A report by the inspector general of the US Homeland Security Department savaged the US Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) programme for keeping bombs out of aircraft cargoholds. The report by Inspector General Richard Skinner said the TSA’s system“increases the opportunities (to put)explosives, incendiaries and other dangerousdevices on passenger aircraft.” The TSA “does not provide suffi cient resources” to monitor airlines and … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: Scathing assessment of TSA security

The airline industry is looking to hire 65,000 pilots by 2012 — including 12,000 this year — but is fi ghting a slew of retirements, a dearth of new recruits and competition from overseas carriers and the US military, according to areport by the Washington Times. Commercial air travel has grown 8 per cent in the past fi ve years, from 683 million passengers per year in 2001 to 740 million in 2006, and the Federal Aviation Administration expects that number to jump to 1.2 billion … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: Critical US pilot shortage impending

IATA recently boosted its forecast for full-year 2007 global airline industry earnings by 9.8 per cent to US$5.6 billion but lowered its projection for 2008by 18.8 per cent to $7.8 billion. The organization’s projection for airlines’ worldwide collective 2007 net profi t is up from the $5.1 billion forecastin June despite rising oil prices. “Higher oil prices were more than offset by stronger-than-expected demand for passenger traffi c and a general improvement in … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: IATA~ 2007 profit up, 2008 down

South African Airways (SAA) Cargo is exploring new route options after acquiring the fi rst of two new 18-ton capacity B737-300 converted freighters to service domestic and regional sectors. The new equipment is part of a performance strategy aimed at achieving year-on-year growth of 20 per cent as the airline restructures in a bid to return to profi tability on a sustainable basis over the next 12 to 18 months. The freighter will be deployed on the Cape Town-Johannesburg run, servicing … [Read more...] about AFRICA: SAA Cargo adds freighter

Kenya’s Business Daily has reported ten foreign airlines have applied to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) for licenses to operate tour charters and cargo services into Nairobi. The applicants include Lufthansa which has applied for traffi c rights for international non-scheduled air cargo services on the Frankfurt-Nairobi route and another one without traffi c rights between Nairobi and Johannesburg. Having a licence without traffi c rights means that the German airline will … [Read more...] about AFRICA: 10 Airlines seek licenses to land in Kenya

Nigeria’s Imo state government has purchased night landing facilities as part of the effort to make the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport (SMAICA) located in the southern city of Owerri,“truly operational and safe”. Imo governor Ikedi Ohakim said that the night landing facilities were currently being installed, including a 500KVA electric generator to ensure steady supply of electricity at the airport. … [Read more...] about AFRICA: Night cargo flights for Nigerian cargo airport