 22.4 per cent. Hong Kong, as a key re-export hub for mainland goods before they are shipped … [Read more...] about China air cargo volume tumbles 11.3%
AirAsia opts for own KL airport
Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia has unveiled plans to shift to its own US$460 million airport outside Kuala Lumpur, abandoning the current budget terminal next to Kuala Lumpur's main international hub. The move has thrown into doubt the national airport operator's plans to build a new Low Cost Carrier Terminal next to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), to replace the existing facility that opened in 2006. AirAsia has rapidly outgrown the existing terminal adjoining KLIA, which has no … [Read more...] about AirAsia opts for own KL airport
Thailand’s Suvarnabhumi airport resumes full operations
Thailand's main international airport has officially resumed full operations, two days after anti-government protesters left the site. The People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) anti-government protesters ended their occupation at both Suvarnabhumi International Airport and Don Mueang Airport Wednesday, but airport authorities had to re-certify the airport in accordance with internationally-recognised standards and guidelines established by the International Civil Aviation Organization … [Read more...] about Thailand’s Suvarnabhumi airport resumes full operations
