LAN Cargo, the airfreight subsidiary of Chilean airline LAN, has unveiled an expanded coldstorage import facility at Miami International Airport in the US. The US$4 million investment doubles LAN Cargo’s capacity for processing perishable goods and provides the company with the largest coldstorage facility operated by an airline at a US airport, according to a report by theMiami Herald. Miami airport is LAN Cargo’s international headquarters and is where the company … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: LAN cargo doubles Miami coldstore

Miami International Airport’s cargo traffic grew 24 per cent in the first quarter, including a 38.1 per cent jump in March. International freight at Miami soared 41.8 per cent in the first quarter over the same quarter a year ago and 27.1 per cent year-on-year in March. More impressively, the international freight at MIA expanded 30 per cent in March from February’s total and the 152,712 tonnes marked the largest monthly total for the airport since 2008. The expansion was … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: Miami air cargo grows 24% in Q1

The Air Transport Association (ATA), the industry trade organisation for US airlines, submitted public comments to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in support of the proposed rule on speculative position limits for certain energy contracts. “Oil speculators exploit gaps in the regulatory structure to drive up oil prices out of sheer greed,” said ATA president and CEO James C. May. “The proposed CFTC rule, particularly if strengthened, would limit excessive … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: ATA supports rules on speculative trading

Boeing yesterday reported “solid” firstquarter net income of US$519 million, down 15 per cent from a $610 million profit in the year-ago quarter, and touted “clear progress” on the 787 and 747-8F flight test programmes. Chairman, president and CEO Jim McNerney said the company is nearing a decision on whether to increase the monthly 737 production rate beyond the current 31.5, noting that there has been an “uptick in demand” for the narrow body. Boeing … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: ‘Solid’ Q1 earnings for Boeing

American Airlines cancelled its planned inaugural flight between Chicago and Beijing earlier this month, citing a disagreement with Chinese aviation authorities over take-off and landing times. American says it turned down Chinese authorities’ offer of daily landing and take-off slots of 2:20 a.m. and 4:20 a.m. from Beijing. The impasse delays efforts by American, the secondlargest US carrier by traffic, to make further inroads into the fastest-growing economy in the world. It also … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: AA cancels Beijing flights over slot timing

The second Boeing 747-8 Freighter, RC521, landed in Palmdale, California in late April, marking the beginning of a planned transition of 747-8 Freighter testing to Southern California. The more than four-hour flight from Boeing Field in Seattle included testing on avionics and cruise performance. “Taking the airplane to Palmdale is a big step,” said Mo Yahyavi, vice president and general manager of the 747 programme. “The team is focused on ensuring a seamless transition … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: B747-8 Freighter begins California testing