The Russian-Ukrainian joint venture UAC-Antonov, which aims to become the main structure to consolidate the aircraft building enterprises of the two countries, will likely be established by 1 October. It will be headed by Yuriy Grudinin, director general of civil subsidiary of UAC. The deputy chief designer of Antonov, Alexander Kiva will be appointed as deputy director general. The joint venture will initially be responsible for marketing of Antonov planes. The joint venture will be based in … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: UAC-Antonov joint venture in process

Air Charter Service (ACS) opens its second Russian office — and its eleventh worldwide — this month in St Petersburg to capitalise on what it described as “the ever expanding charter market in Russia and the CIS”. Opening its doors on 1 July, the office is situated at the city’s main airport, Pulkovo International. ACS said its long-established office in Moscow – which opened in 1995 – has been flourishing in recent years with … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: ACS opens second Russia office

Transaero has announced the launch of scheduled air service four times a week between Moscow and New York from 29 October using B747-400 aircraft. Later that same month the airline is also launching a weekly Moscow-Miami service using B777-200ER equipment. … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Transaero to launch New York/Miami services

The Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra from Venezuela arrived in Athens to perform at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus with their equipment, consisting of 49 pieces weighing 4.6 tonnes delivered by the ATR72 freighter of Farn Air Transport via Athens Airport. The shipment was handled by Goldair Handling SA. The orchestra, founded by conductor Jose Antonio Abreu, is the fruit of El Sistema, a social programme in Venezuela for encouraging talented poor children to form their own orchestra and their … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Athens Airport handles youth choir

The European Commission (EC) has given its blessing to the proposed merger between British Airways and Iberia of Spain, both active in passenger and cargo transport and related services. “The Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it,” the EC said. With its main hubs in Madrid and Barcelona (where its operations are carried out mainly through its subsidiary … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: EC gives go-ahead for BA-Iberia merger

UK-based BAE Systems has announced a new deal to lease two aircraft to Cobham Aviation Services Australia as it expands its air service offering to the vital and fast-growing mining and resource sector in Australia. The first of the new aircraft is a BAe 146-300QT (Quiet Trader) freighter, which has recently been converted from a passenger to freighter aircraft at Aerostar in Bacau, Romania. Recently delivered, the newly acquired 11.5-tonne capacity freighter is expected to be … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: BAE Systems leases two aircraft to Cobham