Alitalia’s board recently outlined fi nancial and performance targets for its “survival/transition” plan. The aim is to keep the carrier viable through 2010 as it continues to seek a sale to private investors. The board’s plan, set to guide operations from March 30, 2008, through 2010, aims to reduce overall revenue 2.7 per cent and lower costs by 8 per cent. “Repositioning of long-haul activities and the development of lowcost activities,” along with … [Read more...] about EUROPE: Alitalia outlines ‘survival plan’

European Cargo Services (ECS) has won a tender to become the exclusive cargo GSA throughout Europe for the Chinese passenger and cargo carrier, Hainan Airlines. The new agreement, effective immediately, sees ECS offi ces throughout Europe marketing the airline’s 45 tonnes a week of freight capacity to Beijing. Hainan Airlines operates three Boeing 767 passenger fl ights a week from Brussels to Beijing, each offering some 15 tonnes of cargo capacity. ECS expects to generate some 1,200 … [Read more...] about CHINA: Hainan Airlines opts for ECS

Landrum and Brown (L&B), US airport consultants, who have a marketing arrangement with Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, are presently working on a study to increase the 500 per day limit to enable more cargo fl ights into this airport. L&B are also continuing to work with unnamed US cargo airlines who are considering operations into Shenzhen. … [Read more...] about CHINA: Aim to boost Shenzhen cargo flights

Northwest Airlines (NWA) Cargo has introduced an express trucking service between Hong Kong and China’s Guangdong province. The company said in a statement that it is the fi rst airline to receive authority to move in-bond trucks between Hong Kong international airport and Guangzhou’s Baiyun international airport. The daily service allows NWA Cargo customers to transport their export freight with only one brief customs check in Huanggong, no stopping at multiple checkpoints along … [Read more...] about CHINA: Northwest trucking into China

China will be a 30 million tonne air freight market by 2020 and is bound to continue past that mark said Hong Kong airport CEO Stanley Hui Honchung speaking at the recent Asian Aerospacein Hong Kong. “Air freight is a potent economic force, creating millions of jobs in the global economy,” he said. Mr Hui said the air cargo industry was worth US$3 trillion a year with an annual growth of around 6 per cent, much of which is generated by China. … [Read more...] about CHINA: China to be a 30m tonne market by 2020