A US law firm said it has settled a price-fixing case with German airline Lufthansa. The US law firm Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld & Toll said it reached a US$85 million settlement on behalf of customers who purchased air freight shipping services from the airline for transport of goods to, from and within the US. The Cologne-based airline was among more than 20 airlines named in the class-action lawsuit. Others included British Airways, Air France andCargoLux Airlines. … [Read more...] about Lufthansa

Memphis International Airporthas retained its title as the world's busiest cargo airportjust days after shippersnamed it the top cargo airportin North America for value,efficiency and performance.Figures released recently bythe Airports Council Internationalin Geneva indicatedthat Memphis took the leadfor the 16th year straight, asthe world's busiest cargo hub,shipping 3.45 million tonnesin 2007, up 4 per cent from2006. Hong Kong is expectedto become the busiest cargoairport within a few years. … [Read more...] about Memphis International Airport

Etihad Crystal Cargo, will launch freighter operations to Lagos and Colombo from end-March using a MD-11F. Freighter services to Lagos, began on 31 March and will operate every week while Colombo services began on 2 April and will route via the airline's current cargo-only service to Chennai. Etihad has appointed Nacho as its ground handling agent in Nigeria andSri Lankan in Colombo. … [Read more...] about Etihad Crystal Cargo

British Airways has bought another three per cent of Spanish flag carrier Iberia, taking its stake to 13.15 per cent, and will look for chances to buy more shares. BA said it bought about 28.7 million Iberia shares at an average of US$3.64. At that price, the acquisition would have cost a total of about $105.3 million. Iberia made a net profit of US$511 million last year thanks to its highly profitableLatin American routes. … [Read more...] about British Airways

Air France-KLM's takeover of Alitalia has been approved and the joint carrier will restructure and re-launch Alitalia, calling for a network organised around Rome-Fiumicino, and around European and selected intercontinental destinations operating from Milan. The plan is to return Alitalia to profit as early as 2009. But Silvio Berlusconi, who is favoured to take over as Italian prime minister following next month's elections, said recently that he will reject Air France KLM's acquisition of … [Read more...] about Air France-KLM

Flights between Georgia and Russia resumed late lastmonth after a halt in October 2006 over Tbilisi's US$3.7 milliondebt to Russia's air trafficregulator. Russia and Georgiareached an agreement toresume flights in late February.Moscow imposed a transportationand postal blockade onGeorgia in apparent retaliationfor the detention on espionagecharges of four Russian armyofficers. … [Read more...] about Georgia