The UAE’s fi fth airline will launch commercial service out of the emirate of Fujairah this month. Kang Pacifi c Airlines will initially operate between the UAE and the Philippines, Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka, with future services to the UK planned. The airline is the brainchild of Indian businessman Paul Kang, who is self-fi - nancing the airline’s launch with $10m in startup capital to procure two DC- 10s, a B747 and B737 over the next six months. The fl eet will primarily … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: UAE's 5th airline takes to skies

Jakarta-based freight forwarder PT Monang Sianipar Abadi or MSA Kargo and Eagle Global Logistics (EGL) formed joint venture named PT EGL Indonesia, starting operations on August 1. President Director of MSA Kargo Sahat Sianipar said the new company aims to increase global market share of both companies, particularly strengthening logistics services from Indonesia to the US. The new company is targeting the telecommunication, garment, textile and oil & gas sectors. … [Read more...] about INDONESIA: JV for MSA Kargo & EGL

Jet Airways (India) Ltd., the country’s biggest domestic carrier, has said it is in talks to start a cargo airline. “We will make an announcement before the end of 2007,” Naresh Goyal, billionaire chairman of Jet Airways, told Indian media recently. “We are talking to very, very serious partners on starting a cargo airline,” he said. The Indian government, meanwhile, has granted Jet Airways the right to fl y to a number of Gulf destinations from Jan. 1, ending a … [Read more...] about INDIA:Cargo in sights of India's Jet

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'

Fuelled by a 10 per cent annual growth rate, China’s flourishing air cargo industry will need nearly 570 freighters in service by 2026 – a full 10 fold increase over current fl eet capacity - according to the China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC I). According to AVIC I cargo airlines in China operated a total of 46 dedicated freighters at the end of 2006. “China’s air cargo market will maintain an annual growth rate of 10.5 per cent in the next two decades, … [Read more...] about CHINA: China's rosy future freighter demand

Chile and India have signed a new open skies agreement allowing “unlimited cargo services between the two countries using any type of aircraft with full traffi c rights to, from or via any intermediary”. The agreement supersedes a previous agreement which although creating a liberalised environment, imposed certain restrictions. Chilean Civil Aeronautic Council (JAC) secretary general, Jorge Frei, highlighted the signifi cance of the newly refined tie-up: “We’re … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: 'Open Skies' for Chile and India cargo