Scandinavian airline SAS is being sued by several major Swedish companies for losses resulting from price fixing on air freight services.Low-cost furniture chain IKEA and clothing retailer Hennes & Mauritz were among the companies who had launched lawsuits against SAS, according to media reports.The price fixing cartel was uncovered after European and US authorities carried out dawn raids at airlines on both sides of the Atlantic in early 2006. In June this year, SAS - like several of its … [Read more...] about Europe & CIS: SAS sued by retailers over price fixing

SriLankan Airlines has posted an operating loss of US$5.45 million for the year 2007/08 as a result of the severe impact of the steep rise in the price of aviation fuel.The airline spent an additional US$63.3 million for fuel in 2007/08, with the fuel bill increasing by 29.3 per cent to US$279.7 million from the previous year.But the sale and leaseback of three Airbus A340 aircraft resulted in a net profit for the year of US$45.4 million.One bright spot was the carrier's cargo business, with … [Read more...] about Sri Lanka: SriLankan Airlines posts operating loss

The GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited has decided to set up a centre for perishable cargo at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA). Being at the geographical centre of India, Hyderabad offers a great advantage for logistics movements of perishable cargo both within India and connecting South East Asia and Middle East, Europe and USA, the airport group said.The Centre for Perishable Cargo will be designed to handle 15,000 tonnes per annum of perishable cargo under Phase I (up to … [Read more...] about India: Rajiv Gandhi to set up perishable centre

Air Deccan founder Captain Gopinath has now tied up with the GMR Group to set up two bases for his upcoming cargocum- logistics venture. Gopinath recently signed MOUs with GMR to set up bases at GMR's two airports¡ªDelhi and Hyderabad. Earlier he had signed deal for nine planes for the new venture, two of which have been flown to Germany for conversion to freighters."Our MoU with GMR will enable us to establish modern cargo hubs in Hyderabad and Delhi which together with our central hub … [Read more...] about India: Gopinath partners GMR for cargo venture

Kingfisher Airlines has launched its first international flight from the high-tech southern city of Bangalore to London. The daily non-stop A330-220 service to Heathrow airport by Kingfisher took to the skies on 3 September.The privately-owned airline last year bought out low-cost Indian carrier Deccan Aviation giving it the right to fly aboard. Under Indian rules, carriers less than five years old cannot fly internationally. Kingfisher was founded three years ago while Deccan is five years … [Read more...] about India: Kingfisher goes international with London