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
Ground Handling & Cargo Terminals
German government to lift night restrictions
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s new coalition will ease rules that limit night flights to help companies including Deutsche Lufthansa AG and Fraport AG stay competitive, a senior coalition lawmaker said, according to a Bloomberg News report. Merkel’s prospective alliance of her Christian Democrats and the Free Democrats will curtail powers that Germany’s 16 states have to restrict night flights, Hans-Peter Friedrich, the deputy leader in parliament of … [Read more...] about German government to lift night restrictions
Swissport handling Qantas at Heathrow
Swissport International has been appointed by Qantas Freight to provide cargo ground handling services at London Heathrow Airport. Operations started in mid-September. The new business is the third major win by Swissport Cargo Services UK within the last two month, following South African Airways and Finnair, the ground handler said. … [Read more...] about Swissport handling Qantas at Heathrow
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
New ground services in India and HK for Kingfisher
Aviaxpert – a subsidiary of NCM India Ltd – is now providing complete ground handling services to Kingfisher Airlines at New Delhi Airport. Aviaxpert manages operations of 58 flights per day, including cargo, passenger and ramp handling. In Hong Kong, where Kingfisher Airlines now operates Airbus A330-200s in daily non-stop service from Mumbai, the carrier has appointed Asia Airfreight Terminal (AAT) as its ground-handling agent for cargo and documentationservices. … [Read more...] about New ground services in India and HK for Kingfisher
