Indian conglomerate, Reliance Industries has said it stepped into the aviation sector as a “strategic investor” by picking up over 26 per cent stake in Captain GS Gopinath-founded cargo airline, Deccan 360. Indian media reports speculated the investment to be in the US$20-30 million range. Reliance said one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries would provide the growth capital for the new cargo airline which is aimed at helping RIL secure a logistics support to its retail network. … [Read more...] about INDIA/MIDDLE EAST: Reliance Industries buys shares of Deccan 360

Singapore Changi Airport saw an 18.8 per cent rise in air cargo tonnage in March from a year ago, handling a total of 157,211 tonnes. The airport also recorded an 18.8 per cent rise in passenger movement to 3.45 million passengers in the same month, its third consecutive double-digit growth in passenger traffic. … [Read more...] about SINGAPORE: Changi airport sees cargo/pax rise 19%

Macau’s air cargo exports grew significantly by 60 per cent year-on-year to 7,592 tonnes in the first quarter of 2010, according to the figures released by the city’s Statistics and Census Service (DSEC). The main destination of Macau’s cargo exports was Taiwan, which accounted for 71 per cent of the total figure. Inbound cargo for the period also surged by 87 per cent to 4,110 tonnes, with those from Taiwan taking a predominant share of 86 per cent. Transit … [Read more...] about MACAU: Macau’s cargo surges 60% in Q1

Preliminary figures released by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) indicate that both air cargo and passenger markets continued to show further gains in March as a result of the region’s dynamic economic recovery. Underpinned by a surprisingly robust recovery in international trade, air cargo demand, as measured in freight tonne kilometres, recorded a 33.1 per cent increase in March compared to the slump last year. Freight capacity grew by a more restrained 12.6 per … [Read more...] about MALAYSIA: Strong March growth for Asia Pacific carriers

A cargo plane crashed last month in a rural village in Pampanga province of the Philippines, killing three. A bulletin from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said the cargo plane had six passengers of which two Russians and a Bulgarian were killed. Three other passengers and three crew survived. The CAAP said the plane, an Antonov 12BP cargo aircraft belonging to Inter- Island and operating on behalf of UPS, was en route from Mactan, Cebu to Angeles City-Diosdado … [Read more...] about PHILIPPINES: Three die in Philippines Antonov crash

Cathay Pacific Airways celebrated recently as the airline took delivery of its 75th airplane purchased directly from Boeing, a 777-300ER. “The 777 allows us to economically offer non-stop service to the major gateways of the world,” said John Slosar, chief operating officer, Cathay Pacific Airways. “The 777 has great passenger appeal, so it’s really a core airplane for us. It has completely changed our business model over the last three years and enabled us to … [Read more...] about PHILIPPINES: Cathay takes delivery of 75th aircraft from Boeing