Airline executives expect improved results and a rebound in cargo volumes in the coming year, a "turning point" for a sector closely linked to economic trends, a survey released on Monday showed. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said confidence had grown markedly among major carriers in Asia, Europe and the Americas. "This does look like a turning point," IATA said of the quarterly business confidence poll. … [Read more...] about Airline exec confidence returns
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China posts 8.9 per cent Q3 GDP growth

China posted GDP growth of 8.9 per cent in the third quarter of the year, up from 7.9 per cent growth in the second quarter, Bloomberg reported. The growth rate, the fastest in a year, reflected heavy government stimulus spending and high lending growth. Helped by massive stimulus spending on infrastructure, urban fixed-asset investment rose 33.3 per cent in the third quarter. Industrial production rose 13.9 per cent year-on-year in September, the highest rate of growth in more than 12 … [Read more...] about China posts 8.9 per cent Q3 GDP growth
China-ASEAN Free Trade Area on track
The Chinese Vice Premier has reaffirmed his country's commitment to going beyond the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) which is set to come into effect on January 1, 2010 in developing comprehensive economic cooperation in the Asian region. This agreement will provide a zero-tariff policy on 90 per cent of the products traded between China and ASEAN countries including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Once CAFTA takes … [Read more...] about China-ASEAN Free Trade Area on track
EC postpones emissions standard until 2010
The European Commission (EC) has delayed, for the second time, the formal announcement of its baseline aviation sector CO2 emissions standard until mid-2010, Bloomberg reported. The EC had originally set a 2 August 2009 deadline for publishing a CO2 baseline necessary for its emissions cap for flights into and out of the EU and its related Emissions Trading Scheme, both which are scheduled to come into effect in 2012. The Commission postponed the date after Europe's main airline associations … [Read more...] about EC postpones emissions standard until 2010
IATA growth not quite as good as it seems
The latest International Air Transport Association (IATA) figures for air cargo show a decline of 9.6 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) in August compared to declines of 11.3 per cent in July and 16.5 per cent in June. But that improving trend is not quite as good as it seems. Remember that it was this time last year when cargo traffic first dipped into negative territory, and so y-o-y comparisons are starting to get better. Comparing traffic figures to 2007 – the peak of the market - … [Read more...] about IATA growth not quite as good as it seems
BA World Cargo first Euro carrier to get QEP
British Airways World Cargo has today announced that it is the first European airline to be accredited by leading provider of temperature-controlled air cargo containers Envirotainer, the Sweden-based manufacturer of temperature-controlled shipping containers, as a Qualified Envirotainer Provider (QEP) for Constant Climate, its temperature-controlledproduct for pharmaceuticals. BA’s announcement follows that of American Airlines Cargo in the US which earlier announced it has been … [Read more...] about BA World Cargo first Euro carrier to get QEP