Prompted by difficulties retrieving flight-data recorders after recent fatal airliner crashes, European aviation regulators want to start using satellites to transmit critical in-flight safety information. The European Union and other European aviation organisations are for the first time calling on the International Civil Aviation Organisation to adopt streaming in-flight data about aircraft maneuvers and pilot commands via satellites. The concept has gained currency following the crash … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: EU push for satellite safety info

Shippers, the ultimate customers of the global air cargo supply chain, are being invited to join The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) free of charge. The ground-breaking initiative recognises the importance for air cargo service providers to gain a more complete understanding of the needs of shippers, TIACA said in a statement. TIACA says it will provide a forum to shippers to get closer to existing and prospective air logistics partners to exchange ideas, discuss changing … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: TIACA reaches out to shippers

A second stage open skies aviation agreement between the European Union and the US has drawn criticism from the airline industry for failing to make progress toward a fully open trans- Atlantic passenger and cargo market. The European Commission, the EU’s executive wing, said that the two sides had taken a “major step forward” toward a permanent open skies accord after three days of talks in Brussels. European transport commissioner Siim Kallas said “a … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: EU-US open skies agreement inches forward

Cargoitalia, Italy’s all-cargo airline, increased its schedule by 50 per cent in March with flights to the US and Hong Kong rising to three per week. The US service will now operate Milan (Malpensa) – New York – Chicago on Wednesdays, Milan – Chicago on Saturdays, and Milan – New York on Sundays. Flights to Hong Kong will also increase to three-times-weekly. Tuesday services will route via a new destination, Sharjah, while … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Cargoitalia boosts services by 50%

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will launch a three-times weekly service between Amsterdam and Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport in China on 8 May 2010 using B777-200ER equipment. KLM is the first airline to offer direct service between Hangzhou and Europe and is KLM’s sixth destination in China. “KLM is proud to add this 63th intercontinental destination to its network. With this sixth scheduled service to China, we now offer no fewer than 36 weekly services to this growing market. KLM … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: KLM launches Hangzhou, China service

AECS Globe Air Cargo is increasing its sales programme for Air China in France and Scandinavia following the launch of a twice-weekly Boeing 747- 200 freighter service by the airline to Shanghai and Beijing. Globe Air Cargo is Air China’s exclusive GSA partner in France and already markets 500 tonnes of cargo capacity a month on the airline’s Airbus A330 passenger flights from Paris CDG Airport. Air China operates a daily flight to Beijing and four services a week to … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: ECS to market Air China’s new Euro freighter service