The Global Federation of CargoAirlines (GFCA), an organisation alliedto FAGSA, the Federation of GeneralSales Agents, is taking aim at what itsays is IATA's "discrimination" againstall-cargo airlines. GFCA board member Carlo TaleiFranzesi, who is also president of FAGSA,charges that IATA ignores the needs offreighter operators and does not includecargo in many of its official statistics."Cargo airlines need a stronger voicethan they are getting in IATA," he says. The … [Read more...] about EUROPE: New body to counter IATA “discrimination”
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EUROPE: Alitalia fails to attract real bids
The Italian government has failedto attract any preliminary bids forbankrupt Alitalia from potential majorairline partners. The only significant internationalbid came from US airline buyout specialistTexas Pacific private investmentfirm - which bought and turned aroundContinental Airlines in the US in 1993with strong attacks on unions. It is part of a group that last monthagreed to buy Australia's Qantas. Air France-KLM did not make apreliminary bid. It has previously saidthat Alitalia … [Read more...] about EUROPE: Alitalia fails to attract real bids
EUROPE: EC updates airline ‘blacklist’
For the first time, the EuropeanCommission (EC) has withdrawn twocarriers from the list of banned airlines,after the carriers took decisive actionto remedy their failings. African cargo carrier DAS Air Cargo,Dairo Air Services (Uganda / Kenya)and Thailand's Phuket Air have beenremoved from the list of banned airlines,after proving to the Commissionthat they have now rectified the serioussafety deficiencies that originally led totheir banning from Europe. According to Jacques Barrot, … [Read more...] about EUROPE: EC updates airline ‘blacklist’
EUROPE: Slots become free at EFW
EFW-EADS, the freighter conversionarm of Airbus, has unexpectedly founditself with seven free slots at its Dresdenplant due to the cancellation of someorders, sources in the company haveadmitted. The company previously hadall its conversion slots spoken for until2010 and beyond. Some of the cancellations are due toFedEx terminating its A310 conversionprogramme following its decision toplace a major order for 757 conversions.Future demand is likely to focuson the A300-600, though Air India … [Read more...] about EUROPE: Slots become free at EFW
EUROPE: European Union plans AEO implementation
In the wake of the implementationof the Customs - Trade PartnershipAgainst Terrorism (C-TPAT) in the US,and in keeping with the World CustomsOrganisation's Framework of Standardsfor Security and Safety in the SupplyChain, the European Union (EU) hasintroduced the Authorised EconomicOperator (AEO) status. The AEO is part of the WCO's commitmentto secure international supplychains. The Bureau of Customs andBorder Protection (Customs, CBP) andthe European Commission (EC) haveagreed in principle … [Read more...] about EUROPE: European Union plans AEO implementation
EUROPE: FAGSA warns IATA on surcharges
FAGSA, the Federation of GeneralSales Agents, offered airlines at theIATA World Cargo Symposium inMexico in mid February a last chanceto settle the issue of commissions onsurcharges. FAGSA president Carlo Talei FranzesiTalei addressed the conference,urging airlines to start a dialogue onthe issue, or face legal action. "I will besaying to carriers in Mexico that this isa hot issue, and it is time for them tomove on it," he told Payload Asia shortlybefore the event. "Airlines … [Read more...] about EUROPE: FAGSA warns IATA on surcharges