Qantas has returned to profitability in the six months ended 31 December 2009 after posting losses in the January-June half of 2009. Qantas posted a net profit of A$58 million (US$52 million) and $6.9 billion in revenue for the half year, compared to a net profit of $210 million and $8 billion in revenue for the same period 2008. Net freight revenue for Qantas Freight declined by A$96 million, or 19 per cent, compared to the same period 2008, due to major declines in yield. The economic … [Read more...] about AUSTRALIA: Qantas returns to profitability

A new air services agreement promises more competition and flights between Australia and China with an expected boost in capacity by as much as 70 per cent by the end of 2010. Included in the agreement was the opening up of more 5th freedom routes and a shared commitment to commencing negotiations aimed at concluding an ‘open skies’ agreement. … [Read more...] about AUSTRALIA: Expanded air services between Oz & China

Hong Kong Airlines has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Airbus for six A330-200 aircraft. The latest commitment will increase the number of A330s ordered by the airline to 23. Hong Kong Airlines said it intends to use the A330-200s to develop new services to destinations across the Asia- Pacific region, as well as to the Middle East and Europe. “The A330-200 offers the perfect range and size capability to enable us to expand into new medium and long haul markets,” … [Read more...] about HONG KONG: Hong Kong Air to order six A330-200s

Cathay Pacific is set to add a fourth weekly cargo service to Miami as Asian exports to the US continue to recover. In its first year serving the destination, Cathay carried 13,859 tonnes of cargo into Miami, part of the US$3.5 billion worth of goods shipped from China to Miami last year, according to US trade statistics. … [Read more...] about HONG KONG: Cathay beefs up Miami service

With its wet-lease of four B747- 200Fs due to expire this month, Malaysia Airlines Cargo (MASkargo) will replace four wet-leased B747-200Fs which are due to expire end-February, with a new short-term lease of three freighters. “We’re going to reduce our freighter fleet by one aircraft and we are looking at our options, with different aircraft and different packages,” said Mas kargo MD, Shahari Sulaiman. “But we are also looking at purchasing, so any lease deal would … [Read more...] about MALAYSIA: Mas kargo considering options for fleet

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has been served with a complaint by a US court over allegations of price fixing on US cargo shipments. MAS said its offices in the US were served with the complaint, which was filed by Benchmark Export Services and six other plaintiffs against MAS and 11 other defendants. “The case involves allegations of price fixing on airfreight shipping services and related surcharges,” it said, adding it was seeking legal advice in relation to the complaint. … [Read more...] about MALAYSIA: MASkargo hit by price fixing complaint in US