In the fall-out from the nearly successful bombing of the Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas Day by a Nigerian passenger who hid explosives in his underwear, has again focused attention on beefing up security of passenger aircraft leading to a renewed focus on the coming 100 per cent screening of all cargo carried in the bellies of passenger aircraft. US legislator Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts – who authored a mandate to carry through the recommendations of the 9/11 … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: Underwear bomber ups pressure on cargo

The Air Transport Association of America (ATA) released its quarterly Airline Cost Index recently, incorporating data through the third quarter of 2009 with the composite cost index falling 36 per cent to 185.3 in the third quarter of 2009, versus 289.7 in the same period of 2008. This easily outpaced the 1.6 per cent decline in the US Consumer Price Index (CPI). The three largest components of the index – which includes all operating expenses as well as interest expense – … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: ATA reports 36% drop in Q3 cost index

National Air Cargo (NAC) is expanding its presence in Asia as part of what it says is its strategic plan to enhance growth and develop new business opportunities in the Asian marketplace. The company recently formed a dedicated sales team for Asia and added toll free phone numbers that will be maintained for extended hours through a dedicated call center based in Kuala Lumpur. “This investment is based on our significant growth in the Asian marketplace which has grown by approximately … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: National Air Cargo expands Asia footprint

Global aircraft lessor, Guggenheim Aviation Partners (GAP), has canceled two of its four B747-8 freighter orders with Boeing. GAP chief executive officer, Steve Rimmer, said that existing freighters parked in the desert may be sufficient for its purposes in this current market slump. “We’ve never seen this quantity of freighters before in the desert,” he said. “This time we won’t see the market pick up fast because there’s a lot of good … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: Guggenheim cancels two of four B747-8Fs

Network Cargo Systems Intl. Inc. has been named GSSA for AirBridgeCargo Airlines in the US and Canada. “As a result of the cooperation agreement with AirBridgeCargo, we are able to offer our customers reliable services to the Russian market with its strong economic growth. We can provide an excellent product using the non-stop cargo flights operated by AirBridgeCargo to Moscow Sheremetyevo and services in domestic Russia as well as excellent timings to Central Asia,” said Howard … [Read more...] about AMERICAS: Network Cargo Systems new GSSA in US/Canada

German carrier Lufthansa is the first large European airline in two decades to offer flights to Baghdad. Lufthansa said that a combination of eased security issues within the country combined with high demand has prompted it to offer passenger service from Frankfurt and Munich to the Iraqi capital, as well as the northern city of Erbil this summer. It’s not the first time flying to Iraq for Lufthansa, which first began flights to Baghdad in 1956, but stopped operating these in … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS: Lufthansa returns to Iraq with Baghdad and Erbil